The Garrett County Health Department has administered about 2,000 H1N1 vaccinations...

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A fire caused by an extension of a woods fire damaged a storage shed in Friendsville Sunday...

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The Garrett County commissioners held their annual prelegislative meeting with Sen....

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The Garrett Choral Society will present its annual Christmas concert early next month,...

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State's Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch has announced that Bradley Allen Stewart's sentencing...

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The Republican newspaper will be publishing its Christmas Gift Guide supplement on...

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Residents within the corporate limits of the town of Oakland may continue to put out...

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A tundra swan "gathering" took place at Broadford Recreation Area this week, and was observed, photographed, and reported by local bird expert Fran Pope. She said the flock is migrating, and opted to take a rest on the local lake Tuesday morning. What started as a group of about 13 birds in the morning grew steadily, Pope said, until more than 200 birds had landed on the lake, with migrating flocks of 30 to 40 birds joining at intervals.
 
"Immediately after landing, most of the new birds tucked their heads under a wing and rested," Pope said. Of the more than 200 birds on the lake Tuesday evening, she counted 15 juveniles, such as the darker one pictured above with probably a parent.
 
"These swans migrate in family groups," Pope said. "It's amazing to consider that the young hatched just this year, probably in late June to early July, and could fly in 60 to 70 days. Now they're making their first fall migration from the breeding grounds on arctic wetlands to estuaries along the East and West coasts. The young will remain with their parents until arrival back on the breeding grounds next year," she said.

On another morning this week, Pope counted about 240 of the birds on Broadford, "many vocalizing, while others preened and, perhaps, readied to continue their journey."


Ruth Umbel, an active member of both the Republican Women's Club of southern and northern Garrett County, was recently elected as the next president of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW). Umbel will lead Maryland's 40 clubs in a campaign to elect qualified women and men to leadership positions throughout the state and country. Current president Patt Parker passed the gavel to Umbel during the elections for the 2010-2011 term, held at the 2009 Fall Convention in Cambridge.
 
This is the first time in the history of MFRW that a member of the Western Region has held this position. Umbel began her work with the organization in the late 1960s, serving as various club committee chairs, club president, and in executive board positions, and then moved through the ranks to achieve the presidency.

Umbel is a native of Garrett County. Catie Ravenscroft James, also a native and part-time resident of Garrett County, was elected 3rd vice president.
MONTY PYTHON SILLINESS SET AT SHS

Drama students at Southern High School will present some popular sketches of Monty Python's Flying Circus this Friday and Saturday at the school, with the show beginning at 8 p.m. The British comedy troupe is known for the popular movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, as well as its BBC comedy series from the early 1970s.
 
Admission is $5 per person. The cast is shown above. In the front are Brittany Scott (left) and Hannah Burrell. In the second row, from left, are Virginia Byrne, Dylan DiGioia, Sara Ashby, and Rob Bauman. Third row, same order: Brennon Crosby, Megan Fitzwater, Justin Weeks, Samantha Thayer, and Nixon Malcolm, Matt Higgins, and Samantha Johnson. Back row: Brittney Hostutler, Julia Jordan, Codie Beckman, Carinna Lewis, and Rachel Staley. The show is under the direction of Erin White, theatre teacher at the school.

A MINI RELAY FOR LIFE

Grantsville Elementary School students and staff members participated in activities throughout last week to support the Relay for Life organization and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Each student received a pledge sheet for sponsors, and also "paid" donations in order to participate in activities such as Pajama Day and Mix/Match Day. Organizers set a goal of $1,000 to be raised throughout the entire week. On the very first day, donations reached $1,222.05. By the end of the week, the school had raised a total of $3,262.05. Following the kick-off assembly, students and staff walked a lap around the school halls with cancer survivor Lauren Weller (above left) and Beth Garbolino (right), area executive director of the American Cancer Society. Later in the week, each class walked laps for a designated amount of time. See additional photos in the hard copy of today's issue.
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