The first official day back at school for Allegany County teachers will be Wednesday.  The morning will be school-based staff development followed by an afternoon of teacher work time.  Allegany County Schools open next Wednesday, August 27.

The beaches at Assateague Island and Ocean City are closed due to dangerous rip currents and high surf brought on by Hurricane Erin.  Officials announced the closures on Tuesday, saying swimming will be prohibited until further notice as the storm moves north, parallel to the East Coast. Currently, the storm is not expected to make landfall in the U.S.

Pennsylvania authorities say five juveniles were hospitalized Monday after a pickup truck crashed into a tree in Bedford County.  Troopers say the crash was reported just before 3 p.m. in West Saint Clair Township.  According to a crash report, the 16-year-old driver reportedly lost control, left the roadway and struck a tree.

A documentary telling the story of the life of Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente will soon be available to a wide audience.  Its television debut will be on The History Channel on September 23.  The running time is one hour and 41 minutes.

Governor Wes Moore today announced the appeal of President Trump’s denial for a Major Disaster Declaration for flooding that occurred in Western Maryland this past May. Maryland’s initial request was denied on July 22 in a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which stated assistance to Maryland was deemed unwarranted. Since the President’s initial denial, FEMA has validated an additional $17.9 million in damages, raising the total estimated damages to $33.7 million. This is nearly three times the State’s Federal threshold for assistance. “Maryland has met long-standing criteria for FEMA support in the wake of historic floods across Mountain Maryland….

On Monday, August 18th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Lee Emanuel Phillip, 35, of Keyser, WV. Phillip was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on October 29th, 2024. The warrant alleged Phillip failed to appear in Circuit Court on that date for a previous CDS possession charge. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance, where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. ARRESTED -    Lee Emanuel Phillip,    35yo CHARGES -  Bench Warrant-Failure to Appear.

The City of Frostburg has announced a partial closure of Main Street between Depot and Water Streets this Wednesday starting at 7am, weather permitting, for the demolition of the Au Petite Restaurant building at 84 East Main Street. Traffic detours will be in place around the closure from Depot Street to Water Street. Westbound traffic will follow Depot Street around to the Post Office and Eastbound traffic will be diverted to Water Street and onto Center Street.

Cumberland’s Gallery Stage on North Centre Street is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week with a special performance on Thursday. The band “Wild Hymns” will be performing at the venue, starting at 7pm. The group is a Pennsylvania-based ensemble blending folk, indie, and Americana influences. Admission is free for this particular show but tickets are needed for the event.

A locomotive designed for heavy industrial switching and railroad yard service has found a new home in Western Maryland. The former Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad SW7 #111 will be coming to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad just in time for RailFest in September when it will receive an official welcome. The acquisition was made possible through the Kovalchick Family and Corporation, and JC and Annie McHugh of McHugh Locomotive. The locomotive is the last survivor of the original 25 SW7s based out of Johnstown.  

George Ott, who for many years led high school music programs in Allegany and Mineral counties, passed away on Sunday at the age of 81.  Ott was a 1962 graduate of Ridgeley High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree in music from WVU. He served as director of the Ridgeley and Frankfort High School bands, writing the fight song for the Frankfort Falcons. He was also band and choir director at Fort Hill and retired from Bishop Walsh. He operated Ott’s Music and Christian Book Store for many years as well as the Ridgeley Dairy Queen and Gardner’s Candies.