EHS Alumni Association offers scholarships

It’s been more than 40 years since Emmitsburg High School closed and the students sent to Catoctin High School, but an active alumni association is keeping the memory of the school alive with a annual scholarship. The association is currently accepting applications for the $1,000 scholarship.

Any Catoctin High School senior or graduate who lives in the former Emmitsburg High School district and is enrolled in an institute of higher learning is eligible for the scholarship. The district includes Emmitsburg (21727), Rocky Ridge (21788), and Taneytown (21787). The Taneytown boundary is determined by Bridgeport on Route 140. Applicants may apply each year as long as they are enrolled in an institute of higher learning.

Selection is based on having a student having 3.0 or higher grade point average, being a full time student, presenting two letters of recommendation, and pursuing higher education (technical school, four-year college, or community college).

Applications can be obtained by contacting guidance department at Catoctin High School (240-236-8100 Ext. 2) or calling Joyce Bruchey, secretary of EHSAA (410-775-7921). All applications must be received by May 15, 2011. The scholarships will also be awarded in May.

PNC establishes Mount scholarships with $250,000 donation

The PNC Foundation has pledged $250,000 to support and underwrite scholarships and programmatic support for the Richard J. Bolte Sr. School of Business students participating in the annual College Fed Challenge.

Beginning this fall, four PNC Federal Reserve Scholarships will be available to rising seniors interested in pursuing a career in business or finance and in participating on the Fed Challenge Team. Each student will receive $10,000 a year for four years. Other funds will be dedicated to support database libraries, travel, and other team competition preparation.

"PNC and The Mount share a vision for supporting our future business leaders and providing them with as many real-world business and economic skills-building opportunities as possible," said Gordon Cooley, PNC regional president, Western Maryland, speaking on behalf of The PNC Foundation. "Given that the Fed Challenge puts students in the role of policymakers who analyze current economic conditions and recommend a course for monetary policy, we expect there to be a significant demand for The PNC Federal Reserve Scholarship."

Created in 1997, the College Federal Reserve Challenge requires a team of undergraduate students to make a presentation before a panel of Federal Reserve economists. The students analyze the current U.S. and global economy and make a recommendation on monetary policy based upon their macroeconomic and financial market assessment. The team defends its view in a question-and-answer session with a panel of economists.

Emmitsburg fire leaves four homeless

A house fire on February 23 left an Emmitsburg woman and her three children homeless.

When firefighters got to house of Pam Garber on Crystal Fountain Road around 10:21 a.m., they found flames coming through the roof of the home near the chimney. Twenty fire companies sent dozens of firefighters to extinguish the fire.

The fire caused around $400,000 in damage and the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Oil delivery truck rolls over in Carroll Valley

On January 31, Cpl. Clifford Weikert with the Carroll Valley Police arrived at Eagles Trail to find a 2002 Peterbilt oil tanker laying on its side in the roadway. The truck belonged to McLaughlin Oil Company of Waynesboro and the driver was 60-year-old Vaughn McLaughlin.

McLaughlin said he was trying to back into a customer’s driveway to make a delivery. He hit a piece of ice and the truck began to slide and then rolled over on its side. There were no injuries.

Fairfield Fire and EMS responded along with Adams County Department of Emergency Services Hazmat coordinator, Kim Frank, who brought absorbent booms for containment. Franklin Township EMA director, Robert Cullison, responded and coordinated the local EMA. A small amount of fuel oil spilled and some fluids from the truck, but responders contained and removed most of what spilled.

Responders on the scene decided that removing the home heating oil from the tanker posed a greater risk of a spill than simply attempting to right the truck with the oil still on board. Patterson’s Towing of Waynesboro was able to upright and removed the tanker from the scene.

"We were very lucky that the tank remained intact when the truck rolled," said Carroll Valley Police Chief Richard Hileman. "Should the tank have ruptured, it would have been a very significant environmental issue."

Emmitsburg Lions Club’s 28th annual health screening

Gettysburg Hospital will be conducting multiphasic blood screenings on anyone interested in checking out their health. Multiphasic blood screenings can act as early detection of health problems. The screenings are sponsored by the Emmitsburg Lions Club for its 28th annual health screening.

In addition to the multiphasic blood screening, you can also get a prostate specific antigen test (recommended for men over 50 as early detection for prostate cancer), thyroid stimulating hormone test (for early detection of thyroid disease), Vitamin B12 deficiency test and Glycohemoglobin test. The last test is for diabetics only.

The multiphasic blood screening costs $32 and you need to be completing at 10-12 hour fast before you have your blood drawn. The prostate test is $15. The thyroid test is $10. The Vitamin B12 test costs $20 and the Glycohemoglobin costs $15. You can get any or all of the tests.

The Lions Club will also be offering free vision acuity testing at the same time. No registration is required for the vision test.

The screenings will be held at Mother Seton School at 100 Creamery Road in Emmitsburg on Saturday, March 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Registration is required. To make your appointment, call WellSpan HealthSource at 1-800-840-5905, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also call Lion Joe at 301-447-2939 for more information.

Applications Now Available for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Pennsylvania residents can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2010. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities.

Eligibility income limits for homeowners are set at the following levels, excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:

• $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate (Homeowners and renters)
• $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate (Homeowners and renters)
• $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate (Homeowners only)
• $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate (Homeowners only)

Since the program began in 1971, more than $4 billion has been paid to qualified applicants. Residents are reminded to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately. Applications are due by June 30.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available by contacting Dan Moul’s office at 717-334-3010 or by visiting his website at RepMoul.com.

Freedom Township reassessment lawsuit has court date

The lawsuit filed by Freedom Township against Adams County over the recent countywide property reassessment is scheduled for trial on September 27. The case will decide whether the formula used in reassessing property property values in the county was the correct one to use.

The county was forced to conduct the county-wide property reassessment because of a 2008 court order. 21st Century was hired to conduct the survey of 45,000 properties for $2.3 million. 21st Century performed the reassessments last year and the new property values were certified in November 2010.