Transportation panel to make proposals
State funds that Allegany County relied on for highways are no longer a sure thing
The Cumberland Times-News Thu Sep 29, 2011, 11:21 PM EDT
CUMBERLAND — The state commission charged with examining transportation funding wraps up its work next month and is required to issue a final report to Gov. Martin O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly by Nov. 1.
Garrett County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt believes the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding, of which he is a member, can be a positive step forward to address funding issues plaguing the state and localities.
“I think the commission was appointed for a purpose. … I am optimistic that the recommendations will be considered by the governor and General Assembly,” Pagenhardt said. He cautioned, though, that he doesn’t expect the changes to come quickly.
Among the important issues the commission is reviewing is a recommendation to put transportation funds, especially highway user funds, in something of a lock box.
The so-called Transportation Trust Fund is regularly raided to repair gaps in the budget, state Sen. George Edwards said. Those raids have amounted to about $2 billion over the past few years.
“That’s been a big part of the discussion. I am a representative of the rural counties and that has just crippled … county transportation funding,” Pagenhardt said.
The Senate Budget Committee heard from the transportation commission as well. Edwards has said he would like to keep transportation funding where it belongs instead of continuing the practice of transfers into the state’s general fund.
“We need to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Edwards said.
The highway user funds once were something Allegany County could count on for road repairs.
The county was estimated to receive $148,000 for fiscal 2012. That revenue used to be about $5 million, county officials have said. In 2007, the county share of the highway user revenue was $4.8 million; in 2008, $4.6 million. Garrett County, too, has taken a hit from the highway funding cuts. According to the draft fiscal 2012 budget, the county expects $161,500 in highway user revenue. That’s down from $221,370 in 2011 and $257,207 in 2010.
Another recommendation the commission will likely make involves allowing local governments to have the ability to raise their own funds, through taxes, to pay for transportation needs, possibly through a property tax surcharge, according to commission documents.
Pagenhardt doesn’t think Garrett County commissioners would be interested in that option.
Edwards recently said he hopes legislators will rebuild the state highway user funds, but he’s realistic.
“You’re not going to see it all at once,” he said. “There is not a whole lot of enthusiasm for tax increases,” even among Senate Democrats, Edwards said.
Changing the way the state funds mass transit is key to fixing the transportation budget, Edwards said. If you exclude the funds set aside for repairing toll roads and bridges, mass transit is the single largest portion of the transportation budget, eating up the money needed to repair roads and bridges, Edwards said.
Maryland, he said, is the only state he knows of that doesn’t use a local tax to help fund mass transit in the areas where it is heavily used.
The first step should be some sort of cap on mass transit funding, Edwards said. Those savings can then go into the trust fund.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.
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Garrett garage fires causes $90,000 damage
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Wed Sep 28, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT
— MCHENRY — A Tuesday night fire that caused damages estimated at $90,000 at 60 Ginseng Springs Lane remains under investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The 10:26 p.m. fire was first reported to the Garrett county 911 center, prompting alert of Deep Creek, Accident, Friendsville and Oakland volunteer fire companies.
One volunteer firefighter sprained an ankle at the scene, according to the fire marshal’s office.
The fire originated in an attached garage and was discovered by Robert Moats, owner of the property.
Occupants got out of the residence safely, according to the 911 center.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Kris Nieberlein, and H. Ewing and K-9 Inez of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Smoke alarms were present and activated when the fire began.
The property loss was estimated at $66,000 to the structure and $24,000 to its contents.
An estimated 40 volunteer firefighters responded and were at the scene for more than four horus.
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Arrest made in string of Deep Creek burglaries
From Staff Reports
The Cumberland Times-News Wed Sep 28, 2011, 12:58 PM EDT
— OAKLAND — A Grant County couple was arrested recently on numerous burglary and theft charges stemming from alleged burglaries of a Deep Creek Lake residence that occurred over a seven-month period, according to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.
Joshua Todd Culp, 30, and Jessica Dawn Picou, 23, both of Mount Storm, W.Va., were charged with multiple counts of first-degree burglary, theft between $1,000 and $10,000, destruction of property and possession of burglary toolss.
Culp remained jailed Wednesday at the Garrett County Detention Center on bond of $450,000 and Picou remained jailed on bond of $70,000.
Both defendants were served arrest warrants when investigators located them in a campground area in Grantsville.
Police said the burglaries occurred between December and June when residences were forcibly entered.
Flat-screen televisions, DVD players and other electronic items were stolen. Some of the stolen property was recovered during the course of the investigation.
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the matter. Investigations are also being conducted by Maryland State Police regarding other breaking and enterings in the Deep Creek Lake area.
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Deer hunter who killed bear won’t be charged
Sow twice climbed tree he was sitting in
Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue Sep 27, 2011, 09:46 PM EDT
MCHENRY — A deer hunter who used his crossbow to kill a bear in Garrett County will not be charged, according to Sgt. Art Windemuth of the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
The incident took place Sept. 20 on private land one-quarter of a mile west of U.S. Route 219 in the area of Will O’ The Wisp, according to Windemuth.
“The hunter told officers he was in a tree hunting over a bait pile when the sow (165 pounds) and two cubs came to the bait. He said the sow climbed the tree he was in, but went back to the bait after he hollered at it,” Windemuth said.
The bear once more climbed the tree, coming within a few feet of the hunter who feared for his life and shot the bruin, according to Windemuth.
“The hunter immediately called the wildlife office in Cumberland. Officers were dispatched and found the bear, which was dead, and the cubs had left the area,” Windemuth said. “All the evidence, including the angle of the arrow in the bear, substantiated the hunter’s account.”
Windemuth said the matter was presented to the Garrett County state’s attorney, who chose not to charge the hunter.
Harry Spiker of the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service, said the dead bear was untagged and did not wear a radio collar. “So we had no history on this bear,” Spiker said.
“The hunter described the cubs as being small. We believe if cubs make it to July 1 they can survive on their own. They might still be nursing some, but they are also eating solid foods and know enough at that point to forage on their own. They would probably weigh about 40 pounds each now.”
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com
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Southern knocks off top-ranked Northern, 3-0
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue Sep 27, 2011, 11:48 PM EDT
OAKLAND — Alli Shaffer scored a goal and assisted on the other two as fifth-ranked Southern knocked off top-ranked Northern, 3-0, in high school girls soccer Tuesday night at Southern.
Tess Watson scored the only goal of the first half, off of a corner kick by Shaffer, with just under 10 minutes before the half.
The lead doubled in the opening minutes of the second half when Shaffer scored on a feed from Jill Yant. Shaffer tacked on an unassisted goal with 12:04 remaining.
“We were really clicking tonight, especially the defense, and I was really pleased with everyone’s effort,’’ said Southern head coach Sara Shaffer.
Southern led in shots 15-6. Annie Martin made four saves in goal for the Rams. Alex Diehl had seven and Kloey Werner one for the Huskies.
The Garrett County rivals split their two regular season meetings as Northern had won earlier in the year, 2-1. Because last night’s game was a non-conference game, the Huskies remained 5-0 in the Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference.
Southern (6-3, 4-2 AMAC) hosts Keyser on Tuesday. Northern (6-2) hosts Fort Hill tonight at 6:30.
Southern won the jayvee game 3-1. Alicia Roth scored two gaols and Alicia Harpole had one for the Rams. Shannon Warnick scored for the Huskies.
Voting in the area soccer poll was completed prior to any Tuesday games.
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Fall Festival at Friend's
Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Deep Creek Lake State Park and NRMA, 3735 Sang Run Road, Sang Run, Garrett County. Fall Festival @ Friend’s Delight. Includes bird walk, butterfly tagging, a honeybee presentation, pumpkin picking and hay rides. Cost: free.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
Councilman Chris Trumbauer Took an Unusual Path to Politics
Local riverkeeper wanted to use public office as a way to advocate for the environment.
By Mitchelle Stephenson
Chris Trumbauer didn’t come to his political position through some carefully crafted lifelong desire to spend his adult years as a politician.
In fact, the West/Rhode Riverkeeper’s favorite thing to do is to be outdoors.
When he was a child growing up near the Chester River, he remembers spending more time on the water than not….
…Trumbauer has spent time in all corners of the state studying water quality. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in chemistry, he worked briefly in the private sector and then spent a decade with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sampling water quality around the state.
“I operated out of Annapolis, but I got to travel all over,” he said. “I tested water at Deep Creek Lake, coastal bays. Wherever there was water in Maryland, that was where we went.”
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Oakland Civic Club members celebrating 100 years of service
Angie Brant
The Cumberland Times-News Tue Sep 27, 2011, 09:45 PM EDT
OAKLAND — Members of the Civic Club of Oakland are preparing to celebrate an important milestone — a century of service to the Garrett County region.
As the group prepares to celebrate its 100-year anniversary with a banquet Saturday, members cannot help but reflect on the history of the group and the profound impact members have had on their communities. The current officers of the club include Barbara Frantz, president; Beverly Jo Gallagher, first vice president; Peggy Nelson, second vice president; Judi Schiff, recording secretary; Betty Ellington, corresponding secretary; Beverly Maynard, treasurer; and Ellen Fritz serves as the publicity chairwoman.
The Civic Club of Oakland was founded in 1911 by Thekla Fundenberg Weeks. Oakland was in a state of disrepair and Weeks wanted to organize an effort to clean up and beautify the community. Under her guidance, 22 area women joined to form the Women’s Civic Club of Oakland, with Weeks as their president. The women immediately began a cleanup campaign and wagon loads of dirt and trash were removed. That first project was deemed a great success and grew with each passing year.
Just a few years later, the women embarked on a second project, creating a free public library. That project grew into the Ruth Enlow Library System of Garrett County, which continues to serve the residents of Garrett County with five branches.
The Civic Club joined the national General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1916. The group is now one of the largest clubs in Maryland with more than 80 members on the roster.
Early projects included support for the Girl Scouts, Public Health Association, garden club, recreational parks, forest conservation, orthopedic clinics, upkeep of local cemeteries and a program that provided milk for area school children.
The club has been active throughout the past 100 years with the exception of the time between 1938 and 1949, when activity was halted during World War II. However, many of the members continued their philanthropic endeavors as volunteers for the American Red Cross.
One of the most notable activities held by the group is the annual antique show. The show was inspired by a centennial tea and antique exhibit in 1949. The Antique Show and Food Booth is now considered one of the highlights of the annual Autumn Glory celebration and is the club’s main fundraiser. Funds raised by the club are then distributed to nonprofits throughout the county. In 2010, the Civic Club donated more than $10,000 to more than 20 nonprofits. The club also sponsors college scholarships for Garrett County students and holds various events in support of area veterans.
On Saturday, the Civic Club of Oakland will hold a “Century of Committent” dinner-dance at Dutch’s at Silver Tree. The evening will include special music and a video debut depicting the history of the club.
Gallagher said she learned a great deal about the club during her research for the anniversary celebration.
“We uncovered some exceptional information that was nearly lost to the group. For example, we learned that the club played a major role in the women’s suffrage movement as some of our members were among the first to be able to vote in the nation,” she explained.
Ellington said the research allowed the group to consider and reflect on the many achievements and successes of the club.
One of its most recent successes is an award from the GFWC for the club’s publicity book. In this book, all the activities, news releases, invitations, programs and other club events for an entire year (2010) were compiled. The book won the state of Maryland contest in June, and was later named the national winner. Members of the local club traveled to Washington, D.C., to the national headquarters to receive the award.
As the Civic Club of Oakland prepares to celebrate “A Century of Committent,” the women are mindful of the need for new members to continue their legacy.
“Membership is open to any woman in Garrett County that has a willingness to join and a desire to serve and volunteer,” Ellington explained.
Contact Angie Brant at abrant @times-news.com
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Two area violence crisis centers receive funds
Cumberland, Oakland agencies allotted money for rape prevention programs
Eric Morris
The Cumberland Times-News Mon Sep 26, 2011, 10:11 PM EDT
CUMBERLAND — Two area violence crisis centers have been allotted funds this month through the Maryland government’s Community Sexual Violence Prevention & Awareness program.
Family Crisis Resource Center, of Cumberland, and the Dove Center, of Oakland, are two of 17 Maryland agencies that have received funding for their rape crisis programs.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention awarded $300,000 in grants to organizations across the state in an effort to reduce rape and other forms of sexual violence through prevention.
“The money will be used to raise community awareness,” said Sara-Beth James, executive director of the Family Crisis Resource Center, who says 80 percent of the agency’s funding is through grants.
“It will fund ‘healthy relationship’ presentations at different community organization events, as well as provide workshops and fund materials given out at promotional events.”
Rape crisis centers provide educational seminars, hotline services, emergency shelters, training programs for professionals, and print materials and other resources. They aim to increase awareness regarding rape and sexual assault prevention.
Dove Center Executive Director Heather Hanline echoed James in stating that the funds will be used to further the organization’s public awareness initiative.
“The funds are already in place, as this is a continuation of a grant that we’ve had for 12 years,” said Hanline. “They will continue to be used for our brochures, newspaper ads, billboards, presentations, anything that will increase public awareness of sexual violence.”
According to the governor’s office, agencies will also use the funds to provide education, training and support services for victims, health professionals and the general public.
Family Crisis Resource Center, which has served Allegany County for more than 30 years, will receive $11,000, while the Dove Center, an Oakland-based organization that maintains four locations in Garrett County, will be granted $4,750.
The Dove Center also received a $20,000 grant Monday from the Mary Kay Foundation as part of an annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program.
The Dove Center, one of 150 domestic violence organizations participating in the program, will use the grant to support the operating expenses of its domestic violence shelter.
Family Crisis Resource Center helps between 800 and 900 domestic or sexual violence victims and their children each year, while the Dove Center sees approximately 525.
The two local agencies are private, nonprofit organizations that specialize in the intervention and prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
While violent crime is at historically low levels in Maryland, reports of rape increased by 4.9 percent in 2010, according to the governor’s office.
“We are very appreciative to the governor’s office for funding this need,” added James. “Prevention and awareness is the No. 1 way to combat the problem.”
Agencies must apply for the grant on an annual basis through a competitive grant application process. The grant’s amount, according to Hanline, is based on the population and Uniform Crime Reports of sexual violence in the area an agency serves.
Together, the 17 agencies serve all 24 jurisdictions of Maryland.
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More wind farms eyed in Western Md.
(AP) Garrett County officials said Clipper Windpower is considering a wind power project called Fair Wind on Backbone Mountain south of Oakland. It would be just south of a 28-turbine wind farm Carpenteria, Calif.-based Clipper built that is owned by Constellation Energy Group. Also, Annapolis-based Synergics is doing environmental and wind studies on Four Mile Ridge, southwest of Frostburg near the Little Savage River. The company said the project would be 60 megawatts, which is 10 megawatts more than a 20-turbine project on Backbone Mountain that Synergics built and sold last year to Gestamp Corp. of Madrid.
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