Bullying is no longer confined to the classroom and the playground. At Maryland schools, "cyberbullies" are increasingly using computers and mobile phones to torment students, using popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It is an issue that can cause stress and mental health issues for those being bullied- and the Allegany County Public School system has taken a number of steps to address the problem. Allegany High School principal Heidi Laupert talked about some of the issues created via cyberbullying…

The Maryland State Board of Elections reminds voters that today (Nov. 1) is the deadline for voters to request a mail-in ballot for the 2022 General Election be sent to them by the U.S. Mail. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot be sent via email is this Friday (Nov. 4).  Meanwhile for those voters who wish to vote in-person prior to Election Day, early voting continues until November 3. Early voting centers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop boxes for mail-in ballots in Allegany County are available outside the Kelly Road office complex in Cumberland…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Hogan said that he is working from home and that he is up-to-date on his boosters. This is Hogan's second time testing positive for COVID-19 having  previously tested positive in December 2021. The governor said that while the vaccines and boosters won’t guarantee that you won’t contract COVID, they can significantly minimize the symptoms and potentially save your life. According to the CDC, the percentage of Marylander’s now fully vaccinated against COVID is 77%- however Allegany County’s numbers are much lower at just 56%. Hogan says that every…

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $10,691,398 to enhance security measures at local religious and nonprofit community organizations across the state. This federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which the lawmakers fought to deliver a $70 million funding increase for in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill. The program provides support for physical security enhancements and training to religious nonprofit organizations in response to the…

Allegany College of Maryland will host its annual Fall Tour event for prospective students and their families on Nov. 18. The college will offer two arrival times – 8:30 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. – to accommodate out-of-town-guests and regional families on the go. Online registration is required at www.allegany.edu/falltour.     Fall Tour begins at the Thomas Welcome Center with David Jones, vice president of Advancement and Community Relations at ACM, greeting students and providing opening remarks. Prospective students and their family members will have the chance to take guided campus tours, meet with faculty to discuss majors and career…

Twenty-nine bears were killed on the final two days of Maryland’s six-day season, bringing the tally to 101. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said 14 bears were harvested Friday, including a 427-pound male that was the largest of the season, and 15 were taken Saturday. Sixty-nine bears were killed in Garrett County, 19 in Allegany, nine in Washington and four in Frederick. Forty male bears and 61 females were killed. Hunters had 24 hours from the end of Saturday’s hunt to check in bears.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Hogan said that he is working from home and that he is up-to-date on his boosters. He added that his symptoms are small. "Just wanted to let Marylanders know that after testing positive for COVID-19, I am working from home," Hogan said in a tweet. "Fortunately, I’m up to date on my boosters and my symptoms are minimal. This is Hogan's second time testing positive for COVID-19. He previously tested positive in December 2021.

Retired Allegany County Orphans Court Judge Billie Gilpin passed away yesterday.  She served on the Orphans Court from 1994 until she retired in August, 2017 when Al Feldstein was appointed to fill her term.  She was active in the Republican Party and South Cumberland Business Association.  She was predeceased by her husband, Harry, and is survived by her two daughters, Kelly and Cher.   This was my statement to the Maryland Judges Association “Billie was elected by the people of Allegany County for six consecutive terms beginning in 1994 and is remembered for her kindness and fairness in dealing with…

On October 30th, 2022, The Cumberland City Police responded to the 200 block of Park St for the report of a disturbance involving a firearm.  Upon arrival on scene, officers contacted witnesses and victims of the incident. They advised they were walking in the area when they got into a verbal altercation with a male and female subject. They stated that during the argument, the male suspect displayed a handgun and pointed it at them. The male and female then left the area on foot. Officers searched the area and located the two subjects walking nearby. When contacted, the male…

On Monday October 31, 2022 a Deputy with the Allegany County Sheriff's Office observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and erratically changing lanes on Interstate 68 heading into Cumberland. After initiating a traffic stop on the vehicle, the Deputy observed the female driver to display behavior that indicated that she was scared of her male passenger who was also displaying aggressive behavior. The Deputy was able to get the female to exit the vehicle and she informed the Deputy that she was scared of the male passenger because of something he had just done to her….