The Allegany County Health Department has released the latest COVID-19 data:    • CDC COVID-19 Community Level: Low • Percent of Allegany County Population Fully Vaccinated (based on CDC data): 56.8% • New COVID Cases This Week: 109 (cumulative total 20,301) • Additional Deaths This Week: 0 (cumulative total 378) • Cases Per 100,000 People: 22.11 (Maryland: 9. • Positivity Rate: 9.69% (Maryland: 7.35%) Daily statistics can be found at https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/. Counts are updated by 11 a.m. each day. The Allegany County Health Department continues to offer free drive-thru COVID testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds on Mondays from 2-7…

Today, PETA concluded a five-day rescue operation involving 65 animals of 30 species—the group’s largest-ever rescue of animals from a roadside zoo—following a legal settlement with Tri-State Zoological Park that forced the notorious outfit to close after years of violations and allowed PETA to rescue survivors of chronic neglect. Rescued animals include a squirrel monkey who was called Spazz, in a cruel reference to his frantic, stress-induced behavior, likely caused by the 20 years he spent in solitary confinement surrounded by natural predators in a reptile house. PETA had previously rescued three big cats and three other animals who had…

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced $80 million in additional funding to support hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in the state, as federal support for the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to decrease with the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), anticipated in January 2023.    When the PHE expires, Maryland will no longer receive enhanced funding from the federal government.   “This additional funding will help further ease some of the burdens the COVID-19 pandemic has caused our hospitals and skilled nursing facilities across the state,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “These funds will especially…

 First-responders in Hampshire County were dispatched to handle fires at various locations in the county early Friday. The Cumberland Times News reports no injuries were reported in early published reports of the incidents that included a barn fire in Capon Bridge and a structure fire in that same area on Smokey Hollow Road. Fires were also reported in a mobile home on Cooper Mountain in Augusta and at Hanging Rock in the Romney area. Numerous companies responded to the locations following alert by the Hampshire County 911 emergency center.

Gov. Jim Justice announced today that he has formally requested federal assistance for damages caused by severe weather and flooding from July 12 to August 15, 2022, during which West Virginia received up to 200% of its normal precipitation and did not see one 24-hour period without rainfall. This prolonged weather event resulted in flooded homes, schools and businesses, washed out roadways, and miles of damaged or destroyed water and sewage lines. “Due to the damages incurred by these communities in the wake of the wettest summer on record for West Virginia, supplementary federal assistance is necessary to ensure the protection…

On October 13th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Quincy Ross. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from an incident that occurred on September 15th, 2022. During the incident officers responded to the 400 block of Pine Avenue for a reported disturbance. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with several parties and learned that a dog may had been injured at the residence. The officers were able to locate a dog deceased and after further investigation it was learned that the cause of death was from abuse. Officers continued their investigation,…

On October 14th, 2022 at approximately 12:50 am officers of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Mechanic Street and Bedford Street. Officers contacted the operator, Kelly Shoemaker, and a passenger. The officer requested a K-9 to respond, which one did, and indicated a positive alert. After a subsequent search a quantity of a controlled dangerous substance was located in Shoemaker’s possession.  Shoemaker was placed under arrest and later released on a Criminal Citation pending her trial at District Court. Arrest: Kelly Marie Shoemaker, age 29, Cumberland Maryland. Charge: Possession not Cannabis.

Allegany County students who are lagging behind academically and at risk of not graduating do have some options available to help correct those trends. Trina Simpson, supervisor of assessments and accountability, provided an update to the Board of Education this week on the data program in place to track ninth-grade students expected to graduate in four years. The latest data reveals that only about 88% of ninth-graders are on a path toward graduation. She acknowledged that the numbers are somewhat alarming…        

Westwood One has announced that legendary broadcaster Jim Bohannon will retire as host of "The Jim Bohannon Show" for health reasons today, after having helmed the show for more than 30 years. Bohannon has been a staple of WCBC’s programming for many years and his final show will include special guests and the opportunity for listeners to call in and offer their thanks and best wishes. In a lengthy interview on Michael Harrison’s podcast this week, Bohannon said he takes pride this his style allowed for civil discourse and discussion of issues, never slipping into the confrontational approach prevalent in…