Virginia

With his senior year still in front of him, Hagerstown resident Christian Binford has set the course for his baseball future after he graduates from Mercersburg Academy. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-hander has made a verbal commitment to the University of Virginia that will become official when he inks scholarship papers during the November signing period. "I've always wanted to play college baseball and I think the Atlantic Coast Conference has the best baseball," Binford said from Marietta, Ga., where he is playing in the Perfect Game Tournament.

NOV. 24, 1922-MARCH 27, 2011 Virginia A. Maun Myers, 88, of 5735 Royer Road, Greencastle, Pa., passed away Sunday, March 27, 2011, at her home. Born Friday, Nov. 24, 1922, in Williamson, Pa., she was the daughter of the late George Ira Maun and the late Rosa Clara Perry Maun. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold K. Myers, in 1986. Virginia was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She is survived by three daughters, Connie M. Bell and husband, Gary, of Middletown, Md., Brenda B. Myers of Hagerstown, Md., and JoEllen M. Wright and husband, Thomas, of Greencastle; one son, Floyd M. Myers Sr. and wife, Lu, of Greencastle; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Niccolo Machiavelli would be proud to sit in the Virginia legislature with so many like-minded shysters. His enemies called him “Old Nick” - the devil himself - because of his straightforward praise for amoral conduct by those who rule. His very famous book, “The Prince,” published in 1537, is full of devious but acceptable ways for rulers to maintain power. Perhaps the best-known maxim of statecraft created in history is found in “The Prince.” In part it declares, “… and in the actions of men, and especially of princes, from which there is no appeal, the end justifies the means.” This is an unvarnished appeal for political amorality - the absence of any moral consideration in the conduct of those who rule.

The fourth annual Footin' For Animals non-competitive 5K and 10K fun walk/run to benefit the Briggs Animal Adoption Center is rain or shine Saturday, Nov. 3, at the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Farm in Boyce, Va. There is a registration fee of $30, which includes a T-shirt. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.; walk/run starts at 10 a.m. For information, call 304-724-6558 or visit www.baacs.org.

NOV. 1, 1959-OCT. 21, 2009 Ms. Virginia Z. Powers, 49, of 11901 Indian Lane in Hagerstown, Md., was pronounced dead Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at 3:20 p.m. at her home. Born Nov. 1, 1959, in Heidelberg, Germany, she was the daughter of Traute Ellen (Schenzel) Hess and the late Bonifacio S. Zamora. She lived her early life in Germany, Alabama and Georgia. Ms. Powers graduated from Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany, with the class of 1977. She then attended Hagerstown Junior College for two years and later received her bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland in 1982.

S. Virginia Bingaman, 88 NOV. 24, 1920-MARCH 20, 2009 WAYNESBORO, Pa. - S. Virginia Bartles Bakner Bingaman, 88, of 133 N. Grant St., died Friday, March 20, 2009, at the home of her daughter, Priscilla A. Hess. Born Nov. 24, 1920, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late Charles Cademus and Nora Christina May Shank Bartles. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clarence Marion Bakner, in 1955. They were married Oct. 3, 1940. She was preceded in death by her second husband, Norman L. Bingaman, in 1995.

Luray Caverns is an easy day trip from the Tri-State area - but the destination seems like another world. The 400-million-year-old caverns in Luray, Va. - about one hour and 45 minutes southwest of Hagerstown in the Shenandoah Valley - span 64 acres under the earth's surface. Brilliantly colored chambers filled with towering stone columns, shimmering pools, icicle-shaped stalactites and stalagmites and the world's only stalacpipe organ stretch 10 stories high - making Luray Caverns the largest cave system in the eastern United States, and the fourth largest system in the country, caverns spokesman John Shaffer says.

A youth group from Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., spent the week of July 13 to 17 volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. The group spent their first two days salvaging materials from Asad Ghattas' property at 1219 Mount Aetna Road prior to its demolition. The rest of the week was spent helping in Habitat's new ReStore. Before leaving July 17, group leader Wally Hampshire presented a $500 donation to Habitat. The youth group has volunteered with Habitat for many years.

Four men arrested Thursday in Virginia were charged in connection with a multistate ATM theft ring, placing Washington County investigators on the waiting list to see whether the men are linked to ATM thefts at two Hagerstown Trust branches in September and November. See Saturday's Herald-Mail for the full story.

Boonsboro Family Worship Center, 7605 Old National Pike, a Mother's Day gospel sing will be Sunday at 6 p.m. Restoration is a Southern gospel music group based in central Virginia. Mount Zion Church, 14336 Greencastle Pike, Cearfoss, the Down Home Gospel Singers will be in concert Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

A. Virginia Deshong, 88, of Mercersburg, Pa., died Tuesday, May 14, 2013. A viewing will be Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lininger-Fries Funeral Home Inc., Mercersburg. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens, Apopka, Fla.

Mildred Hays never set out to make it to 100 years old. But then, as a mother of 10 children and widowed in her mid-30s, she didn't have much time to think about it. “I was just doing everyday living,” she said. “But I'm thankful to be 100.” Hays hit that milestone April 28, and on Saturday, about 160 family members gathered at Virginia Avenue Church of God to celebrate with her. Many were locals, while others traveled from Montana, Massachusetts, Michigan and Florida.

Civil War cannons that occupied Doubleday Hill in Williamsport from the late 1800s until they were removed in 2000 returned to their home during a ceremony Saturday. Williamsport Town Councilman Scott Bragunier coordinated the historic project, through which the cannons were sent away to Kentucky firm Steen Cannons for restoration. Bragunier said in 1896, U.S. Sen. Louis E. McComas donated the tubes that had been stockpiled following the war. The town of Williamsport mounted the tubes on bricks and dedicated them on Doubleday Hill on July 4, 1897.

Strike Out Cancer Night rescheduled again MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Martinsburg High School baseball team will host the seventh annual Strike Out Cancer Night on Monday at P.O. Faulkner Park in Martinsburg. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:45 p.m. followed by the Bulldog varsity baseball team taking on the opposing Washington High School Patriots at 7 p.m. There will be cancer donation and information booths throughout the ballpark as well as a memorial and survivor wall.

Virginia Linton Butts, 95, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at her home. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. prior to the service Friday at Brown Funeral Home in Martinsburg. The service will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. John R. Yost officiating. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery.

Potomac Edison will spend $55 million this year in an effort to limit power outages in Maryland and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, company officials said Tuesday. James V. Fakult, vice president of Potomac Edison and president of FirstEnergy's Maryland Operations, said about a third of the money, about $17 million, will be used to trim trees to keep them from falling onto power lines in Washington, Allegany, Frederick and Garrett counties in Maryland, and in Berkeley County in West Virginia.

After 14 games against Delmarva and Lakewood to start the season, the Hagerstown Suns found a different opponent and one to their disliking on Thursday. Beginning a four-game series, the Suns fell to West Virginia 7-4. The Suns (8-7) struck in the first inning for a 1-0 lead on a walk to Mike McQuillan and a fielding error allowing McQuillan to reach second. With one out, McQuillan scored on a groundout by Wander Ramos. West Virginia (7-8) reached Ronald Pena for a single run in the third for a 1-1 tie before the Suns went ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning.

The City of Hagerstown says hydrant flushing will take place Monday, April 22, through Friday, May 17, in the following areas: Areas along Virginia Avenue from Williamsport to the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks including the areas of Williamsport, Cloverton, Interstate Industrial Park, Governor Lane Boulevard, Elmwood Farms, VanLear, Tammany Manor, Hickory School Area, Valley Mall and Wesel Boulevard. The city cautions water customers in those areas to frequently check their water supply for discolored water conditions which may occur because of this work, particularly when using automatic washing machines.

A West Virginia woman died after the vehicle she was riding in crashed Wednesday on Apple Harvest Drive (W.Va. 45) southwest of Martinsburg, according to West Virginia State Police. The woman's name was not immediately released pending notification of next of kin, troopers said. The crash in the 8700 block of Apple Harvest Drive near Loop Road was reported at 5:11 p.m., a Berkeley County emergency communications supervisor said. The woman was thrown from the vehicle, troopers said.