Covered Bridge Opens Once Again

Three weeks after a truck, almost 13 feet high smashed through the 9 and a half foot tall entryway, the Utica Mills covered bridge is open again. Supporting beams had been ripped out, others were cracked in half and repairing a more than 150-year-old landmark wasnt going to happen overnight. "You just dont go to a hardware store and find beams anymore like you have in this bridge. They had to be specially made at a sawmill," said Bill Routzhan, Superintendent Frederick County Highway Dept. Utica Mills is one of only three covered bridges in Frederick County. Highway officials said getting it re-opened quickly was a major concern, but getting it done right was much larger. "Thats important to us. We want to keep it looking as original as we possibly can," said Routzhan. Neighboring residents dont have to deal with a 5-mile detour anymore, or worry that a antebellum relic would be gone forever. "Oh, its great. Its one of our assets here, one of the reasons were living in this area," said Bill Jefferies, Utica resident. As quickly as Utica Mills opened up, tourists were back with their cameras. "Its very special, because there arent many around and they date back to the early 1800s. So, theyre kind of a dinosaur," said Greg Henry, from Vienna, VA. It cost just under $10,000 to fix this dinosaur, and neighbors hope drivers realize just how fragile their path is. "I think people should respect the bridge, drive slow over it and itll be here for a long, long time," said Jefferies. The bridge repair will not cost the county anything. The truck drivers insurance company is paying for all of it; parts and labor. Reported by Adam Hudson" Pre-trial Delayed for Man Accused of Killing outside a Martinsburg Motel,1152310952,1152310952,"[img align=left]http://www.nbc25.com/main/uploads/sabraham_1152312447_grimes-2.gif[/img]MARTINSBURG, WV- The pre-trial for Edward C. Grimes, accused of killing a man outside a Martinsburg hotel has been rescheduled.