Tri State Area

A steroid linked to a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis has not been used at area hospitals, officials said Monday. The number of deaths rose Monday by one to eight, with another fatality in Tennessee, according to The Associated Press. The number of people sickened by the meningitis outbreak rose Monday to 105, with reported cases in Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio, according to health officials. Investigators suspect a steroid medication made by a specialty pharmacy might be to blame, the AP reported.

A tornado watch remained in effect in Washington County and other parts of the Tri-State area Tuesday as a cold front accompanied by heavy rain moved through the region. The watch, affecting Washington and Frederick counties as well as Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia, is in effect through 7 p.m., the National Weather Service reported. Southern Washington County is under a flash flood warning until 4:45 p.m. Southern Washington County and parts of Frederick and Jefferson counties were under a severe thunderstorm warning effective until 1:30 p.m., the weather service reported.

An intense line of thunderstorms moved through eastern Washington County and into Frederick County on Tuesday morning, and at one point about 1,200 people were without power in and around Smithsburg, according to weather and power utility officials. Six power poles were knocked down and Potomac Edison crews worked throughout the day to replace the poles and string new power lines, Potomac Edison spokesman Dave Kline said Tuesday night. Potomac Edison reported that 886 people in the 21783 ZIP code in eastern Washington County were without power as of 8:06 p.m. By 9:09 p.m., the number of customers without power in the area had been reduced to 268, according to Potomac Edison's website.

Leave Hancock library in the park To the editor: I think the Hancock Library should be in the park. The park offers a quiet atmosphere where families can enjoy time away from the downtown traffic and congestion. Hancock is a historic town that should be revitalized, but it should be done in a way to showcase the history of the area, as many small towns have done. The old buildings are an asset to the town. Many businesses have moved out of town, so why would the library want to build a modern structure in a town where the businesses no longer exist?

A strong line of thunderstorms swept through the Tri-State area Wednesday afternoon, producing high winds that temporarily knocked out power to thousands of people in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Winds began picking up in Hagerstown around 2:30 p.m. as the storm blew in from the northwest. The highest gust recorded in Hagerstown was 48 mph, according to local weather observer Greg Keefer's website, www.i4weather.net. The gusts brought down several trees and limbs around Hagerstown, which affected one electric circuit in the North End of the city, said Michael Spiker, director of Hagerstown's utility department.

Ominous dark clouds began rolling into the Clear Spring area around 5 p.m. Tuesday, as the town's yearly Independence Day celebration got under way on the grounds of Plumb Grove Mansion. A vendor at the seventh annual event, Sam Spinder of Old Country Kettle Korn, based in Greencastle, Pa., said it was his second year coming to the community festival, but he wasn't worried about the weather forecast. “Last year, it was kind of a similar day as it is today, but for about 30 minutes it poured like you couldn't imagine,” Spinder said.

The Tri-State Farm Toy Collectors Club recently awarded two scholarships to area students. Lauren Cronise, a graduate of Boonsboro High School, received a $500 scholarship. She plans to attend West Virginia Wesleyan College and major in environmental science. Crystal Welling, a graduate of Clear Spring High School, also received a $500 scholarship. She plans to attend Wilson College and major in animal science. The scholarships are awarded annually to students in the Tri-State area who plan to study in the natural resources/agriculture-related fields.

Thousands of Eastern Panhandle, W.Va., residents still reeling from violent storms Friday night struggled through another day without electricity Sunday as temperatures soared into the 90s and the humidity reached as high as 96 percent in parts of the Tri-State area. Joann Linaburg stood on the front porch of her home at 115 A N. Alabama Ave. wondering when the utility crews working down the street might have her electricity restored. Linaburg, who was without power following the storms, said she was staying “somewhat” cool in her house by keeping everything closed up. She said some of her neighbors went to stay elsewhere, but she was going to wait it out. “Me and my little fuzzy dog are staying here.

The National Weather Service said Washington County residents can expect more blistering hot weather Sunday, with a high near 97 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms could move in today after 2 p.m. Today's low is expected to be in the mid-60s. Heather Sheffield, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said temperatures in the Tri-State area will remain above average this week. The average high for this time of year is 88 degrees. “It doesn't look like we're going to get much of a break,” she said.

Hagerstown resident Ed Reed was vocal Thursday about his support for the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of President Obama's historic health care law. “It's a good law, and more people will be insured,” he said. “Somebody had to do something.” Reed, 70, was among area residents who offered their reactions   to the high court's ruling that also validated the constitutionality of a controversial individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance.