Defying anxiety about a possible recession and raging inflation, America’s employers added a surprising 528,000 jobs last month, restoring all the jobs lost in the coronavirus recession as the country’s hiring boom continued. Unemployment fell to 3.5%, lowest since the pandemic struck in early 2020. July’s job creation was up from 398,000 in June.  The American job market has repeatedly defied skeptics this year. Economists had expected only 250,000 new jobs this month. 

Date: August 5, 2022 Time: 11:04 am Location / Address:  3048 Walnut Bottom Rd, Swanton, Garrett County MD Type of Incident: Vehicle Fire Description of Structure / Property: Silver 2004 Ford Ranger, 2 door pickup truck         Owners: George Tichinel       Injuries or Deaths: N/A        Estimated $ Loss:  $5,000 Smoke Alarm Status: N/A         Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A  Arrests(s): N/A  Primary Responding Fire Department: Bloomington Volunteer Fire Company      # of Alarms:  1  # Of Firefighters: 8 Time to Control: 5 minutes  Discovered By: Owner          Area of Origin: Engine compartment                   Preliminary Cause: Accidental….

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported international natural gas and liquefied natural gas prices hit record highs in the last quarter of 2021 and first half of 2022.  Natural gas utility companies in West Virginia are currently filing their annual 30C cases with the PSC to adjust the purchased gas portion of their rates.  Some of those requests are as much as 173% above the rates the Commission approved last year.  The Commission does not regulate the price of natural gas; that price is determined by competitive markets.  The EIA also reports that the large increase in natural…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a single vehilce accident I-68 East at Johnson Street.

The Cumberland Police served an Arrest Warrant on Emily Rebecca Goetschius, age 30 of Cumberland, MD.  The Warrant charged her with Violation of Probation.  She was taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner and was held without bond. Arrested:  Emily Marie Goetschius Age: 30 Cumberland, MD Charges:  Violation of Probation   The Cumberland Police served two Arrest Warrants on Steven Delaine Kienhofer, age 69, of Cumberland, MD.  Both Warrants charged Kienhofer with Fail to Appear for his court dates.  He was taken to Central Booking for his initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner…

With Maryland licensing dozens of sports gambling venues across the state in the past year, there has been real concern that the number of problem gamblers is soaring.  Sports gambling is easily accessible to the point where people can place bets during a game. The state long ago took a pre-emptive approach by establishing Maryland's Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling. The center is funded by casino revenues and currently assists at least one person each day find treatment for problem gambling. John Martin, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, says this is an issue the state…

Although an effort to consolidate Allegany County’s economic development department with the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation never materialized- Mayor Ray Morriss says with or without the formal merger- there is total cooperation. The CEDC board rejected the proposed merger in May of 2020 with concerns that the agreement provided almost total control to the county. Despite what was viewed as a setback, the mayor says the city and county’s relationship is stronger than ever when it comes to economic development matters… He said there are currently any number of city/county projects moving forward.                                           

Governor Larry Hogan Thursday cut the ribbon on a wider, safer MD 32 in Howard County, marking completion of its transformation from a two-way, undivided road to a four-lane divided highway between MD 108 and I-70. The project, completed by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) in two phases, improves safety and relieves congestion for tens of thousands of residents and commuters who travel the corridor every day. Hogan says this is another step in his administration’s plan to make travel easier and safer across the entire state…

Spirits will be flowing more freely at a number of events in downtown Cumberland this summer and fall with the City Council approving several exceptions to the open container law at a special meeting Thursday afternoon. The city approved the exception for the North Centre Street Festival scheduled for October 8th from noon until 9 pm. Open containers, other than glass, will be permitted that day between Baltimore and Frederick streets. And the city approved the exception for the Friday After Five series on August 12th, September 9th and October 14  from 5 pm to 10 pm. Those events will…

More than 100 people attended the Maryland Accelerates Third Annual National Leadership Conference held in June at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.  Maryland Accelerates is a comprehensive partnership between Frostburg State University’s College of Education and three high-need, rural school districts. The program was created to improve the preparation of new teachers, address the needs of rural schools and improve student achievement in Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties.  “My recent experience at the Maryland Accelerates Conference was inspiring and energizing,” said Dr. Traki Taylor, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at FSU. “Being in a space full of…