December 25, 2008 / Front Page

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Greetings at Christmas

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Carlson To Lead Vo-Tech School JOC

Brant to serve as vice president
By Chanin Rotz-Mountz STAFF WRITER

Central Fulton School Board Director Dr. More...

New Open Records Law Seen As Key To Public Access

By PETER JACKSON ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's list of dangerous roads and intersections is an official secret, shielded from the public because of loopholes in the state's Right-to-Know Law. More...

Local & State

Pa. SPCA Officers To Carry Guns In 2009

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Humane officers in Pennsylvania will soon start carrying guns as part of an SPCA policy change made to ensure officers' safety. More...

Snowball Raises $10,100

McConnellsburg SADD Annual Fundraiser

McConnellsburg SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) held its annual Snowball on Saturday, December 13, 2008. The theme this year was "2008 Christmas Cruise. More...

Pa. Legislature's Chairmen Prepare For New Session

By Mark Scolforo ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Nearly 4,500 bills were introduced during the two-year legislative session that ended last month, but only 292 laws were signed - and about a quarter of those were routine appropriations bills. More...

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From Days Gone By

FROM DAYS GONE BY

'88 20 Years Ago From The Files Of December 29, 1988 Fulton County commissioners Tuesday gave final approval to a 1989 county budget which calls for a three-mill increase in real estate taxes to a level of 19 mills. More...

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Letters

How Christmas Has Changed!

To The Editor: Now that Christmas is coming, I sit here in my recliner chair in my retirement home, thinking how different my children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's Christmas is compared to my own early, happy Christmases years ago. More...

One More Nice Buck For 87-Year-Old Dad

To The Editor: Now almost 87 years old and not able to get around like he use to, Dad still loves to hunt. More...

Methodist Cantata Did Steve Proud

To The Editor: The McConnellsburg/Cito United Methodist Church cantata on Saturday, December 20, was simply outstanding. The voices blended so beautifully and "Oh What A Blessing!" To Karen Godissart: You did a wonderful job directing the cantata. More...

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Police Reports

POLICE REPORTS

McConnellsburg Man Released After Altercation Twenty-six-year-old David Truax of McConnellsburg was arraigned on charges of domestic assault, reckless endangerment and harassment last Monday and has been released on $25,000 unsecured bail. More...

Judge Herman Presides Over Dec. 16 Court

STAFF REPORT

Judge Douglas W. Herman of the 39th Judicial District of the Court of Common Pleas presided over a court session held at the Fulton County Courthouse on Tuesday, December 16. More...

Crime Of The Week

Burglary Is Crime Of The Week

Fulton County Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of burglars responsible for an incident that occurred earlier in the month at 854 South Hess Road in Needmore. More...

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Entertainment

Pause For A Holiday Tea

A Christmas tea with light-as-air scones is the perfect way to relax during December
By Kendra Nordin CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

After college, when I wasn't quite sure what to do next, I went to live with a British friend and her family in a London suburb. More...

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Community Bulletin Board

RELIGION

Christmas Program Sideling Hill Christian Church, 10424 Sipes Mill Road, Needmore, will hold its annual Christmas program on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 7:00 p.m. More...

RECREATION

Line Dance Fulton County Line Dance Club will hold line dance sessions every Wednesday (except the first Wednesday of the month) beginning at 7:00 p.m. at VFW Post 655, Poplar Street, McConnellsburg. All are welcome. Come and learn some new steps. More...

THIS 'N THAT

Animal Shelter Donations Needed Donations for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter are being accepted at Morton's Attic, 226 North Second Street, McConnellsburg during the month of December. More...

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Family

Preparation Is Key For Kids' Holiday Health Issues

The holidays are full of fun, but calendars packed with events and activities, and indulgence in extra snacks or not-so-healthy foods can turn any family's routine on its head. More...

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Church News

Without The Stand, The Tree Wouldn't Be The Same

The best foundations, often left unseen, can still make mighty impressions
By Bethany Broadwell CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

I know when people marvel at our Christmas tree, their eyes rarely, if ever, head directly to its absolute bottom. First, its sheer size causes onlookers to lift their gaze to its surprisingly high angeltopped pinnacle. More...

Christmas Eve Service

The Christmas Eve candlelight service at the United Presbyterian Church of McConnellsburg, located at the corner of south Second and Maple streets, will be held at 11:00 p.m., December 24. More...

Christmas Program

Sideling Hill Christian Church, 10424 Sipes Mill Road, Needmore, will hold its annual Christmas program on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 7:00 p.m. More...

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Fulton County Gets An Early Christmas Gift

$14,288 allotted locally through federal program
By Chanin Rotz-Mountz STAFF WRITER

Futon County is one of nine counties in the 9th Congressional District slated to receive funding for food and shelter-related emergencies through a federally based program. More...

Red Cross Seeks Blood Donors To Boost Holiday Inventor ies

Gift cards for donors at Xmas Eve blood drives
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Come out to donate blood Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24) and the 100-county Greater Alleghenies Region of American Red Cross Blood Services will offer a little help with your last-minute holiday errands. More...

Christmas Eve, Day Weather Cold, Windy

By Chanin Rotz-Mountz STAFF WRITER

While Santa Claus and his troop of elves are finishing up the final touches on his sleigh full of toys and holiday joy, temperatures are well below zero at the North Pole. More...

Paula Deen Giveaway At Blood Drives Over Holidays

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Several community blood drives during the holiday period will feature a Paula Deen Thanks for Givin' apron and recipe card for presenting donors, while supplies last: Wednesday, December 24: Bedford/Heartland Mall, Mount Union/First United Methodi More...

Obituaries

John W. Hennen Sr.

McConnellsburg, 87

John William Hennen Sr., 87, McConnellsburg, died Monday, December 15, 2008, at Washington County Hospital from pneumonia. He was born December 7, 1921 in Spring Gap, Md. He was retired from the Government Printing Office. More...

Mary Ellen Martz

Hustontown, 81

Mary Ellen Martz, 81, formerly of Hustontown, died at 10:03 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at the Long -erm Care Unit of Fulton County Medical Center, McConnellsburg. More...

Lois K. Ramsey

Robertsdale, 66

Lois Kay Ramsey, 66, Robertsdale, died at 5:55 p.m., Thursday, December 18, 2008, at Fulton County Medical Center. Born September 1, 1942, in Dublin Township, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ora (Helman) Ramsey. More...

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Correspondents' Notes

Our Town

By Kay McGarvey

Neil and Betty Berkstresser celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 20. Kevin Lynch of Big Cove Tannery as on Washington television Channel 7 on Tuesday discussing the weather. He is the son of Polly Lynch. More...

Hustontown

By Kate Berkstresser

Winter arrived on Sunday with a windy vengence and also dropped those temperatures way down. We extend our sympathy to the family and relatives of Mary Ellen Martz who passed away last week. Christmas Eve program will be at 6:30 p.m. More...

Siphon Some Stress From The Holiday Season

When it comes to the holidays, emotions often run the gamut. Moments of great elation are often preceded by more than a few moments of stress and anxiety. Such stress and anxiety has become the norm during the holiday season. More...

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Sports

Buck Baker Would Find A Way

By Gerald Hodges THE RACING REPORTER

The season is over and Jimmy Johnson has been crowned champion. Now maybe we can contemplate what has happened during the past few months and focus on the future. The slow economy continues to take its toll on sponsors, fans and teams. More...

Girls Basketball

Northern Bedford 48, McConnellsburg 30 McConnellsburg was held to only 11 points after the halftime break Thursday night by the Northern Bedford Panthers, who clinched the Sideling Hill League match 48-30. More...

Boys Basketball

Northern Bedford 65, McConnellsburg 34 McConnellsburg's winless season continued last Friday night when only one Spartan player managed to reach double figures against the victorious Northern Bedford Panthers. More...

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Features

Helping Others Despite A Bad Economy

By Monica Chen THE HERALD-SUN OF DURHAM

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Jennings Brody and her staff at Parker and Otis cooked Thanksgiving meals for 46 people a few weeks ago. More...

Home For The Holidays Can Actually Be Fun For The Whole Family

With travel costs fluctuating from day to day, many families are thinking twice about planning big trips for this holiday season. More...

Home-baked Goodies Deserve Special Presentation

By Jennifer Forker FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

If baked goods are part of your gifting game plan this holiday, have you thought about how to package them? Knowing that presentation is key to the "wow" factor, I consulted a few crafting experts about how to package homebaked goodies. More...

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