Allegany

Nearly 85 percent of the state is now in moderate to severe drought. That's up from just 37 percent last week, and it's the most widespread Maryland drought since October 2005. Data issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows "severe" conditions prevail in Charles, St. Mary's and southern Calvert counties. "Moderate drought" extends from eastern Allegany County, across southern Baltimore County to the Lower Shore. "Abnormally dry" conditions continue in the state's far west and northeast.

Who'd have expected that one of the biggest housing developments proposed in Maryland in years would be in rural, mountainous Allegany County, where the population has been dwindling since the factory economy collapsed 30-some years ago? But that's just what has happened, since a Columbia-based developer offered to build a 4,300-home community, along with some stores, a riding stable and trails on scenic U.S. 40, hard by Green Ridge State Forest. And, perhaps even more surprising, it has drawn fierce opposition - from people who say the county failed to follow its own growth plan in approving the process.

The state's new economic development chief has seen the haves and have-nots of Maryland, having worked in that capacity in both Allegany and Montgomery counties. That's why David W. Edgerley is the right person for the job, say state officials and business leaders. "He's a true economic development professional," said Donald C. Fry, president of the Greater Baltimore Committee, which represents regional business and civic leaders. Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Edgerley's appointment as secretary of the Department of Business and Economic Development yesterday in Annapolis.

Opponents of a 4,300-home planned community near a state forest in eastern Allegany County have asked the state's highest court to review whether local officials acted properly in approving the project. A lawyer for a group of residents opposed to Terrapin Run filed an appeal with the Maryland Court of Appeals challenging the development's approval in 2005 by the county Board of Zoning Appeals. The appeal is the latest move in a two-year political and legal dispute over the development, which would create Allegany's second-largest community if built as planned.

FLINTSTONE -- Business leaders from the "flatlands" ventured into Western Maryland yesterday to hear a message of opportunities in the mountain counties.The Western Maryland Economic Development Task Force played host to about two dozen chief executives and other senior corporate leaders who boarded buses in Baltimore and embarked on a two-day tour of Allegany and Garrett counties.The "executive showcase" is a reprise of a similar event staged by then-Gov. William Donald Schaefer 12 years ago after the Kelly-Springfield tire plant in Cumberland closed.

Keep costs low. Take full advantage of innovations in telephone and Internet betting. Make your racetrack welcoming and pack it with the latest in "virtual reality" games, batting cages and other amusements. Most important: Think outside the box.That is William M. Rickman's prescription for the ailing Maryland horse racing industry, one he hopes to fill in the form of a new two-breed track to be built in Western Maryland.At the encouragement of Maryland House Speaker and Western Maryland Democrat Casper R. Taylor Jr., Rickman has begun circulating a brief written description of his plans for the track and scouting for a site in Allegany County.

Nice timing, Glenelg."It absolutely was our best game of the year, without a doubt," said Glenelg girls basketball coach Ciaran Lesikar. "To have their best game in the state championship . . . I really could not have even imagined that that would happen."It did.The eighth-ranked Gladiators shot 50 percent from the field, played spectacular defense and got contributions from a number of players to defeat Allegany, 70-57, last night at UMBC for the Class 1A state title. It was the Howard County school's first basketball title.

Moments after his team won the Maryland JuCo tournament title yesterday, Dundalk coach Don Beasley left because he felt poorly after coaching the last couple days with the flu.He also probably felt pretty lucky.After losing one of its main weapons early in the second half, Dundalk had to survive a late comeback by Allegany before emerging with a 77-76 victory at Baltimore City Community College.The Lions (25-5) advance to the Region 20 tournament, which will take place at Allegany Community College, beginning Thursday.

FROSTBURG -- House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. exhorted Maryland's two westernmost counties yesterday to create 2,000 jobs next year by adopting an economic development strategy embracing industries as modern as biotechnology and as old as cutting trees.The speaker's challenge came as work groups of the Western Maryland Economic Development Task Force gathered to present their goals for reviving the distressed economies of Garrett and Allegany counties.Their proposed initiatives included a high-capacity connection to the Internet and increased access to public lands for coal mining.

Nice timing, Glenelg."It absolutely was our best game of the year, without a doubt," said Glenelg coach Ciaran Lesikar. "To have their best game in the state championship . . . I really could not have even imagined that that would happen."It did.The eighth-ranked Gladiators shot 50 percent from the field, played spectacular defense and got contributions from a number of players to defeat Allegany, 70-57, last night at UMBC for the Class 1A state title. It was the Howard County school's first basketball title.

Car hits girl, 12, as she crosses Hilltop Lane in Annapolis A 12-year-old girl was struck by a car Friday morning as she crossed an Annapolis street, police said. The child might have been headed to a school bus stop when she walked across Hilltop Lane near Boxwood Road about 7:35 a.m., said Annapolis police spokesman Ray Weaver. Initial reports indicated the girl was not in a crosswalk when struck, he said. The girl suffered what appeared to be serious but nonlife-threatening injuries, said Douglas M. Remaley, deputy chief for emergency services at the Annapolis Fire Department.

A developer who wants to build 4,300 homes in a rural part of Allegany County and the county's elected commissioners have filed suit against Maryland's environmental and planning agencies, accusing them of illegally blocking the project. In the lawsuit, filed late last week in Allegany Circuit Court in Cumberland, Terrapin Run LLC is seeking $16 million in damages, contending that the state's denial has made it impossible to develop the 935-acre tract near Green Ridge State Forest. The county commissioners asked the court to make the agencies approve the project.

One of the themes Digital Harbor coach Patrick McDonald has stressed throughout this season is collective responsibility. The No. 7 Rams showed in last night's state Class 1A girls basketball semifinal at UMBC's RAC Arena that they've been listening. Asia Logan led the Rams with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but it took every player on the floor to beat Allegany, 50-35, and send the Rams (23-2) to their first state final after falling in the semifinals last season. They will meet Surrattsville, a 51-43 winner over Pocomoke, for the championship at 6 tonight at RAC Arena.

1 Wrapping it up?: Both National League Division Series could end today. The Phillies could oust the Brewers (6:37 p.m.), and the Dodgers could finish off the Cubs (10:07), both on TBS. 2 High noon: Come on, Penn State fans, you're unbeaten and No. 6 - we know you're thinking national title. Today at noon, it's Purdue (ESPN). 3 Road trip: No, we're not talking the Animal House kind. No. 7 Mount St. Joseph travels to Cumberland to take on state football power Allegany (7 p.m.). 4 Poetic (K)

You should know that Tavon Austin, perhaps the best high school running back the Baltimore area has ever produced, is never amazed by what he does when he twists and turns and motors through a defense. Oh, he might not always know exactly what he's going to do when he approaches a line, a linebacker, a defensive back. In fact, Austin never really plans for what's coming. But whatever happens, just know that while you might be surprised, Austin is not. "That's how I've always done it since I was 7," Austin said matter-of-factly after leading Dunbar to a second straight Class 1A state title Saturday.

Class 1A state final Matchup -- No. 2 Dunbar (13-0) vs. Allegany (13-0) Site -- M&T Bank Stadium Time -- Noon How they got here -- Dunbar def. Forestville, 66-28; def. Surrat sville, 28-6; def. South Carroll, 34-8. Allegany def. Boonsboro, 49-19; def. Fort Hill, 28-7; def. Joppatowne, 27-21. State titles -- Dunbar 4 (1994, 1995, 2004, 2006), Allegany 8 (1978, 1980, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2005). Dunbar offense vs. Allegany defense -- The Poets' multiple I set has averaged 42.7 points per game in three playoff wins, slightly above their 40.8 per game over 13 games, in extending their winning streak to 23 games.

Damascus 35, No. 12 Wilde Lake 6 Punchless 'Cats KO'd Wilde Lake is held to 56 yards in the first half and 226 for the game in Class 3A. No. 6 Eastern Tech 35, Clarksburg 0 Crane lifts Mavericks Quarterback Travis Crane runs for two touchdowns and throws for one in Class 2A. Allegany 27, Joppatowne 21 Mariners fall in Class 1A Allegany scores two second-quarter touchdowns to build a 14-point lead en route to the win.

CUMBERLAND -- Travis Orange and Sean Collette scored two touchdowns and Jake Twigg ran for 115 yards to carry unbeaten Allegany past Joppatowne, 27-21, in their Class 1A state semifinal on a cold, windy night at Greenway Avenue Stadium. The win puts the Campers (13-0) into next week's title game against the winner of today's game between South Carroll and defending champ Dunbar. Joppatowne (11-2) had an 11-game winning streak ended but might still be playing if not for two second-quarter plays that led to quick Allegany touchdowns.

Who'd have expected that one of the biggest housing developments proposed in Maryland in years would be in rural, mountainous Allegany County, where the population has been dwindling since the factory economy collapsed 30-some years ago? But that's just what has happened, since a Columbia-based developer offered to build a 4,300-home community, along with some stores, a riding stable and trails on scenic U.S. 40, hard by Green Ridge State Forest. And, perhaps even more surprising, it has drawn fierce opposition - from people who say the county failed to follow its own growth plan in approving the process.

Nearly 85 percent of the state is now in moderate to severe drought. That's up from just 37 percent last week, and it's the most widespread Maryland drought since October 2005. Data issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows "severe" conditions prevail in Charles, St. Mary's and southern Calvert counties. "Moderate drought" extends from eastern Allegany County, across southern Baltimore County to the Lower Shore. "Abnormally dry" conditions continue in the state's far west and northeast.