The Allegany County Health Department has announced additional COVID-19 vaccination clinic dates at the Allegany County Fairgrounds throughout the month of February.  While Moderna boosters still require an appointment, walk-in services continue for first and second doses of Moderna (age 18+) and first, second, and booster doses of Pfizer (age 12+).  Appointments for the Moderna booster vaccine can be scheduled using the links below: ·        February 2:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/1126699098 ·        February 9:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/1012896169 ·        February 16:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/6969120821 ·        February 23:  https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/6969150521 For assistance registering for an appointment, county residents can call the COVID-19 call center at 240-650-3999. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters…

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $11,072,956 in federal funding for Maryland to continue construction of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) including the last remaining section of “Corridor N” that runs through Western Maryland. Funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included a $1.25 billion investment over five years towards the completion of the ADHS. The ADHS is comprised of 3,090 miles of highway, with 33 corridors that provide access to regional and national markets….

At today’s meeting of the Board of Public Works, Governor Larry Hogan provided an update on the state’s progress during the COVID-19 state of emergency, and continued to urge Marylanders to get boosted for maximum protection against the Omicron variant.  “The current data continues to show very encouraging trends,” said Governor Hogan. “As of today, 94.3% of Maryland adults have gotten vaccinated. Sadly, the vast majority of new deaths continue to be people who are unvaccinated and we’re doing everything we can to keep working to get that last 5.7% of the population vaccinated. I want to thank the entire…

Governor Larry Hogan recently announced the statewide distribution of 20 million masks for the public saying that they provide better protection against COVID than surgical and cloth face coverings. While locally many citizens waited in line to receive their KM95 mask from the Allegany County Health Department before supplies had run out.  With those aggravated citizens going to social media as well as calling WCBC radio.  Garrett County Health Department distributed more than 8,000 masks and have requested more masks from Maryland Department of Health.    

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022 the Cumberland Police responded to a residence on the 500 block of Linden St for a theft report.  While investigating the theft, the officer contacted Logan Ray Aldrich, age 24 of Cumberland, MD.  The officer conducted a wanted check of Aldrich and found that he was wanted on an active arrest warrant issued in Texas.  The warrant was extraditable and Aldrich was placed under arrest and charged as a fugitive.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and is currently being held without on bond at the Allegany County Detention until his extradition to…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has introduced emergency legislation to address staffing shortages at health care facilities. The governor has previously taken the actions outlined in the proposal on a temporary basis, which has made a positive difference on the front lines. The governor's Health Care Heroes Act would provide a permanent solution to help address staffing shortages at health care facilities. The emergency legislation turns his previous actions into law. Hogan said the legislation works by "expediting licenses for retired health care practitioners, practitioners' licensing in other states and nursing graduates." The governor expects his emergency legislation will help provide…

Last week the Allegany County Public School System announced that 135 students reported as positive for COVID-19 with 164 students reported as close contacts to a positive person, thus requiring the need to quarantine. The week before, 231 students reported as positive for COVID. While the CDC has said that it is safe for schools to remain open without driving up community spread or putting students and teachers at risk- that has done little to calm the anxiety of some parents. Allegany County Board of Education member Tammy Fraley, herself a parent with two children in the system,  said it…

Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss has long viewed the aging water distribution system in the Decatur Street area as the city’s top infrastructure priority- and steps were taken at the most recent meeting to secure funding for that project. Cumberland officials are seeking to raise $2 million through municipal bond sales. The hope is that the repair work will go a long way toward stabilizing an area that has routinely experienced major water main ruptures over the years. The 24-inch cross-town main runs from Baltimore Avenue northwest beneath Decatur Street, under Frederick and Bedford streets to Independence Street. The work includes…

There are three seats on the Allegany County Board of Education up for election this year- but it appears only two of the incumbents will be running for another term.  Board member Deb Frank confirmed to WCBC News that due to professional and personal reasons she had decided not to pursue re-election. Ms Frank said her program at Allegany College of Maryland, for the first time, is seeking accreditation which can be a  laborious process; and her daughter has graduated with an elementary education degree and the school board’s nepotism policy would eliminate her ability to land a job with…

U.S. Senator  Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat,  in talks with county and municipal leaders this month, continued to emphasize the importance that all parts of the state eventually have access to high-speed internet.  Van Hollen made the remarks at a virtual discussion forum with much of the focus on how Maryland is attempting to address the digital divide which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.  The senator said that internet access is critical for telemedicine, telehealth, and most importantly — jobs.  The infrastructure bill passed last year, he says, will go a long way toward seeing that rural…