Washington County

A local group has recommended that Washington County help pay for every county high school graduate to go to college locally. The proposal, made Friday at a Greater Hagerstown Committee meeting, is based on a similar program started six years ago in Garrett County, Md. There, 44 percent of the 2011 graduating seniors attended Garrett College, according to the Greater Hagerstown Committee Education Forum, which has been studying college and...

Washington County capital projects are scheduled to receive $23.2 million in the next fiscal year out of a proposed state capital budget of $1.5 billion. Those state figures do not include another $2.1 billion being proposed as part of the capital budget for the Department of Transportation. In Washington County, the Winebrenner Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is on Pen-Mar Road near Fort Ritchie, will receive $9.1 million for miscellaneous improvements. Hagerstown Community College will receive $4.5 million for expansion of its student center and another $666,000 to replace the roof at its Athletic, Recreation and Community Center.

Marathon might be the only word to describe it. The Washington County delegation will spend Tuesday meeting with various interest groups and members of the public as the legislators prepare for the General Assembly session that begins Jan. 9 in Annapolis. The delegation's day will begin at 7:30 a.m. when it meets with the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and will conclude at about 8 p.m. after the delegates have answered questions from the public and listened to their comments.

A Better Shredder will host a free shredding event for the public on Saturday, Nov. 17, from noon to 3 p.m. in the back parking lot of the Williamsport Moose Lodge at 119 Conococheague St.  A donation for the shredding will be requested and all proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Washington County. A Better Shredder requests four boxes per person, and all forms of paper can be shredded. “There is no need to worry about removing plastic covers, staples or plastic binders because we can go straight through them,” said Clint Rawlings of A Better Shredder.

The following incidents were reported to the Washington County Sheriff's Office from 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday: A burglary was reported in the 300 block of Pangborn Boulevard. Vandalism was reported in the 100 block of Salisbury Street. A vehicle was stolen on South Conococheague Street. A vehicle was stolen in the 21300 block of Twin Springs Drive. A theft was reported in the 19200 block of Swinging Bridge Road. A theft was reported in the 17900 block of Leona Avenue.

  The Humane Society of Washington County continues to experience shortages of supplies due to the continued large intake of kittens, puppies, cats and dogs.  It is asking the public for its assistance. The shelter is asking for donations of the following food items: cheese in the spray cans, canned chicken, Vienna sausages and peanut butter. The shelter also needs toys for dogs and cats, but especially dogs. Interactive toys for the dogs such as Kongs, stuffable toys, puzzle-type toys, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

The following are government closings for the Easter holiday: • Washington County government offices will be closed  Friday for the Easter holiday, officials said in a news release. County Commuter Transit services will operate as usual on Friday. All Landfill locations will close on Friday, but will operate on the Saturday schedule as usual. The county Highways Department, which has resumed a 10-hour, four-day work week, will be closed Thursday. Public-safety services will be provided as usual.

Washington County Sheriff's Office investigators are looking for the public's help in identifying a man after electronics, personal items and cash were stolen from the Washington County administration building at 100 W. Washington St. The man, described as a black man being 30- to 40-years-old, entered the building Nov. 5 and 6 and Nov. 18, according to a news release. The man was wearing a tan coat with a white hoodie under it, police said. It was unclear if the man was in the building during the day, said sheriff's office spokeswoman Carly Hose.

Six Hagerstown businesses have been fined by Washington County liquor officials for allegedly selling alcohol to minors. The fines were levied Wednesday during hearings held by the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County at its office on West Washington Street in Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Police Department conducted compliance checks on June 9 and 16. The following businesses were fined: Nikko Japanese Steakhouse, 1580 Wesel Blvd., first offense, $500 fine.

About four in 10 Americans will start 2013 by making New Year's resolutions. Almost nine of 10 who do so will fall short of achieving their goals, according to the Statistic Brain website. The top resolutions each year are along familiar themes, according to the website USA.gov: Lose weight, quit smoking, get fit and eat healthier are among the lifestyle goals. Others make resolutions about their careers, education or managing debt, the website said. Some local officials shared their thoughts on New Year's resolutions in general and for 2013 in particular.