On Monday, March 14, 2022, the Board of Education of Allegany County hosted the 34th Annual Teacher of the Year Celebration. This year’s award celebration was once again held virtually.  Four ACPS educators were honored for their dedication and commitment to student success. Amy Rice of Cash Valley Elementary School was selected as the 2022-2023 Allegany County Teacher of the Year.   Mr. Jeff Blank, Superintendent of Schools, and Mrs. Crystal Bender, President of the Board of Education, offered pre-recorded remarks. Mr. Nicholas Amick, last year’s Teacher of the Year, also gave a pre-recorded address during the program. Amy Rice is…

On Monday, March 14, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Logan Aldridge.  The warrant was issued in connection with an assault investigation.  On Sunday, March, 13, 2022, at approximately 4:36 PM, officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Williams Street in reference to a 911 hang-up call.  The caller was not able to be located after exhausting all leads.    The caller was later contacted by police at a different location and interviewed.  The caller reported that she was assaulted by Aldridge.  Officers observed that she had sustained injuries.  It was also discovered that…

On Monday, March 14, 2022 at approximately 3:44 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department observed a vehicle drive onto the train tracks while the barricade arms were down.  The officer contacted the operator and detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.  Further investigation revealed that one of the occupants, Diane Harvey, was in possession of a loaded handgun.  The handgun was seized and Harvey was placed under arrest.  She was transported to police headquarters for processing.  Harvey was seen by the District Court Commissioner and released on a $5,000 unsecured personal bond.   ARRESTED:  Diane S….

As the Allegany County Board of Education moves forward in preparing its 2023 fiscal year operating budget- the current unpredictable nature of fuel costs has added a bit of a complication. The board’s Chief Financial Officer Larry McKenzie, during the board’s regular monthly meeting, presented a budget overview that included priorities, considerations and assumptions.  Fuel costs were not an issue for the board’s transportation department during the past two years of the pandemic- but with COVID-19 numbers dropping, combined with the situation on the world stage in Ukraine- prices are spiking dramatically…

Even in dealing with COVID-19, one of the bigger success stories in Allegany County last year was the remarkable turnaround of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.  Ridership records were shattered for the popular Polar Express excursions and interest from across the nation soared with the long awaited debut of steam engine 1309. Most of those associated with the tourist train in recent years do not hesitate when pointing to the arrival last summer of the new general manager Wes Heinz.  Heinz and his team went to work immediately in completing what had been a seven year restoration project on 1309…

A little more than a month ago, West Virginia's attorney general issued a statement opposing plans for removal of the dam beneath the Blue Bridge that links Cumberland and Ridgeley. According to river park advocates those concerns have been addressed and the project is moving forward. The statement from AG Patrick Morrisey released in mid-February and was supported by Mineral County Delegate Gary Howell, claimed that the state of Maryland is "purposely ignoring the questions, concerns and input of West Virginia”. The dam's removal is part of a plan to construct a park along the Potomac River near Canal Place….

Maryland’s lone Republican Congressman Andy Harris says that the pause on the gas tax might not be a good thing for the state. Last Thursday Governor Larry Hogan and State House officials agreed on legislation to provide a one-month gas tax holiday. Harris told WBAL that the newly approved gas tax holiday in Maryland is going to negatively impact infrastructure in the state and he emphasized that the real problem that needs to be addressed are the energy policies of the Biden administration…

The Maryland House has voted  to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution and for a separate measure to broaden access to providers, as supporters cited the possibility that a conservative U.S. Supreme Court could overturn or weaken abortion-rights protections. WBAL reports the House voted 93-42 for the constitutional amendment. If approved by the Senate, voters would have the final say in November. The constitutional amendment, sponsored by Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones, comes at a time when states mostly across the South and Midwest are moving to limit access to abortion. One House member strongly opposed is…

A statue that was thought to be the last Confederate monument on a courthouse lawn in Maryland was removed Monday. The “Talbot Boys Statue” was removed first and workers then loaded the stone base onto a flatbed truck by crane as small crowd watched. Some passing motorists who asked what was happening, cheerfully replied, “finally!” when they heard the news. “Hallelujah!" said Sheryl Goodspeed of Easton. “I was very happy.” The statue that stood on the Talbot County courthouse lawn in Easton for a century was thought to be the last Confederate monument still standing on public property in Maryland…

Democratic Deputy Treasurer Barbara Goldberg Goldman has resigned after some controversial remarks. Goldman has stepped down after she raised the question over whether black candidates can win the gubernatorial race this year. Axios reported Sunday Goldman raised the question in an email to party insiders in December. “Consider this,” Goldman wrote in the email. “Three African American males have run statewide for governor and have lost. Maryland is not a blue state. It’s a purple one. This is a fact we must not ignore. In the last 20 years, only eight have been with a Democratic governor. We need a winning…