Print Edition Highlights - April 2, 2015

Fire destroys residence
Seven people forced to evacuate
By Marie Chomicki

Photo by Curt Werner.
Dillsburg Citizens Hose firefighters Donald Dye III and Carla Snyder man the hose to extinquish hot spots early Monday morning at the residence behind Baker’s Restaurant.

____ Two men escaped with their lives after a fire broke out in a vacant bedroom of their residence, a converted garage, behind Baker's Restaurant early Tuesday morning.
____ “They were fortunate. It could of been a very different outcome,” Dillsburg Fire Chief Scott McClintock said, if both men had been asleep. “There were no working smoke detectors in the home.”
____ McClintock said one of the men woke up his roommate after smelling smoke coming from a spare bedroom while he was watching TV. The two fled their home to alert others - one went next door to wake up the people in the mobile home and the other fled to the restaurant, which is open 24 hours, to call 911.
____ McClintock said everyone, seven in all, was able to get out safely. The dispatch to the structure fire was received at 2:44 a.m. Firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly, McClintock said.
____ One of the rooms in the garage was gutted and there was smoke damage to the remainder of the residence, McClintock said.

See the April 2, 2015 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

Car plows down metal protective pole
and slams into ice machine

Photo by Curt Werner.
A rescue team works to free the driver a VW who lost control, went over safety poles and slammed into the ice machine in the parking lot at Sheetz Monday morning at 6:13 a.m.

____ A driver sideswiped a pickup, ran over protective poles and slammed into an ice machine early Monday morning in the Sheetz parking lot on Route 15 at Mill Road.
____ Debra Leedy, 57, of 1100 Old Rt. 30, Cashtown was driving a blue VW Jetta when she had a medical problem which caused her lose control of her car at 6:13 a.m. on March 30, according to Carroll Township police.
____ Leedy sideswiped a 2013 GMC Sierra, owned by Keith Kitner, 400 Big Sky Drive, Etters. After toppling a protective pole on the sidewalk Leedy slammed into an ice machine against the building.

See the April 2, 2015 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

PennDOT reveals round-about plans for Rt. 15
By Afril Pools

Pictured is PennDOT’s design of what the newly proposed round-about will look like at the intersection on Route 15 at Golf Course and Range End roads. Construction is due to start in June after the end of the school year.

____ PennDOT has decided to put the proposed roundabout (traffic circle) for Rt. 15 at Range End and Golf Course roads back on track.
Construction is to begin this June just after the end of the school year.
____ Engineers enclosed a composite sketch of what the round-about will look like. They based the design on the one recently built in Linglestown - even using the same type of pedestal.
____ Steep grade concerns at the intersection with vehicles not being able to stop on time were solved by the committee with the addition of Mr. Pickle, right in the center, on top of the pedestal.
____ “We feel the size of Mr. Pickle will be eye catching enough to alert motorists of the change in traffic patterns. He will tower 30 feet high.”
____ “The plan is also similar to the round-abouts in Gettysburg and New Oxford.”
____ There would be no expense to Carroll Township to maintain the round-about, like there would be if PennDOT installed a traffic light.
____ “We feel this will solve the current congestion problems Dillsburg is experiencing in this area,” officials said.
____ If successful, Pennsylvanians may see all Rt. 15 traffic lights replaced with round-about in coming years.
____ In fact, plans are being considered now for a similar one to be built at the Route 15 and Route 74 intersection.
____ “Yes, we are optimistic this will alleviate traffic problems along the Rt. 15 corridor.”
____ Dillsburg Borough is pleased too and hope this will solve the never ending issues they have with the traffic signals. “They are constantly down and out of sync with each other, backing traffic in both directions for miles,” a Borough official who wishes to remain anonymous revealed.
____ Special to the Dillsburg community will be the ability for Mr. Pickle to rotate in a circle to greet visitors traveling north and south. Plans also include fireworks shooting from his gloved hands during New Year’s Eve.
____ A local Chief of Police told committee members he would plan parking for a tow truck to remain near the circle for quick responses after it is first operational.
____ “I don't anticipate any real problems, though,” Chief said, since Mr. Pickle will dominate the intersection to slow down traffic.
____ The public’s input is valued said committee members. To have your say and for more information on the round-about email dillsburgbanner@dillsburgbanner.net/aprilfools!

Print Edition Highlights - April 2, 2015

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny held at the Legion

Photo by Curt Werner.
Lila Reid, 5 months, visits the Easter Bunny.

____ On Saturday, March 28, the Dillsburg American Legion hosted breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Approximately 50 children and 75 adults attended the fun event.
____ After enjoying scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potato tarts, pancakes and juice the children sat with the Easter Bunny. The children did the bunny hop, played games, had face painting, colored pictures in a coloring book and searched for hidden eggs. Some of the eggs would lead to a special prize at the end of the search.

Photo by Mark Ryder.
Len Zooke and son Jaxon, 3, inventory a collection of eggs from the hunt.

See the April 2, 2015 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

Polar Bears to host Colonials
By Joe Guty

Photo by Curt Werner.
Northern's Brian Daggs lost to Mifflin County’s Matt DeBenedetto in two sets 6-1, 6-1. On Monday, March 30, the Northern Boys Tennis Team fell to Mifflin County 4 to 1 at the Northern High School.

____ Hopeful for more seasonable weather, the Northern H.S. Boys tennis team is slated to host New Oxford on Thursday, April 2. The Polar Bears carried a 1-4 record into the week that also featured matches against Cumberland Valley (away--Tuesday, 3/31), Susquehanna Twp (away--Wednesday, 4/1). Susquehanna Twp is a Mid Penn Keystone Division match while CV and New Oxford are non league contests.
____ At home on Monday, March 30, Northern faced Mifflin County in a league match but fell 1-4. Competing for the Polar Bears in singles competition were: Brian Daggs, Andy Stewart and Nate Breon. The winning doubles teams was Austin Kraus and Eric Wenrich who defeated N. Fisher and L. Kyle 6-3, 7-6. At No.2 doubles were Matt Sechrist and Travis Wilson.

See the April 2, 2015 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

Four games, four wins for Northern baseball squad
By Andy Sandrik

Photo by Mark Ryder.
A Big Spring runner dives back safely to first base, avoiding being tagged by Nick Sacoman during last Friday’s game.

____ Brian Robison's Northern baseball team is still unbeaten.
____ The Polar Bears won two games this past week thanks to lights-out pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.
____ Northern, which improved to 4-0 and 2-0 in the Mid-Penn Capital Division, defeated Big Spring 1-0 on Friday and took out division playmate Camp Hill on Tuesday by a 4-3 score.
____ "I'm pretty happy with the first four wins of the season," Robison said. "The most important thing is we've played consistent defense and the pitching has been what we needed it to be."
____ The Polar Bears were scheduled to play Trinity on Wednesday and are back Saturday with a home game against Northeastern before shifting their sights to West Perry on Tuesday.

See the April 2, 2015 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.