Gettysburg Times (Newspaper) - December 30, 2010, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania BY DOUGLASS K. DANIEL Associated Press WASHINGTON ( AP) — Postal patron Sean Swilling is tired of the inconvenience that comes with every change in the price of mailing a letter. That makes him just the type of customer the U. S. Postal Service wants to please with a policy designating all new first- class stamps as “ forever.” Beginning in January, all new stamps good for 1 ounce of domestic first- class mail will forgo a printed denomination and be acceptable for the typical letter regardless of the current postal rate. “ I think that’s a great idea,” Swilling, a research analyst for commercial property, said Tuesday during a mail run at a downtown Washington post office. “ For me, a guy who uses snail mail regularly, it’s a hassle to get 1- or 2- cent stamps. Streamline things — that would be perfect.” The move is designed to help customers cope with postage increases, a Postal Service official said on Tuesday. The official requested anonymity to discuss a policy that hasn’t been announced formally. Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe plans to announce the new policy Jan. 14, the official said. Jim Plante, a federal employee mailing a letter in downtown Washington, doesn’t see the policy as a major change in doing business. “ They get my money in advance, but I’ll use them eventually. It will save me a penny or two,” Plante said. “ It won’t cure their deficit, but if it helps them out a bit, why not?” The Postal Service unveiled its first- class commemorative stamps for 2011 on Tuesday. All were marked with the word “ forever” instead of the current rate of 44 cents. ( See STAMPS on Page A3) ADVERTISE IN THE TIMES - Call: 717- 334- 1131 E- MAIL: news@ gburgtimes. com sports@ gburgtimes. com WEB: www. gettysburgtimes. com Classifieds ..................... D1- D2 Comics ................................. D3 Crossword ............................ D1 Deaths .................................. A2 Horoscope ............................ D3 Lottery .................................. A3 Opinion ................................ A4 Sports ............................. B1- B4 INSIDE F OLLOW U S O N : VOL. 108, NO. 310 GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2010 50¢ 985 B ALTIMORE P IKE , G ETTYSBURG 717- 334- 9227 www. thepikerestaurant. com Celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Pike! P RIME R IB & S EAFOOD B UFFET 5 PM - 9 PM • R EGULAR M ENU A LSO A VAILABLE S ERVING IN THE I MPRESSIONS B ANQUET R OOM OPEN N EW Y EAR ’ S D AY !! W ATCH ALL THE C OLLEGE B OWL G AMES H ERE ! K ITCHEN : 11 AM - 10 PM ; L OUNGE 11 AM - 2 AM DJ BOB WATERS 9: 30 pm - 2: 00 am TODAY - Martha Eiker, of Comfort Care, Fairfield, celebrates her 101st birthday today. She was born Dec. 30, 1909. Prior to residing at Comfort Care, she was a resident of Fairfield and enjoyed her garden and flowers. She has one daughter, Shirley Duvall of Boonsboro, Md.; two grandchildren, Janie Hoff and Kenneth Eiker. She also has a deceased son, Robert Eiker. BY JOHN MESSEDER Times Staff Writer Adams County commissioners approved a $ 52.9 million spending plan Wednesday morning to operate county government in 2011. They also approved 2014 and 2015 payraises for elected officials. “ Our budget is [ an] almost one percent decrease from last year,” Commissioner George Weikert said, noting the decrease reflects reductions in income to the county. Revenue that will not decrease will come from local taxpayers in the form of a 3.5518 mill real estate tax. The millage includes .1147 mills dedicated to the county public library system. The tax rate is calculated to produce the same approximately $ 32 million local revenue as last year’s 15.45- mill tax. The change, slightly less than a quarter the previous years millage, results from the recently completed countywide revaluation. The result is a quadrupling of the county’s total assessment. State law prohibits municipal and county governments from realizing a revenue windfall due to increased values and assessments. Fair Market Value of the county’s 44,000 parcels roughly doubled in the two decades since the previous countywide revaluation, and assessment, previously calculated at 50 percent of FMV, will be calculated at 100 percent. The commissioners also approved pay increases for elected officials, to take effect in 2014 and 2015. The increases guarantee the officials a two percent increase — more if the Consumer Price Index increases in the Baltimore region, which includes Adams County, and is capped at three percent. Salaries in 2010 are: Commissioners, $ 59,459; Sheriff, $ 53,203; Treasurer, $ 53,203; Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, $ 55,011 plus $ 3,000 stipend for second office; Clerk of Courts and Clerk of Orphans Court, $ 55,011 plus $ 3,000 stipend for second office. The county commissioners hold a Special Meeting every two years — this year it was Nov. 4 — to set elected officials’ salaries four years hence. The salaries take effect far enough after they are set that the officials receiving them must be reelected to benefit. ( See COUNTY on Page A8) EIKER Happy 101 County budget includes raises READY FOR THE ORANGE BOWL - The five members of the Biglerville High School Dance Team wear the outfits they will be dancing in during their halftime performance in the Orange Bowl. Pictured from left, are Shelby Grubesky, Ashley Showers, Kayla Fouchie, Nikki Wileman and Shelly Hunter. D ARRYL W HEELER / G ETTYSBURG T IMES COLORFUL CASCADE - New Year’s Eve organizers conduct the annual “ air worthiness test” of the confetti used for Times Square New Year’s Eve 2011, Wednesday, in New York City. A SSOCIATED P RESS Bowl boogie Biglerville dancers will entertain at the Orange Bowl on Monday BY DICK WATSON Times Staff Writer Five members of the Biglerville High School Dance Team are getting ready for their biggest performance ever. Together with dancers from schools around the country, the girls will be dancing in the halftime show at the Orange Bowl on Monday, Jan. 3. The game starts at 8: 30 p. m. According to Danielle Cramer, technical systems specialist and coach, the team members will fly to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. “ We’ll be staying at the Hyatt Hotel and practicing with 500 or ( See DANCERS on Page A3) Ski lift was being shut when it failed - Page A7 Clouds, sun; high 41 - Page A8 BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER Times Staff Writer The Family Dollar discount store in Gettysburg closed its doors after 15 years of business in the town’s 3rd Ward. Five employees are affected by the closure, effective at 8 p. m. on Christmas Eve. “ It’s a shame any time a store goes out of business,” said Gettysburg Mayor William E. Troxell. Family Dollar spokesman Josh Braverman confirmed that the store, at 236 West St., won’t reopen. The 6,400 square- foot store abuts the new Wellspan Surgical Center, across from Rite Aid, in what’s known as the West Street Plaza. Gettysburg- area developer and realtor David Sites owns the property, and said there are no immediate plans for another business to move into the vacant building. Wellspan spokesman Barry Sparks said Wednesday that “ as far as I know at this time, we don’t have any plans to expand into that store.” The store is closing for economic reasons, according to employees, who were told about the closure about four weeks ago. There are 6,800 Family Dollar stores in 44 states, and 45,000 employees. The Gettysburg branch dates back to 1995, according to officials. Family Dollar cashing out OUT - Family Dollar discount store in Gettysburg, pictured Wednesday, closed its doors. S COT A NDREW P ITZER / G ETTYSBURG T IMES New first- class stamps will be ‘ forever’ Bermudian’s McCollum reaches 400- win milestone - SPORTS, Page B1
