Wal Mart

Edward Jones to host Savage broadcast The six local Edward Jones financial advisers will host a free broadcast presentation entitled, "Take Charge of Your Financial Security" on Tuesday, May 8, at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Syndicated personal financial columnist Terry Savage will provide practical strategies for moving forward to secure one's financial future. The interactive event will be presented at select Edward Jones branch offices nationwide via the firm's private video network.

julieg@herald-mail.com Thousands of Hagerstown-area shoppers and diners had to alter their plans Saturday afternoon after a hit-and-run accident caused power to go out at half of the Centre at Hagerstown, including Wal-Mart and several restaurants. As dozens of cars were streaming out of the Centre, many other shoppers were driving in, not knowing Wal-Mart had closed. "We just came up and they told us it was closed. We came from Martinsburg," said Edward Sines, 48. Sines and some other shoppers stayed for a while to see if the store would reopen quickly.

Police log 2/19 Pa. authorities probe forged check case CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are looking for information on a woman who cashed a forged check for more than a $1,000 at a local Wal-Mart this month. The woman cashed the forged check for $1,439.64 at Wal-Mart, 1730 Lincoln Way East in Guilford Township, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10, police said. The woman is described as white with long black hair and a pierced tongue. Anyone with information on the woman can call Pennsylvania State Police at 717-264-3518 and reference case H3-1176286.

The Hagerstown Planning Commission on Wednesday night approved the site plan for a bigger Martin's Food Market on the site of the former Wal-Mart on Wesel Boulevard, a city planning official said Thursday. The commission also approved a requested waiver so the project doesn't have to meet the requirements of the forest conservation law, said Stephen R. Bockmiller, development planner/zoning administrator for the city. The commission required the developer to plant some trees along the side of the property adjacent to Sam's Club and in a grassy oval area behind the future grocery store, Bockmiller said.

julieg@herald-mail.com While store employees were surprised to learn Wednesday that Ames will be closing its remaining stores, some shoppers expected the news. "I was almost expecting it," said Lisa Easter, shopping at Ames in the shopping center on Dual Highway on Wednesday. The Ames south of Charleston, W.Va., where she has relatives, closed last Christmas, Easter said. Ames Department Stores Inc. announced Wednesday morning that all 327 stores would close in approximately 10 weeks, leaving 22,000 people without jobs.

The Dollar Tree store on Wesel Boulevard closed last week after sales decreased dramatically following Wal-Mart's move to a different shopping center, the district manager said Thursday. The Dollar Tree at Valley Park Commons closed on March 10, said Ken Sullivan, district manager. The Wal-Mart moved to the Centre at Hagerstown in June 2000. Sullivan wouldn't say how many people were employed at the Wesel Boulevard store. Most of them transferred to other stores, but a few people chose to leave the company, he said.

WALKERSVILLE, Md. -- Walkersville Middle School celebrated the second day of the year with big news. Thanks to a winning essay submitted by a teacher, the school received $8,000 toward supplies from Wal-Mart. Rebecca Remsburg, who teaches language arts, entered her description of the school's needs to Wal-Mart's national "Write to Change the Classroom" program. Her entry was one of just 20 nationwide tapped for honors. Of the prize money, half was awarded in school supplies for Remsburg's classroom and the remainder in funds toward purchases for the entire school.

HAGERSTOWN - Paparazzi followed pop star Britney Spears' soon-to-be-ex-husband to Wal-Mart in Hagerstown on Friday, causing store officials to call police to control the commotion. James Hornsby, Wal-Mart store manager, said Kevin Federline and two of his bodyguards came into the store to buy food, clothing and video games. "They were on their way to Washington, D.C.," Hornsby said. "He said it was the second time in our store. " Federline signed pictures after shoppers recognized him, Hornsby said.

A man who robbed a bank at Wal-Mart in Hagerstown still was at large Thursday night, according to the Hagerstown Police Department. The robber - described as a white man about 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, and between the ages of 35 and 45 - left Fidelity Bank with an undisclosed amount of cash about 3:30 p.m., according to a department press release. He walked out of Wal-Mart and toward The Home Depot before getting into a light-colored conversion-style van parked outside, according to the release.

andrews@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - A man strolled naked outside at the Centre at Hagerstown on Tuesday before police took him to Washington County Hospital for psychiatric care. "He just got undressed" and walked, Officer Chris Robinson of the Hagerstown Police Department said. The man, who was not identified, "was lucid at points," but didn't fully understand what had happened, Robinson said. Robinson said the man, who might be homeless, would not be charged.