P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
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Online fan voting for end-of-year basketball awards has now closed.
A total of 20,372 votes were received, including write-ins. Later this week, a schedule will be released on this page notifying when award winners will be announced. A breakdown:
* Boys Player of the Year: 13,665
* Girls Player of the Year: 4,072
* Girls Coach of the Year: 1,458
* Boys Coach of the Year: 1,177
Thank you for being a part of this initiative to include YOU - the fans - in local sports coverage.
http://times-news.com/local/x186201562/County-talks-government-transparency-public-committee
On the surface of it, the Allegany County commissioners' decision to approve a committee that will help identify issues and resolutions to achieve greater government transparency is a good one.
Digging deeper, however, reveals how this could this merely be another job of side-stepping by the elected commissioners.
Cumberland resident Marc Nelson is to be commended on his continued pursuit for a more open, communicative government. But PhDispatch.com wonders if he honestly believes any good will come of it, or whether such a committee will simply provide the commissioners the appearance of propriety.
An open and honest government isn't that difficult to achieve. And while commissioners Michael McKay, commission president, and Bill Valentine hit the campaign trail hard on promises of increased public involvement and two-way communication between elected county officeholders and staff with residents, this is one path they could find all by themselves. And, if they couldn't, perhaps they could follow their staff attorney - either one of them - or any member of their well-paid senior management team.
All three commissioners recently attended the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference. On the taxpayers' collective dime, the commissioners took several informational courses in learning, among other things, what are and are not public records and public information.
President Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that read, "the buck stops here."
In Allegany County, "here" is defined as the commissioners' desk. In this instance, the commissioners should be chided for passing the buck to a committee that very well could lack any meaningful authority.
Members of this committee might be able to provide helpful information, but it's highly probable they won't say anything the commissioners don't already know - or should know.
The commissioners took office more than two months ago. They've had time to acclimate themselves to the duties and obligations - and restrictions - of public office.
McKay has said, time and again, "give us six months" and then grade the commissioners. On the controversy surrounding the Bureau of Police and Sheriff's Office, the PhDispatch.com feels they are entitled to six months. Probably more.
Sure, take a few months - or more - to meet with the public and come to the best possible solution towards repaying the debt for the Georges Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant project.
On the issue of helping to guide the county-owned animal shelter towards a responsible, effective path, they can have six months. Maybe more.
But open government? Either you're for it or you're not. The formation of any committee simply can't be proactive - instead, it will be only reactive in nature to any action the county commissioners might take, and then recommend ways that action could have been handled better.
The formation of this committee is akin to asking someone to file a Public Information Act request. What the commissioners seem to be saying is, "ask your question, and we'll get back to you sometime."
Haven't we heard that before?
The Potomac
Highlands Dispatch
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Phone: 301-264-3147
Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Shryock family grocery a hub of the community
Harry and Marie Shryock being honored on Saturday
By Kevin Spradlin
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
OLDTOWN, March 4 -- There seems to be no one moment to define the more than 60 years of commitment to being a good neighbor.
Instead, those attending the recognition dinner on Saturday at the Oldtown Volunteer Fire Department to honor two Oldtown natives, Harry and Marie Shryock, will recall everyday stories from any given year.
The couple, now 88 and 87 years old, respectively, have served as a bastion for decency and integrity with friends and strangers alike for more than six decades.
Family members, she said, "can't believe that they're doing this for them. Between me and my husband and sister-in-law, we're just stunned that they are doing this."
The couple wed on July 20, 1944. Harry served in the U.S. Army from December 1944 until the war ended the following year.
Scheffel, Wright and Ozias brothers Lex and Coy win
Area wrestlers earn four individual state titles
By Kevin Spradlin
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
COLLEGE PARK, March 5 - For two, it was their first time having their hand raised by the referee in triumph.
For two others, well, they'd been there before. But the feeling of winning still felt good.
Southern Garrett senior stars Bubba Scheffel and Lex Ozias each earned their third consecutive individual state title while freshman Coy Ozias got his first title with a pin at 103 pounds. Mountain Ridge junior Jason Wright, second last year, won on Saturday at Cole Field House by way of a 7-4 decision.
Scheffel finished his high school career with 167 wins and only five losses. His wins total is No. 1 all-time among Maryland public high school wrestlers. Coming into this season, the record stood at 162 wins. Scheffel broke that earlier this year and, on Saturday, Ozias earned win No. 163 to become No. 2 all-time on the career wins list.