Eastalco Closing, Crab Season Ends, and More

News bits and bites for Frederick and beyond …

Frederick company, Eastalco begins the process of closing its doors this week. The company will shut down the plant due to a dispute with over the cost of electricity with Allegheny power. About 600 hundred employees will be laid off when it’s all said and done. Hopefully they will find new jobs quickly.

Walkersville and the City of Frederick both have their eyes on the Monocacy River area. “While Walkersville had intended to annex that area into the town as an agricultural area, the City of Frederick’s region plan has the area earmarked for moderate to medium residential and commercial development […] Frederick city’s region plan also has indicates the area as a potential site for a new school and parks.”

New Market residents want a traffic study in response to a plan that estimates an additional 36,000 residents will be using the roads by 2025. I may be one of those 36,000 residents so an independent traffic study (e.g. one not paid for by the developers) would be nice.

How much would you pay to be free of area gridlock. Check out this Washington Post story on the future of traffic control in the region.

Road construction is going to force an encampment of homeless to find a new place to bivouac. The road project will be connecting East Street to Interstate 70 and start very soon.

Area farmers recently met at the Frederick Fairgrounds to air their grievances. This is part of Maryland’s Agricultural Commission’s listening sessions (one of seven around the state) designed to flag issues to be put on the table at the Governor’s Agriculture Forum in February.

A red light camera may be coming to the Route 40/Mcain Drive intersection after the first of the year.

A group of thieves who may be responsible for ATM thefts in Frederick, Hagerstown and Martinsburg have been caught. According to this article ” During one, thieves stole a truck from a Frederick neighborhood, used it to destroy an ATM at the F&M Bank in Westview Plaza, then returned the truck.”

An 84-year-old woman was the victim of a home invasion robbery recently. The Sheriffs office is looking for tips in this case.

Maryland’s crab season recently ended, but this was one of the best in years. Maryland crabbers cite big catches in the summer and elevated prices (because fewer crabs came from the Gulf Coast ) as the reason for the successful season.

And finally, the Redskins beat the pants off the Cowboys yesterday. Sorry Dallas fans I couldn’t resist a little celebration.