Category:garrett county
No injuries, damage reported as earthquake unnerves locals
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue Aug 23, 2011, 11:13 PM EDT
CUMBERLAND — A 5.8 earthquake centered in Mineral, Va., unnerved residents and briefly shook buildings in Cumberland, Frostburg and McHenry and throughout the region Tuesday. No injuries or damage were reported locally.
Some buildings were evacuated as a safety precaution, including the courthouse on Washington Street and the Social Services Administration building in downtown Cumberland.
Kathy Rogers, spokeswoman for the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, said security immediately began making rounds after the shaking was felt there.
“Everything is fine. The electricity stayed on and we are not having any problems,” she said. “I was at my desk and could feel the floor shaking for about 10 seconds. People are welcome to call us if they have concerns.”
The wall and windows facing South Mechanic Street on the second floor of the Times-News wobbled visibly during the afternoon temblor, bringing a roomful of reporters to their feet.
The incident prompted numerous calls to the newsroom from residents and businesses at Frostburg, Cumberland, Bean’s Cove and various other locations throughout the region.
At McHenry, a trooper at the Maryland State Police barrack said, “It felt like the wind was blowing but you knew it wasn’t the wind when you felt the floor shake.”
At Frostburg, the city police department felt the tremors. “We sure felt it but it was over before you realized it.”
A business at Frostburg reported the shaking there lasted about 25 seconds and shook office chairs.
Dick DeVore, an Allegany County emergency management spokesman, said that cell phone calls were not connecting for many users. “That would seem to be associated with the volume of calls being made rather than with any damage from the earthquake,” he said. “Text messages are working fine.”
Allegany County Board of Education officials began inspecting school buildings for structural damage shortly after the quake. Students were scheduled to return to classes today.
“All the buildings need to be checked for safety,” said Steve Wilson, supervisor of human resources, who was inside the Board of Education’s central office building during the earthquake Tuesday afternoon. Employees immediately evacuated, congregating on sidewalks along Washington Street.
“I thought a truck had hit the building,” Wilson said.
Coincidentally, BOE employees had reviewed evacuation procedures Tuesday morning as part of back-to-school preparations, said Bob Farrell, security coordinator.
“I’m glad we went over it,” he said.
At Northern High School in Garrett County, teachers reported that those on the second floor of the building felt the quake, but not those on the first floor.
Area emergency centers said they were flooded with calls with reports. CNN reported that the quake was felt from Toronto, Canada, down to Georgia. The earthquake also extended west to Detroit and Indianapolis.
Times-News staff writers Mike Sawyers, Jeff Alderton, Kristin Harty-Barkley and Emily Newman contributed to this report.
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Earthquake felt across Maryland, but no injuries, major damage reported
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: August 23, 2011 – 3:55 pm
Last Updated: August 23, 2011 – 6:23 pm
BALTIMORE — Maryland officials say the earthquake was felt across the state, but no injuries or major damage are being reported.
Maryland Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ed McDonough says Tuesday’s 5.8 magnitude quake, which was centered in Virginia, was felt from Garrett County to Somerset County, but only a few serious incidents are being reported.
The Maryland Transportation Authority closed the Harry W. Nice Bridge temporarily, but all other tunnels and bridges remained open.
State police spokesman Greg Shipley says all special operations teams are on standby.
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Info Sought On July Burglary Of Concession Stand
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Aug. 18, 2011
The Garrett Bureau of Investigation is seeking information concerning a burglary that reportedly occurred during the evening hours of July 16.
Unknown suspect(s) reportedly forced entry into the concession stand at Broadford Lake Park and removed $350 worth of property and caused approximately $100 in damage to the buildings. Anyone with information on this crime or any crime may leave an anonymous tip at www.garrettcountycrimesolvers.org or call the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office at 301-334-1911.
Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $300. Anyone who has sent a tip online at the above-mentioned web site is reminded to check his/her crime ID number at the site, as recent rewards have been authorized to certain tipsters.
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O'Malley Announces BPW Approval of Local Recreational Projects
Governor Martin O’Malley today announced Board of Public Works (BPW) approval of recreational projects in Garrett, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s and Howard Counties through local-side Program Open Space and the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program.
“Program Open Space allows us to provide fun and safe recreational opportunities for all Marylanders and their families to enjoy,” said Governor O’Malley. “It remains a high priority not only to create these areas, but to improve already existing facilities for future generations to enjoy.”…
In Garrett County, Oakland will receive $4,500 to upgrade parts of the flooring on the basketball court, replace a portion of the gym floor and restripe and refinish the entire gymnasium floor at the Oakland Armory Community Center.
Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley, the Board of Public Works has approved funding for 982 recreational projects, including Community Parks & Playgrounds, totaling more than $288 million through local-side Program Open Space since 2007. Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 355,283 acres for open space and recreation areas. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded Program Open Space….
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!
The origins of Maryland's counties, names
Posted: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 12:51 am, Sun Jul 24, 2011.
The origins of Maryland’s counties, names By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer Carroll County Times
Although intended as a sanctuary for Roman Catholics in the New World, Maryland quickly became a thriving community.
George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, served as a secretary of state for King James I and was given the title to Avalon, a piece of land in Newfoundland, as a reward for his service. Calvert later also asked the king’s son, Charles I, for a title to the land that would ultimately become Maryland.
When George Calvert drew up the charter, he left the space for the name blank, giving Charles I the honor of choosing what to call it. The king ultimately settled on “Terra Maria,” and the territory became “Mary’s Land,” in honor of Queen Henrietta Mary….
…Garrett
Garrett County was formed from a section of Allegany County in 1872, the last Maryland county to be formed. It’s named after John Garrett, a railroad executive, industrialist and financier who served as the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1858 to 1884.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
>Garrett Co. Roads Dept. Stresses Importance Of Entrance Permits
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Jul. 7, 2011
The Garrett County Roads Department wants to educate potential and existing property owners about the need for an entrance permit. Local residents Bill and Vicki Taylor have their hearts set on building a home on their Paradise Acres property, but a very big obstacle stands in their way: the Roads Department cannot issue them an entrance permit for a driveway onto Boy Scout Road.
“We had no clue we were getting into this mess,” Vicki told the county commissioners on Tuesday.
The couple met with them and other county officials, including Sheriff Rob Corley, in an attempt to resolve the issue.
“They’re trying to establish an entrance onto that property, which at this time does meet the county specifications for an entrance,” said general roads superintendent Jay Moyer, GC Roads Department. “And part of that is based on the speed limit of that road.”
Moyer added that his department’s primary goal is safety, which includes establishing speed limits and the criteria for entrances.
The Taylors requested that the Boy Scout Road speed limit be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph to meet that criteria. But that may not help, as stopping speed sight distance is another big factor on the hilly road.
“Even with lowering the speed limit, we all feel uncomfortable with the fact that you can adjust the speed limit, but that will not, in a sense, make it any safer,” Moyer said. “People will drive what they feel comfortable driving.”
He suggested the Taylors hire a traffic engineer to do a traffic study to determine if indeed the limit is too high and should be lowered. He noted it would be expensive to do so – about $5,000. A second option would be for the county to secure funding and contract a traffic engineer to conduct the study.
Referring to a State Highway Administration pamphlet about the issue, Moyer reviewed how and why speed limits are set. The paper notes that basic limits are set by Maryland vehicle law; however, in many instances, these limits do not account for actual highway and traffic conditions that are important in the safe and efficient movement of traffic. Thus, the law provides that these limits can be raised or lowered based on the results of traffic engineering studies.
County engineer Dwight Emory explained that during a study a traffic engineer will take readings of vehicle speeds with a radar gun, use counters to record traffic volume, and record peak rush hour times. A study is conducted during a 12-hour period on a weekend and a 12-hour period on a weekday.
It also includes a review of the road’s environment, features, crash history, unusual conditions not readily apparent to drivers, and an analysis of the vehicle speeds to determine average and 85th percentile speeds. The percentile is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the motorists drive on given road when unaffected by slower traffic or poor weather.
Traffic engineers then make speed recommendations based upon their study results and the 85th percentile.
“Of course you could always end up with the opposite of what you’re looking for – even a recommendation to raise the speed limit,” Moyer said.
Emory noted that traveling too slowly can also be a safety issue at times.
Commissioner Bob Gatto, who recently toured the Taylors’ property, asked the couple if they knew of others who wanted the speed limit lowered or had visibility problems on Boy Scout Road.
Vicki noted that at least one neighbor indicated he was happy that the issues were being discussed with county officials.
“In addition to this study that has been suggested, we’ve paid over $8,000 closing costs on a construction loan that it’s going to be too late to use if we have to do that study,” Vicki said.
She added that when she and her husband signed off on the minor subdivision property they thought they were “good to go.” The Taylors are experienced real estate agents and thought they had looked at every possible issue, including water percolation testing and building permits, Vicki explained.
Without an entrance permit, Bill said, their $80,000 property is worthless. In lieu of a permit, the couple’s only other option is to contact their nearest neighbor and try to buy into using his driveway, Vicki said. But that entrance, she noted, is closer to the top of the hill and is even more dangerous than hers would be.
Moyer said that and other existing driveways on the road were probably established before current rules and regulations were enacted.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
>Garrett restructuring government
>Action to save county about $125,000 per year
For the Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Thu Jun 30, 2011, 10:46 PM EDT
OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners are reorganizing county government to assure that it will remain solvent while providing quality public services, according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.
The Department of General Services personnel have been reassigned to other departments and offices within county government. The county will now have an Engineering Department to consolidate all engineering staff. County Engineer Dwight Emory has been named director of the new department.
The Department of Solid Waste and Recycling will operate independently with Dave Baker assigned as the manager. Edgar Uphold will be assigned to the Facilities and Maintenance Department as manager. All three supervisors will report to Pagenhardt. The county airport will now be under the authority of the Garrett County Roads Department. Ed Kelley will be retained as airport manager.
The Liquor Control Board will be placed under the authority of the Department of Planning and Land Development-Licensing and I-spection Division.
The commissioners continue to evaluate all areas of government to assure that the expenditure of public funds is appropriated in a manner that will provide public service in an affordable system, according to Pagenhardt.
“Over the past two fiscal years the county has reduced total employment by 20 employees,” Pagenhardt said in a news release. “The restructuring and realignment of services that will be put in place will result in an additional decrease of three positions and generate a cost savings of more than $125,000 per year. All 23 positions were the result of employee retirement or resignation. The total cost savings is approximately $1.4 million.”
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
>She has no business telling us what we’re doing wrong - editorial
>To the Editor:
The Cumberland Times-News Tue Jun 21, 2011, 09:41 PM EDT
Recently, Garrett Countians got a chance to meet one of the Maryland General Assembly’s most radical left-wing champions. Delegate Heather Mizeur, a representative from Montgomery County, was one of the guest speakers at the Garrett County Democrats annual dinner.
Mizeur also held separate meetings where she updated attendees as to legislative efforts regarding natural gas drilling in Garrett and Allegany counties. She even requested and received a private tour of Garrett Memorial Hospital to inspect their recycling efforts.
What many do not know of Delegate Mizeur is that she has championed many liberal causes outside of the Marcellus Shale moratorium.
She was one of the most outspoken champions of a measure to destroy the statute that requires marriage be between a man and woman. She represents an area in which Tripwire, Maryland’s leading gun rights newsletter, describes as a “political dead zone.”
She championed a measure that would allow for transgender individuals to sue potential employers if they felt the employer discriminated against them. She has consistently voted in favor of every tax increase she could.
She even voted for the measure that streamlined the process for windmills to go up on Western Maryland’s mountaintops. Most of this information can even be easily accessed on her campaign website.
I’m proud of the legislators we have representing Garrett and Allegany counties. They were born, raised, and educated in this area. They know not only the issues, but also the people that are affected by those issues.
I don’t think Garrett and Allegany counties need a down-state liberal coming here to tell us what we are doing wrong. We’ve gotten along just fine without her.
Ed Clemons Jr.
Luke
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
>Ready For A Joy Ride?
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Jun. 16, 2011
Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown visited western Maryland on Monday to meet with local leaders and highlight local efforts to create jobs and spur economic growth. In Garrett County, he toured Pillar Innovations in Grantsville. The company is a recognized leader in mine support and creator of new technologies in the industry. Brown is pictured above at the wheel of an Electric Mine Utility (EMU), a line of vehicles modified by Pillar for use in underground mines. Pictured with Brown is Merlin Beitzel, executive vice president of Beitzel Corporation, the parent company of Pillar Innovations. For more information, persons may visit www.pillarinnovations.com. Photo by Lisa Broadwater.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
>Hearing Set To Designate Garrett County A Certified Heritage Area
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Jun. 16, 2011
The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wisp Resort’s Morris Room, McHenry. The hearing will address a proposal submitted by Garrett County and the towns of Accident, Deer Park, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Loch Lynn Heights, Mtn. Lake Park, and Oakland for the authority to approve the Garrett County Heritage Area Management Plan and designate the Garrett County Certified Heritage Area as a state certified Heritage Area.
The intent of state certified heritage areas is to bring together government agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals in a partnership to preserve and promote a region’s historical, cultural, and natural heritage resources. The goal is to revitalize communities and promote sustainable economic development through heritage tourism while maintaining the quality of life desired by residents.
Designation of state certified heritage areas is a two stage process. Communities first prepare a recognition proposal summarizing the area’s unique heritage resources and themes, envisioned heritage area boundaries, the types of heritage tourism projects to be encouraged, and the organizational structure that will undertake the management plan development process required.
The Garrett County recognition proposal was completed and the state authority approved designation of the Garrett County Recognized Heritage Area in July 2004. Under the direction of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, the process to develop a Heritage Area Management Plan was initiated in 2009, and a draft plan was completed in 2010.
The draft management plan describes the proposed boundaries of the certified heritage area and defines “target investment zones” within which certain state benefits are available, including grants, loans, and tax credits. It outlines the heritage area’s vision and goals and the area’s significance and resources, assesses relevant land use issues, and lists interpretive resources and programs. It provides a market analysis, and evaluates linkages between sites and appropriate organizations.
The mission of the GCHA is to work with stakeholders, partners, and businesses to implement the Garrett County Heritage Plan by offering technical and financial assistance for heritage-related initiatives that preserve valuable heritage resources and enhance tourism in the county.
The GCHA boundary is intended to encompass those portions of the county that were determined to include a concentration of resources which help portray and interpret Garrett County’s unique historical, cultural, and natural heritage. The draft Management Plan is available online at www.peterjohnstonassociates.com/garrett_hamp.htm.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.
