Allegany and Garrett counties will receive a combined $6.8 million for economic development projects, part of a $50 million grant package announced recently by Governor Larry Hogan. Included in the Allegany County projects was $1 million for the renovation of 19 Frederick St., which has been vacant since the Allegany County Human Resources and Development Commission moved into a new building on Virginia Avenue in 2009. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said last week that a developer has been interested in the building, and while no deal has been finalized, he is optimistic…  

Maryland Republicans, still stinging from big statewide losses in the midterm elections, have chosen Nicole Beus Harris as its new statewide chair. The wife of Congressman Andy Harris, the only Republican in Maryland’s congressional delegation, Beus Harris was selected at the party’s state convention earlier this month in Hanover. Beus Harris’s selection comes in the wake of crushing defeats for GOP candidates in all statewide elections last month, as well as a number of heavy losses in local, county, and legislative races. She will try to build Republican support in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a nearly two-to-one margin. Maryland’s Lt Governor…

WHAT…Heavy wintry precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations around 4 to 6 inches and ice accumulations around a quarter of an inch possible. WHERE…Portions of western Maryland, western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. WHEN…From Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon. IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. AFFECTED AREAS: GARRETT … EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY … CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY … WESTERN HIGHLAND … EASTERN HIGHLAND … HAMPSHIRE … HARDY … WESTERN GRANT … EASTERN GRANT … WESTERN MINERAL … EASTERN MINERAL … WESTERN PENDLETON … EASTERN PENDLETON Instructions:  Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on…

An early Monday fire that caused $500,000 damage to a McHenry home remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. Firefighters were dispatched at 1:11 a.m. to 148 Kathy's Way after a neighbor reported the fire to Garrett County 911. The Cumberland Times News reports homeowners Harry and Kathryn Gemberling were away at the time of the fire, investigators said. It took firefighters from Deep Creek and surrounding companies about an hour to control the blaze in the two-story dwelling. One firefighter reportedly suffered a non life-threatening injury at the scene

Allegany High School senior, Alex Kennell, was recently selected as the 2022 Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete. Kennell was nominated by his football coach, Bryan Hansel for having a top GPA on the team and for being a standout on the field.   The Great American Rivalry Series shines the spotlight on top high school football rivalries across the nation, and each year, select schools are invited to participate in the Series. Among other benefits of participating in the Series, the top senior student athlete from each football program receives the Scholar Athlete Award.  Kennell is enrolled in a…

Student enrollment in West Virginia’s community and technical colleges and public four-year universities remained mostly steady for the fall 2022 semester compared to the year before. For the state’s community and technical colleges, enrollment rose from 15,555 in 2021 to 15,770 in 2022, with public four-year enrollment declining slightly from 57,102 in 2021 to 56,303 in 2022 – representing a 1.4 percent decline.   First-time freshmen enrollment rose across both systems, increasing at community colleges from 2,441 in 2021 to 2,530 in 2022, and from 9,433 in 2021 to 9,802 for public universities – the first new freshmen enrollment increase…

According to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services firefighters throughout the region responded to a late night fire Sunday that destroyed a residence in the 24000 block of Spring Briar Lane. The Cumberland Times News reports no injuries were reported in the fire that was quickly upgraded to a "working fire" when first-arriving firefighters found the structure engulfed in flames about 9:50 p.m. The structure, which was located off of state Route 135 near Mountain Laurel Medical Center, was vacant at the time of the fire but was not abandoned.Potomac Volunteer Fire Department of Westernport directed the fire operation…

With the anticipation of extremely cold temperatures at the end of this week, the City of Cumberland Water Department recommends that citizens and business owners consider leaving a small trickle of water running in a sink to avoid water line freezing. Though not a requirement of home and building owners, most frozen water lines occur on service lines in and around residential homes and commercial buildings and are the responsibility of the property owner or occupant. Though optional, leaving a small trickle run may avoid costly damage from busted pipes and the need to thaw out water lines.  Residents and business…

On December 18th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 600 block of Columbia Avenue for a reported hit and run. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with the victim who advised that their vehicle had been struck by a truck and the operator did not remain on scene. Officers continued their investigation and a witness advised officers of the suspect vehicles location and contact was made with the operator, Steven Nicol. Throughout the officer’s investigation they learned that Nicol did not have a valid driver’s license. Nicol was then issued hit and run related citations as well…

According to the Maryland State Department of Education, in the last academic school year, 9.1% of Maryland teachers left the profession altogether. Outgoing Allegany County School Board member Deb Frank says its an alarming statistic. Although teachers work through long hours for relatively low pay, administrative red tape and summers spent preparing for the upcoming school year- in recent years they have become targets of frequent scrutiny and growing criticism from the public. Now, after two years of hybrid learning, social distancing, masked-up teaching and the associated anxiety, many Maryland teachers are burned out and are leaving, either to early…