Cecil County

Commuters between Harford and Cecil counties will soon have a public transit option for crossing the Susquehanna River, one with a fare that is $4 less than the toll motorists pay to use the bridge. Maryland Transit Administration and county officials launched the first inter-county public transportation route Monday with the oldest crossing, an aging railroad bridge, and the newest transit bus models from each county in the background. "Two jurisdictions have partnered for the first time to bring this great opportunity to their citizens," said Elizabeth Kreider, MTA director of local transit support.

Two Harford County residents were charged with marijuana possession in Cecil County earlier this week. The charges occurred as the result of a traffic stop near Elkton, according to a report in the Cecil Whig . Sarah Marie Keithley, 21, of the 800 block of Shawnee Brook Drive in Havre de Grace, was charged with possession of marijuana, according to Maryland online court records. Keithley also received a traffic citation for driving on the median strip. The violation occurred at 2:12 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in the 3600 block of Pulaski Highway in Elkton, according to online court records.

Artesian Water Maryland, a subsidiary of Artesian Resources Corporation, announced Wednesday it has completed the purchase of several Cecil County local water systems, including the water system of the Town of Port Deposit. Artesian purchased the water system and assets of the Town of Port Deposit, including access to the Susquehanna River as a water supply, the company said in a news release. On the eastern end of the county, Artesian built an interconnection between its Delaware water utility subsidiary and the Town of Elkton and invested in system upgrades to ensure up to 1.5 million gallons of water a day to Elkton and sufficient additional capacity to serve Cecil County's growth corridor as it develops, the company said.

Duane Allan Henry, a colorful former newspaperman and advertising agency owner who played a pivotal role in getting Havre de Grace recognized as the "Decoy Capital of the World," died Dec. 14 of heart failure at the Veterans Medical Center at Perry Point. The Havre de Grace resident was 85. The son of a railroader and a saleswoman, Duane Allen Henry was born and raised in Olean, N.Y., where he graduated from high school. During World War II, he served in the Navy as a gunner's mate on a Landing Craft Tank and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

A Cecil County man was killed Sunday morning in Fallston when he lost control of his motorcycle and was struck by an oncoming car, the Harford County Sheriff's Office said. Adam Charles Wyatt, a 29-year-old resident of Rising Sun, was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office said Wyatt was coming around a curve in the 1700 block of northbound Carrs Mills Road when he lost control of his 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle and was ejected. He was struck in the southbound lane by an oncoming 2004 Honda Civic.

A string of five armed robberies in three northeastern Maryland counties that began a week ago at the Maryland House travel plaza on I-95 near Aberdeen appears to be the work of the same person or people, Maryland State Police said late Wednesday afternoon. State Police at the JFK Barack issued a news release in which they linked the robberies to at least one person; however, they had said previously that witnesses at the Maryland House might have seen a suspect drive off in the company two people.

Robert A. Gibson, a retired educator and former superintendent of Cecil County public schools, died Nov. 4 of spinal cancer at his home in Port Herman. He was 93. The son of farmers, Dr. Gibson was born and raised in Rising Sun. After graduating from North East High School in 1935, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1939 in health and physical education from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. He earned both his master's and doctorate from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Dozens of early American flags hang from the rafters of the F. W. Haxel Flag Co. in Harford County. They bear the traditional alternating red and white stripes but only 15 stars, in a salute to that flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem. Surrounded by those replica banners, officials from Harford and Cecil counties began their role Tuesday in the state's bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812.

APG Federal Credit Union, Harford and Cecil County's largest credit union, has announced Thomas J. Arena recently joined the credit union's marketing department in the new position of product manager. Arena brings more than 10 years of product development, management and marketing experience to the credit union. As a key member of APGFCU's marketing team, he will be responsible for developing and managing new and existing products, services and making other improvements to enhance the member experience.