Governor Larry Hogan Tuesday addressed the Maryland Municipal League’s Police Executive Association Training Conference in Ocean City- with much of his focus on his administration’s efforts on behalf of law enforcement. At a time when various groups across the nation are responding to incidents of police violence by calling for government to de-fund law enforcement agencies-  Hogan was successful in advancing a 500 million dollar re-fund the police initiative.  He says now more than ever there is a need to provide additional resources to battle the growing crime problem…

Because the state’s first steps toward the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future lagged, the county component laying out local execution also has been delayed. A multi-billion dollar education reform bill, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future looks to close student achievement gaps over the next decade. The Allegany County  Board of Education received a Blueprint update from coordinator Dr Wendy Main during this month’s public meeting.  The local procedure in question is the county implementation plan, an individualized report detailing each jurisdiction’s route towards meeting Blueprint rules and standards.. The need to delay at the county level is a byproduct of late…

The deadline to file to run for office in Maryland has passed and locally there are a number of seats that won’t be contested. In Cumberland while there are seven candidates vying for two city council seats, no one filed to challenge incumbent Mayor Ray Morriss.  Barring something unforeseen, the path is now clear for him to be elected to a second term in November. Other incumbents who will not face primary or general election day competition include: House of Delegates 1B representative Jason Buckel; Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson; States Attorney James Elliot; Clerk of Court Dawne Lindsey; and…

Allegany County officials have seemingly settled on a promoter and operator to hold auto racing events at the fairgrounds for the 2022 season. The county is expected to enter into an agreement with BBUM Promotions as part of Thursday’s public meeting. For the past several years, dirt track racing had been operated by Todd Brode’s group, The Greater Cumberland Raceway, however County Administrator Jason Bennett said the county was informed in February that Brode would not be able to put together a racing schedule for this year… The season typically begins in April, so the search for a new promoter…

The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will hold two events on Saturday to honor Confederate veterans of the Civil War. CHCO President Ed Taylor says the events will kick off at 2 PM with a ceremony at the Pollock Cemetary near Mexico Farms, followed by an observance at Rose Hill Cemetery in Cumberland…

WBAL reports that for the first time in more than two years, travelers at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and many other airports nationwide, are no longer required to wear masks. A decision by a federal judge in Florida to throw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S., giving airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely, resulting in rules that vary by city and mode of transportation. BWI confirmed to WBAL Tuesday morning that masks in the airport will be optional stating that airport visitors…

Charges of motor vehicle tampering, theft and malicious destruction of property have been filed against two 14-year-old boys and forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Services, according to Frostburg Police. Identified through video surveillance, a citizen's tip and neighborhood canvassing by a Frostburg officer, the youths and their parents were contacted Saturday by investigators who then filed the charges. The incidents reportedly occurred Thursday and Friday in the areas of Beall Street and College Avenue.

West Virginia Division of Highways maintenance crews in the Eastern Panhandle pivoted from milling and filling potholes to emergency snow and ice removal on Monday, April 18, 2022.   Unexpectedly heavy snow began falling in the Eastern Panhandle counties of Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, and Morgan counties during the day Monday. Forecasters had been calling for some snow – maybe one to three inches in the mountains – but WVDOH District 5 Maintenance Engineer Travis Ray, P.E., said it snowed harder than had been predicted.   “It hit suddenly and went from a rainy type of precipitation to…

The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Allegany! Program recently held graduation ceremonies at the Cumberland Country Club. Dr. Sara-Beth Bittinger, Leadership Allegany! Chair, served as master of ceremonies with assistance provided by Mr. Robert Godfrey, Leadership Allegany! Co-Chair and Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Graduation diplomas were presented by Ms. Juli McCoy, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. Mr. Seth Sgaggero, Sgaggero Event Planning, who was elected by the class to serve as valedictorian, provided comments along with Ms. Tanya Gomer, Chair of the Leadership Allegany! Alumni Committee. Standing left to right (1st row): Tiras Jordan, First Jordan…

On the afternoons of Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14, 2022, Frostburg City Police performed 4 hour blocks of concentrated traffic enforcement focusing on cell phone and occupant protection violations. The Frostburg City Police Department initiated a total of twenty-one (21) traffic stops resulting in:  9 citations for cell phone use while driving violations;  6 citations for seatbelt violations  4 warnings for seatbelt violations  3 warnings for failure to display license  1 traffic arrest for driving without a license  1 citation for failure to display license upon demand  1 citation for failure to stop…