compiled by Geoff Fox
January
Just before the turn of the New Year, Former President Jimmy Carter passes away on December 29 at the age of 100. His State Funeral in Washington, D.C. take place on January 9.
Hancock Police search for a suspect in a shots fired incident from December 17 when folks heard shots coming from behind a church on Pennsylvania Avenue. No one is injured, but phones and internet service did go down.
After several years of permitting delays, work begins outside Hancock on the natural gas pipeline from Fulton County, Pa., to Morgan County, W.Va.
A January 7 snowstorm lays around up to 10 inches of snow on the area, closing schools for two days. Temps would hover in the high 20s to low 30s with wind chills making it feel like single digits.
William Allen Johnson, Jr., 32, of Hancock, pleads no contest in Franklin County, Pa., Court of Common Pleas to several drug charges related to a drug overdose death in 2020.
McConnellsburg Fire Company installs a Safe Haven Baby Box at its station for mothers in a crisis situation after a newborn baby was found dead at the intersection of North Second Street and Lincoln Way last year.
County Code Board rules on two structures in Hancock with safety issues – 144 West Main Street and 110 West High Street. The owner of the Main Street wants to fix the building and is given 30 days. The High Street structure is ordered to be demolished. 
Temperatures in Hancock fall to well below freezing with highs in the teens to low 20s but “feels like” temps in the single digits to negative temperatures.
County Commissioner Wayne Keefer tells his fellow commissioners he is stepping down from his seat, effective February 21.
Hancock Middle-Senior High School Vice Principal/Athletic Director Kermit Moyer moves to a different job and is replaced with Jennifer Bausman as Vice Principal and Bill Sterner as interim Athletic Director.
Pennsylvania Dutch-style Great Cove Farm Market opens in Warfordsburg in the former Dott Store building.
Hancock Police clear up confusion on the legality of side-by-side vehicles on Maryland streets with a decision handed down by Attorney General Anthony Brown and Assistant AG Rachael Simmonsen.
February
Hancock grad and HCC sophomore Aiden Faith ranks #1 in the country at the JUCO level after clearing 5’5” in the high jump at a meet held at Shenandoah University. The jump qualifies Faith for Nationals in Lubbock, Texas.
Hancock Rotary President and Area 14 Governor January Weber and President-Elect Tracy Salvagno participated in a Rotary trip to El Salvador.
A fire destroys a two-story house in Little Orleans, causing $55,000 in damages.
Town officials are given a clean bill of financial health on the annual audit of the town’s books.
March
A school bus carrying 18 students transporting students from Tech High back to Hancock is involved in a minor accident along Interstate 70 near the I-81 interchange when a tractor-trailer sideswipes the bus. No injuries are reported and the only damage is a broken window on the bus.
A year after two women were attacked on the C&O Canal towpath in Frederick County, a suspect was identified and arrested in South Carolina by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
Dr. Matthew Hahn is named Maryland’s Family Physician of the Year by the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians.
Concerns are raised over drivers failing to stop at stop signs in town and the condition of crosswalks.
Hancock High School announces Greg Cartrette as the Panthers’ new football coach.
April
Tanker 5 is brought in as the new piece of apparatus at Hancock Volunteer Fire Company. It replaces Engine Tanker 53.
Six Hancock businesses are recognized for Best of the Tristate with Morrell Practice earning a “Best Family Doctor” and a finalist nod for “Best Medical Practice; Willie’s Primitive Attic and Flower Shop winning “Best Florist” and “Best Wedding Floral” while being a finalist for “Best Gift Shop,” Timeless Baby Boutique being a finalist for “Best Children’s Clothing Store” and Flannel on the Trail for “Best Boutique.” River Bend Family Medicine was a finalist for “Best Medical Practice” and C&O Bicycle was a finalist for “Best Bicycle Shop.”
Running unopposed, Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. won re-election as Hancock mayor. Incumbent David Kerns, who was appointed to council in 2021, was elected to keep his seat. Terry Breakall-Smith was the top vote getter to win her a seat on the Hancock town council.
A powerful storm roared through the surrounding areas on Saturday, April 19 with heavy winds that knocked out power for hundreds of Hancock area residents. The storm also knocked down trees, power lines, and damaged property. The Washington County 911 Center reported to over 1,500 calls throughout the county that night.
For the 24th year, local residents continued the tradition of the annual Cross Walk on Good Friday, April 18.
Hancock Volunteer Fire Company brought home their newest piece of apparatus on April 2 as Tanker 5 rolled into the station. The tanker would go into service in late May.
May
Roland Lanehart, Jr. is sworn in for his second term as mayor while David Kerns and Terry Breakall-Smith are sworn in for town council. 
Maryland State Fire Marshall warns of a social media challenge where students insert objects into the charging port of their school issued Chromebooks. There was one instance of the challenge occurring at Hancock Middle-Senior High School.
A Tuesday, May 13, storm devastates Westernport and LaVale, Cumberland, and the western part of the state. Hancock was spared the flooding seen in that part of the state, however the Potomac River at Hancock crested at 26.5 feet on May 15. Widmeyer Park had flooding and the river was into the parking lot of the boat ramp area.
Kenneth Appel, founder and host of East Coast Sturgis in Little Orleans is killed in a motorcycle accident on High Germany Road in the Little Orleans area. An arrest would be made in late December in connection with the accident.
Logan Trumpower and Madison Booth took the Hancock Panthers to state track finals. Booth won second place in the high jump, narrowly missing gold after a tie-breaking high jump. Trumpower finished his career with a personal record jump of 6’1” during the state championships.
Hancock police search for 27-year-old BobbiAnn Mullins. She was located and reported safe on May 23.
Thirty-seven Hancock students graduate from Hancock Middle-Senior High School, Washington County Tech High School, and Barbara Ingram School of the Arts.
June
Fulton Street, Methodist Avenue, and Resley Street are paved by C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown while the contractor was in town doing paving work for the state on the east end of town.
Town officials unanimously approved the $2.49 million 2026 fiscal year budget.
Officials approve $7,500 in upgrades and repairs to the cabins in Widmeyer Park so they will be usable for other scout groups.
Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. signed the contract for the yellow building at 317 and 319 East Main Street allowing to be sold to architect Bruno Reich.
Students in the Leo Club at Hancock Middle-Senior High School raised $800 to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital as they completed a fundraiser of walking around Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park.
The Humane Society of Washington County and Hancock Police Department look for information regarding an animal cruelty investigation when a cat had its legs partially bound and a firecracker tied to its tail in the Fulton Street area.
Town officials approve new Flock police cameras that would be installed in strategic places in town with entrances and exits to town being the priority.
Hannah Wolfe of Needmore discussed and read her first book, Remi the Dino, to kids as part of the Adventures in Friendship summer camp at Martha’s House.
Debbie Cohill and Hancock Police Chief Rich Miller are recognized as part of Washington County’s 9th annual Public Safety Awards. They would be celebrated at an August banquet in Fairplay.
July
The Hancock Little League Softball team defeats South County 7-3 to advance to the Maryland State Tournament.
Town officials award RW Excavating the contract to demolish the house at the entrance to Kirkwood Park.
Town officials awarded Delegate Terry Baker the contract to purchase the former Weavers building for $26,500.
The Town of Hancock adds a testing of the Potomac River for bacteria to their testing routine and supplying Upper Potomac Riverkeeper with the data.
Washington County re-opens the Sideling Hill Overlook Picnic Area and unveil a new sign along Old Route 40.
August
Allan Thomas is sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the Hancock Police Department. Thomas takes over for the retiring Rich Miller who will stay on to assist the police when needed.
National Night Out takes place with the community coming out to Widmeyer Park to enjoy the weather, activities, music, and fireworks.
John P. Nance, 69, of Staunton, Va., is killed when the pickup truck he was driving in the Warfordsburg area left Flickerville Road and striking a sign and several trees before hitting an oak tree and engulfed in flames.
Over 100 motorcycles roared down Interstates 68 and 70 as America’s 9/11 Ride on their way from Shanksville, Pa., and the Flight 93 memorial, to Arlington, Va., and the Pentagon. Their final destination was New York City and the World Trade Center memorial.
September
Town officials announce Maryland Mesonet, a University of Maryland and Maryland Department of Emergency Management Partnership, will be building a weather station near the ballfields at Kirkwood Park.
Washington County Commissioners approved one-time use of Commissioner Contingency funding in an amount not to exceed $44,000 to assist in foundation repairs at Martha’s House.
Pizza Hut, located at 224 West Main Street, is closed by the pizza chain. 
October
Terry Lee Smith pleads guilty in Washington County Circuit Court to two counts after being arrested in June 2024 when he watched a juvenile female in a dressing room at the Hagerstown Target.
The municipal lot along Canal Street is paved, lined, and guardrails added with funds from Project Open Space.
The Washington County Board of Elections announce the “I Voted” sticker contest for Washington County students.
After not having enough healthy players to field a team for their rivalry and final game of the season against Clear Spring, the Hancock Panthers football team cancels the remainder of the season. The Panthers finish 0-6 on the season.
Residents, business owners, officials, and town attorney argue over the dilapidated buildings in town and how the situation is being handled during a town meeting.
Fire crews and police respond to a fire on Hess Road that appeared to be an attempted arson with a male subject taken to the hospital for emergency medical and psychiatric evaluation.
November
The Maryland Department of Education releases their school report cards with Hancock Elementary being awarded three stars and Hancock Middle-Senior High School being awarded four stars.
A November 8 fire destroys a two-story, single-family residence along Main Street, having 86 firefighters from Washington County and Morgan County responding. One person was rescued from the house and Main Street was closed for four hours.
The State Fire Marshal investigated a fire in Hancock where a battery ignited nearby combustible items in the garage and another in Flintstone where a homemade wood stove burned down a small building attached to a chicken coop. Both fires were accidental.
After a trial period, town officials decided against keeping Flock cameras in town, saying the cameras weren’t able to communicate with other cameras in Hagerstown after being told they could do so.
Once again, Hancock’s Town Hall is not chosen as an early voting site for the upcoming midterm primary elections and beyond.
Alvin Funk, 78, of Hancock, is arrested after an investigation into an October fire on Hess Road.
A watermain break in Hancock leads to a boil water advisory that lasted for a little over 24 hours.
Trooper 5 performs an aerial hoist rescue on an injured person in Green Ridge State Forest.
December
Hancock’s Main Street group hosts the annual Christmas holiday event – Miracle on Main Street – which includes downtown vendors, holiday activities and the lighting of the Hancock town Christmas tree. 
Maryland State Police arrest four people – Darnell Hawkins, 47, of Baltimore; Tony Smith, 43, of Hagerstown; Maurice Mouszon, 46 of Baltimore; and Kierra White, 35, of Glen Burnie – in connection with a Clear Spring house fire that leads to the deaths of Brittany Ray, 31, Harold Flichman, 36, and Brianna Mae Weishaar, 25, all of Clear Spring.
Holley Elizabeth Appel, 36, of Hancock, is killed in an ATV on Negro Mountain Road in Fulton County.
An Allegany County, Md. grand jury indicts Shane Fulmer of Hagerstown on December 31 on charges of manslaughter by vehicle and homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in the May 2025 death of Kenneth Appel in Little Orleans.
