Volvo Powertrain

Volvo Powertrain North America is donating a $20,000 piece of equipment, used to test manufactured parts, to Williamsport High School's manufacturing and pre-engineering program, Washington County Public Schools officials said. The Board of Education voted unanimously March 5 to accept the donation. School board President Justin Hartings said it was a generous gift. The coordinates machine determines how accurate a manufactured item is to the drawing for the item, according to George Phillips, supervisor of enrichment and career technology education.

Volvo Powertrain, at 13302 Pennsylvania Ave. in Hagerstown, presented the Humane Society of Washington County with 600 pounds of Pedigree puppy food on March 30. The puppy food was donated by employees during a companywide collection to help the shelter provide for incoming puppies during the busy spring season. Dale Williams, an employee at Volvo Powertrain, transported the food to the shelter. "Everyone was really excited to help. The company promoted the collection by running information about the shelter's need for puppy food on the closed-circuit TV system," Williams said.

Volvo Powertrain dedicated its new engine development laboratory on Friday at its Washington County plant. The lab will be used to help Volvo meet tighter heavy-truck engine emissions standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is phasing in. See Saturday's Herald-Mail for the full story.

HAGERSTOWN Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown might get a $2 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to complete development of a heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle. The money is included in a version of the Department of Defense 2008 spending bill, which must be approved by the Senate, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md. That debate and vote have not been scheduled. The project with Volvo Powertrain is aimed at reducing dangerous emissions and improving fuel economy, said John Walsh, spokesman for Mack Trucks Inc., which is part of the Volvo Group.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved the Department of Defense 2008 spending bill, which includes $2 million for Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown. The money would fund a contract to finish development of a heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle for the Air Force. The Senate's version of the spending bill, which must go to conference before being voted on by both houses of Congress, includes $74.5 million for defense projects in Maryland, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md.

Plumes of diesel exhaust billowing out of the stacks of a Mack truck is a "picture that belongs in the history books," David Perkins of the United Auto Workers said Thursday during a teleconference. The union president of Local 171 at Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown was taking part in the National Wildlife Federation teleconference to tout the benefits of new federal fuel-efficiency standards. Newer engine technologies mean more power and torque produced with less fuel and fewer emissions, Perkins said.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved the Department of Defense 2008 spending bill, which includes $2 million for Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown. The money would fund a contract to finish development of a heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle for the Air Force. The Senate's version of the spending bill, which must go to conference before being voted on by both houses of Congress, includes $74.5 million for defense projects in Maryland, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md.

Three Hagerstown Community College students recently completed internships at Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown. HCC student Brandon Sloan of Knoxville, Md., was the first to complete an internship. He began his internship in fall 2007 and continued through spring 2008 under the guidance of internship mentor Frank Guthrie. Sloan's internship project incorporated racking and tooling redesigns, as well as process improvement methods. According to Sloan, he also worked with fellow intern Jeff Ward to create three-dimensional virtual models of a new assembly line.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Sixty-five jobs at Volvo Powertrain North America's Washington County plant were cut last month, the company said Tuesday as it announced a larger round of layoffs in Sweden. Spokeswoman Ilse Ghysens said the Washington County jobs mostly were white collar and were from a range of departments. Ghysens said the cuts were connected to the effects of a rough economy. "It was a very bad downturn all of a sudden in Europe," she said. The local cuts took effect Oct. 23, Ghysens said.

Volvo Powertrain officials met Thursday with U.S. Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin, both D-Md., to thank them for the federal investment being made in the Hybrid Electric Engine project at the Volvo Powertrain facility in Hagerstown. It was reported in November 2007 that Volvo Powertrain in Hagerstown would receive $2 million under the Department of Defense 2008 spending bill. The money is to be used to fund a contract to finish development of a heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle.

Children's Village to host Kids Alive Fest Children's Village of Washington County will host its 22nd annual Kids Alive Fest Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. The event will be held rain or shine. Scheduled activities: helicopter landing, 11 a.m., Maryland State Police Aviation, weather/emergency calls permitting; K-9 demonstration, noon (Maryland Correctional Institution); auto extrication demonstration, 1 p.m. (Maugansville Fire Co.); and Ronald McDonald Safety Show, 2 p.m. Additional activities: Child IDs using MdCHIP program (Grand Lodge of Maryland)

After donning a bright yellow vest and plastic safety glasses, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown got to see what goes on behind the scenes at the Mack/Volvo Powertrain manufacturing plant during a Friday afternoon tour of the facility north of Hagerstown. “It's exciting,” Brown said. “We've got nearly 1,400 employees in skilled jobs, family-supporting jobs. And that Volvo calls Maryland home, that means a lot to us.” Brown's visit included time to meet with Volvo officials privately before the tour to talk about potential state partnerships with the large Washington County employer on future job-growth initiatives and plant expansion.

The Rotary Club of Long Meadows recently inducted two new members. The club selected Dave Pembroke and Bill Swartz for membership. Pembroke represents the profession of lawyers in the club. Rotarian Vince Groh sponsored Pembroke for membership in the club. The club also selected Swartz of Volvo Powertrain. Swartz was proposed for membership by Frank Morrisey, also of Volvo Powertrain. Rotarian Magnus Dahlgren conducted the ceremony and Thomas E. Lynch III served as keynote speaker.

Volvo Powertrain North America is donating a $20,000 piece of equipment, used to test manufactured parts, to Williamsport High School's manufacturing and pre-engineering program, Washington County Public Schools officials said. The Board of Education voted unanimously March 5 to accept the donation. School board President Justin Hartings said it was a generous gift. The coordinates machine determines how accurate a manufactured item is to the drawing for the item, according to George Phillips, supervisor of enrichment and career technology education.

Reality doesn't get much harder than being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. A cruel and steady wasting of neuromuscular functions that paralyzes its victims inch by inch, it's often more kindly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease - named for the famous Yankee slugger who received his diagnosis in 1939. But there is nothing kind about ALS. There is no meaningful treatment. No cure. No magic pill that will reverse the symptoms. It's a taker - stealing the body's supply of strength and agility, the use of limbs and the ability to speak and swallow.

Scheduled meetings this week of the Washington County Commissioners and Hagerstown Mayor and Council (the Board of Education will not meet this week): WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Volvo Powertrain 13302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown Tuesday, July 24, 8:30 a.m. Agenda • 8:30 a.m.: Business visit and tour of Volvo Powertrain, 13302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown • 10:30 a.m.: Closed session (to consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to expand or remain in the State)

Jeffrey Kemp Sperry, 56, of Kearneysville, W.Va., died Sunday, June 24, 2012, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. Mr. Sperry was born July 17, 1955, in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., the son of Charles Franklin and Virginia Jones Sperry. Jeff was a devoted and loving Christian husband to his childhood sweetheart, Bettina Ann Sperry, where their marriage was centered in Christ. They were married and became one on Jan. 4, 2010, in Middletown, Va., at Grace United Methodist Church. The couple became family members of Grace United Methodist on their first wedding anniversary.

Richard and Donna Schnurr of Williamsport celebrated their 50th anniversary March 25, 2012, at a surprise party held by their children and grandchildren. The Schnurrs were married March 23, 1962, at First Baptist Church by the Rev. G. Bartow Harris. The Schnurrs have two children and six grandchildren: Kimberly Hay and her husband, Richard, and their children Lauren, Connor and Morgan, of Greencastle Pa.; and Jeffrey Schnurr and his wife Kim, and children Jared, Ryan and Julie, of Williamsport.

On a tour of Volvo Powertrain's 1.5 million square-foot manufacturing facility outside Hagerstown Friday, up-and-coming community leaders were warned not to touch the engine parts or machinery, but were encouraged to place their hands against the tiny holes in what looked like a large punching bag suspended from the ceiling, to feel the air rushing out. The device, tour guide Lamar Sease explained, is how fresh, clean air is circulated into the...

 Monday, April 9 - American Red Cross Donor Center, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagerstown, noon to 6 p.m.  Monday, April 9 - Elks Lodge, 11063 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, 1 to 7 p.m.  Monday, April 9 - Williamsport American Legion, 400 American Legion Drive, Williamsport, 1 to 7 p.m.  Tuesday, April 10 - Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Wednesday, April 11...