Circuit judges named in Montgomery County, first woman to Worcester court
The governor appointed new circuit court judges in Montgomery and Garrett counties and the first woman district court judge in Worcester County's history.
Western Md. towns file suit over alleged water contamination
Two Garrett County towns filed federal lawsuits against 3M Co. Tuesday, joining a growing list of plaintiffs from across the country that allege chemicals manufactured by 3M and other companies have contaminated their drinking water. The chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have long been used as a component of foam used to put out aviation, marine [&h[...]
Girlfriend charged in death of man found in Maryland forest
FROSTBURG — The girlfriend of a man found naked with his throat slashed in a Maryland state forest in January was charged with murder Thursday, officials said. Garrett County State’s Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch announced that Megan Virginia Shaffer, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and assisting another to commit or attempt to […]
Warm weather postpones winter fest in normally snowy Md. town
OAKLAND — The snowiest town in Maryland is postponing its annual Winter Fest because it’s too warm. Michelle Ross of the Greater Oakland Business Association said Wednesday that the event planned for Saturday and Sunday has been pushed back a week because temperatures this weekend are forecast to hit the mid-50s. She says Winter Fest […]
Hogan and Van Hollen to speak at meeting on western Maryland
ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Larry Hogan and Sen. Chris Van Hollen are scheduled to speak at an annual meeting that is held to discuss concerns of Allegany and Garrett counties in western Maryland. The 41st Annual Mountain Maryland PACE meeting is scheduled for Friday morning in Annapolis. PACE stands for Positive Attitudes Change Everything. The meeting […]
Garrett County begins review of 10-year comprehensive plan
OAKLAND — Garrett County officials are launching a review of the county’s comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2008. The planning commission begins the process Wednesday afternoon in Oakland. The resulting document will have implications for both Deep Creek Lake tourism and for expanded natural gas production if the state permits the drilling technique […]
Garrett County panel mulls proposed gas drilling regs
OAKLAND — An advisory panel in far western Maryland is reviewing proposed state regulations for hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. The Garrett County Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Advisory Group meets Tuesday evening in Oakland. The agenda includes a review of proposed regulations the Department of the Environment released for public comment last month. The advisory […]
2 sewage spills send 8,500 gallons into Deep Creek Lake
OAKLAND — Garrett County officials say two separate spills sent about 8,500 gallons of raw sewage into Deep Creek Lake in far western Maryland. County Administrator Kevin Null said in a statement Monday that a spill occurred Sunday morning about two miles southwest of McHenry. The statement says a leaking service line spilled about 2,500 […]
Md. developer gets prison for $2.7M bank fraud conspiracy
BALTIMORE — A western Maryland real-estate developer has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a bank-fraud scheme that cost financial institutions more than $2.7 million. Fifty-two-year-old Samuel VanSickle of Accident was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. He also was ordered to repay the banks for their […]
Woman in Md. college cafeteria stabbing case sentenced
OAKLAND — A former student at a western Maryland community college will serve no additional jail time for stabbing another female student about a dozen times during a fight in the school cafeteria. Twenty-year-old Shamaine Moore of Baltimore was sentenced Wednesday in Oakland to three years’ probation plus the approximately six months she spent in […]
Attorney: Garrett College stabbings were in self-defense
OAKLAND — The attorney for a Baltimore woman accused of stabbing two fellow students in the Garrett College cafeteria last year has told a jury that his client acted in self-defense. The Cumberland Times-News reports that the trial for Shamaine N. Moore began Tuesday in Garrett County Circuit Court. Authorities say Moore attacked two other […]
Garrett County lawyer convicted of falsifying deeds, mortgages
A Garrett County attorney was convicted Friday by a federal jury of bank fraud and related offenses. Angela M. Blythe, 51, an Oakland solo practitioner, will be sentenced in December. Blythe, 51, was indicted in December 2014 for using false identities to prepare deeds, mortgages and notes which concealed her co-conspirator’s ownership of several properties, […]