During a planning meeting, the Allegany County Historical Society Heritage Days committee reviewed the public safety plan and discussed expanding heritage education events. In addition it was announced that ACHS was able to successfully secure two matching grants through the State of Maryland. Both a $5,000 mini-grant award through the local heritage area and a $25,000 grant through the annual grant process directed by the Maryland Heritage Area Authority will go toward expanding heritage education and reenactment activities provided at the Wills Creek Muster during the September 10-11 Heritage Days Festival. Committee chair Dave Williams says the hope is that…

Much of the United States is struggling with an extreme teacher shortage and Maryland is no exception. The State Board of Education said 5,516 teachers left in 2022. The majority of the educators voluntarily resigned and others left for a myriad of reasons including retirement. Cheryl Bost, the teachers' union president, has described the exodus as "a crisis." Not viewed as a significant problem yet for Allegany County’s public school system- routine measures are taken to ensure that adequate teaching staff is in place. Last week, Board of Education member Deb Frank was among those welcoming 67 new teachers at…

There is currently a water main break in the area of S. George Street and Baltimore Street.  Water is flowing into surrounding alleys and streets.  Repair crews have been contacted and will be responding.  A section of S. George Street is currently closed.  Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and find an alternate route while repairs are made

State School Superintendent Clayton Burch is stepping down from that leadership post to become the new superintendent for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney. State School Board member Dr. James Wilson said it was Burch’s choice to ask for this transfer, and he has seen the superintendent focus keenly on the Romney-based school in recent months. In 2021, Burch appointed an intervention team to work with the Schools for the Deaf and Blind, after a West Virginia Department of Education investigation revealed several areas where the school needed to improve. He has also proposed facility…

Maryland Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford Wednesday weighed in on the FBI search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Like Governor Larry Hogan, Rutherford has been a frequent and vocal critic of Trump, but in this case he is calling for the Biden Administration to release documents that authorized the FBI to search Trump's estate. He told WBAL that transparency and accountability is a must and the American people need to know all the facts…

The Allegany County Board of Commissioners taking action recently to approve more than $1.5 million in funding for four water and sewer projects. Voting at Thursday’s regular public meeting, the officials allocated funding for: the Bowling Green/Cresaptown sewer replace and point repair project; the Mexico Farms waterline replacement; the Bowling Green/Cresaptown and Frostburg sewer re-lining project; and the Dicks Lane Water project in Frostburg. Commissioner Creade Brodie Jr said these are vitally important community projects and he thanked the public works department and it’s director for their work in helping bringing them to fruition…

Tri-County Council for Western Maryland (TCCWMD) a three-county, local government planning and development organization announces online survey. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration as the region’s Economic Development District, TCCWMD serves Western Maryland in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties and their twenty-four municipalities. As an EDD, the Council is required to prepare a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS document will serve as the fundamental plan for the agency’s economic development efforts for the communities it serves for the next five years. As part of this process, CEDS committee members have developed on online survey….

The state Board of Education has chosen state School Building Authority Executive Director David Roach as the next state Superintendent of Schools. Roach replaces Clayton Burch who, at his request, is being transferred to be the superintendent for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney. Both moves take effect Wednesday. State Board President Paul Hardesty said the state BOE chose to make a quick but solid decision on Burch’s replacement. He says Roach is a top-flight educator.

On Tuesday, at 3:00 pm Cumberland Police Officers responded to a Chase Street residence for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival to the residence officers located a 33-year-old male who had been shot.  The Cumberland Fire Department responded to the scene and treated the victim for non-life-threatening injuries and transported him to the hospital for treatment. Investigation by the Cumberland Police Department and detectives from the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) and the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force revealed that three people had entered the Chase Street residence during an altercation when one of them produced a…

A problem with a fiber line has temporarily disabled phone service for the City of Cumberland and Allegany County. 911 service is still functioning.