The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Maryland Forest Service has been awarded nearly $250,000 for a Wood Innovations Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop priority projects with the Maryland Wood Energy Team. This partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center, Maryland Department of Commerce, University of Maryland Extension, the USDA Forest Service, and others aims to develop wood energy facilities that will produce new jobs and develop renewable energy markets for underutilized forest products, which will in turn benefit the health of Maryland’s sustainable forests.  The funding will support the hiring of a woody biomass…

Barbara Irene Leasure, 74, of Cumberland, passed away Thursday, June 3, 2021, at UPMC Western Maryland. Mrs. Leasure was the wife of retired Allegany County Circuit Judge Gary G. Leasure. In accordance with her wishes, Barbara's body will be cremated. Friends will be received at the First Presbyterian Church, Washington St., Cumberland, on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 1-3pm. A memorial service will immediately follow at 3pm.

On June 4, the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Bonita Jean Marie Quick of Cumberland, MD.  The Arrest Warrant was issued on June 1, 2021, after Quick failed to appear in District Court on an initial charge of Failing to Comply with a Peace Order.  Quick was taken before the District Court Commissioner and released on her personal recognizance.   Arrested:  Bonita Jean Marie Quick, 49 of Cumberland, MD   Charges:  Failure to Appear     Criminal Summons Served   The Cumberland Police Department served a Criminal Summons on Maria Frances Marchisella of Cumberland, MD.  The charges stemmed…

The Allegany County Health Department will hold a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Willowbrook Office Complex (WOC) in the ground floor Community Room (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland) on Tuesday, June 8th from 1 to 6 p.m.  This clinic is open to those ages 12 and older and will offer the Pfizer COVID vaccine.  No appointment is necessary, but adolescents ages 12 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   On Tuesday, June 15th, the health department will hold a walk-in clinic offering the Moderna COVID vaccine to those ages 18 and older.  That clinic will be…

The Allegany County Health Department will hold a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Willowbrook Office Complex (WOC) in the ground floor Community Room (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland) on Tuesday, June 8th from 1 to 6 p.m.  This clinic is open to those ages 12 and older and will offer the Pfizer COVID vaccine.  No appointment is necessary, but adolescents ages 12 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.   On Tuesday, June 15th, the health department will hold a walk-in clinic offering the Moderna COVID vaccine to those ages 18 and older.  That clinic will be…

Gas averages in Maryland have stayed within a penny of the price drivers were paying on Memorial Day. In its latest weekly report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released new gas demand data that shows demand dropped while total domestic gas stocks increased last week. The demand decrease and supply increase has helped to stabilize pump prices and will likely help prices remain stable through the weekend and into summer.   Today’s national gas price average is $3.04, unchanged from one week ago, up respectively 13 cents from one month ago and $1.05 from one year ago.     The…

FrostburgFirst, in cooperation with the City of Frostburg and Allegany County Commissioners, celebrated the grand opening of Tracks and Yaks with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 3rd. In attendance were Tracks and Yaks owners Adam and Julie Forshee with friends and family; Senator George Edwards; City of Frostburg Commissioners Nina Forsythe, Kevin Grove, and Donald Carter; and County Administrator Jason Bennett. Also in attendance were Nathan Price of Allegany County Economic Development, Ashli Workman and Jessica Palumbo of Allegany County Tourism, Frostburg City Administrator Elizabeth Stahlman, and FrostburgFirst Board of Directors Joseph Hoffman, Michael Summers, and Jenni Georgeson. Tracks…

Weekly COVID Update: For the week of May 31- June 4, 2021, ACPS reports one case of COVID-19 in a staff member, and three cases of COVID-19 in students who were within an Allegany County Public School.  These individuals will complete the required isolation period before returning to their school buildings. Close contacts at school were identified in two of the cases. Those identified close contacts will complete a ten-day quarantine before returning to the school building. Parents were notified through the ACPS Blackboard notification system if there was a positive case in their child's school building, or on their child's…

Governor Larry Hogan on Friday announced he has appointed 151 people to various boards and commissions since the end of the legislative session. “Marylanders deserve the most capable, experienced, and dedicated representatives,” said Governor Hogan. “These appointments reflect the diversity of our state, and I am confident that these appointees will help us continue to change Maryland for the better.” A list of appointments can be found here. Among the appointees are the following: Accountability and Implementation Board Nomination Committee Edward Root, Ed.D. Dr. Root served as a member and chair of the Maryland State Board of Education and the Allegany County…

In another step forward for the long discussed Rolling Mill project- the Cumberland Zoning Board this week approved additional setbacks that will allow the developer to proceed with the first phase of contruction.  Ed Scott, of Kline Scott Visco Commercial Real Estate, is the developer of Cumberland Gateway in the midst of a project that will see a commercial center between Park Street and Maryland Avenue. Wednesday’s meeting focused on the initial phases of the project which will include contructing retail buildings. Scott talked with WCBC News on site and discussed his vision for the area…