This article includes excerpts from Karen Gardner’s article in a 1991 Frederick Post titled The History Behind the Doughboy and Joan Bittner Fry’s research in her compilation of local history titled, Did You Know? published in 2013. A doughboy is the popular name for a World War I foot soldier. A statue commemorating the doughboy […]
Army Chaplain, Family Man, Pastor, and Artist by Chris O’Connor Col. Bill Hammann of Blue Ridge Summit retired in 1999 after two and a half decades in the U.S. Army, where he served as a chaplain, rising through the ranks, ministering to the spiritual needs of American patriots and their families. His service to our […]
STAFF SERGEANT RICHARD L. FLEAGLE U.S. AIR FORCE RETIRED A Son Becomes a Veteran and A Father Becomes A Son by Jim Houck, Jr. Richard Lee Fleagle (Rick) was born to Dick and Joyce Fleagle on March 3, 1960. Rick graduated from Catoctin High School in 1978. He liked to have fun and was considered […]
A Survivor, A Best Friend, A Blessing by Michele Tester One lucky dog. That’s what would come to your mind if you saw Nala with her owner, Pam Ryan of Thurmont. The heartfelt connection and the happiness emanating between animal and human is unmistakable. But to say that Nala was the only lucky one in […]
Gardening for Wildlife Christine Schoene Maccabee On just one occasion, I had the pleasure of witnessing the profound beauty of hundreds of Monarch butterflies on their migratory path to Mexico. It was the first September of my new life here in the Catoctins, and my unmowed fields were bursting with flowering goldenrod. The goldenrod, being […]
Easter at Camp David by James Rada, Jr. Anyone with eyes knew just where President Richard M. Nixon and his family were Easter Sunday morning in 1971. It was pretty widely known through town that the Nixons would be spending the weekend at Camp David, a favorite retreat for the president. Since it was also […]
James Rada, Jr. The Thurmont Food Bank did what it does best at the grand opening of its new home on March 7…it fed people. Food trays of hot and cold foods were spread throughout the Thurmont’s former Town Office, as dozens of people crowded the building to see how it had changed now that […]
Catoctin Mountain Adventures Magazine If you own or operate a business in the Catoctin Region, from the Mason Dixon line to the Potomac River, you should advertise in the new Catoctin Mountain Adventures Magazine with Byway Guide (CMA). This is a project of E Plus Promotions, publishers of The Catoctin Banner, and operators at E […]
Thurmont’s Anytime Fitness Newly Remodeled and Expanded by Joseph Kirchner Spring has sprung, and, for most of us, that means it’s time to shake off the winter blues and get in shape. Have you put on a few extra pounds? If your response is yes, then joining a quality gym might be the answer for […]
Grace Eyler On March 7, 2015, members of Guardian Hose Company joined together to celebrate their accomplishments of 2014 during their annual banquet. Invocation was provided by Chaplin Rev. James Hamrick, followed by a home-cooked meal served by GT’s catering. Family and friends mingled until Wayne Stackhouse drew all attention to the podium, where he […]
James Rada, Jr. Walk into the science classrooms at Thurmont Middle School on Wednesdays after school and prepare to be amazed. Alyssa Malasky (6th grade) and Joey Risser (6th grade) built a rocket nearly as tall as they are that is powered by water. Mikaila Risser (8th grade) builds simple machines and tests what they […]
John Kempisty, Catoctin FFA Reporter During the week of February 22-28, 2015, FFA chapters across the nation celebrated National FFA Week. The Catoctin FFA Chapter celebrated every day of the week, hosting events for members and alumni. On Sunday, the Catoctin FFA chapter ate brunch, along with chapter Alumni, at the Mountain Gate Family Restaurant. […]
The Catoctin High School’s (CHS) Committee for a Safe and Sane Graduation would like to thank everyone who has supported us in any way with our fundraising efforts this year. We have only a few events remaining and ask for your continued support. Cornhole Tournament On Saturday, April 11, 2015, we are holding our first-ever […]
TMS Leo Club’s Coat and Blanket Drive Leo Keera Irons, TMS Leo Public Relations Officer The Thurmont Middle School (TMS) Leo Club sponsored a coat and blanket drive during the month of January. It was a huge success! Their objective was to help individuals—young and old—who do not have the basic resources needed to keep […]
Mid Maryland JV Girls Team Wins Championship The Mid Maryland JV girls basketball team won their league and tournament championships. They finished with a 19-0 record and an undefeated season. Team members include Madison Tobery, Chayney Barnhart, Allie Thomson, Kallan Latham, Courtney Eyler, Rachel Fox, Hailey Crawford, Jaida Snider, Phoenix Staub, Madison Flohr, Alana Harris, […]
by Bob Warden Gobble, Gobble, Gobble No, its not an article on Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving football games. I wanted to write something for the upcoming 2015 spring turkey season. I figured what better way then to visit with and write about a local Frederick County custom turkey call making company. I bet not many of […]
James Rada, Jr. Imagine staying in a historic cabin in Catoctin Mountain Park for weeks to walk the trails, watch the wildlife, and be inspired to create. For the past four years, Catoctin Mountain Park and the Catoctin Forest Alliance have offered artists, sculptors, poets, and writers a chance to get away from the familiar […]
Entries are now being received for the Lions Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day Art Contest. The contests theme this year is: “The Heart of the Civil War in Emmitsburg.” The contest is open to all Frederick County school-age children in divisions: Division 1—1st-4th grades (ages 6-9); Division 2—5th-8th grades (ages 10-13); Division 3—9th-12th grades (ages 14-18). […]
Richard D. L. Fulton and James Rada, Jr. will be holding a book siging at St. Philomena’s on the Emmitsburg Square in April. When were the last U.S. Marines killed in the line of duty on the Gettysburg battlefield? If you said 1863, you’d be wrong. The year was 1922. Two marine aviators crashed their […]
Buck Reed Ah…spring! There are many things to look forward to with the changing of the season, not the least of which is a farewell to all this cold weather and snow. Of course we will be experiencing more than a bit of rain in the coming days (we hope, anyway), but at least we […]
You Asked For It by Valerie Nusbaum In last month’s column, I asked you to send me your questions and I promised I’d do my best to answer them. You held up your end of the bargain, so here goes. Several of you sent in questions asking for my help, but you asked to remain […]
by Jim Houck, Jr. My Thank You and Explanation to All My Family, Friends, and Faithful Readers of my Catoctin Banner Column Thank you one and all for taking the time to read my column, which is dedicated to the Veterans in our local neighborhood communities and across this great land of ours. I am […]
by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg Gets Three Burgesses in Four Months Emmitsburg once went through three burgesses in the span of four months in 1939. It began when Burgess Michael J. Thompson died unexpectedly on May 31. He had gone out walking through Emmitsburg, including stopping at the Hotel Slagle, before heading home. He had […]
Christine Schoene Maccabee The Inevitability of Change While everyone else is sleeping in on this beautiful early spring morning, I am standing outside listening to the ecstatic songs and calls of birds. I know I am the privileged one, the lucky one, for I get to hear those songs and to see the sun rise […]
James Rada, Jr. Five young Labrador retrievers bounded into the Frederick Youth Center on a cold Thursday night, pulling their trainers behind them. Still puppies, they wanted to romp, play, and explore. They slid on the wooden floor, as they strained their leashes to visit nearby people or other puppies. This wasn’t a play-date for […]