Local News
If you see news happening email our News Director Amanda Mangan at amangan@alleganyradio.com or send us a text message at 301-676-1005. Standard text messaging rates apply.
More than $180 million in federal stimulus money is fueling 105 highway projects in West Virginia. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association in Washington, D.C., says those projects created 5,015 jobs that would not otherwise exist. Last year, the federal government set aside $48 billion for transportation improvements over two years, including $27.5 billion for highway, bridge and related construction projects nationwide. The association's vice president of economics and research, Bill Buechner, said the one-time infusion of money boosted West Virginia's regular federal highway funds by 60 percent last year, bringing the state's total federal highway funding to a record $560.9 million. Another 15 highway projects are scheduled to begin soon.
The Mountain State is receiving $126.3 million in federal stimulus funding for a proposed statewide broadband infrastructure project. The state applied for the grant last year. However, formal plans to launch the broadband network actually were begun by Gov. Joe Manchin way back in 2007. The award of the federal stimulus dollars to West Virginia was jointly announced by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, D-W.Va. Manchin is hoping to have West Virginia wired for broadband access from “border to border.” With a healthy infusion of federal stimulus funds, that dream is now well on its way to reality. According to Manchin, the broadband project will take the state’s existing technology infrastructure to a whole new level, particular for more rural parts of the state.
Potomac State College of West Virginia University was recently awarded approximately $19,400 to help offset the costs of its H1N1 outreach efforts this academic year. The money comes from a grant awarded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education and the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. Funding was made possible by a grant to the commission from the Bureau’s Center for Threat Preparedness through a federal appropriation to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the epidemic, Potomac State College distributed hand sanitizer to all students, faculty and staff and placed dispensers in the entrances of buildings across campus. Student Health Services held flu clinics with free seasonal flu vaccinations and H1N1 vaccinations which required the purchasing of equipment and supplies. Residence Life provided meals to students who were isolated in their rooms while sick. Fifteen institutions of higher education in the state were awarded funding ranging from $12,500 to $25,000.
The legislative process of passing a budget for next fiscal year (2011) in West Virginia began this week in the Senate Finance Committee with committee members getting their first look at the draft prepared by committee staff. The proposal closely mirrors the spending plan submitted by Gov. Manchin when the legislative session began two months ago. The budget proposal calls for the state to spend $3.7 billion from the general revenue fund next year, virtually the same amount the state is spending this year. The static budget reflects a lack of growth in tax collections over the last year because of the recession. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Walt Helmick said the legislature cannot spend what it doesn't have, consequently he has had to tell lawmakers, constituent groups and others that there's no money for new initiatives. While West Virginia is able to pay its bills it has yet to come up with an answer for future obligations. By some estimates, the state has obligations of $15 billion for future health care and retirement benefits for teachers and state workers. This session lawmakers talked about the problem of the unfunded liabilities, but took no action. Senate and House members will stay in extended session next week to work on the budget.
The eye surgery bill passed the WV House Health and Human Resources Committee Tuesday night. The bill would grant optometrists the right to do some minor procedures if it makes it out of the House of Delegates. However, the committee passed a number of amendments that keeps optometrists from performing laser eye surgery. Ophthalmologists still oppose the bill though. The eye surgeons say they are the only ones qualified to do the surgical procedures and optometrists don't have the necessary education or experience. Optometrists argue they can receive the training and that ophthalmologists are only concerned about protecting their turf. House Health Chair Don Perdue says he was hoping for a compromise between the two sides Tuesday. He said that is the key to getting the bill passed out of both houses before the session ends. The House Health and Human Resources passed the bill 17 to 7 Tuesday night.
Hundreds of Marylanders protested the state's abortion policies outside the capitol earlier this week, saying the state has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the country. The 31st Annual Maryland March for Life began with a Monday night Catholic Mass at St. Mary's Church in Annapolis. Participants then marched over to the State House where they urged lawmakers to change Maryland abortion policy. Speakers criticized Maryland laws they say allowed $2.2 million of state tax dollars last year to go toward abortions. They also railed against proposals to spend millions this year on stem cell studies they said could include embryonic research.
The Upper Potomac River Commission says it's allowing the Savage River Reservoir in western Maryland to refill now that three of four dam gates have been replaced. Commission Manager Scott Shoemaker says the $6 million project is about two weeks ahead of schedule and should be finished in two months. The 350-acre lake near Bloomington was lowered in the fall to allow for replacement of the corroded gates. Shoemaker says that as the reservoir refills, some large amounts of water will be released to flush sediment from a trophy trout fishing area below the dam.
Local government officials will find out today what they need to do to get a portion of the federal money heading to Maryland to pay for one of the winter storms that hit the region. A workshop is behind held today at Allegany College of Maryland. The goal of the workshop is to disseminate the most up to date information from FEMA about how local governments in Western Maryland can get some of the money allocated to the state. Elected officials, public safety and county and municipal staff from Allegany, Garrett, Washington, and Frederick Counties are all invited to the workshop which is one of six to be held around the state. One official who says he will be there is Jay Moyer Garrett County Roads Superintendent. He says as of Wednesday Garrett County has been hit with 265 inches of snow. Moyer says this has been the worst winter he has seen. In order to keep the roads open his road crews have been working around the clock and have logged 21 thousand hours of overtime.
Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray says they are still working with the owners of the Hotel Gunter in Frostburg after a roof collapsed earlier this month. He says the building was condemned following the roof collapse. “We were able to identify that there was some damage done from the collapse to the building’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems. So we identified those concerns with the building owner and the building department city of Frostburg and we are coordinating our efforts to make sure repairs are made and the building is brought back up to code. We are also working on other violations we had noted during our inspection of the building.” Mowbray says those violations included maintenance concerns with the sprinkler system, exit lights and fire extinguishers. All the occupants and guests at the 114 year old hotel were evacuated the day of the collapse. The building includes 17 hotel rooms and 18 apartments. Mowbray says the building owner has been aggressive trying to fix all the issues and maintenance concerns and inspectors and engineers are expected to check the building this week. Mowbray says the Fire Marshal’s office still has several active investigations involving two downtown Frostburg fires. “Frostburg has actually had three different fires on Main Street in the last several years. The latest was the fire at the Prichard Building which housed Gianni’s pizza. That investigation remains ongoing at this point. We are awaiting different types of testing. Eventhough the case is approaching six months old we are still actively working that.” Mowbray says if anyone in the community has any information about the fire at the Prichard Building they can contact the Maryland State Fire Marshall’s office at 1-800-525-3124
To hear part 1 of the interview with Mowbray click here
To hear part 2 of the interview with Mowbray click here
Starting this month parents are getting an education on sexting and internet safety. Allegany County Public School officials are partnering with local law enforcement officials to put on several parent presentations throughout the county. “They are going to be called sense of security and these presentations will be at all five of the high schools from 6-7:30 in all of the auditoriums. This is parents only the content is not appropriate for children. To give them a better idea of internet predators and what is commonly known as sexiting and all the legal ramifications that you can run into.” That’s Allegany County Board of Education Public Relations Specialist Mia Cross. She says if you can not make one of the parent presentations you can contact the board of education offices for more information. You can also log on to http://boe.allconet.org/
To hear the interview with Cross click here
A dress code disagreement between the Hardy County school system and parents is now before a judge. Back in August, the Hardy County Board of Education approved a dress code change to address problems at Moorefield Middle School. They voted that, starting in November, students would be required to wear navy blue shirts and khaki pants. Any logos on the clothing had to be less than one inch square. Parents protested and got an extension until January. The code was then modified to include colored shirts and jeans, but the logo requirement remained in place. Earlier this month, a group of parents asked a Hardy County Circuit Judge for an injunction on the dress code. One hundred and seventy five parents filed petitions with the court. The injunction was granted and both sides are due back in court March 16th. David Judy, the attorney representing the parents, says the changes made back in August were unnecessary and school leaders should have been enforcing the dress code policy already in place. Judy calls the flap a major distraction. "It's tremendous interference with education. It's very stressful on the students. It's stressful on the parents. It's stressful on the teachers." Judy says the policy is taking away valuable time from what should be the focus in school, education, not what a child is wearing. "The logos and the colors of the clothes, unless they're obscene, vulgar or somehow detract from the educational process, should be allowed." One of the major concerns for parents was the timing of the Board's original vote to change the policy. "The cost of clothes had already been expended for the year for 2009-2010 during this summer before this new code was implemented and before notice was given." Judy adds with so many families with one or even two parents out of work, buying new clothes is not an option. He's hoping the court will rule in the parent's favor once both sides have had a chance to put their cases before a judge.
West Virginia State Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a woman in Grant County. Investigators say the woman had stopped at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon on Route 42 on Scherr Mountain to help a man who seemed like he needed help with his car. The unknown man then produced a weapon and forced the woman into the back of his car where he attacked her. State Police said the victim described the suspect as a white man in his 50s who stands about 6-feet tall. She said he was dirty and unshaven with several scars on his face including one under his left eye on the cheek bone area. The woman also said he had poor dental hygiene and green cat-like eyes. State Police say the man is driving a cream colored four-door sedan. Police are asking people not to stop in the area in the mean time. They are also asking any possible witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information should contact the Moorefield-Petersburg Detachment of the State Police at (304) 538-2925.
Scholarship money is available for students who want to attend Frostburg State University. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, March 15, so don’t miss the chance to apply for money that can help obtain a great college education. scholarship money is granted for many different reasons, such as where a student lives, career path or interests, so applicants should not assume that they would not qualify. Each scholarship is different, and 72.3 percent of FSU students receive some form of financial aid. For more information, contact FSU Financial Aid Office at 301-687-4301 or fsufinaid@frostburg.edu.
Maryland troops serving in Iraq got a surprise visit from Governor Martin O’Malley.The Governor's two-day mission comes at the request of U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, whom Governor O'Malley met with on Thursday at the Pentagon before leaving for Iraq. The Governor also visited with service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center before departing from Andrews Airforce Base to Kuwait, via a refueling stop in Europe, and on to Iraq.While in Iraq, Governor O'Malley visited with Maryland-based Army Reserve A Company of the 323 Military Inteligence Battalion, as well as members of the Maryland-based Army Reserve 392 Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Task Force Raven. O'Malley also shared a barbeque dinner with service members from Maryland. More than 20,000 Marylanders have deployed since the attacks of September 11, 2001 as active duty troops of all branches and components of the Armed Forces. There are currently 26 members of the Maryland National Guard deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, Maryland's 58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team mobilized and deployed to Iraq in what was the largest deployment of combat Soldiers since World War II. Of those who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or Kuwait, 114 Marylanders have died, 87 of them in active theater in Iraq. Five of these were Maryland National Guard Soldiers who died as a result of operations in Iraq.
To hear the press conference with Governor Martin O'Malley from Iraq click here 
