Shank

Boys Performer of the YearJason Santucci, Westminster, senior: After years of dominating the local distance scene, the Owls senior finally struck state gold.He ran a personal-best 9 minutes, 25.0 seconds to win the Class 4A state 3,200, giving the Monmouth-bound standout his first outdoor state title. "He couldn't be denied," said Owls coach Jim Shank. "After the race he told me that he was glad to get the monkey off his back."The Owls' leader, both on and off the track, also broke a county meet record in winning the 3,200 in 9: 38.2 -- breaking Mark Gilmore's 13-year-old record by 5.4 seconds.

NEW ZEALAND is a dream destination for many American travelers, but 23-year-old Jessica Shank, daughter of Sam and Maggie Shank of Arnold, can check that trip off her list.A 1993 graduate of Severna Park High School and a senior in elementary education at Salisbury State University, Shank just returned home after 12 weeks teaching elementary school in Auckland.As envoys to the South Pacific nation, Shank and fellow student Cristina Merritt from Princess Anne are among more than 34 students sent to New Zealand in the past six years by the education department at Salisbury.

Thea Bayly wants more this spring than last.The Westminster sprinter had a strong season last spring, winning the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints at the Carroll County championship. She struggled, however, at a very strong region meet and didn't qualify for the state meet in any individual events.But last year's difficulties created this spring's goals for her -- to // qualify for the state meet.Bayly took the first steps toward that objective by once again sweeping the 100, 200 and 400 at last week's county meet, despite often running in a driving rainstorm at Western Maryland College.

The Westminster indoor track team could not start practice until one month after everyone else began. The Owls are in only their third week of workouts and still building a team.So why did coach Jim Shank choose to have his team make its debut at the always-tough National Guard Meet in Baltimore on Jan. 17?"Well, we could have gone in through the wading pool, but we went right into the deep end," Shank said with a laugh.Shank is a big reason the Owls are in the pool at all. Indoor track had been dormant in Carroll County for more than a decade.

ONE OF THE more complicated choices on the ballot for Harford County Republicans next month is for president of the county council. First-term council members Mark S. Decker and Mitch Shank are vying for the nomination. The Democrats have no contested primary, with one candidate: Gunther G. Hirsch, a past mayor and councilman in Havre de Grace.Unlike most metropolitan counties in Maryland, where councils choose a member from among themselves to run meetings, Harford voters elect their council president.

Jason Santucci made quite an impression on the Westminster running program after moving here from Virginia last summer. The junior won the county, region and state championships as the Owls captured their second straight Class 4A state crown.Santucci had similar plans for the indoor season. He hoped to dominate in the 3,000 meters and make a similar sweep of the big races. Despite the fact that Westminster didn't receive county approval to run an indoor track program until a month after other teams had started, Santucci continued to train on his own and remained in top form.

Jason Santucci made quite a first impression last year at Westminster.After transferring to Westminster from Virginia, Santucci quickly displaced the team's No. 1 runner, Greg Fisher, and turned in some memorable performances in helping the Owls win their second straight Class 4A state cross country championship.Santucci hit his stride around mid-season and won the county, Central Maryland Conference, region and state titles and also was picked as the All-Metro team's Runner of the Year.The question now -- what to do for an encore?

Julie Shank knows all about defense.The Severna Park junior, an All-America honorable mention her first two seasons, understands that's her trademark. She lives by the No. 5 Falcons' motto: "Offense wins games; defense wins championships."But after providing 31 goals and assisting on 14 more last year, Shank is showing another trademark this season -- versatility."I'm getting the best of both worlds," said Shank, who has been seeing more regular time on attack this season and has 14 goals and 11 assists.

Westminster and South Carroll boys teams' both capturing state titles last fall was an unusual feat, given that Carroll County has just five schools.More unusual would be doing it again -- something that's a possibility.Westminster dominated opponents last year en route to its second straight Class 4A state championship. But South Carroll surprised many when it won regions and the school's first Class 3A state title. Even though both schools need to replace top runners on those title teams, both also may be just as strong this year.

Westminster High School will be the only Carroll County school competing in indoor track at the interscholastic level this season.The county school board approved Westminster's petition at its Wednesday meeting. However, this was an individual proposal by Westminster on how it would handle its program, and was accepted as such.To set up similar programs, other county schools would have to go through a similar process.Westminster coach Jim Shank had some 50 athletes at his first organizational meeting yesterday.

Hometown : Frostburg Members: Derek Shank, keyboards and vocals; Josh Grapes, samples, effects, keyboards and vocals; Curt Tompkins, drums and vocals; Kenny Tompkins, guitar and lead vocals Founded : 2006 Style : experimental electro-pop Influenced by : Mum, Deerhoof, Panda Bear Notable: The Christmas Lights is the brainchild of Kenny Tompkins, who recorded the band's debut album, Walk Like a Human, at home by himself. Tompkins recruited Grapes, Shank and his brother, Curt, to perform the pieces live.

Prosecutors said yesterday they do not believe that a homemade knife found a few hours after the 2006 fatal stabbing of a corrections officer in a Jessup prison - and which disappeared and later resurfaced as a weapon confiscated from an inmate - was the weapon used in the murder. The disclosure came at the start of the trial of five corrections officers accused of beating an inmate and planting the knife on him to justify the beating - a rare criminal prosecution of guards accused of assaulting an inmate.

On May 8, 2007, SHIRLEY J. SHANK of Arbutus, MD. Beloved wife of the late Garrett M. Shank; loving mother of Gary M. Shank, Jr. (Karen) and Joyce L. Kokkonen (Kauko); devoted grandmother of John Luber (Kim), David Luber (Janice) and Karen Radcliffe (John); caring sister of Joan Graham; loving great grandmother of Alex, Steven, Kaily, Nicholas, Josh, Sara, Jacob, Matthew, Sydney and Ryan. Family and friends are invited to call at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Edmondson Ave., Catonsville, MD on Thursday from 3-5 and 7-9pm.

Republicans in the House of Delegates chose one of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s most outspoken backers as minority leader yesterday, signaling a desire to provide a vocal opposition to the Democrats who now control the governorship as well as the legislature. Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the Southern Maryland Republican who served as minority whip for the last four years, will move up to the role of minority leader when the legislature reconvenes in January, taking over the spot held by state Sen.-elect George C. Edwards.

On December 4, 2005, JOHN RAYMOND SHANK, beloved husband of Patricia A. (nee Rutkowski); devoted father of Erin Dicello and her husband Eric and Jonathan Shank and his friend Tracy; loving grandfather of Logan Michael Shank; son of Margaret Shank and brother of Jeffrey Shank. A Catholic Burial Service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. In John's memory contributions may be made to a Scholarship Fund for his grandson, Logan Shank, c/o David P. Hagar, BCEFCU, 23 W. Susquehanna Avenue, Towson, MD, 21204.

On August 10, 2005, ORETTA F. SHANK (nee Sigmon); beloved wife of Charles M. Shank; devoted mother of the late George M. Shank. Also survived by grandchildren, Bryan Shank, Tracey Shank-Sanza and Eric Shank; great-grandchildren, Spencer and Emma Sanza and Izabella Shank. Funeral services at the Connelly Funeral Home of Essex, 300 Mace Avenue, on Saturday at 9:30 A.M. Interment Holly Hill Memorial Gardens. Visiting hours on Friday, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9.

On June 28, 2005, EVELYN M. (nee Mc Namara), beloved wife of the late Robert B. Hutchins and devoted mother of Anna May Shank; cherished grandmother of Debbie Mc Connell and Howard W. Shank Jr. of Lockport, NY; loving sister of Frances Desch and Gordon Mc Namara; also survived by six great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the family owned HARTLEY MILLER-STELLA FUNERAL HOME CHTD, 7527 Harford Rd, on Thursday from 7 to 9 P.M. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church on Saturday at 10 A.M. Interment in Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

Tourism council to update visitor's guide to county The Tourism Council of Carroll County Inc. is preparing to publish the second edition of its visitor's guide, Destination Carroll County, this fall. The guide is produced by the nonprofit council as a service to the Carroll County Office of Tourism, which uses the booklet in its promotion and advertising of the county. This magazine-style publication features maps and information on the towns, the Civil War, historic sites, attractions, parks, lodging, restaurants and shopping.

CHESTERTOWN - Every year, the Chestertown Tea Party commemorates the fighting spirit of a young nation's first soldiers, the colonists who stormed a British ship on the Chester River 231 years ago to toss its tea overboard in solidarity with their Boston brethren. Yesterday, amid the presence of re-enactors dressed in Revolutionary-era British and American military costumes, four Chestertown friends wearing genuine, contemporary military uniforms came home to proudly claim that inheritance as young soldiers for a nation now aged by the wars to be remembered tomorrow on Memorial Day. Three of them strutted along High Street here yesterday in the familiar dress whites of sailors on weekend shore leave.

An inmate at the Maryland House of Correction Annex stabbed one of several correctional officers who had entered his cell yesterday morning to subdue him, a state prisons spokeswoman said. The incident began about 10:30 a.m., when the inmate refused to comply with staff orders while breakfast was being delivered to cells at the maximum-security Jessup prison. Capt. Priscilla Doggett, the spokeswoman, said officers used pepper spray on the inmate before entering, but he lunged at them with a shank -- a homemade knife -- and stabbed one in the upper right arm. The officer, whose name was not divulged, was released after treatment at a hospital, Doggett said, adding that the inmate, who also was not identified, was not injured.