Dominance from Start to Finish Blair Garrett Catoctin High Football clinched its second state championship Saturday, December 7, defeating the Poets of Dunbar High School (Baltimore) 31-8 in a Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 1A matchup. The Cougars stormed through the playoffs, yielding opponents just 41 points over the team’s five playoff victories…

blair Garrett From small-town journalist to big-time sports director, Dave Ammenheuser, a native of Thurmont, has done it all. Ammenheuser, 57, is now the sports director for a major news network, USA Today, but his journey began like many of us, humbly, in a small town, shadowed by the Catoctin Mountains. Developing into a great…

Hit the Slopes this Winter Blair Garrett Winter is here, the snow is falling, and the ski slopes have never looked better. Snow may not currently be falling on your driveway, but you don’t have to travel too far to find your nearest winter oasis. With four ski resorts nearby and dozens of trails to…

James Rada, Jr. and Blair Garrett Catoctin Banner Journalists, Jim and Blair, Face-off! Does 2020 mark the beginning of a new decade, or is it actually the end of a decade? What do you think? Let us know at www.thecatoctinbanner.com (Subject line: Decade Debate) Jim’s Stance In the debate over whether the decade is ending…

James Rada, Jr. Catoctin High School recognized its graduates who have gone on to find success post-high school during its 5th Annual Distinguished Graduates Induction Ceremony on November 26, 2019. Principal Jennifer Clements told the audience, “During the past 50 years, the staff at Catoctin High School has always strived to foster learning, character, innovation,…

James Rada, Jr. With the announcement that a Thurmont landmark, the Shamrock Restuarant, will end its 56-year-run on December 30, 2019, The Catoctin Banner thought it would share some of its reader’s memories of the Irish-themed restaurant. The late Mike Fitzgerald opened the Shamrock in 1963. He said in a 2014 interview that the restaurant…

Start 2020 with 20/20 Vision A Vision Board Workshop will be held for business professionals at the Thurmont Bar & Grill at 10 E. Main Street in Thurmont on January 7, 2020, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. There is a $25.00 fee to participate. For questions about the workshop, contact Mary Ellen Mitchell at me@allowmeconsulting.com.

Deb Abraham Spalding Despite the chilly rain falling outside the newly relocated Village Store & Deli on a wintry Tuesday in Keymar, Maryland, it was all warm smiles for customers inside. Returning customers already knew the reputation of the excellent food that they were ordering from the deli because they followed the business from its…

James Rada, Jr. On December 2, 2019, Emmitsburg residents celebrated its annual “Evening of Christmas Spirit,” sponsored by the Carriage House Inn, the Town of Emmitsburg, and the EBPA.  The evening began with the lighting of the town Christmas tree at the Community Center. Before and after the illumination, youth choirs from Emmitsburg delighted attendees…

Grace Eyler Thurmont’s annual Christmas in Thurmont is a magical time each year for so many reasons, and this year was no different. The event was held on December 7, 2019, and people flooded the streets to bring holiday cheer and to celebrate the season of giving. From face painting to horse and carriage rides,…

Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs Here we are again at the end of another year, which always seems to bring reflection on the pluses and minuses for the year. In the plus column is the Catoctin Cougars bringing home the State Division 1A Football Championship, with a convincing 31-8 win over Dunbar High of Baltimore. The…

by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg DECEMBER 2019 Meeting Town Wants to Connect Rutter’s to Emmitsburg The Town of Emmitsburg wants to ensure that the new Rutter’s store, being built on the east side of Rt. 15, is connected to the town via sidewalks. The sidewalks would allow truck drivers, parking overnight at the site, to…

Good teachers are not hard to come by. The profession by trade is dedication of time and energy into shaping the future and guiding youth to be healthy and educated adults. Jessica Valentine Derr’s efforts for Frederick County Schools have not gone unnoticed. Valentine Derr was awarded the Simon A. McNeely Award for her outstanding…

Sparkles the Therapy Dog visited Catoctin High School in December and received a warm welcome from students. Sparkles volunteers with Wags for Hope, which uses therapy dogs in a variety of programs, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.), Hospice of Frederick County, Rock Creek School, and Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is accepting nominations for the Washington Post Principal of the Year award until Friday, January 10, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. The Washington Post Educational Foundation sponsors the award, created to recognize principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment. The person chosen…

BOE Honors Literacy Specialist Pamela Adams-Campbell Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) announces the 2019 Veteran in Education Service Award winner, Catoctin High School Literacy Specialist Pamela Adams-Campbell. In its third year, the award was created to honor an FCPS employee who has served our nation in the armed forces and provided exemplary service to FCPS…

I have been on the job as the Principal of Catoctin High School for just under six months. In this short time, I have quickly come to appreciate how special the Northern Frederick County community is. There do not seem to be many places left where the school is such an integral part of the…

With generous contributions from the community, Mother Seton School’s Holiday Hands was a success in December. The gift distribution at school helped more than 100 families have a happier Christmas.

Mark your calendars for the Catoctin High School Talent Show on Wednesday, January 15, at 7:00 p.m. Many talented and creative students and staff will be performing, and the audience gets to decide the winners! Tickets are $5.00 each and will be sold at the door.

The Catoctin-Aires Twirling Corps has captured the title of Advanced Majorette Corps under the sanction of the Capital Area Marching Association.  The championship contest was held in October 2019 at the Hagerstown Junior College Sports Complex. The group has earned the title consecutively for many years though this year they have won with over a…