During the final meeting of the year for the Allegany County Board of Education, Leonard Webb, ACPS Next Generation Scholars coordinator, reviewed the school system’s participation in the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education program. The program, which is at Fort Hill High School, aims to strengthen education and improve student achievement and workforce preparedness. In looking ahead to 2023, Webb said focal points will be financial aid, recruitment and most importantly, parent involvement…

The initial lineup for the 15th annual DelFest event  was announced last week by festival organizers and once again the festival will feature a wide variety of musical genres. The four-day event will feature more than 30 performers, including daily shows from the Del McCoury Band. Additional acts will be added in the weeks leading up to the Memorial Day weekend event. One of the top bluegrass and Americana music events in the country, DelFest is held at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland. The dates for the 2023  festival are May 25-28. While the legend himself, Del McCoury,  admits…

A major economic development investment  will be made in western Maryland beginning in 2023. The state created a $50 million fund to invest in economic growth in District 1 after an 11-member task force led by Senator George Edwards was formed in 2020 and requested the monetary investment. The measure was approved last year and the investment was titled the George C. Edwards Fund in honor of the senator who is retiring in January. The $50 million is being distributed to the district over four years, with $20 million arriving next month. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said applications are now…

Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash in which one person died Tuesday evening in Allegany County. Shortly before 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to westbound Interstate-68 at Route 36 in Frostburg, Maryland for a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2017 Ford Explorer was driving westbound on I-68 when the vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer. The crash sent the Ford Explorer into the next lane, where it was struck on the driver’s side by a 2004 Ford F350 truck. The driver of the Ford Explorer,…

West winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible.   WHERE…Portions of western Maryland, western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. WHEN…From late tonight through late Friday night. IMPACTS…Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Bitterly cold wind chills will be ongoing during the time of this high wind event. It is essential to make preparations now for extreme cold conditions with the potential for loss of power.  AFFECTED AREAS: GARRETT … EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY … CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY…

Today, U.S. Congressman David Trone and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) announced $97,600 to boost broadband services and support educational programming at the Evergreen Heritage Center (EHC) Foundation in Frostburg. The combined funding, with $48,800 made available through Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and $48,800 from the State of Maryland and Allegany County, will be used to create a smart outdoor classroom designed to deploy broadband services to the EHC facility and support students in Allegany County.   “Expanding broadband access is key to ensuring that all Marylanders have access to a high-quality education,” the lawmakers said. “Working…

All Allegany County Public School buildings will be CLOSED tomorrow, Thursday, December 22, 2022. Asynchronous learning will take place for students, and assignments will be given no later than 9:30 a.m. Teacher office hours will be from 9:30-11 a.m. As always, students without access to connectivity will be given up to two days to submit assignments. All staff may work remotely tomorrow, Thursday, December 22, 2022, with the exception of essential personnel. Additionally, schools will be CLOSED for Christmas Break Friday, December 23, 2022, through January 2, 2023, and will REOPEN for students on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with a…

Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash in which one person died Tuesday evening in Allegany County.  Shortly before 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack responded to westbound Interstate-68 at Route 36 in Frostburg, Maryland for a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2017 Ford Explorer was driving westbound on I-68 when the vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer.  The crash sent the Ford Explorer into the next lane, where it was struck on the driver’s side by a 2004 Ford F350 truck. The driver of the…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a motor vehicle crash with entrapment at New Georges Creek Road. The road is shut down north and south in the area of Walgreens in Frostburg

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, Cumberland Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office, Cumberland Police Department, and C3I continue investigating a deadly house fire in Cumberland that claimed the life of a female resident Tuesday evening. Just before 5:00 p.m., Cumberland Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire at 525 Columbia Avenue. Firefighters arrived and reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the two-story duplex. The fire was quickly upgraded to 3-alarms bringing firefighters from surrounding departments. Firefighters were able to control the fire within fifteen minutes. In a subsequent search of the home, they located a…