Category:garrett county
Storm damage, rescue of lost hikers leads to closure of Garrett trail
Michael A. SawyersCumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Maryland Forest Service officials decided three weeks ago to close the popular, 17-mile Big Savage Hiking Trail after six lost hikers had to be rescued.
The culprit, according to Steven W. Koehn, director, was tropical storm Sandy that struck Garrett County in October and toppled uncountable trees.
“(This year) some folks from Outward Bound reported that there were obstructions, lots of trees, down across the trail, so much so that they were unable to finish their hike,” Koehn said in an email to the Times-News on Monday.
“Later, a group from the Mountain Club of Maryland tried to hike the trail and they reported the same thing. They were unable to follow the blazes because some of the trees with the blazes on them were down as well.”
Then, last month, six hikers became lost and had to be found and rescued by Maryland Natural Resources Police.
“That was enough for me and, after talking with local staff and folks in the attorney general’s office, we decided to close the trail until we are able to cut through and re-blaze the trees,” Koehn said.
“It will likely be three weeks before we will be able to begin work clearing and re-blazing. There has been interest from volunteers to do the work. However, because of the remoteness and amount of work involved, including chainsaw work, this help has not materialized.”
NRP Sgt. Dave Marple said Monday that the lost hikers called 911 for help after dark.
“A GPS coordinate was obtained from their cell phone signal. Officers Brian Friend and Glenn Broadwater plugged that into their hand-held GPSs,” Marple said.
“They told the hikers to sit tight and it took the officers a couple hours to walk to them. They got there about midnight and everybody walked out about 2 a.m.”
There were no elderly or children in the group and no injuries, according to Marple.
Friend credited the lost group for following directions to stay put so that they could be found. “It’s good that people carry their cell phones and call 911 because we can get a GPS coordinate,” he told the Times-News during a phone interview Monday.
The wet and tired group of hikers was found between a half-mile and a mile off the trail in an area of very thick growth due to recent gypsy moth damage that cleared out the forest canopy and fallen trees from October’s storm, Friend said.
The officers hiked the trail starting at the southwestern terminus just downstream from Savage River Dam. Friend said the going was rough due to the steep terrain and several switchbacks where the trail zigzags back and forth. “It’s easy to get turned around in there,” Friend said.
The lost hikers had started from the opposite direction earlier in the day. They were found using glow sticks and their cell phones as light sources and had wandered down the mountain toward the Allegany/Garrett County line.
Friend provided spare flashlights that he carries in his search and rescue pack to help the hikers negotiate their way out of the woods.
“That was a tough trail to hike even before the storm,” Marple said. “It’s not like walking the (C&O Canal) towpath. We went in a year ago to rescue three guys in their 20s.”
The trail is laid out northeasterly along the Savage Mountain ridgeline and ends near St. John’s Rock not far from Interstate 68.
Agency literature describes the trail as difficult with few reliable drinking water sources.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.
Preliminary Winter 2013-2014 Winter Outlook
Great news for the Wisp?? “Much above average snowfall”:
Winter 2012-2013 left a lot to be desired, with the exception of some late winter snowstorms that effected the mid-west and Northeast and the cold spells that lasted late into the month of may, with even snow falling in the mountainous areas of the northeast Mid-May of 2013. Now was this just winters last gasp? Or was it a sign of things to come. Well we will look into different facets of that as we go through this outlook. Now first as always lets look at the factors that will go into this forecast outlook. Please not that since this outlook is preliminary, not all factors are taken into equation, this is because those other factors have a high probability of changing between now and by time winter comes. Factors for preliminary Winter 2013-2014 Outlooks: State Of the ENSO- Currently classified as Neutral, but latest surface temperatures show la-nina developing despite models projecting it to go another way. My prediction, Weak La Nina. –
See more at: http://weatheradvance.com/preliminary-winter-2013-2014-winter-outlook/#sthash.7lRTPZ9L.dpuf
Six vying for position as Garrett judge
OAKLAND — Six people have applied for nomination to the position of Garrett County District Court judge, which was left vacant following Judge Leonard Eiswert’s retirement.
Eiswert’s mandatory re-tirement was effective March 21 because he turned 70 on March 22, according to Kathleen Stafford, administrative clerk for Allegany County District Court.
Eiswert has been intermittedly presiding as a retired district court judge and visiting judges have been presiding in district court as well, said Stafford.
The following attorneys have applied for nomination to the position: Angela Blythe, Tracey Henline, Stephan Moylan, Raymond Strubin, Daryl Walters and Lisa Thayer Welch. The Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for Commission District 5 will narrow the field down to about three applicants, which will then be submitted to Gov. Martin O’Malley for appointment.
There is no time frame for O’Malley to make the appointment, according to Stafford. Hopefully, he makes the appointment soon, she said.
Blythe has her own practice, Blythe Law Offices, in Oakland; Henline is the assistant to the state’s attorney in the Garrett County District Court Division; Moylan is assistant public defender for the state of Maryland; Strubin is with the Garrett County District 12 Office of the Public Defender; Walters is master for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Maryland; and Welch is the Garrett County state’s attorney.
The commission is accepting signed written , which will be used in the evaluation process, until Aug. 19. The applicants had until July to apply and the commission will interview them on Aug. 20.
Eiswert was district court judge since November 2008; was principal at Eiswert, Janes & Kepple from 1977 to 2008; was president of the Garrett County Bar Association from 1981 to 1982; served on Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; and served as vice-chair in 2000, according to the District Court of Maryland website.
Written should be addressed to Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission for Commission District 5 c/o Administrative Office of the Courts Program Services 2001-D Commerce Park Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
Garrett County Appreciation Day Slated For Aug. 10
The second annual Garrett County Appreciation Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex (CARC), Garrett College, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Arts & Adventure.”
The event will feature swimming in the CARC pools, a hands-on art activity, a display of emergency vehicles, a Discovery Center Scales and Tails presentation, kindermusik, a candy drop, and more.
Free hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, soft drinks, and cake will be served at noon. Music will be provided by the Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums.
Appreciation Day is sponsored by Garrett County government, the Garrett County Arts Council, and the CARC.
What City Beach Is This?
Not a beach at all, of course, but the nighttime vision of the 2013 Garrett County Fair, now under way at the fairgrounds in McHenry. The weeklong event has all the traditional rides, carnival food, livestock animals, and exhibits, along with daily musical entertainment and a wide range of contests at the race track. The weather has been so-so for the fair this week, but that has not kept the crowds away, as residents and visitors alike have been there, walking the mid-way, buying the foodstuffs of many a local organization, and making mooing sounds at the cows. The fair will continue through Saturday, when the annual livestock show and sale will take place. All are encouraged to support the county’s youth in that event. A complete section with the results of the sale and other events will be published in two weeks. Photo by Lisa Broadwater. More here.
Christian Crossing Thrift Shop
The Organization . . .
This ministry is a one-hundred-percent volunteer not-for-profit organization.
It is the mission of the organization to improve the quality of life for those of limited means and those in critical need. Christian Crossing Thrift Shop:
•Accepts donations of clothing, housewares, books, furniture, major appliances, small appliances, toys, etc. from those who no longer need or like what they have
•Sells donated items at nominal prices
•Gives items without cost to those who cannot afford the nominal prices and are referred by social service agencies
•Gives cash assistance in behalf of those in critical situations and to programs designed to keep people from getting into critical situations
A core group of volunteers oversees the coordination of six departments within the operation of the Thrift Shop.
Garrett Cooperative Ministry, Inc. trades as Christian Crossing Thrift Shop. Garrett Cooperative Ministry, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are tax deductible, and tax receipts are given upon request.
How the Christian Crossing Thrift Shop Works . . .
In a sense, we are a recycling center!
The volunteers sort through hundreds of bags and boxes of clothing, household items, linens, decorating accessories, dishes, pots, pans, toys, sporting goods, appliances, furniture and more that are donated to the Thrift Ship.
These items are then arranged and displayed as neatly as possible to be sold at nominal prices. While our primary mission is to improve the quality of life for those with limited means and those in critical need, anyone is invited to shop at Christian Crossing. Critical-need items are also given free of charge to referred persons who have no funding available.
Anyone who wishes to donate useable furniture, appliances, household items, clothing, linens, gift items, etc. is invited to bring them to the Shop during hours of operation. If you have large items which you are unable to haul, volunteers may be able to pick them up.
Sources of income are sales and contributions from churches, organizations and individuals. No workers, officers or directors are paid. After monthly expenses (mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, supplies, building repairs and maintenance) are paid, funds are used as follows: half of the excess funds are set aside for capital improvement; the other half is available for individuals and families who find themselves in crisis situations and are referred to us through the Health Department or Community Action, and for programs designed to prevent families from getting into crisis situations.
Volunteers Needed . . .
Anyone willing to volunteer services for any aspect of the Christian Crossing operation is invited to come to the Shop during open hours or call 301-334-6339. We would also like to have a coordinator from each church congregation in Garrett county. Click HERE for more information on volunteering.
We look forward to hearing from you as we work together to help others.
“Help carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Hearing on Garrett flood plain program
OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will conduct a public hearing Aug. 20 at 4:15 p.m. on a proposal to update and readopt the county’s Floodplain Management Ordinance to assure compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
The update will include adoption of all accompanying updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps effective Oct. 2, 2013, and amendments to the current ordinance.
Copies of the draft ordinance and updated study and mapping are available for review at the County Permits and Inspections office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The ordinance can also be found on the county’s website under Permits and Inspections under the Planning and Land Development tab at www.garrettcounty.org.
The meeting will take place in Room 209 of the courthouse.
The Fibers of Change: ARC Broadband Grant to Accelerate Opportunity in Garrett County
A $250,000 broadband grant awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and matched by $250,000 from the Board of County Commissioners of Garrett County, will quicken business growth and opportunity in Garrett County. The grant allows Garrett County to begin its first phase of a wireless broadband network, which along with other service providers is anticipated to bring access to 90% of homes and businesses over the next several years. On Friday, July 26, 2013, Congressman John K. Delaney formally announced the award, and celebrated its value to Maryland’s Sixth District. The event was held at the Garrett Information Enterprise Center in McHenry, Maryland at 2:00 p.m.
“Broadband is the backbone of a strong communications infrastructure,” noted Congressman Delaney. “It expands jobs and educational opportunities, and increases our competitiveness in a global marketplace.” Last May, Congressman Delaney introduced the Partnership to Build America Act, a bill designed to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, including communications and broadband.
Garrett County broadband project receives $250,000 grant from ARC
Matching local funds will bring high-speed service to hundreds
Greg Larry Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — Garrett County’s continued effort to expand broadband services received a boost Friday when the Appalachian Regional Commission announced that it is awarding a $250,000 grant to assist the project.
Officials say the funding will allow high-speed broadband services to be accessed by about 800 additional homes in southern Garrett County.
“Today we are here to provide the county $250,000,” said Earl Gohl, federal co-chair of the ARC.
“Having an opportunity to make an investment like this really makes a difference in rural communities. It’s so important. It’s why the ARC was established,” said Gohl.
The method to be used to deliver the high-speed service is a newly developed wireless system that accesses unused frequencies on the television spectrum.
“Today’s ceremony takes from the planning stage to the doing stage. That’s great news,” said Jim Raley, county commissioner.
Numerous officials attended the event, including state Sen. George Edwards, County Commissioner Gregan Crawford and U.S. Rep. John Delaney of the 6th Congressional District.
“Let’s face it, access to high-speed communication is an absolute in the world today. We applaud the grant. It’s done in a smart way,” said Delaney.
Delaney said he enjoyed hearing of the cooperation among the private sector, government and community resources.
“I love the spirit that I hear out here. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from that in Washington,” said Delaney.
The grant awarded by the ARC is a matching grant, meaning funds in the same amount must be secured and added to the investment. The county plans to supply the $250,000 matching funds required to bring the total funding package for the project to $500,000.
The homes receiving the new high-speed service will be Crellin, Pleasant Valley and other communities south of Oakland. Residents in that region are currently using dial-up.
Raley said that the goal of the county is to deliver broadband to 90 percent of homes. That requires around 3,000 homes to be brought online. The grant will allow 800 more to have access, leaving 2,200 still needing high-speed service.
Frank Shap, assistant director of economic development for the county explained how the new system works.
“It’s really a radio signal going into the house. The technology is called Television White Space. It’s the unused frequencies on the television spectrum,” said Shap.
“There will be a receiver in the house almost like a modem. A wireless signal will go back to a transmitter mounted on a tower and from there to the internet,” said Shap.
A carrier such as Shentel, Comcast, QCall or Atlantic Broadband will be needed to administer the system.
“We will try to identify one or more carriers that want to work with us to deliver the service,” said Shap.
Crawford said that the more broadband is accessible in the county, the more likely people will buy a home or move their business there.
“We have a lot visitors that come to the county and say ‘If I just had a way to work from here I would do it,’” said Crawford.
The more flexibility we can offer them, the better the chance they will stay, Crawford added.
Greg Larry can be contacted at glarry@times-news.com
Jenny Jones reigns as 69th Garrett County Farm Queen
Event continues through Saturday at McHenry
Angie Brant Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — Jenny Jones, Oakland, was named the 69th Garrett County Farm Queen during a contest held Sunday evening at the Garrett County Fairgrounds.
Jones, the daughter of Kim and Johnny Jones, competed against Tabitha Friend and Kaya Rinker for the title. Selection of the queen was based on candidate interviews, prior to the contest and during the event; community and church involvement; and participation in agricultural activities. Adam Hayes, Karen Hamilton Engel and Jamie Snider served as judges for the contest.
Jones is a 2013 graduate of Southern High School and is a member of Red House 4-H. She will be attending Garrett College in the fall and plans to pursue a career as a Department of Natural Resources officer. For Jones, the title of Farm Queen is a family tradition — her aunt, Johnna Jones, was queen in 1980 and her older sister, Catlin, served in the role in 2007.
Jones said participating in 4-H and FFA has helped develop her leadership and teamwork skills and she plans to share those skills with visitors at the 2013 Garrett County Agriculture Fair.
“I want to to be a role model for younger kids and visitors and tell them about the fair,” she said.
In addition to performing her duties as an ambassador for fair visitors, Jones will be showing heifers during the livestock competitions.
New this year, a court of Farm Princesses was selected to assist Jones in her official duties. Her court includes Krista Rinker, Oakland; Emma Rush, Oakland; Madison Spurrier, Swanton; and Miranda Rounds, Lonaconing. These girls, 6 to 14 years old, were among more than 20 applicants who participated in a series of interviews earlier this year.
Terri Rodeheaver, fair board member, said the goal of establishing a court of Farm Princesses is to spur greater interest and involvement in the Farm Queen program.
The Garrett County Agriculture Fair continues through Saturday with daily livestock competitions, entertainment and activities.
Fair president Debbie Friend said the annual event is a celebration of the “best of Garrett County agriculture and we are proud to offer a lot of new events and activities this year, including an agricultural education center, where visitors can churn butter, make ice cream and learn how what you eat comes from a farm.”
“We invite you to come early, come often and stay late,” she added.
Contact Angie Brant at abrant@times-news.com.
