Local News
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.
According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Bryan Jackson flooding is still an issue for parts of the region. Jackson says a big factor in the flooding issues this weekend was the snow melt. Flooding and heavy rain damaged some county roads and bridges in Allegany County. And the Frostburg Community Center provided shelter for those who were affected by the flooding.
As emergency crews worked to warn residents of the impending floods Maryland State Highways crews worked to open pipes, drains and inlets after more than two feet of snow remained on the ground in parts of Allegany and Garrett counties. While most of the snow had melted across the State east of Hagerstown, the recent steady, slow snow-melt has saturated the ground, leaving any significant rainfall with little place to go. SHA crews were ready this weekend to assist with “High Water” signs, detours, chain saws for any downed trees and other storm-related emergencies.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin declared a State of Emergency for 34 counties due to flooding caused by rainfall and snowmelt. The State of Emergency will be in effect for the following counties: Barbour, Berkeley, Brooke, Cabell, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel and Wood. The declaration will remain in effect until April 11, unless extended or rescinded by further proclamation by the governor. Manchin also authorized the West Virginia National Guard as a precaution to potential flooding. Guard members will be stationed in areas where flooding may occur, in the Potomac Basin and along the Ohio River.
A Morgantown man wanted on murder charges is arrested in Cumberland. Just after three o’clock Friday afternoon 22 year old Joshua Hausrath was arrested during a traffic stop on George Street. He was wanted on a warrant charging him with the stabbing death of 25 year old Domenic Wolfe of Morgantown. Wolfe was found dead in Morgantown from a stab wound to the chest early March 7th. Haursrath was arrested without incident and is being held at the Allegany County Detention Center without bond pending extradition to Morgantown.
Meanwhile Cumberland Police are searching for a jewelry thief. On Sunday someone broke into Morton’s Jewelry Store on Baltimore Avenue. According to Cumberland Police someone had broken the front window of the store and taken some of the jewelry on display in the window. Anyone with any information concerning this crime to please call 301-777-1600.
Only days after measures that would provide a solution for Garrett County’s family practitioners providing obstetrical services failed to receive approval, Senator George C. Edwards (R-Dist 1) and Delegate Wendell R. Beitzel (R-Dist 1A) have been in talks with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Garrett Memorial Hospital, and various other stakeholders to come to a solution. Prompted by the concerns expressed by both Senator Edwards and Delegate Beitzel, DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers sent a letter addressed to the Senator. In it, Secretary Colmers states, “The County relies on the high quality obstetrical care provided by four family practitioners and enjoys some of the State’s best birth outcome indicators.” Secretary Colmers continued in his letter by committing to a maternity clinic for women with primary or secondary Maryland Medical Assistance would require the Garrett County Health Department to “supplement its administrative capacity in order to operate a maternity clinic.” The lasting solution, according to Colmers is the functioning of a local federally qualified community health center (FQHC). Under this health center, the practitioners would see patients at the FQHC building. Negotiations are currently underway, but federal approval would be required in order for the project to be fully implemented. Edwards and Beitzel are slated to meet with representatives of the Mountain Laurel Medical Center early this week.
The West Virginia legislature looks to improve the high school graduation rate with a bill that gained approval on the final night of the regular session back on Saturday. The dropout bill is a comprehensive plan that includes increasing alternative education options for at-risk students while increasing the dropout age from 16 to 17. A compromise between the House and Senate will keep the age at 16 until the 9th graders beginning high school this fall reach 17.
The old Cumberland Memorial Hospital site will have a new tenant. Complementing their partner company, award-winning Java Green Café in Washington, D.C., which offers an organic vegan/vegetarian fare to over 400 customers daily, J. Green Natural Foods will manufacture their “Veggie Beef” and “Veggie Chicken” products right here in Cumberland! The Company’s customers include Whole Foods Markets, independent grocers and restaurants, hospitals, and universities such as John Hopkins and Georgetown. Late last month, J Green signed a six-year lease with Ridgecrest Investments at the former Memorial hospital site, an agreement put together by Bill Chesno and Blane Davis at Long and Foster, with the support of Brenda Smith, Economic Development Coordinator and the Mayor and City Council. The Company’s delicious “plant proteins” serve as beef and chicken replacements that offer consumers significant health benefits: very high protein, zero trans and saturated fat, and no cholesterol. J Green is actively engaged in product development with the University of Maryland’s School of Nutrition and Food Science, an activity that is co-funded through the Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program (MIPS), a collaboration the Company cites as critical to their future growth and competitiveness. As for the products themselves: “It was surprisingly good,” remarked Smith, who, along with other economic development colleagues, was provided a sample during initial meetings with the client. Ethan and Tracy Brown, two of the Company’s co-founders, began the decision to move to Cumberland under stressful circumstances, but have now made it their home. In February 2009, their young son was injured at the family’s farm in Garrett County and was rushed to Memorial Hospital for treatment. Under the care of Dr. Robert Cendo, the rest of the Brown family found it necessary to relocate to Cumberland for the week that followed. “Everyone was so warm and welcoming; this terrific sense of community, coupled with the availability of good schools and the area's natural beauty, sold us” said Tracy, noting that “Dr. Cendo even offered us his Suburban to transport our son back to Washington, telling us to return it whenever worked best for us.” The Browns recently completed their transition to Cumberland and, along with partners Plinio Garcia and Jessica Crum, are looking forward to transitioning the Company operations from the D.C. metro area to the Memorial facility in April. With respect to the transition and future plans, Ethan commented that ‘we’re a small early-stage business and have had first-rate support from the local business community, including the Office of Economic Development, during our transition. We are going to do our best to grow the Company and do hope we can make a positive contribution to the City of Cumberland. “