Thurmont

Work is scheduled to begin this month on Md. 550 in Thurmont between Eylers Valley Flint Road and Kelbaugh Road, Maryland State Highway Administration spokesperson David Buck said. A mudslide occurred there April of last year, and only one lane has been open there since June of last year. At certain times, the traffic signal that is in place will be turned off, and workers will direct traffic, Buck said. "Motorists are not going to notice a big difference with the work going on," he added.

Protesters speaking out against genocide in Ethiopia took to Thurmont's main intersection Saturday, when a G-8 Summit in nearby Camp David was scheduled to wrap up. Police in riot gear stood in rows in the street as dozens of protesters held signs, waved flags, chanted and shouted messages through bullhorns. Their target was Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zanawi, whom they accused of being “one of the worst human rights violators in the world,” according to a two-page packet protesters distributed.

Northbound U.S. 15 at Md. 550 in Thurmont was closed Wednesday morning due to a diesel fuel spill from a tractor-trailer, Maryland State Police said in a news release. The incident took place at about 4:36 a.m., police said. About 40 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the tractor-trailer's saddle tank, the release said. Units from area fire companies and the State Highway Administration were at the scene, and Maryland Environmental Protection was en route, according to police.

Md. 550 (Sabillasville Road) has now been closed for a month in Thurmont between Eylers Valley Flint Road and Kelbaugh Road after a mudslide that occurred in mid-April. However, Geoff McCammon of the Maryland State Highway Administration in Frederick, Md., says that work crews are making progress. "Last week we began installing drain pipes to help with some of the water on the slope," he said. "We hope to be finished installing the pipes this week. " McCammon said that after the drainage systems are put in place and the slope dries, they can evaluate whether or not to open the road to at least one lane.

BALTIMORE - The West End Little League 11-12 All-Star team's hunt for a Maryland State Tournament championship at Arbutus Little League turned into an unfulfilling weekend trip. West End lost its first game to Salisbury on Saturday and was eliminated from the tournament on Sunday, dropping a dramatic 5-4 seven-inning decision to District 2 champion Thurmont. Kellam Maxey hit the game-winning solo home run in the top of the seventh and Thurmont pitcher Josh Laramore survived the muscle of the West End lineup in the bottom half to seal the win. Laramore gave up a leadoff single to Zach Rowland before retiring the third, fourth and fifth hitters in the West End lineup, beginning with slugger Aaron Stoner, who came up about 15 feet short of the game-winning home run. "I thought it was gone," Laramore said of Stoner's flyout to left.

FREDERICK, Md. - A fund has been set up to aid a Thurmont police officer who was seriously injured in an accident Thursday while pursuing what he believed was an armed robbery suspect. The Fraternal Order of Police, Francis Scott Key Lodge 91, is conducting the drive to assist Officer Rick White and his family which includes his wife, who is expecting a child in March, and their 7-year-old daughter. White struck a tree during the pursuit and was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

A Thurmont, Md., man who was found with what authorities believed was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head shortly after they found the body of his friend lying on a roadway over the weekend remained hospitalized Monday. Seth B. Fisher, 18, was listed in critical condition at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday afternoon. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office received a call at 1:57 a.m. Saturday about a body on Black Road in the area of Eylers Valley Flint Road, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Authorities were investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy who was struck by a pickup truck Monday evening in the driveway of a home in Thurmont, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said. The boy, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, according to a sheriff's office news release. Deputies said the boy was struck at about 8 p.m., when a 32-year-old man was backing a Ford pickup out of a driveway in the 15000 block of Kelbaugh Road, the release says.

THURMONT, Md. -- Two people found dead inside a burning home in Thurmont on Oct. 31 have been identified, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Tuesday. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore determined that Eric Lester Forrest, 39, and Erik Thomas Sanger, 39, died in the fire at 12841B Catoctin Furnace Road, the release said. According to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation Web site, Forrest and Sanger rented the one-story, single-family home owned by Arthur Dale Kemp.

Sunday's Easter crowd will be the last big holiday the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant staff will serve before closing its doors on April 7. After serving its country-style meals for 16 years at 10530 Buchanan Trail East in Waynesboro, the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant is closing. “It's time that we condense down and get a little more focused, and see if we can do a better job at our other location (in Thurmont, Md.),” said Keith McCleaf, of the McCleaf family who owns the Mountain Gate Family Restaurants in Waynesboro and Thurmont.

Area residents can try their hand at panning for gold when geologist Jeri Jones leads a fossil-hunting field trip from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4. The trip is sponsored by Renfrew Institute in partnership with the Franklin County Rock & Mineral Club. Pans and mineral collection containers will be supplied, and anyone who has a sluice box may bring it along. The trip also includes stops at the Vulcan Materials quarry in Buckeystown, Md., and the Specialty Granules quarry in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Those joining the trip should bring collecting gear such as buckets, hammers and newspaper, and wear clothing appropriate for digging fossils.

Mr. Irvin F. Stride, 97, of Frederick, Md., died Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  Born Dec. 2, 1915, in Frederick, he was the son of the late Irvin G. and Grace E. Stottlemyer Stride. He was the loving husband of Eva M. Young Stride. Mr. Stride enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Sharon Stride Poole of Boonsboro, Md., Marty Stride of Thurmont, Md., and Kenneth Stride of New York; stepdaughter, Jean Boone of Libertytown, Md.; grandchildren, Donald Dick, Jeffrey Dick and John Stride; great-grandchildren, Jacob Dick and Elizabeth Dick; and five stepgrandchildren.  He was preceded in death by daughter, Eileen Stride Vetiello; one stepgrandchild; as well as two brothers, Richard N. Stride and Robert M. Stride.

Sunday's Easter crowd will be the last big holiday the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant staff will serve before closing its doors on April 7. After serving its country-style meals for 16 years at 10530 Buchanan Trail East in Waynesboro, the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant is closing. “It's time that we condense down and get a little more focused, and see if we can do a better job at our other location (in Thurmont, Md.),” said Keith McCleaf, of the McCleaf family who owns the Mountain Gate Family Restaurants in Waynesboro and Thurmont.

Northbound U.S. 15 at Md. 550 in Thurmont was closed Wednesday morning due to a diesel fuel spill from a tractor-trailer, Maryland State Police said in a news release. The incident took place at about 4:36 a.m., police said. About 40 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the tractor-trailer's saddle tank, the release said. Units from area fire companies and the State Highway Administration were at the scene, and Maryland Environmental Protection was en route, according to police.

Auditions for the Thurmont Thespians Spring Musical, "Grey Gardens" will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, through Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the St. John's Lutheran Church Social Hall, 15 N. Church St. in Thurmont.  The musical will be Fridays through Sundays, March 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 at the Thurmont American Legion Auditorium. There are 13 singing roles available, some of which can be doubled, if necessary or desired. The female roles are as follows: one woman —60s to 70s; two women - 40s; one woman - 20s and two young girls - 7 to 13 years old. The male roles are as follows: two men - 60s  to 70s; two men — 20s; one man — 20s to 30s who can also play the piano and one or two black men - 20s to 40s. For more information about these auditions contact director Beth Royer Watson at 301-416-0864.

A 21-year-old Thurmont, Md., man died Friday night after a two-vehicle crash east of Smithsburg, according to Maryland State Police. Vincent Charles Healy Jr., of 13618 Tower Road, was transported from the scene to Meritus Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, police said. Healy was riding a 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle west on Foxville Road (Md. 77) when a GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling east on Md. 77 turned left onto Pleasant Valley Road and into his path, police said.

 "Gidion's Knot" is coming to  the Maryland State One Act Play Festival in January 2013. The Thurmont Thespians will enter it and Spencer Watson will be directing. The role of Heather is filled. The role of Dr. Corryn Fell is open. Auditions are at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, and Monday, Aug. 27, at the St. John's Lutheran Church Social Hall, 15 North Church Street (Md. 550) in Thurmont. For more information, contact Watson at spencer.watson@myactv.net or 240-285-3503.

The following area students were awarded dean's list honors for the spring semester at St. Mary's College of Maryland: Thomas Barry of Frederick, Md. Laura Bell of Hagerstown Allyson Bloom of Frederick Hannah Boward of Hagerstown Jacqueline Brady of Thurmont, Md. Rachel Braunstein of Myersville, Md. Sarah Brown of Rohrersville Frances Caroscio of Hagerstown Christopher Coghill of Jefferson, Md. Zachary Rowan Copley...

Mr. Charles Thomas Spalding Sr., 81, of 150 E. Franklin St., Greencastle, Pa., died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, 2012, at his home following a lengthy illness. Born March 6, 1931, in Thurmont, Md., he was the son of the late Horace Francis and Helen (Fogle) Spalding. He spent his early life in Thurmont before moving to Hagerstown and later Greencastle, where he lived for 48 years. Mr. Spalding attended Hagerstown schools. He and his wife, Mary Janet (Kendle) Spalding, were married Dec. 9, 1949, in Hagerstown, Md. Mr. Spalding was employed by M.P. Moller for 40 years as a pipe maker before retiring in 1992.

Protesters speaking out against genocide in Ethiopia took to Thurmont's main intersection Saturday, when a G-8 Summit in nearby Camp David was scheduled to wrap up. Police in riot gear stood in rows in the street as dozens of protesters held signs, waved flags, chanted and shouted messages through bullhorns. Their target was Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zanawi, whom they accused of being “one of the worst human rights violators in the world,” according to a two-page packet protesters distributed.