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Demolition continues on the former Washington County Hospital. The view is from the back, along Baltimore Street. (By Ric Dugan, Staff Photographer) |
With 2011 drawing to a close, The Herald-Mail took a look back at some of the stories the newspaper published during the year. We will follow up on some of those stories each day through Saturday to provide a glimpse of what happened next.
No use yet for hospital site
The story: In the months after Washington County Hospital's December 2010 closure, a hospital redevelopment task force recommended that Meritus Health demolish the former hospital and consider transferring it to a nonprofit group.
The update: Demolition work continues, but the future use of the site remains undetermined.
It's been more than a year since Washington County Hospital closed its doors and hospital operations moved to Meritus Medical Center off Robinwood Drive, but no decision has been made for how to use the former hospital property in Hagerstown.
Meritus has received a grant from the state to study the site and issued a request for proposals from site use planners, potential developers and others interested in conducting the study, said Joseph Ross, president and chief executive officer of Meritus Health.
"We got over 100 responses from people that would like to be retained to inventory what the site is and begin to identify what it might be," Ross said.
Such a study was one of the steps recommended in January 2011 by the hospital redevelopment task force organized by the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
That group also recommended that the hospital sell the site to a nonprofit organization that would be in a position to hold on to the property until the economy improves, to prevent an economically undesirable use.
The Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation, known as CHIEF, and the Maryland Economic Development Corp. were mentioned as possible organizations to serve in that role.
Ross said it was too early to know whether that was the route the health system would take.
Meanwhile, demolition of the old hospital buildings began in the spring and continues, with completion expected around March, Ross said.
After demolition, "we will maintain the site appropriately, so it will be grassy and appropriately landscaped," he said.
— Heather Keels
Trial set in honored officer's slaying
The story: On Nov. 11, 2010, Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove was killed after he stopped a suspected poacher in Adams County, Pa.
The update: The man accused in his death is awaiting trial, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission has created a scholarship in Grove's name.
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — More than a year after Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove was killed in an exchange of gunfire, the man charged in his death awaits trial, while the state has honored the fallen officer's memory.
In November, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the creation of a college scholarship in Grove's name. And during the summer, Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation naming a bridge on U.S. 15 crossing Marsh Creek in Adams County after Grove.
No use yet for hospital site
The story: In the months after Washington County Hospital's December 2010 closure, a hospital redevelopment task force recommended that Meritus Health demolish the former hospital and consider transferring it to a nonprofit group.
The update: Demolition work continues, but the future use of the site remains undetermined.
It's been more than a year since Washington County Hospital closed its doors and hospital operations moved to Meritus Medical Center off Robinwood Drive, but no decision has been made for how to use the former hospital property in Hagerstown.
Meritus has received a grant from the state to study the site and issued a request for proposals from site use planners, potential developers and others interested in conducting the study, said Joseph Ross, president and chief executive officer of Meritus Health.
"We got over 100 responses from people that would like to be retained to inventory what the site is and begin to identify what it might be," Ross said.
Such a study was one of the steps recommended in January 2011 by the hospital redevelopment task force organized by the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
That group also recommended that the hospital sell the site to a nonprofit organization that would be in a position to hold on to the property until the economy improves, to prevent an economically undesirable use.
The Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation, known as CHIEF, and the Maryland Economic Development Corp. were mentioned as possible organizations to serve in that role.
Ross said it was too early to know whether that was the route the health system would take.
Meanwhile, demolition of the old hospital buildings began in the spring and continues, with completion expected around March, Ross said.
After demolition, "we will maintain the site appropriately, so it will be grassy and appropriately landscaped," he said.
— Heather Keels
Trial set in honored officer's slaying
The story: On Nov. 11, 2010, Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove was killed after he stopped a suspected poacher in Adams County, Pa.
The update: The man accused in his death is awaiting trial, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission has created a scholarship in Grove's name.
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — More than a year after Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove was killed in an exchange of gunfire, the man charged in his death awaits trial, while the state has honored the fallen officer's memory.
In November, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the creation of a college scholarship in Grove's name. And during the summer, Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation naming a bridge on U.S. 15 crossing Marsh Creek in Adams County after Grove.
