An Allegany County tradition that dates back to 1961 has apparently come to an end.  Wamba Caravan 89 has announced that the ACIT is on an indefinite hiatus.  The Alhambra cited several factors in the decision, including costs, changes in high school basketball state regulations, and competing tournaments.  The ACIT began in 1961 at Saints Peter and Paul gymnasium under the leadership of Joe Divico and spent the next decade and a half at Allegany High School before moving to Frostburg State University.  Joe Carter directed the tournament for 20 years after Divico’s death.  The tournament had become appointment viewing…

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of Triton Construction, would like to notify the public that N. Liberty Street will be closed to thru traffic between Frederick Street and Pershing Street from 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM on Thursday, August 24th. Signage will be in place to detour passenger vehicles around the road closure. Pedestrian traffic will also be re-routed around the construction at the intersection with Baltimore Street. Additional information will be released in the event the closure duration needs to be extended. Thank you for your cooperation during this time. Please use caution in the area…

An accident at Deep Creek Lake Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a man who fell from an inner tube while being towed by a boat. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported the incident Tuesday. The accident occurred at about 5 p.m., prompting a search of the lake by divers from Garrett and Preston counties prior to the victim's body being recovered Monday morning. The identity of the victim has not been disclosed at the request of his family. Officials said the victim was not wearing a life jacket when the accident occurred.

County representatives across the state are voicing frustrations over the Blueprint for Education – an overhaul of the state’s education system that has left counties struggling with finding funds to fulfill the requirements.  Jason Bennett, Allegany County Administrator, sat in on a roundtable discussion at last week’s Maryland Association of Counties conference and said the members in attendance are unified in wanting to address the general assembly about future funding options for the mandate…  

School Safety officers for Allegany County received virtual reality training from officers with the Allegany County Sheriff’s office on Monday.  The training utilized the Apex Officer simulator purchased by the Sheriff’s office last year using Police Accountability-Community-Transparency grant funding. The simulator closely replicates real-world situations, enabling school safety officers to develop the skills and instincts necessary for their jobs.  Major Dave Morgan, Sergeant Justin Gordon and Corporal Joshua Gordon provided the training to the SRO’s who are under the direction of Anthony Rumgay, Assistant Supervisor of Student Support Services and School Safety for Allegany County.

On Monday, August 21st, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Tyrelle Donte Brown, 26, of Cumberland MD. Brown was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court. The warrant alleges that Brown failed to appear in District Court on August 18th for previous CDS paraphernalia possession charge. He was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held on $1,000 bond. Arrested: Tyrelle Donte Brown               Age: 26 Charges: Bench Warrant – Fail to Appear    

The summer conference for the Maryland Association of Counties was held last week in Ocean City.  Allegany County was well represented as all three commissioners and other county officials were in attendance.  One session at the conference saw county representatives voicing frustrations over the Blueprint for Education – an overhaul of the state’s education system that has left counties struggling with finding funds to fulfill the requirements.  Jason Bennett, Allegany County Administrator, sat in on the roundtable and said the members in attendance are unified in wanting to address the general assembly about future funding options for the mandate…

Rural areas of West Virginia may experience items falling from the sky over the next week as the USDA deploys oral rabies vaccines across the state.  The baits are air-dropped in the more rural parts of the state in an effort to reach the newborns and young of animals in the outskirts of cities.  Hand baiting will also be done in more urban areas.  The baits are about an inch long and should not pose a risk to dogs or cats if they come across them but may cause stomach upset. Jordona Kirby of the National Rabies Management Program says…

One confirmed case of malaria in the National Capital Region has officials investigating the possible source. The individual that contracted the illness had not been out of the United States or to other states that have reported malaria cases.  The last case in Maryland was reported over 40 years ago.  Malaria is transmitted through mosquito bites and symptoms, as described by Dr. David Blythe of the Maryland Department of Health Infectious Disease Bureau, can take 7 to 30 days to develop… The key to treating the illness is to take precautions against mosquito bites through proper precautions…  

Fiscal responsibility was the focus of Governor Wes Moore’s keynote address to the Maryland Association of Counties at their summer conference in Ocean City.  Speaking about a disciplined approach to grow Maryland’s economy and budget, Moore expressed the value of partnerships between government and business.  The new Maryland Economic Council is being launched to track and discover the strongest assets of the state for more structured economic development… The Moore administration is facing an oncoming budget deficit of $418 million for the coming fiscal year since any state surplus money has now been spent through commitments approved by lawmakers in…