With summer vacations ending and schools heading back into session, Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) are urging parents statewide to keep COVID vaccinations and boosters at the top of their back to school checklist to keep their children and schools COVIDReady all fall.     “Our children deserve the strongest protection against COVID, exactly like they do with other potentially dangerous childhood diseases such as polio and measles,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan. “If you have not already done so, please get your children updated on all…

Deputies with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office S.O.R.T executed a search and seizure warrant in the 400 block of Poplar Street. During the search of the residence an amount of Controlled Dangerous substances (Fentanyl) was located within.  Information was obtained during the seizure indicating the male occupant of the residence had left prior to deputies arrival. The male identified as 30-year-old Marc C Coleman II was located a short time later and taken into custody with additional CDS and criminal charges. Charges: CDS: POSSESS-NOT CANNABIS x 2 CDS: POSS PARAPHERNALIA OBSTRUCTING & HINDERING

Arrest Warrants Served On August 23rd, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Shaheed Shamarr Montgomery. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from an assault investigation. During the investigation officers responded to the 600 block of East First Street for a reported assault. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was learned that the victim was struck several times and strangled by Shaheed. Evidence was obtained and an application for charges was completed against Shaheed. Shaheed was placed under arrest and was taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was…

An equipment problem has forced the early closure of Cumberland’s Constitution Park Swimming Pool – and it will not be open for the Labor Day Weekend. City Administrator Jeff Silka confirmed to WCBC News that an engine in one of the pumps ceased functioning and the city will not be able to secure the necessary parts to repair the problem before the Labor Day holiday thus ending the pool season for the summer. He said obviously having no pool available for the last holiday weekend of the summer season is a disappointment…

President Biden has floated the possibility of erasing some student loan debt for millions of Americans- a plan that has many Republicans including Maryland’s governor fearful of economic disaster. While most of those carrying student loans are holding out hope the president will wipe out their student loan debt- a  new  poll finds more than half of Americans worry the  action would make inflation- and the economy-  worse.  Governor Larry Hogan… Several states including Maryland offer tax credits for student loan debt. In January, Hogan announced more than 40,000 people benefited from the state's Student Loan Debt Relief tax credit program…

With the start of a new school year just getting underway- the Allegany County Board of Education this month received glowing reports on the class of 2022 as well as the system’s summer school program. Chief Academic Officer Kim Green-Kalbaugh presented an overview which revealed a large number of graduating seniors choosing to continue their education- many of them opting for local institutions… Summer school programs helped many students make-up for the learning loss experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic…

In anticipation of new utility lines, a return of vehicular traffic, new parklets, flowers, trees, shrubs and many other overall upgrades- Baltimore Street properties are suddenly a hot commodity. Earlier this month city officials placed the downtown mall renovation project out for bid with the hope being that the estimated 18 month construction period can begin before the year’s end. Cumberland Economic Development Corporation executive director Matt Miller reports that most of the downtown buildings have been sold or are under contract- an amazing turnaround from just a few years ago…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said Tuesday that a teenage girl from Nicholas County was among the latest deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19.  He called the 13 year-old’s passing a tragedy- and something that no family should have to endure…

An equipment problem has forced the early closure of Cumberland’s Constitution Park Swimming Pool – and it will not be open for the Labor Day Weekend. City Administrator Jeff Silka confirmed to WCBC News that an engine in one of the pumps ceased functioning and the city will not be able to secure the necessary parts to repair the problem before the Labor Day holiday thus ending the pool season for the summer.

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Ben Cardin and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) lauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announcement today that the Maryland Department of Commerce has been awarded $930,155 to implement a pilot program to protect the state’s small businesses from cyberthreats.   The SBA awarded the funds through the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program, which was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congress enacted last year. The grant will allow the Maryland Department of Commerce to provide training, counseling, remediation, and other tailored cybersecurity services to…