Fallston High School

Elementary students to go home early Harford County public schools will dismiss elementary school students at 1 p.m. tomorrow for teachers' planning time. Schools close for prekindergarten Thursday. Schools close for kindergarten through 11th grade June 11. Information: 410-588-5203. School to induct 6 into Ring of Honor Fallston High School will induct six members into its Ring of Honor inaugural class, which recognizes individuals "who have significantly contributed to the school, community, country or humanity," on Tuesday.

2000 is a year recalled fondly by members of Fallston High School's dance team club. At the same time, it's one the dancers would like to forget. It was the year when the school founded the team. It also was the year when the dance troupe, led by a science teacher with no dance expertise, performed at just four school athletic functions and finished 31st out of 36 teams at a regional competition. "We didn't know what we were doing, but we made do with what we had," said Carrie Cummings, an earth science teacher who has been the coach of the team since the beginning.

Fallston Funeral held for soldier killed in Iraq In a brief, somber funeral Monday, family and friends gathered to remember Staff Sgt. William A. Allers III, a soldier who grew up in Fallston and was killed in Iraq last month when his Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb. Family members wept as they watched images chronicling Allers' life flash on a screen above his flag-draped casket at Mountain Christian Church in Fallston. Allers, 28, was a month away from returning from Iraq, where he was serving as a member of the Kentucky National Guard and had taken part in more than two dozen battles with insurgents, according to Guard officials.

State and local officials unveiled last week a nearly $5 million package of road programs aimed at alleviating congestion and safety concerns at three Harford County intersections. The projects -- one at the intersection of Route 152, Carrs Mill and Old Fallston roads in Fallston, another along Main Street in Bel Air and a third along Emmorton Road south of Bel Air -- are part of the statewide transportation funding initiative proposed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. last year and approved by the General Assembly.

State officials announced yesterday a sharp reduction in the level of contamination of a gasoline additive at the underground storage tanks of an Exxon station in the Upper Crossroads section of Harford County, but said that does not solve the problem of the apparent leak. "This is good news, but it does not mean the problem has been solved or that the department's scrutiny of the situation will decrease," said Kendl P. Philbrick, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment.

APG to conduct training exercises through Sept. 24 The Aberdeen Proving Ground will conduct training exercises - day and night - tomorrow to Sept. 24. Activities may take place in restricted waters, in the air or both, and can include weapons firing and use of multiple aircraft and watercraft. Residents and boaters in surrounding communities might hear weapons firing and observe low-flying aircraft. Illumination devices might create flashes of light visible to off-post areas. Information: 410-278- 1147.

Poly's defense dominated visiting Edgewood's offense, 29-6, yesterday in an early-season meeting between Baltimore City and Harford County. The Engineers (1-0) had three interceptions against the Rams (0-1). Richardo Silva ran an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Jerrell Crossier led the Engineers' offense with 51 rushing yards and a pair of two-point conversions. No. 7 Broadneck 42, Chesapeake-AA 6: Senior quarterback Tony Marino scored three rushing touchdowns, and tailback Brandon Johnson added two to lead the visiting Bruins (1-0)

Lance Cpl. Patrick Ryan Adle, a Fallston High School star football and lacrosse player who joined the Marine Corps when he turned 18 because he wanted to protect his family and his country, was killed Tuesday in Baghdad, Iraq, when the Humvee he was riding in struck a roadside bomb. "He was a hero," Michael Watts said yesterday of his stepson, a 21-year-old Marine reservist who was in his second tour of duty in Iraq. "I don't know all the details," Watts said, "but apparently the Marines were in some kind of skirmish and some were injured.

Gilchrest announces academy nominations Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, a 1st District Republican, has nominated these students from Harford and Cecil counties to the service academies: Jose Zachary Canto, the son of Geraldine Canto of Fallston and Jose Canto of Pennsylvania. He is a student at Calvert Hall College High School (nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy). Thomas Carpenter, the son of Jon and Gerry Carpenter of Elkton. He is a student at St. Mark's High School (Naval Academy).