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 […]
As they have done since 1990, the Kiwanis Club of Frederick recently recognized the most-improved Frederick County Middle School students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Family, friends, teachers, and school administrators joined club members in honoring the students for their improvements in academics, citizenship, class participation, and leadership. Emmalin Tyeryar (pictured above) was recognized as […]
Jeff Yocum “A Change of Scenery” is a new column, focusing 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 […]
James Rada, Jr. 1: The Woman on the Platform The black iron steam engine eased its persistent chug as it approached the Western Maryland Railway station in Thurmont from the east. When the wheels finally stilled, a riot of screeches and groans emanated from the trucks as they reluctantly slid along the cold, hard iron […]
Mitchell Tester, College Student With the recent news of the Soviet-era spacecraft crashing back to Earth from our friends on the other side of the world, I thought it would be fitting to talk about one of my favorite planets: Venus. Venus is the second most inner planet, roughly the size of the Earth. Often, […]
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®, Owner, AAA Advisory LLC Question of the Month Which Assets Should You Use First Once You Retire? Great question. When you retire, you flip the switch—from decades of saving for retirement to finally drawing from your nest egg. That shift can feel emotional and overwhelming. After all, most people have […]
By James Rada, Jr. Vandal Attacks Monuments on Multiple Nights In 1913, Gettysburg prepared to welcome tens of thousands of veterans back to the battlefield to remember the 50th anniversary of the battle and to celebrate the peace between North and South. Amidst this hopeful time, someone let it be known that he didn’t agree. […]
MICHEL TESTER The Greatest Teacher Of All My dad passed away unexpectedly four days before Thanksgiving, seven months after he walked me down the aisle at my wedding. I was only twenty-four years old. I was sitting at home writing him a poem that I intended to give him as a gift on Christmas. I […]
Joseph C. Reaser A Gettysburg HeroRichard D. L. Fulton Joseph C. Reaser was born to parents Clayton S. and Annie E. Reaser on September 27, 1913, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He had four sisters, Catherine, Helen, Ruth, and Esther, and two brothers, Paul and David. Reaser was a graduate of Gettysburg High School. Reaser registered for […]
May was a very wet poppy month. We even had to dodge rain drops to meet with Mayor John Kinnaird to present him with the first Poppy of the season. For God and Country is Sunday, June 8, at Camp West Mar at 1:00 p.m. To the Legion’s founders, service to country was service to […]
Maxine TroxellThis recipe came from the Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook. I have won numerous prize ribbons with this cake. It’s perfect to serve with fresh fruit, and the recipe makes a large cake. This cake has been taste-tested by my late dog, Trixie. I usually make this cake for the Community Show, but one year, […]
by Buck Reed The Art & Science of Picnicking So, summer is here. This is a time when a person’s attention might turn to picnicking. Nothing piques someone’s interest quite like packing some carefully planned foods into a basket and traveling to a not-too-crowded park or riverbank. From there, a nice meal Alfresco can be […]
James Rada, Jr. June 1925, 100 Years Ago At Thurmont, Man Dies In Hospital Missing his footing and falling between two cars from a Western Maryland freight train on which he was a brakeman, John P. Vaughn, 32, of Hagerstown, sustained injuries this morning, which resulted in his death a few hours later at the […]
nutritional response testing What Is It and How Does It Work?by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center Note: This column originally appeared in the January 2023 issue of The Catoctin Banner. Dr. Lo felt it was important to inform our readers again. Let me start by telling you when and how […]
by Kristen Bodmer Summer is here. I hope you are all taking the time to enjoy the beautiful weather. But, if you need to beat the heat, come in for a visit. You will be happy you did. We hit a new record in April with a total of 650 meals served, 255 of those […]
Alisha Yocum There is nothing quite like the excitement of Opening Day at Thurmont Little League (TLL) when suddenly the fields that lay dormant for months are once again filled with over 200 ball players, ranging in agefrom 4-12. On April 5, TLL President Alex Kline welcomed the family and friends sitting in the stands […]
Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry Francis Scott Key—lawyer, poet, and patriot—was born near Pipe Creek in Frederick County, Maryland, on August 1, 1779. Key graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis in October 1796 and was the valedictorian of his class. He then studied law under his uncle, Philip Barton Key, in Annapolis. During this […]
by James Rada, Jr. T h u r m o n t Proposed Electric Rate Increase The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners recently proposed an increase to the town’s electric rates. The increase will happen in two phases. The first change was seen with a 17.3 percent increase to the power cost adjustment on April 30. […]
Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird Mayor John Kinnaird was unable to submit his column for this month. Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis This month, I want to dedicate my article to the Daughters of Charity. This year marks the 50th anniversary celebration of the canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. The next several months are full of […]
Richard D. L. Fulton The Battle of Baltimore If I took the place, I should have been the greatest man in England. If I lost, my military character was gone forever.” ~Colonel Arthur Brooke, British officer in command of the British advance onto Baltimore. On September 13, 2014, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued […]