Terrorism

Monday, Aug. 9 8 p.m. on ABC Football Another sign that games that count will soon be back: The Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos meet in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Upstairs, Al Michaels and John Madden begin their third year together on "Monday Night Football. " 9 p.m. on Lifetime "Miracle Run" A single mother works tirelessly to defeat prejudices that could prevent her autistic twin sons from receiving the best possible education.

charlestown@herald-mail.com WINCHESTER, VA. - Terrorism threats continue to concern officials in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, but authorities learned Thursday that gangs are a growing problem. The issue was discussed during the 17th annual Quad State Legislative Conference, at which lawmakers and government officials from the four-state area meet to discuss common issues and problems. Much of the discussion at Thursday's conference, which was held at Shenandoah University in Winchester, centered on how to protect the area from possible terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON COUNTY shappell@herald-mail.com Washington County will receive nearly $250,000 as part of a $7.4 million federal grant to aid in prevention of terrorist acts. A county emergency services official and a captain with the Hagerstown Police Department say the money most likely will be used for improvements to the county's radio communication system. The county will receive $212,578.08 from the federal Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, according to a news release from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security.

When God talked,institutions listened To the editor: Ah, nostalgia. Your May 4 edition included a letter praising President Bush for among other things, "Getting counsel from God. " I grew up in a smallish Iowa town replete with good souls who talked regularly to God. That is, they prayed. These who professed to receive replies were mostly residents at the state mental institution on the big hill at the west end of Cedar Street. Bill Wilcox Shepherdstown, W.Va.

To the editor: The United States must admit that it was wrong in attacking Iraq and apologize to the world to restore our international credibility. Weapons of mass destruction have not been found, which we were so sure about as our primary reason for launching the war. There have been no proven prewar ties of Iraq to al Qaeda and therefore the war was not an extension of the war on international terror as the Bush administration wants us to believe. The war has only been a distraction from the war on terror and has diverted resources that could have been used for that effort and at the same time has given more incentive to the terrorist cause.

laurae@herald-mail.com Although it's been more than two years since terrorists struck on American soil, the country cannot get complacent about fighting terrorism, Vice President Dick Cheney told an audience in Hagerstown Friday. "In the war on terror, we have only one option and that is to carry the fight to the enemy," he said. First in Afghanistan and now in Iraq, the United States was right to take action against terrorists and help build democratic governments there, he said.

charlestown@herald-mail.com SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Steve Allen says work has been progressing on developing a special response team that would respond to any terrorist attacks in the Eastern Panhandle. Allen is the director of the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services, the agency in charge of responding to a wide range of emergencies in the county. But Allen said despite the efforts, the burning question has been: Where is the equipment needed for such an attack?

charlestown@herald-mail.com SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - About 370 state and federal government officials and members of emergency response companies from the Eastern Panhandle and across the state kicked off a two-day meeting at a training center near Shepherdstown Sunday to determine the best way to protect state residents from possible terrorist attacks. The West Virginia Summit on Homeland Security will feature respected experts in the terrorism field, including FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, who is expected to speak at the summit this afternoon.

gregs@herald-mail.com Local police, fire and rescue workers will be among those participating in a terrorism drill in Hagerstown next week that could last up to three days, officials said Wednesday. "It's what we call a 'cold drill.' Boom, it's here, let's go," said Bob Kelly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agent who is coordinating the drill. About 60 federal workers and contractors from the EPA, and dozens of local emergency workers, will take part in next week's activities, Kelly and Hagerstown city spokeswoman Karen Giffin said.

"When I got the paper on Friday, I was shocked to know what all did go on during the storm. Thanks to the Herald-Mail, thanks a lot. You guys did a good job covering the storm. " "I was wondering why Maugansville school is always late getting things started. I noticed in the paper under 'In the Schools,' So far this year they haven't even put anything in there that has happened at the school. I also noticed from some other years, that they don't even publish the children who get the honor roll or distinguished honor roll.