Highlights - March 25, 2014
____ Northern York County Regional Police Department arrested a fourth person involved in the Whiskey Springs home invasion that occurred last December.
____ Andre Highsmith, 18, 8774 Old Colony Way, Alexandria, Va. was arrested on March 18 and is charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, criminal trespass, unlawful restraint of a minor, theft and receiving stolen property.
____ Highsmith is currently being held in Virginia pending extradition to York County.
____ The investigation into this incident continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Northern York County Regional Police Department at 292-3647.
Print Edition Highlights - March 20, 2014
Photo by Curt Werner
Row upon row of greenery and flowers line the pathways inside one of the many greenhouses at Taylor’s Greenhouse in Biglerville, which will open on March 20, the first day of spring.
____ It's been a long, hard winter and those who are itching to begin sprucing up their scenery won’t have much longer to wait. The first day of spring will arrive today, March 20, and Taylor’s Greenhouse in Biglerville will open its doors to the public on that very same glorious day. As word spreads, owners Kurt and Kent Taylor are hoping area residents will flock to the business to select a variety of plants guaranteed to add color and curb appeal to their winter-whipped landscapes.
____ The business dates back several decades, when it was run by Owen and Kathleen Taylor. “It was started by accident to a degree. They ran a fruit market near Chambersburg and added a few plants as something to sell in the wintertime for some early spring income. In 1973, they put up a building. Business boomed and they sold the fruit market and expanded the greenhouse. It's now 62,000 square feet,” said grandson Kurt Taylor, who runs the business with his brother Kent, after taking over operations from parents Donald and Linda Taylor last year.
____ Plants are for sale from March until the last plant is sold, which is generally in June, according to Kurt. Throughout the years, the business has changed according to customer demand. “When things started, we mainly carried hanging baskets, potted annuals and market packs of bedding plants. Over the years, our customers began looking for items to differentiate themselves from the neighbors,” Kurt said.
____ To meet that need, the family carries unique plant varieties. “We carry the 'Proven Winners' line of special annuals that are easy to grow. Some are very exotic, strange and weird looking. The company that developed the line does a large amount of research and their staff combs the globe to find plants that aren't in the marketplace. They work on them for years through selective breeding, perfecting the plants' habit and color flowering. If it's a 'Proven Winner,' consumers can feel confident of the performance, no matter how green their thumb is,” Kurt said. This year, the brothers added another unique plant to their repertoire called Popcorn Cassia. “It's the wildest thing. It’s attractive, has height and when the breeze blows across it, it smells like buttered popcorn,” he said. Another “odd” variety Kurt carries is the Beard Dianthus, which has the dubious distinction of being voted the “ugliest plant of the year.” “It's a fringed dianthus and the flower has long whiskers that run off the bloom.”
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
Once in a lifetime
Gayle Yost, daughter of radio operator Richard Lebo, and Donika Gina, from Albania, daughter of the partisan leader, Hassan Gina, who convinced the members of his group not to kill the Americans.
____ Gayle Yost, of Dillsburg, is a Baby Boomer. Growing up, she knew her father, Richard Lebo, served in World War II but not much else. He never spoke of his wartime adventures nor did he speak of the people who fought beside him. Gayle wondered if any part of his past would ever be known.
____ As the years passed, Gayle and her brother, Craig Lebo, were contacted by Cate Lineberry, who was writing a book called “The Secret Rescue.” It was about a plane with 13 flight nurses, 13 medics, Army Air Force radio operator Sgt. Richard Lebo and three other members of the flight crew.
____ The plane, which had only one gun and a compass that did not work, became lost in bad weather over Albania in November 1943. It was chased by German fighter aircraft and forced to crash land.
____ Everyone was able to get out of the airplane safely. The weather was cold and there were few supplies. The fear of getting captured was on their minds constantly. The Albanian resistance fighters and villagers kept the survivors safe with food and shelter. For three months, they were on the run, keeping one step ahead of the German troops. Finding freedom seemed lost, but a rescue attempt was in the works by the British and American intelligence organizations.
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
____ Dillsburg resident Deborah Keen wants the Northern York County School district to be more open to public comment during its committee and school board meetings. Last night at the school board committee meetings, she said she would like to see more clarity in the board agendas and minutes posted on the district website.
____ “Expanding the minutes of the meetings would be helpful to the public, especially those who cannot make it to the meetings,” Keen told the board.
____ For example, she brought up the following item listed on the January 16 board agenda, stating the board “approve NGSA as a new student activity club/organization at Northern High School.”
____ No explanation of the club was given in the minutes. However, the high school website lists the following: “The purpose of the NGSA is to create a more welcoming environment for students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, through support, education, and awareness. This includes all LGBTQ+ students and their allies.”
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
Also in the March 20, 2014 edition
____\
___ -Community events
___ -Obituaries
___ -Births
___ -20 years ago
Print Edition Highlights - March 20, 2014
Photos by Curt Werner
Brad Yohn, left, took second place and Brian Keet took first place in the mogul competition at Ski Roundtop March 8 during the annual Mardi Gras on Snow event. Pond Skimming will be on March 22. Registration is free and will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m in the lower level of the lodge.
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
Photo by Curt Werner
Rachel Seik is catcher for the Northern High School Softball team.
____ The Northern softball team is supposed to begin its season tomorrow with a home game against Shippensburg.
____ Will that game actually be played? Probably not.
____ The winter weather has taken a large toll on central Pennsylvania in many ways, and the spring sports season is no exception.
____ First-year head coach Bruce Sheaffer, in his second stint as skipper for the Polar Bears, says it may be another full week before the season can really begin.
____ “We still have some ice at home plate,” Sheaffer said. “The ground is still saturated and some of it is still frozen. I think we’re at least a week away from even thinking about getting on the field. Everyone is in the same boat right now; we just need some warm weather.”
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
Photo by Curt Werner
R=Kennedy Shank has high hopes of breaking more records this year in the pole vault.
____ It’s still winter, but the 2014 Northern H.S. Spring Track and Field teams have been diligently practicing in preparation for the new season. The Polar Bears will again compete in the Mid Penn Capitol Division. They open at home against Bishop McDevitt on Tuesday, March 25.
____ Junior pole vaulter and state medalist Kennedy Shank leads the way for the Lady Polar Bears. Shank had a strong indoor season with a sixth place finish at the prestigious Millrose Games and a fourth place finish at the PTFCA State Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Penn State. Seniors in the mix include Madi Bleiler (throws), Hannah Mabus (sprints, long jump), Alexis Munshower (middle distance), Sarah Kutz (distance), Liz Vinette (throws) and Lily Ritter (throws).
____ Another junior, Kierra Zack, is Northern’s top miler and will pace the distance crew. Junior Stephanie Clark will compete in the jumps while the following sophomores should contribute points in their respective events: Ashley Marconi (hurdles), Candace Gerber (sprints), Makenna Byers (distance), Toni Feite (distance) and Madison Hammer (distance). Freshmen sprinters hoping to make their mark include Ellie Santos and Jordan Clark.
See the March 20, 2014 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
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