The Distinguished Graduate Organization was established to recognize the graduates of Catoctin High School (CHS) who have made a difference locally, in the state, and/or in the nation. These men and women are nominated in five categories: Academics, Arts & Humanities, Athletics, Business, and Service (community, military, or public). Nominated graduates will be mailed an […]
Doing Our Part to Protect the Planet Earth Day is such an important holiday that falls on the 22nd of April every year. But not enough people celebrate it, or even know much about it! Everyone should do their part to save the Earth, not just on this special day, but every day. The first […]
Makayla Comer is a junior at Catoctin High School and a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). She is serving as the 2025-2026 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Ambassador and currently serves as Social Media Coordinator. In this monthly series, Comer will take readers behind the scenes of what it takes to raise […]
Seeking A Second Opinion James Rada, Jr. Lou Preston set aside his great-grandfather’s leather-bound journal, its cracked spine and yellowed pages whispering of decades past. Harley Preston had plunged into a Civil War conspiracy so obscure that no historian had ever glimpsed it—secret peace negotiations between Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. That lack of recognition […]
by Mitchell Tester, College Student The evergreen state In April, I got the opportunity to go on a trip with my good friends to a place I had never been before, somewhere that I did not know much about. At four in the morning, we all wake up at my friend, Jake’s. We grab our […]
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP® Owner, AAA Advisory LLC Should i pay for my kid’s college? As a financial advisor, this is a question that comes up often. But interestingly, it doesn’t always start as a question. Sometimes, it begins as an assumption, something parents feel they’re supposed to do. Other times, it’s a vague […]
A Man Was Left To Drown by James Rada, Jr. At the end of March 1913, many people in Frederick County were watching the Midwest, where severe flooding was damaging property and taking lives. However, the county was not without its own devastating weather. “Blown by a strong wind, a downpour of rain such as […]
by Michele Tester The Second Time Around Since May celebrates mothers, I thought it was only fitting that I write about my life-altering, magical, heartfelt experience: The birth of my first grandchild and becoming a grandmother. The day my daughter and her husband came over to our house to tell us that she was pregnant […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Henry B. Pecher First Adams’ Pacific POW Fairfield resident, Henry Benedict Pecher, was born on February 10, 1919, to parents Jacob Henry Pecher, who was 35, and Helen Grace Sanders, and they had nine children (in order of birth): Paul Lafayette, Anna Agatha, Henry Benedict, Miriam Magdalena, Alfonsus J., George […]
Thurmont AMVETS Post 7, located at 26 Apples Church Road inThurmont, is now open for lunch and dinner every Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, and Saturday, from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m., with weekly specialsWednesday through Saturday, from noon to 7:00 p.m. Check out theFriday Night Special, a “Bucket of Domestic Beer and an appetizer foronly $20.00! Follow them […]
We hope that everyone has been enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having. It is so nice to see the flowers and trees blooming, although some of them do not last long enough! The Easter Egg Hunt was a success again this year, even though the wind made it a bit chillier than it […]
James Rada, Jr. May 1926, 100 Years Ago Flames Unchecked As Fire Catoctin Mountain Rages The Catoctin Mountain in the region between Catoctin Furnace and Thurmont was still a huge mass of flames today. Despite the efforts of scores of men Sunday the fire is still raging in such proportions that little hope is held […]
Easy Cheddar Bay Chicken Cobbler After submitting sweet recipes for the last two months, I decided to submit a savory recipe this time. This recipe comes from grandmomsrecipe.com, and it is fairly easy to make by using Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix. I hope you enjoy it! Ingredients 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced 1 […]
by Buck Reed Get Your Patriotic Grill On I don’t care about your politics, race, creed, or religion. I don’t even care how you voted. It’s 2026, and it’s time to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. So, this Fourth of July isn’t just another grilling holiday. This is the big one. Time to roll out […]
by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center Everyone experiences pain, but pain becomes a problem when it’s chronic. Millions of people in the United States are living with some form of chronic pain, including low back pain, chronic headaches and migraines, joint pain, digestive pain, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune conditions. Chronic pain […]
by Jeff Yocum “A Change of Scenery” focuses on day trips from Thurmont that are within 150 miles (give or take). These trips will not include “Disney-level” destinations, but rather, lesser-known points of interest. The purpose of the article is to suggest venues for folks seeking a short, easily accessible change of scenery. In the […]
by Tara Miller Spring is in full swing at the Thurmont Senior Center, and May is packed with activities, events, and opportunities to connect, stay active, and have fun! We continue to offer a wide variety of weekly favorites, including Zumba Gold, Strength & Balance classes, Chair Yoga, cards and games, and creative gatherings like […]
BY Caitlyn Kirby May is the perfect time to visit the Emmitsburg 50+ Community Center! Starting off the month on Friday, May 1, is Maryland Legal Aid Law Day. This is a time for you and the attorney to review your Advance Directive, which determines your health care and end-of-life decisions. Please call 301-600-6350 to […]
Alisha Yocum In today’s world, running a restaurant is no easy task, but the Carriage House Inn in Emmitsburg is celebrating 40 years in business this year. While there are many reasons for their success, one thing stands out: They feel like family. The original owners, the late James “Pop” and JoAnn Hance, first opened […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Maryland has been the scene of numerous “firsts” in the annals of aviation, beginning with the first “manned” hot air balloon in America (see “Balloons Over Maryland,” by Richard D. L. Fulton, in the February 2026 issue of The Catoctin Banner) to the first airplane built in the state and […]
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Emmitsburg Road Flood Mitigation Project On Hold Unless a significant grant can be found to help pay for the Emmitsburg Road Flood Mitigation Project, it has been tabled. The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners discussed the project during a recent town meeting. The project has been planned, and the needed property […]
ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird After record-breaking cold temperatures, snow that wouldn’t melt, and crazy storms, we are hopefully in store for some nice spring weather. Currently, the Maryland State Highway Administration is working to repave Emmitsburg Road from North Church Street to just past Eyler Road. Be careful when driving in the area, and watch for […]
Baltimore-Washington HPO Richard D. L. Fulton TThe United States Postal Service (USPS) inaugurated its first Highway Post Office (HPO) on February 10, 1941, and added a Baltimore-Washington route to the HPO system on November 16, 1943. Each time a new route was added to the service routes of the HPO, a commemorative “first-trip cover” was […]
Every Last Word | published in 2015 | Young Adult Fiction The book for this month was not a recent pick for my Book Club, although I may pick it for our next read! The book I chose for this month, Every Last Word, was first read by my daughter, who then gave it to […]
By Joan Fry I was born in 1940, the youngest of five children, and lived my childhood during WWII near Fort Ritchie Military Base and the Maryland State Sanatorium for tuberculosis. I idolized my Daddy and would jump with glee when I heard him rumble across the wooden bridge in his old Ford sedan. That […]