As a part of National Prematurity Awareness Month, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced $6 million in grant funding to expand access to prenatal and infant care services for at-risk, low-income families.  MDH will provide the funding through the Maryland Prenatal and Infant Care Thrive By Three Grant Fund and Program to improve maternal and infant care coordination. The funds are slated to be dispersed over the next three years. “Thrive By Three benefits at-risk pregnant people and babies,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan. “The model serves at-risk pregnant people and those…

There will be a Fort Hill Fan bus going to the state playoff game this Saturday , December 3rd.   The bus will leave Greenway Avenue at 11am promptly.    You may pack a cooler and store it under the bus to have food when you get to the stadium.    No Alcohol is permitted on the bus.     Please do not park in the oval at FH;  utilize the street for all parking.  Tickets/vouchers for seating on the bus is first come first served.   You may purchase tickets on Thursday,  December 1st at FH from 8am to 12noon.  Cash only.  The price is only…

On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 1000 block of Virginia Avenue for a reported burglary. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with the victim who had observed the door to the business to have been forced open. Officers conducted their investigation by gathering evidence and speaking with concerned citizens from the community. Through their investigation the officers were able to develop Brian Garletts as a suspect. Officers were able to locate Garletts and located other items of evidence from the burglary. Garletts was placed under arrest and taken before a District…

On November 29th, 2022 at 1:45 am officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a hit and run of two vehicles in the 400 block of Louisiana Avenue. Officers spoke with the victims and were provided with a vehicle description. Officers canvased the area and were able to locate the suspect vehicle. While officers conducted their investigation, they located the operator, Jacob Merrill, who was visibly intoxicated. Officers obtained evidence that Merrill had operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently placed under arrest. Merrill was later released on citations. Arrest: Jacob Eugene Merrill, age…

On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served Arrest Warrant on Heather Robison. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court when she failed to appear for her trail on November 15th, 2022. Robison was taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was released on her own recognizance. Arrest: Heather Mae Robison, age 32, Albright West Virginia. Charge: Failure to Appear. On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Russell Wiseman. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from an assault investigation in August of…

Although completion of the proposed downtown mall redesign project isn’t expected until the summer of 2024 at the earliest-  interest from the private sector is already booming. Actual construction on the mall project is set to begin in April with that work anticipated to take about 18 months.  CEDC executive director Matt Miller reported in September that Cumberland has suddenly become a hot target for economic development opportunities. A dozen new businesses have opened in the past year and this summer saw private investments in the Lila, McMullen and Manhatten, and the M&T Bank buildings. In addition, a group headed…

The annual Church World Service CROP Walk was held recently- once again raising funds to feed the needy The 3-mile walk on the Great Allegheny Passage raises awareness and funding to help local food support programs. Cumberland coordindator Sandy Cowan says the program has flourished in recent years with the Cumberland walk benefiting a number of local organizations… He said there year’s walk was a tremendous success…

Following a year of record high gas prices in Maryland- Delegate Mike McKay says he would like to see legislation introduced that will abolish the state’s  annual mandated gas hike that goes into effect each July 1st. While the news on gas prices has actually improved following the holiday with prices in Maryland down to $3.55 per gallon, unfortunately two of the counties Delegate Mckay represents- Allegany and Garrett- have the highest prices in the state. According to AAA Garrett County tops the state at $3.83 followed by Allegany County at $3.76. While there have been many factors leading to…

Maryland’s Department of Health has launched a health dashboard to keep track of  respiratory syncytial virus cases.The RSV dashboard is similar to the COVID-19 dashboard that was launched during the pandemic. The dashboard will be updated every Thursday. Officials recommend residents get what they call a "flooster." A flooster is the COVID-19 booster vaccine and flu shot combined. Maryland has seen an early surge of severe respiratory illness, especially in very young and school-age children. For children too young for over the counter medication, there are some alternative treatments….

One hundred seventy-seven Allegany College of Maryland students are expected to earn ­­­198 ­­­approximately ­­­degrees and certificates during fall commencement exercises on at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Kelly Shiflett of Swanton, Maryland, and Grace Yeboah of Dumfries, Virginia, will provide the student commencement addresses. Both Shiflett and Yeboah earned their degrees online.