The Maryland State Fire Marshal is investigating a Monday morning fire on Golden Eagle Drive in Rawlings.  Nine people were displaced by the fire that was discovered shortly after 4am.  Firefighters from Rawlings Volunteer Fire Deparment responded to the blaze. The fire destroyed a single-family dwelling, two-car garage, shed,  and fifth-wheel trailer on the property. The area of origin has been determined to be the garage.  The estimated lost is $250,000. Nine people were living in the residence and safely escaped.

The roar of race car engines will be echoing off the mountain again this year at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  At the January 9th county commissioner meeting, a one-year extension was approved for Mountain Maryland Ventures to run dirt track racing. This would be the final one-year extension for the contract. The 2025 racing schedule has not been finalized yet. Jennifer Jeudy with Mountain Maryland Ventures thanked the commissioners for the extension…     “Just want to take a few moments and thank you all for the opportunity. We want to acknowledge that several of our drivers and volunteers are…

Maryland’s neighboring states are doing quite well financially, which makes Maryland’s budget deficit stand out.  Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware all tout significant surplus funds, while Maryland stares down a $3 billion dollar deficit.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel says Maryland needs more fiscal responsibility…     “I don’t read media reports about how Virginia and Pennsylvania are just falling apart. That people are wandering the streets without the ability to get medical care. That their schools are in disarray, that their roads have failed. I don’t hear that. They manage to run their states and their state budget…

Sports bettors in Maryland wagered over $637 million dollars in December. The 11 mobile and 13 retail sports betting platforms in the state contributed $46.5 million in taxes to the state for December, almost twice the amount from 2023.  The retail sportsbook at Long Shot’s in Frederick reopened under Caesar’s Sportsbook after being closed since June. Since sportsbook betting began in Maryland in 2021, $135 million dollars has went to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. 

Patrick Morrisey was inaugurated in Charleston on Monday as West Virginia’s 37th Governor.  In his inauguration speech, Morrisey said the state will face challenges in the coming years, but he knows that West Virginians are a strong, resilient group of people that he will serve as governor…     “I’m committed to serving every single one of you. No matter where you’re from, what you believe, what challenges you face, or whether or not you voted for me. I understand the dignity that comes from hard work. Because I’ve seen it up-close and I know what it can do to…

Tim Barnes, former owner of Barnes Jewelry in Cumberland, Hagerstown, and Frederick passed away at the age of 81 on December 15th in Frederick following a long illness. Barnes was a 1961 graduate of Allegany High School and attended Gettysburg College. He won several awards, including being named one of the top jewelry designers in the country in 1974.  He also served for a time as the public address announcer for the Urbana Hawks High School football team.

The Mountain Maryland PACE reception will be held Thursday evening in Annapolis and the keynote speaker at Friday’s breakfast will be Governor Wes Moore.  Moore has begun his third year as Maryland governor and his presence Friday adds luster to the annual event highlighting Western Maryland.

Due to the Cold Weather Advisory and the forecast of a low wind chill throughout tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Garrett County Public Schools will conduct a Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction). At the end of the day today, students will be sent home with all necessary learning materials. If you need technical assistance from the IT department, please contact 1.888.285.7254 or helpdesk@gcps.net. The monthly Board Meeting and Northern Area Proposal Public Hearing, scheduled for tomorrow at Northern Middle School, will occur as planned.

On Sunday, January 12th, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Victoria Marie Taylor, 19, of Cumberland MD. Taylor was arrested on two active Bench Warrants, both issued by the Allegany County District Court. One warrant was issued as a result of Taylor failing to appear in court on January 8th on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and affray. A second warrant was issued for violation of probation that stemmed from a previous conviction on a disorderly conduct charge. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where she was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center….

Allegany College of Maryland has a new ACM Foundation Director.  New ACM President David Jones has appointed Courtney Jensen to the position. Jensen will roll her current duties into the new role with an updated title of Director of Grants and Development And Executive Director for the ACM Foundation. Jones is enthusiastic about the choice…     “Courtney is a highly-accomplished professional and will excel in this job and I’m really excited for this opportunity for her personal and professional growth.” Jensen assumed the role on January 1 and tells WCBC she is appreciative of the opportunity…     “I’m…