Photo by Curt Werner

Tractors, all sizes, shapes and ages, head down South Baltimore Street during the tractor parade Saturday afternoon as part of Farmers Fair activities.

104th Farmers Fair on the books as great success

Mary Lou Bytof

   There was something for everybody to enjoy last weekend at the 104th annual Farmers Fair celebration in Dillsburg.

   Mother Nature cooperated this year to draw crowds to a variety of events, including a petting zoo for the children, demonstrations and exhibits in the Community Hall and Dill's Tavern, an antique car and tractor parade, a craft fair, an outdoor market, and, of course, the Children's Parade on Friday evening, and The Fantastic Parade on Saturday night.

    On Saturday afternoon and early evening, the crowd was so dense, it became difficult to navigate along Baltimore Street. The Carroll Township Police department along with the fire police hired by the Farmer's Fair Committee helped to keep the crowds moving and safe. The fire police controlled the event traffic and the police patrolled the streets, Carroll Township Police Chief Tom Wargo said.  

   "There were no major incidents," the chief said. "From our standpoint, it was uneventful."

   Visitors could enjoy sampling a cup of chili at the annual Chili Cookoff on Hanover Street, or purchase treats along Baltimore Street, ranging from traditional event fare such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and funnel cakes to hearty pulled pork sandwiches, as well as the popular Farm Show milkshakes. People patronized food stands operated by local organizations such as the Boy Scouts, The Women's Club, local churches, the fire company, and Northern High School sports boosters.

   In the evening, people sipped hot chocolate or coffee and munched on kettle corn along the parade route. Riding in convertibles and wearing evening gowns, Farmers Fair Queen Lindsay Mann and her court, had to endure quite a chill in the air on Friday night. So did the winners of the Cute Baby Contest, 13-month-old Sadie Lebo and 11-month-old Brian Stuart. Nevertheless, a number of people stayed after the parade to watch local muscian Nathan Merovich perform at the grand stand.

                                           No tax hike in new budget

Carolyn Hoffman

   Washington Township expects to adopt its 2020 budget at the November 18 meeting, with no tax rate increase.

   As presented at the October 21 session, the proposed budget calls for $516,135 spending from the general account and $268,030 from the state liquid fuels fund account. Township supervisiors said they don't expect any large or unusual purchases during the new year.

   In other action at the session, the township renewed its contract with the SPCA and the Quickbooks consultant and renewed membership in the Hanover Chamber Commerce. The SPCA contract will be $1,377, up 3% from the current rate for the first increase since 2012. This agreement allows the township to take stray animals to the SPCA. The Hanover Chamber of Commerce membership costs $293 per year, but the township realizes about $2,000 in returns from that membership.

   Mike Steinke was named an alternate to the zoning hearing board, filling a slot that has been empty for some time.

   Northern York County Fire and Rescue reported 43 total calls in September, of which four were in Washington. Northeast Adams Fire and Rescue responded to 31 calls, also with four in the township, and their ambulance answered a total of 103 calls with 10 in Washington. Holy Spirit Geinsinger had 154 dispatches with five in the township.

   Bills for the month were $13,154.50 and $9776.74 from the general and state liquid fuel funds. The next regularly schedueled meeting of the supervisors will be November 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the township offices in Kralltown.

Comeback kids post 35-33 win

Joe Guty                                      

   Down by 27 points late in the first half against Big Springs last Friday, the Northern H.S. varsity football team found themselves in trouble.

   A lot of it.

   They had not scored a point, and the first half was coming to a close. With under a minute left they got into the endzone and on the scoreboard. The host Bulldogs had played with intensity and shut down the Polar Bears in all facets. After regrouping, Northern scored early in the third quarter while holding the hosts scoreless. The Polar Bears went on to post 28 unanswered points in a frenetic fourth quarter to edge the Bulldogs 35-33. Northern escaped from Newville with a 6-3 overall record and 4-1 Mid-Penn Colonial Division mark. With 1:16 left, a Big Spring touchdown and an unsuccessful two-point coversion attempt kept things interesting down to the wire.

   "Big Spring definitely had a game plan to stop Kyle (Swartz)," said quarterback Jordan Heisey. "We just had to change it up and try to get the ball in our other playmakers' hands and that opened things up."

   Northern clearly flipped the tables in the second half and in many ways stunned the hosts.

   "At halftime we knew we were down big but we knew we still had a shot...the seniors really came together and talked to everyone," said Heisey. "They said we still have a chance and we all believed it."

   After Northern scored with under a minute left in the second quarter (Heisey to Aidan Wenger for 18 yards), it was on to the lockers to regroup. Once the Polar Bears got aggressive and learned to exploit the bulldog's line and secondary, the momentum kept building. Northern opened the third quarter with a short TD catch by Tyler Yohn. Strong runs by Swartz moved the Bears downfield capped by a Heisey to Tim Geiser pass at 9:24 in the fourth. With Mason Yohn's extra point, the score was now 27-21. With Swartz making lead blocks against the Bulldogs, Heisey chalked up runs of 17, 42 and seven yards before capping the drive with a one-yard plunge to tie it at 27-27 at 5:46.

                 Bears bounced from first round of districts, finish at 12-7

Joe Guty

   The Northern girls soccer team saw its season come to an end on Monday in the opening round of the District 3-3A Tournament.

   Seth Lehman's Polar Bears fell by a 1-0 score to Fleetwood, which puts an end to Northern's campaign at 12-7. Fleetwood (12-5-1) advances to the district quarterfinals, where it will face No. 16 Solanco (12-5-2), which sprung a 1-0 upset over No. 1-seeded Lower Dauphin.

   It was a rollercoaster season for the Polar Bears, who opened at 1-3, but rebounded nicely to finish second in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division with a 10-2 record.

   Northern, which outscored opponents 43-24, will say goodbye to seniors Allie French, Emily McKenzie, Sierra Holubowicz, Camille Waits, Morgan McCarty and Jaidyn Bowen.