Dirt track racing will once again be heard thundering through the mountains around the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  The Allegany County Commissioners entered into an agreement with Mountain Maryland Ventures LLC to operate the track at the fairgrounds beginning tentatively on September 15th.  The current agreement is through November but can be extended.  The Board of Public Works had advertised requests for proposals for the promotion of racing at the County Fairgrounds from February 27, 2023 to March 10, 2023 on the County’s website. Only one proposal was received…

Jane Gates was born into slavery in 1819. In the seven years between Maryland's Emancipation and 1871, Jane Gates raised five children and worked as a laundress and a nurse, amassing $1400 which was enough to purchase this home on Greene Street in Cumberland, Maryland where she raised her family.  In recent years, one of her great-great grandsons, John Gates began the ongoing effort to convert this home into a museum to memorialize and recognize the early African-Americans of Cumberland.  The City of Cumberland now recognizes August 31st as Jane Gates Day. 

Counties across the state have been concerned with how to finance the Blueprint for Education.  The Maryland Public Policy Institute would like to see a pause and rework on the plan that is stretching county budgets to their limits.  Chris Summers, the President and CEO for the Policy Institute, told WCBC the cost estimates on the plan are completely outdated now and need to be revised…

According to the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy there were at least 1300 drug overdose deaths in West Virginia in 2020, a 51% increase compared to 2019. This year, there have been more than 5,000 reported EMS responses for suspected overdoses. Policy Director Tricia Christensen says funding from the state’s opioid settlements should be used to help stem the tide of substance abuse. She points to mental health resources, youth prevention programs and community programs focused on forging a life in recovery.  

On August 30th, 2023, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 12,000 block of Willowbrook road for a reported trespassing complaint. Upon officer’s arrival they located Martin Stanback on the property after being served with a No Trespassing Letter. Officers spoke with Stanback who provided no reasoning for being on the property and was subsequently placed under arrest. He was later released on a Criminal Citation pending his trial at District Court. Arrest: Martin Lewis Stanback, age 32, Cumberland Maryland. Charge: Trespassing.

On August 30th, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served a Criminal Summons on Jules Schwarz. The Criminal Summons stemmed from an incident on August 29th, 2023 in the 400 block of Bond Street. During the incident Schwarz had assaulted officers and EMS personnel. Schwarz was transported to a local medical facility and an application for charges were completed and this Criminal Summons was issued. Schwarz signed for his Criminal Summons and was released pending his trial at District Court. Arrset: Jules Michael Schwarz Jr, age 63, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Three Counts of Assault Second Degree, Disorderly Conduct.

A free Christian Faith Festival is coming to the Allegany County Fairgrounds, starting September 10th. The three-day festival, Unite on the Rock, will feature evangelist Jay Lowder and recording artist Jason Crabbe.  Dan Bible, one of the local organizers, spoke with WCBC about how churches in the area coming together set the theme for the festival… Lowder has been the key speaker at the National Day of Prayer events the past two years and helped to develop the idea with Dan Bible…

Four colleges, two in Maryland and two in West Virginia have a new partnership that will increase accessibility to high demand programs throughout the region.   Allegany College of Maryland, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Garrett College, along with Potomac State College have partnered to create pathways for students to enroll in degree and certification programs offered by each other when the home college doesn’t offer the specific program.  Paramedic Studies will be used as a pilot program – currently Garrett College is the only campus that offers that program.  The colleges see the partnership as a way for…

A former Episcopalian Priest that served in Allegany County has been named in the updated release of clergy from the Baltimore Archdiocese abuse scandal.  Reverend Tom Hudson served at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Mount Savage.  His name was initially redacted from the report released by the Maryland Attorney General in April. He took a leave of absence from his position in late May.  He is connected with an incident that occurred in the 1970s in Frederick when he was active at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

A Pennsylvania State Senator has introduced a bill that would require every public school in the state to have armed security during school hours.  Senator Mike Regan, a Republican, said the bill is the result of a decade-long fight to get school security increased for the state’s students.  The armed security team would have vigorous training in security, lethal weapons, and interacting with students.  The bill would also allow for the armed personnel to be present at extracurricular events.  Regan, who is a former US Marshal,  says it is the state’s responsibility to protect children in the state’s school systems……