A Season of Grit, Glory, and a “Rent’s Due” Mentality Alisha Yocum “Success is never owned, it’s rented, and the rent is due every single day.” ~Author Unknown This simple quote above, which Catoctin High School’s (CHS) Softball Head Coach Jessica Derr used to inspire her team this season, was pulled from the pages […]
The Story of a Maryland Railroad by Richard D. L. Fulton “Wild Mary” began “her” life as the Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Railroad in 1852, but soon thereafter, in 1853, was renamed the Western Maryland Railroad Company (which would eventually become the Western Maryland Railway). “Wild Mary” apparently became a “pet name” for the Western […]
by James Rada, Jr. T h u r m o n t Public Hearing Held for Budget and Tax Rates The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners recently held public hearings on the proposed tax rates and fiscal year 2026 budget. The personal property tax will remain at $.62 per $100 of assessed value. The real estate […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis As we head into the summer months, I want to give you an update on the projects that have been ongoing for the last several months. The new sewer lift station on Creamery Road is up and running and appears to be operating as designed. This project replaced another piece of […]
Richard D. L. Fulton Maryland’s Appalachian Trail: 2025 The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a sheet of 15 “Forever” stamps, commemorating the Appalachian Trail, 14 of which represented the 14 states that the trail passes through, and a fifteenth stamp commemorating the “Green Tunnel” on February 28, 2025. The 14 that are stated represent […]
The Many Benefits of Shopping at Farmers Markets As warm weather returns and produce begins to ripen, farmers markets are springing to life across towns—offering more than just fruits and vegetables. These vibrant, open-air markets are becoming weekly traditions for many shoppers, and for good reason. From fresh food to stronger communities, farmers markets bring […]
Home for Wayward Elephants by y James Rada, Jr.- published in 2004 – a a coming-of-age novel by Michele Tester This month’s book pick is a novel written by The Catoctin Banner’s very own James Rada, Jr., an Amazon.com bestselling author who writes nonfiction history and historical fiction, as well as fantasy, horror, and young […]
Alisha Yocum Jennifer Zimmer has always dreamed of starting a nonprofit to support those in need. After more than 20 years as a social worker, she witnessed firsthand the daily struggles many families face. “When people needed help, they were just given numbers,” Zimmer recalled. “But if you’re asking for help, you need it in […]
The Savagery Jason Savage and his stepdaughter, Ryleigh Barton, are hitting the road with their latest culinary venture: The Savagery, a food truck serving up creative takes on breakfast and hot dogs. Many may recognize the duo from their first business venture, The Sauced Savage, where they served up delicious BBQ for nearly seven years. […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Waynesboro’s W.T. Grant Company The W.T. Grant stores, a chain of department stores, were established by William Thomas Grant when he opened his first store (dubbed as the W. T. Grant Co. 25 Cent Store) in 1906 in Lynn, Massachusetts. As the sole store evolved into a nationwide chain of […]
The following are the statuses of new businesses and developments coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report: Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of U.S. 15) — Under construction. Town staff is coordinating with the developer and consultants regarding water lines connecting to the WWTP headworks. Christ Community Church (Creamery Road) — The Maryland […]
The Emmitsburg Community Garden began as the vision of Jack Deatherage Jr., and in just three short years, it has blossomed beyond anything he imagined. What started as a small, tilled plot has expanded significantly, now featuring over 20 raised beds and expansive size—all thanks to the dedication of Jack, his wife Wanda, his sister […]
Cheryl Lenhart As the gardening season has begun, remember that it’s a great time to start planning for your entries for the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show—Maryland’s largest community show! The show will be held Friday through Sunday, September 5-7, at Catoctin High School. The event started 69 years ago with the intent to highlight […]
Suzanne Saxton has been named the new chief financial officer (CFO) for the Town of Thurmont. Saxton replaces former CFO Linda Joyce, who retired on April 30. Saxton has worked in the accounting field since 1987, most recently serving as the controller for Structural, LLC in Thurmont. She has a BS and an MBA in […]
Lewistown United Methodist Church Supports SHP The Lewistown United Methodist Church Mission’s Committee performed a community project to serve the international non-project organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). The organization builds free twin beds for children who do not have a bed, to keep them from sleeping on the floor. However, the organization does not […]
The Mount St. Mary’s University community gathered on Saturday, April 12, to celebrate the inauguration of Gerard J. Joyce, Ph.D. (pictured right) as the 27th president of the university. The inauguration ceremony celebrated not only Joyce’s formal installation as president, but also his leadership and the university’s accomplishments since he joined the Mount in July […]
By Alisha Yocum Ruthie Simmel Nominated by: Kaitlynn Polen For nearly four decades, Ruthie Simmel (pictured above) has called Thurmont home. Originally from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Ruthie and her husband moved to Thurmont shortly after they married in 1988. “We knew this would be a much better place to raise our children,” Ruthie said. Her […]
The Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) Environmental Health Office vaccinated over 100 dogs, cats, and ferrets at its rabies clinic on May 3, at Old National Pike Park in Mount Airy. Rabies has a nearly 100 percent mortality rate once an animal or person starts having symptoms. However, deaths from rabies can be prevented in […]
Geraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain My husband, Stan Turesky, and I have lived in Cascade since 1990. For more than 15 years, Cascade was a beloved weekend and summer respite from Washington, D.C. For the last decade, we have shared our time between Cascade and Washington, but […]
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. During the meeting, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen questioned her about the funding, which was cut in March as part of the Department of Government Efficiency efforts to reduce waste in federal department and program budgets. After cuts to the […]
Alisha Yocum Thurmont Little League held its annual fundraiser, the Hit-A-Thon, on May 3. Players from each team competed to both raise the most money and to hit the longest ball. Players received one hit for each $10 collected. Together, the over 200 Little Leaguers, raised over $19,000 for the league, which will go to […]
With Michael Betteridge Go Make A Difference! Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. Schools let out for summer break. Pools open. Carnivals begin. High school sports end a journey that began back in September and culminates in a whirlwind of playoffs and state championships. It also marks the passing of the baton from our […]
Alisha Yocum Thurmont Top Shots, a group of local youth trap shooters, recently participated in a few regional competitions. Coached by Steve Crowe and Lori Storey, this group practiced weekly throughout the spring and is supported and hosted by the Thurmont Conservation & Sportsman’s Club (TCSC). The team recently participated in two shoots, the Pen-Mar […]
Members of the Catoctin High School Unified Track & Field Team celebrated their win as Division 3 Champions. The Unified Track Field program is an inclusive sports program, where students with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same team. Congratulations to all the members of the team who worked so hard […]
Seventh-grade students at Sabillasville Environmental School (SES) recently earned their Junior Naturalist Certificates as part of a new program launched with Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center in Walkersville. Tim Olsen from Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center visited the school once a month for the past year and taught students about tree identification to […]