Allegany College of Maryland has been named a 2023-24 Voter-Friendly Campus by the Fair Elections Center Campus Vote Project.  ACM received the recognition for its ongoing efforts to help students overcome barriers to taking part in the political process.  Allegany College is active in voter registration events and a polling place was established at ACM in April of 2022. Colleges named as Voter-Friendly come from a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is accepting applications for its POWER Initiative.  The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization program directs federal resources to bring economic diversification and new opportunities to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.  The ARC funding would enhance job training and reemployment opportunities, create jobs in existing or new industries, and attract new sources of private investment in coal-impacted communities.

Democratic Governor Wes Moore and Mayor Jack Coburn, a Republican from Lonaconing, appear together in a new video campaign from the National Governors Association.  “Disagree Better” is the theme of a series of commercials focused on an effort to show that Americans can work through differences, recognize differing perspectives, and find solutions to difficult problems facing states and the nation.  The ad shows Moore and Coburn in a split screen sitting at different tables having a conversation – here’s a portion of the ad…    

Safe Schools Maryland is an anonymous and free reporting system available to students, teachers, parents and the public to report any school or student safety concerns.  Allegany County Public Schools participates in the program and reports can be made to the tip line at 833-632-7233, twenty-four hours a day. Credible tips on threats, bullying, drug activity, and abuse are routed to school, public safety, health, or social services personnel for follow-up.  There is also an app that can be downloaded to cellphones.

Tipped hourly workers are lining up on both sides of the bill in Maryland’s General Assembly that would increase the minimum wage for waitstaff at restaurants.  Currently the tip wage in the state is $3.63 per hour but would raise to $15 per hour if legislation passes.  Proponents of the bill say its only fair that the minimum wage should apply to all workers in the state, but Maryland Restaurant Association spokesman Melvin Thompson testified before the House Finance Committee that the minimum wage is being met and a mandatory minimum would actually cut incomes…     

The Del McCoury family and friends of the late Troy McKenzie have joined together to offer scholarships to DelFest Academy. The Troy McKenzie DelFest Academy Sponsorship Foundation has been created to give five local musicians the opportunity to attend the academy for free and passes for the four-day festival. DelFest Academy begins Sunday evening May 19th and runs through Wednesday, May 22nd with the festival getting underway the following day at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  The sponsorship fund is the idea of Darron Jones and Annie Kilcoyne, both of Cumberland, to honor the memory of Troy McKenzie who died last year at the age of 54 following a long struggle…

Route 220 in Rawlings was closed overnight following a motor vehicle crash just before 10PM. Allegany County Emergency Service responding to a call of heavy entrapment Route 220 in the area of G&G Auto Max Roadway was closed as Fire/EMS and Troop 5  on scene. Route 220 is now back open both ways at 3AM Tuesday.

With the deadline to file looming this Friday, the city council race in Cumberland finally has one candidate.  Incumbent Laurie Peskin Marchini has filed to run in the May 14 primary election.  Fellow councilman Eugene Frazier's term ends after this term and he has yet to file for reelection.

Allegany County Public Schools’ Superintendent, Mr. Jeff Blank, has announced the appointment of the new Assistant Supervisor of Maintenance. Mr. Randy Miller assumed this role effective January 22, 2024. Miller has been employed with the Allegany County Public School System for over 16 years. He began his career filling the role of Maintenance 1 and was recently promoted to foreman in June of 2023. He currently lives in LaVale with his wife Stacey, and has two children, Krysten and Ryan. “I am very blessed and honored to have the opportunity to be able to lead a very talented maintenance group…

Warrant Arrest For February 5, 2024: Logan Ray Aldrich, 26 of Cumberland, was served a District Court Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. His original conviction was for Violation of Release Conditions where he received a 90-day suspended sentence with 2 years unsupervised probation. He is being held on a $500 bond in this case. Ralph Junior Baer III, 44 of Frostburg, was served a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear. His original conviction was for Conspiracy-CDS: Possession with Intent to Distribute: Narcotics where he received an 8-year jail term will all but 74-days suspended and 3-years supervised…