Print Edition Highlights - December 20, 2012

Breakfast with Santa at the Dillsburg VFW

Photo by Mark Ryder
Ellie Kirkpatrick, 2, of Gardners gets a good look behind Frosty the Snowman’s eyes.

Photo by Curt Werner
Amelin Rebert, 2 1/2 years old, sits on Santa’s lap.

Photo by Mark Ryder
Ella and Jake Adams are all smiles as they sit on Santa’s lap.

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Photo by Curt Werner
Mason McCurdy, 6 months old, celebrates his first Christmas with Santa.

Photo Curt Werner
What did you get? No, what did you get. Girls compare their presents at the Dillsburg VFW Saturday morning.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Government agencies debunk Mayan end-of-the-world 'prediction'
By Jeffrey B. Roth

____Despite predictions to the contrary, the U.S. government, NASA and local emergency officials say the world will not end on Dec. 21, 2012, four days before Christmas. (Gee. And I was hoping not to have to do any Christmas shopping this year.)
____So what's all the hubbub about? Apocalypse 2012 prophecies arose from a combination of archaeological discoveries relating to the ancient Mesoamerican Mayan Long Count calendar combined with a tale based on a story about Nibiru, a planet said to be discovered more than 6,000 years ago by Sumerians. Nibiru had been predicted to collide with the Earth in May 2003. When that failed to occur, according to a statement by NASA, the “doomsday date was moved to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice of 2012.”
____Carl Lindquist, director of communications for York County, said as far as he knows there have been no calls made to any county officials inquiring about the end-of-the-world prediction. Nor has the county felt it necessary to release any statements or advisories on the topic.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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State grant to fund new Dillsburg park
By Mary Lou Bytof

____The Borough of Dillsburg received an early Christmas present this year. On Tuesday, Borough Council President Jeff Griffin announced that the state awarded the borough a $123,000 grant to assist with the development of a community park.
____The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) awarded a Community Conservation Partnerships Grant to the borough. According to Griffin, the money will be used for the construction of a temporary parking area, stormwater management area, a walking trail, a dog park and playground equipment.
____The borough plans to have much of the park completed and in use by no later than September 2013.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Wellsville Fire Company to host New
Year’s Eve dinner, dance and comedy show
By Erica Smithson

____The Borough of Dillsburg received an early Christmas present this year. On Tuesday, Borough Council President Jeff Griffin announced that the state awarded the borough a $123,000 grant to assist with the development of a community park.
____The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) awarded a Community Conservation Partnerships Grant to the borough. According to Griffin, the money will be used for the construction of a temporary parking area, stormwater management area, a walking trail, a dog park and playground equipment.
____The borough plans to have much of the park completed and in use by no later than September 2013.
____“It was with the help of Sen. Pat Vance that we were able to receive the grant,” Griffin announced at the council meeting. He also thanked DCNR for the grant assistance. DCNR is the primary source of support for parks, recreation and conservation efforts in the state.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Photo by Curt Werner
A chain-reaction accident involving three cars on Route 15 northbound took place around 7:56 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17. Carroll Township Police, Citizens' Hose Company No. 1, Dillsburg Ambulance, Franklintown Fire Company and Dillsburg and Franklintown Fire Police were on the scene. One lane was closed for response and cleanup.

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2012 Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge returns to Ski Roundtop and Ski Liberty
By Jeffrey B. Roth

____It is more than the thrill of victory that highlights the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge, to be held at Ski Roundtop and Ski Liberty this December.
____The competition returns to Ski Roundtop, Lewisberry, Dec. 27 and to Ski Liberty, Carroll Valley, Dec. 28. Competing in a number of age categories, skiers from 2 to 85 years old and over raced in the 2010 event at Ski Roundtop. A celebration of winter, family and individual accomplishment, the Vertical Challenge offered the best in competition, while also benefiting the Make-A-Wish-Foundation.
____SnoCountry's Linda Fontaine, who handles publicity for the Vertical Challenge, said the dual race course format is comprised of 13-14 gates per course, with average runs of about a 30- to 40-second time. The space between each gate is wider than a slalom but not as wide as a giant slalom.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Van Pelt Wins Barrel-Racing State Championship

Pennsylvania 4-H State Champions Caroline Van Pelt and Peps Snickers Bar.

____The Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show Championship was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg Oct. 26-28. This year’s show was particularly remarkable for one York County competitor and her horses. Caroline Van Pelt, 16, ran the fastest barrel-racing time of the show to win the 2012 State Championship in Senior Barrel-Racing Horses on her horse, Peps Snickers Bar.
____Barrel racing, Van Pelt’s primary event, is a timed competition in which each horse-and-rider team must navigate a cloverleaf pattern consisting of three high-speed turns before racing to the finish line. Often, only thousandths of a second separate the competitors. Van Pelt and her 9-year-old mount clocked a speedy 17.984-second run en route to victory over a tough field of youth barrel racers. Contestants from across the state qualified for the State Championships by placing in both county and district qualifying rounds. Depending on the quotas set for each level, the top two or three horse-and-rider teams advanced to the next round.
____The win is especially rewarding for Van Pelt because she and her sister trained her horse. Since purchasing him as a 4-year-old, they have spent countless hours and immeasurable energy teaching him to respond quickly and accurately to rider cues and to handle the stress of travel and the pressure of barrel-racing competitions. Snickers is a quarter horse gelding sired by the stallion Pennsylvania Peppy, a son of Peppy San Badger.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Bears honored
By Joe Guty

____Northern H.S. student-athletes were honored last Thursday night at Range End Golf Club during the Football Awards Night. The Polar Bear Cheerleading squad was also recognized as coaches, parents and friends reflected on the 2012 season.
____Elijah Locke was named team MVP, First Team Mid Penn Conference Colonial Division All-Star running back and First Team Return Specialist. The Coaches award went to Nick Lodovici who was also a First Team Lineman on both Offensive and Defense. Isaiah Locke earned the Ellery Crone - 12th Man Award. Travis Saylor and Tristan Kalinay earned the Varsity Sportsmanship Award and Luke Lynes won the JV Sportsmanship Award. Aaron A.J. McClintock earned the Most Improved Player Award and was a First Team Linebacker.
____Curt Werner, photographer and writer for the Dillsburg Banner , presented the Unsung Hero Award award to Dylan Thomas , who was First Team on both Offense (Tight End) and Defense (Defensive End). Thomas was also a First Team Punter. Other Mid Penn All-Stars included linemen Kevin Mulholland - First Team Offense at Center; Kyle Sinclair -Second Team Offense; Kenny Dietrich - Second Team Offense; and Schuyler Foor - Second Team Offense.

See the December 20, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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