Christmas lights around Dillsburg

Photos by Curt Werner and David Beitzel.
Music: Let it Snow - Lore Constantine

Print Edition Highlights - December 22, 2011

String of burglaries hit the area

____Carroll Township police are warning local residents to lock up their houses this holiday season or risk losing more than milk and cookies. A string of burglaries and thefts have hit the Dillsburg area, with at least 14 incidents reported since November.
____In November, a washer and dryer were stolen from a front porch on Harrisburg Street, while a Gucci bag and GPS unit were taken from an unlocked car in the Giant parking lot. Thieves also broke into several sheds, stealing a mower and snowblower from a shed on the 100 block of Martel Circle and another snowblower from a shed on Wooded Run Drive.
____“This is the season when property crime always spikes,” wrote Chief of Police Sean Kapfhammer in an email detailing the recent incidents.
____Even with the numerous November crimes, December saw a rise in thefts. On Dec. 1, two air conditioners were stolen from outside a residence on Range End Road. Four days later, copper pipe was taken from the basement of an unlocked apartment building on South Baltimore Street. From Dec. 14-16, thieves pried open boxes and stole money from the car washes at 247 Gettysburg St., 201 N. Second St. and the Range End Road/Route 15 intersection. On Dec. 17, victims reported thefts from cars parked at the Giant lot and Dairy Queen lot.

See the December 22, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Accident on Route 15 north


By Marie Chomicki
The operator of a box truck ran into the rear of a Toyota SUV sending it down an embankment on Route 15 north just before the Route 74 intersection around 5:00 p.m. Monday. Neither driver was injured, both were visibly shaken. Sean McCormack, of Linglestown, said he was slowing down for the light when the truck “hit him twice” forcing his vehicle off the highway. The driver of the truck, James McWilliams of Philadelphia said he was unsure what happened. “I don’t know what happened,” he said, shaking his head. The right lane of southbound traffic was closed until the vehicles were removed.
One hour later at 6:14 p.m. Carroll Township police responded to the 700 block of Route 15 south, near Bob Ruth Ford, for a two vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer. A green Lincoln, operated by Stephanie Gudz, 21, of York Haven, was attempting to change lanes when her car struck a tractor trailer, operated by Joseph Hoffman, 51, of Solon, Iowa. Neither driver was injured, but both lanes of Route 15 south were closed for several hours so emergency personnel could clean the crash scene. No hazardous materials were released from the truck. Charges are pending.

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Breakfast with Santa
VFW draws record crowd

Photos by Mark Ryder
Just what is in that stocking? Layna Lowry, 3, of Etters, a grand prize winner, reaches down into the stocking full of presents, with the help of elf Rhonda Acri at the VFW’s Breakfast with Santa on Saturday.

____The Dillsburg VFW had breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 17. Santa and Frosty the Snowman entertained the children and listened to Christmas wishes. There were 209 children in attendance, as well as 365 adults, making this the largest Breakfast with Santa in the organization's history. Children also received a gift and a book from Santa.

Katherine Wirt looks up at Santa with her doll.

See the December 22, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Budget passed, no tax increase
By Peggie Williams

___Carroll Township supervisors passed the final version of a $2.5 million 2012 budget that included no tax increase.
___They also designated York Adams Tax Bureau (YATB) to collect all their back taxes from 2011 and prior years. This was done on Nancy Livingston’s suggestion it would be less confusing to people if all the tax work was done in one place. The township is switching their earned income tax collecting from West Shore Tax Bureau to YATB because of a state mandate, but they had the choice of either to collect the back taxes.
___Township engineer Steve Barber reported that he and township staff had met with some of the parties involved with a drainage problem on the CaGe Storage property on Siddonsburg Road. Residents from Logan Downs explained they had not built a berm as the township first suspected, but they had only put rocks in the mess made by the improper drainage from CaGe. An inspection on the CaGe Property showed that a riser had been replaced in the stormwater runoff pond, as the township had ordered, but the rest of the issues had not be dealt with as per the township’s orders. The owners of CaGe did not shown up for a scheduled meeting with the township.

See the December 22, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Bears to face Bubblers
By Joe Guty

Photo by Curt Werner
Northern's Evan Werner scores two points on a fast break against Waynesboro on Friday, Dec. 16. That night the boys
varsity basketball team posted their first win, defeating Waynesboro 53-42.

____ In a non-divisional match up, Northern faces Boiling Springs, away, this Friday night, 12/23. The Polar Bears picked up another win and improved to 2-2 on Tuesday night as they zipped past James Buchanan 59-33. Northern built a 31-15 lead by halftime and never looked back. Travis Saylor (19 points), Jeff Berwager (17) and Evan Werner (11) paced the hosts.
____ On Friday, 12/16, Northern ended the week against Waynesboro at home, where they fell behind early by nine points but fought back to take an 11 point halftime lead. Senior Zach Fish led Northern with 17 points while junior Tanner Dixon added 10 points. Also scoring for the Bears were: senior Evan Werner (9), senior Jeff Berwager (8) and junior Travis Saylor (5). Juniors Kevin Reeder and Zac Ilgenfritz added two points apiece.

See the December 22, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Polar Bears defeat Wildcats
By Joe Guty

Jake Frye, 9, of Wellsville, on left, shot his first deer on Dec. 8, a nine-point with a 20” spread. He was hunting with his dad in his pap’s tree stand near RoundTop. Pap’s been watching the buck, named “Big Mo” for 2 years!

____ Against Mechanicsburg on Thursday, Dec. 15, the Northern H.S. swimming teams recorded their second victories of the season. Utilizing speed and depth, the Polar Bears teams both improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Colonial Division. The girls team scored a 107-62 victory while the boys team defeated Mechanicsburg 95-75. There were 51 personal best or first times. In addition, the Bears had 22 swims faster than the Mid Penn Guideline times and 20 faster than the District Guidelines. 
____ In the girls meet, the Lady Polar Bears got things rolling with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay (1:58.38) with the team of Madi Bleiler, Madi Osterhoudt, Alexis Munshower and Caitlin Helsel. Sydney Archuleta continued the momentum with a victory in the girls 200 freestyle (2:07.35). Osterhoudt claimed the girls 200 IM in 2:26.80. Helsel scored a win in the girls 50 freestyle (26.91) and Munshower captured the girls 100 butterfly (1:09.89). Helsel added another win – the girls 100 freestyle (58.80) – and Archuleta won again with a 5:41.29 clocking in the 500 freestyle.

See the December 22, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Santa makes his rounds about town

___The Dillsburg Lions Club held its annual Christmas party for the children at New Hope Ministries at the VFW. Puppet Place, of Boiling Springs, presented a puppet show for the children. After the program, Santa Claus visited the kids and gave them presents. The Lions Club wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Photos by Curt Werner
Santa makes a surprise visit to Kindercademy in Dillsburg. Children sang songs and gave Santa high-fives. They also made requests for what they want for Christmas.

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