As a result of CARES Funding; ARPA dollars and an expected hike in overall state money- the Allegany County Board of Education budget process will be a relatively smooth one for FY 2022. The board received a general overview of the superintendent’s proposed budget during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting. Finance Director Larry McKenzie reported that while the board’s fiscal picture is healthy- there are a few unknowns that could impact the final numbers…

Allegany County Public Schools Public Information Officer, Mia Cross on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, posted that a threat was received at Cresaptown Elementary School.  Law enforcement was contacted, and the threat was investigated.  It has been determined that there is no danger to staff or students at this time as a result of this incident. There will be an increased police presence at the school tomorrow morning as a precaution.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, today released the following statement on H.R. 3076, the U.S. Postal Service Reform Act, which the Senate is poised to pass.   “The U.S. Postal Service Reform Act is long-overdue and desperately needed. Without this legislation, the U.S. Postal Service anticipates losing $160 billion over the next 10 years. Congressionally mandated costs for retiree health benefits are the single biggest driver of these losses. Congress has debated fixing this unduly burdensome mandate for over a decade and has finally come to a bipartisan consensus.   “In addition to addressing…

Allegany College of Maryland will host an in-person open house at its Cumberland campus beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Thomas Welcome Center on Friday, Mar. 11. Engage Your Future. Future students and their families will have the chance to meet one-on-one with ACM faculty and student recruiters to get answers about academic majors and, more importantly, learn how those programs can lead directly into a career or transfer to a four-year institution for future employment. ACM offers students more than 80 associate degrees, certificates and letters of recognition programs. A representative from the college’s new Associate of Applied Science…

West Virginia University is lifting COVID-19 mask requirements in its classrooms and labs regardless of a person's vaccination status. The university said in a news release that the change is effective Tuesday. Last month WVU lifted a mask requirement in most indoor spaces. Active virus cases statewide have fallen below 2,000 for the first time since last July, according to the state Department of Health and Human Resources' COVID-19 dashboard. Masks will continue to be required through March 18 on university buses and the personal rapid transit system. Students, staff and visitors in designated areas of the Health Sciences Center…

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $38,274,762 in federal funds to reimburse state and local governments across Maryland for their COVID-19 response efforts. Funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as authorized through Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.   This funding reimburses state and local governments for: The purchase of medical equipment and PPE such as ventilators, respirators, face shields, N95 masks, surgical masks, and…

The Cumberland Police Department would like to notify the public of a change regarding parking at the Centre City Parking Garage on George Street.  The changes being made are in regards to a problem with the current system that is in place.  Starting April 1, 2022, vehicles entering the Centre City Parking Garage will enter the garage from South George Street.  After entering the garage, the first three levels, 1-3 will be designated for permit holders only.  Levels 4-6 will be one hour parking for non-permit holders.   Parking will continue to be free of charge on weekdays after 5pm, on…

On Monday, March 7th 2022 an officer with the Cumberland Police conducted a traffic stop on Greene St.  The operator displayed several criminal indicators and the officer  called for  K9 to respond to the scene.  The K9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle and a search was conducted.  The officer located a quantity of methamphetamines and controlled prescription medication.  Carissa Kathlyn Preston, age 29 of Westernport, MD was placed under arrest.  She was issued two Criminal Citations for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Not Marijuana, and released.    Arrested:  Carissa Kathlyn Preston  Age 29  Westernport,…

The fallout from school shutdowns that resulted from  COVID-19 is becoming clearer- and although experts say it could be worse than we know- local education officials remain confident in the kids ability to rebound.   Some reports suggest that the learning loss many students suffered due to virtual learning, will likely have an impact for years to come. It is a topic Allegany County Superintendent of Schools Jeff Blank discussed recently with WCBC News…

As gasoline prices in the area soared above the $4 a gallon mark, a man who sells gas in LaVale called into the Dave Norman Program to let our listeners know how the price is determined at his station. WCBC asked West Virginia Governor Jim Justice if he was considering a gas tax cut, or other measures, to help families deal with the spike…