Teenager Dies in Fire
A 17-year old Piedmont boy died in a fire early Saturday morning, and
two firefighters were injured. The fire, at 23 East Hampshire Street,
was called in at 2:26 a.m. One of the two firefighters was treated for
smoke inhalation at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. The
name of the teenager was not released. The cause of the fire is not
known, nor is an estimate of damages.
Federal Authorities Charge 35 Gang Members
A racketeering indictment has led to the arrest of 35 members of the
“Bloods” gang members, charging them with murder, kidnapping, and other
crimes from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore. Authorities say cells
of the South Side “Brims” coordinated gang activity across the state and
the region, including at least one murder in Baltimore, a kidnapping in
Frederick and a witness intimidation incident in Allegany County. The
alleged leader of the gang was identified as Andre Ricardo Roach of
Prince George’s County, who is accused of leading the gang since 2005
from behind bars at the North Branch Correctional Institution in
Cumberland, where he is serving a 50-year sentence for murder. Also
indicted were Richard Demoan Hall of Frederick, who is accused of aiding
in the escape of Garrett County inmate Deandre Kelly in January and
Matthew Owen Collins of Cumberland, who was indicted for shooting a
.380-calibre gun during a drug trafficking crime.
Man Arrested For Alleged Distribution In North End
Patrick Lionel Smith is being held on $20,000 bond, following an
incident Thursday evening in North End. Smith is accused of dealing
drugs in the 400-block of Columbia Street. Police located Smith in the
300-block of Furnace Street and searched him. He allegedly had a
quantity of suspected crack cocaine, along with prescription narcotic
pills and a sum of money. He faces a number of charges, including CDS
possession with intent to distribute, possession and omitting a label on
prescription drugs.
Mount Savage Man Charged\
Twenty-six year old Jacob Nathan Landis was charged with felony
assault, among other charges as the result of an incident early
yesterday morning in the 700-block of Virginia Avenue. Landis allegedly
assaulted another man, who was taken to the Western Maryland Regional
Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Landis reportedly tried to
flee the scene, but was apprehended by Cumberland City Police officers.
Emergency Sewer Repairs on Fayette Street
Beginning on Monday, emergency sewer repairs will begin in the area of
Fayette Street in the Dingle. The section of Fayette Street, between
Greene Street and Gephart Drive will be closed to all traffic for about
two weeks. All residents and people traveling in the area will have to
use Thompson Avenue for access between Greene Street and Gephart Drive.
The alley that is between, and runs parallel to Gephart Drive leading to
Fayette Street will also be closed to Fayette Street for all traffic.
Broadway Paving Slated
The City of Cumberland Engineering Department will be paving Broadway
Circle at its intersection with Williams Street this Wednesday. That
area will be closed from Wednesday through Friday. The dates are subject
to change due to weather conditions, and will allow for installation of
a new entrance onto Broadway Circle. Any traffic needing to enter
Broadway Circle should use an alternate route, for example, from Fort
Hill Avenue.
DNR To Open Chronic Wasting Station \
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is opening a Surveillance
Station in Allegany County, where hunters may bring their white-tailed
deer to test for Chronic Wasting Disease. There has been one confirmed
case in Maryland, found in a deer from eastern Allegany County last
year. The station will be located off of Interstate 68, at Exit 64 at
the Green Ridge State Forest Headquarters, and will be open from 9 a.m.
To 8 p.m.
Board Receives Academic Performance Update
The Allegany County Board of Education received an annual academic
performance update at its October work session. The 2011 assessment
results revealed continued success for Allegany County Public Schools;
other highlights included the an increased graduation rate and a
decreased dropout rate. There was also an increase in Advanced Placement
courses; and, SAT and Early College/Dual Enrollment summaries.
Keyser Passes Cell Tower Agreement
The city of Keyser has approved a contractual arrangement with a Ripley
firm, regarding the regulation of construction of cell phone towers in
the city limits. The agreement with Fox Engineering was unanimously
passed by the Mayor and Council; it won’t cost the city any money, but
the fee to Fox will be paid from the application fees charged to the
developers of future cell towers.
MSEA Convention To Take Place in Ocean City
The Maryland State Education Association will hold its annual
convention next Friday and Saturday in Ocean City at the Roland Powell
Convention Center. MSEA President Clara Floyd, the MSEA Board of
Directors and over 600 delegates, comprised of educators from every
county in the state, will gather for the convention. The main orders of
business will be association policy and school funding, along with other
issues impacting Maryland’s educators and students.
