Washington Street

Heavy rainstorms swept through parts of Morgan County early Saturday evening, dropping 4 to 6 inches of rain in about three hours.  In a matter of minutes, the quickly rising floodwaters put much of downtown Berkeley Springs under several feet of water shortly before 7 p.m.  “It was incredible,” Richard Boldt of Richmond, Va., said Sunday. “I've never seen it come up this fast.”  Boldt said he came to town with his wife to visit the town's historic bathhouses in Berkeley Springs State Park, along U.S. 522.  But that wasn't possible, as most of the park was under 3 to 5 feet of water before the flooding receded late Saturday night.

Greencastle, Pa., residents Logan Gochenauer, left, 6, and his friend Nathaniel Seylar, also 6, enjoy a ride Wednesday at the Resue Hose Co. Carnival at the Special Events Center grounds off Washington Street. The annual carnival runs through Saturday.

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - A motorist struck the post office in Harpers Ferry with his vehicle Thursday morning, Harpers Ferry Police Chief Donald Buracker said. Buracker said he believes the man might have struck the post office after mistakenly hitting his gas pedal instead of the brakes about 10 a.m. An inside wall in the post office along Washington Street was pushed in, but the accident did not disrupt postal operations, Buracker said. Buracker did not have the name of the man, who sustained minor injuries.

The following animals recently were found and taken to the Humane Society of Washington County. If you think your pet is among those listed, you may visit the Humane Society of Washington County at 13011 Maugansville Road. The shelter's business hours are: Sunday, closed; Monday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These animals may be made available for adoption after five days.

A portion of Potomac Street in Hagerstown will be closed from 4:30 until about 11 p.m. Friday due to the City Center Bike Night event downtown, according to a City of Hagerstown news release. The closure will affect North Potomac Street between Franklin and Washington streets, and South Potomac Street between Washington and Antietam streets, the release said. South Potomac Street between Washington Street and Antietam Street, and North Potomac Street will close at the same time between Franklin Street and Washington Street, according to the city of Hagerstown.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office received reports on the following incidents from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday: A burglary was reported in the 10300 block of Auto Place. Vandalism was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A vehicle was reported stolen in the 14200 block of Marsh Pike. A theft was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A theft was reported in the 17500 block of Taylors Landing Road. A theft from a vehicle was reported in the 21200 block of Twin Springs Drive.

The Hagerstown City Council this week approved a resolution that clears the way for the city to buy a downtown property while keeping a commercial tenant in place. The city has an option and purchase agreement to buy 43-53 W. Washington St. from Hagerstown Table Corp. for $320,000, Downtown Manager Andrew Sargent said Wednesday. However, the owners of the business occupying 49-53 W. Washington St., Potomac Bead Co., had the right of first refusal to purchase the entire combined parcel, he said.

Here is the Morning MoJo Report for Wednesday, April 3: * As of 7 a.m., traffic was sluggish on I-270 southbound and I-495 in both directions, but was running fine on all the other interstates throughout the area, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation's interactive mapping page on its website. * The MARC Train, Light Rail, commuter buses, metro bus service and mobility service were all running on time and operating on their regular schedules, according to the Maryland Transit Administration's website at http://mta.maryland.gov .      * The second floor of the MARC BWI Parking garage will be closed through April 6, according to the MTA website.

The left lane of North Potomac Street is closed between Franklin Street and Washington Street while the sidewalk on that side is closed between Franklin Street and the M&T Bank property at 32-34 N. Potomac St. so work crews can install a new water service at 36-40 N. Potomac St., the City of Hagerstown said in a traffic advisory. The sidewalk and the street require excavation for the project, according to the city. Closure is expected to remain in effect until 4 p.m. Friday, according to the city.

A Hagerstown Police Department spokesman said Sunday night that investigators were still trying to determine what led to the shooting of two men outside a bar in the West End of Hagerstown early Sunday. Investigators believed the disturbance occurred outside the bar at 5 Nottingham Road and involved only the shooter and the two victims, Sgt. John Lehman of the Criminal Investigation Division said. Nottingham Road is off Washington Street. The bar is close to the intersection of the streets.

“The Obama administration is going ahead with plans to give 200 Abrams tanks and 20 F-16s to Egypt, which is now under the control of the Muslim Brotherhood. Since these weapons are no longer in production, this deal will degrade U.S. defense capabilities, and will jeopardize Israel's very existence.” - Hagerstown “I'm calling about the kids' playland that grandparents, parents and fathers take their kids to, and these kids that are sick that sneeze, blow their nose, wipe their nose with their hands, and then touch everything, and it makes all the other kids sick.

Council members OK pumper purchase for fire company Hagerstown City Council members Tuesday night approved the purchase of a pumper to replace an engine at the First Hagerstown Hose Co. Council members approved spending $447,017 for a pumper from Kovatck Mobile Equipment, according to the city. First Hagerstown Hose Co. has agreed to contribute $150,000 and the city's share is $297,017, according to the city. Street closures approved for special events A list of street closures for special events in Hagerstown this year were approved by Hagerstown City Council members Tuesday night.

Cats Adult domestic short- hair, male, brown and gray, found on Resh Road in Hagerstown Young DSH, female, gray, black and orange, found on Castle Drive in Cascade Adult DSH, female, orange and white, found on Castle Drive in Cascade Adult DSH, male, buff, found on Hopewell Road in Hagerstown Adult domestic medium-hair, female, black and tan, found on Hopewell Road Adult DSH, female, black and white, found on Washington Street...

Through an informal vote Tuesday night, the Hagerstown City Council gave its approval for city staff to entertain purchase offers on a city-owned property on Public Square. Later in the work session meeting at City Hall, the five-member council also informally agreed to authorize staff to enter into negotiations to purchase a blighted building along West Washington Street. Both actions, the sale of property at 11, 12, 15 and 16 Public Square as well as the “strategic” acquisition and preparation for resale of 43-53 W. Washington St., are steps toward turning city-owned or blighted properties in Hagerstown's downtown back over to private hands, according to John Lestitian, the city's director of community and economic development.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office received reports on the following incidents from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday: A burglary was reported in the 10300 block of Auto Place. Vandalism was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A vehicle was reported stolen in the 14200 block of Marsh Pike. A theft was reported in the 17700 block of Virginia Avenue. A theft was reported in the 17500 block of Taylors Landing Road. A theft from a vehicle was reported in the 21200 block of Twin Springs Drive.

The unit block of West Washington Street in Hagerstown has been closed to traffic while workers fix the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit on the roof of the Washington County office building, officials said. A Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher said the road probably would be closed until at least 1:15 p.m.