In about three months,, local Republicans will choose their party's standard bearer in the face to replace George Edwards as State Senator. In the race, District 1C Delegate Mike McKay will face off against Allegany County Commission President Jake Shade, While McKay told WCBC's Dave Norman there are similarities, he believes the difference is experience..
The West Virginia Legislature went into special session yesterday at noon, with about 20 bills on the plate to be amended or rejected due to legal deficiencies. During the morning, Democrats called to expand the session to include a gas tax holiday, changes to the foster care program and help for volunteer fire departments. This is Senator Mike Romano:
On April 25, 2022 an officer of the Cumerland Police Department was on patrol in the area of Harrison Street. The officer observed a vehicle cross the center line of the roadway, several times. The officer initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Steven Nelson Dolly. The officer observed an open alcohol container in the vehicle’s center console and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Dolly. Through standardized field sobriety testing, it was determined that Dolly was intoxicated. Dolly was placed under arrest and transported to the Cumberland Police Department, where he was issued DUI/DWI…
While the number of driving deaths decreased in Maryland last year, state officials said the number of crashes is far too high. Maryland transportation authorities said states across the country saw an increase in roadway deaths last year, but Maryland saw a decline of almost 3% – 519 fatalities in 2021 compared to 573 fatalities in 2020. According to police, crashes are as much of a threat to public safety as guns. Authorities said they believe all the crashes were preventable and were caused by at least one of the same driving behaviors that result in injury or death. Maryland…
Maryland Sixth District Congressman David Trone recently helped to secure funding for two crisis stabilization centers in the state- and now plans to work toward see two such facilities open in the far western end of the state. The centers provide a way to divert people who are in the midst of a crisis or under the influence of a substance away from hospital emergency departments and provide another access point to the county’s community-based behavioral health crisis system…
Although enjoying a healthier fiscal picture than at any time in recent decades- Cumberland city officials say there are no plans to reduce tax rates, preferring to move forward with a cautious approach. During a preliminary budget presentation, the consensus was to maintain current property tax rates, even though there is currently a $2.3 million budget surplus. The City Council agreed to keep the real property tax rate at 1.0595%- declining to accept a state formulated constant yield rate of 1.0354% which would have resulted in maintaining the same level tax revenue as last year. Mayor Ray Morriss was quick to…
Allegany County officials have agreed to a one-year contract with BBUM Promotions to operate auto racing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. Dirt track racing had been operated by The Greater Cumberland Raceway group for the last several years. However, group representative Todd Brode informed county officials in February that he will not return for 2022. Adam Patterson, director of public works, tells WCBC News that the new group hopes to be able to put on some races later this year
The Allegany County Commissioners this week agreed to table authorization of $850,000 in state funds for round two of the emergency rental assistance program- expressing frustration with what the officials view as essentially a COVID related welfare operation. The funding actually is slated to help compensate landlords who have been unable to collect rent from tenants who are claiming they have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases this has been more than two years. Commissioners President Jake Shade says its time for those people who may have lost their jobs as a result of COVID- to…
The Garrett County Robotics Coalition Team has won the Top Award at the FIRST Robotics World Championship held this weekend in Houston, Texas. More than 3,200 FIRST Robotics Competition teams competed during the 2022 season, with 454 teams advancing to Championship. Team 1629, Garrett Coalition (GaCo), Accident, Md. won the Chairman’s Award, the highest honor given at the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, recognizing the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. Team 1511, Rolling Thunder, Penfield, N.Y.; Team 2438, 'Iobotics, Honolulu, Hawaii; Team 2468, Team Appreciate, Austin, Texas; Team 642, 4th Dimension. Bornova,…
Our local West Virginia counties continue to be rated in the green on the latest DHHR health metrics map. Mineral, Hampshire and Morgan counties are reporting around ten cases each of COVID-19, while Grant and Hardy counties have only a handful. Statewide, it’s all green, except for Marshall and Calhoun counties in the yellow.
