On the day before Thanksgiving- West Virginia officials warned of a difficult winter ahead as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. State leaders have  been warning for weeks that a plateau of covid-19 cases, rising infection rates, holiday gatherings and cold weather could extend the difficulties brought on by the long pandemic. After reading the latest COVID death toll in the state- Governor Jim Justice sounded a somber tone for the winter season…

With Thanksgiving kicking off the holiday season, the Allegany County Health Department is urging the public to celebrate safely to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  COVID cases in Allegany County are rising again, and exercising a few common-sense precautions can help keep you and your loved ones safer this holiday season. Those include, perhaps most important: Get vaccinated. Other recommendations are to get tested; wear masks and maintain proper distance indoors; wsh and sanitize your hands frequently and if you are sick, STAY HOME and avoid close contact with others.  Do not host or attend a holiday gathering if you…

This is the second Thanksgiving celebrated during the Coronavirus pandemic, and it comes with some different challenges than last year. WCBC asked Dr. Clay Marsh about the risk involved with the Delta Variant and younger children sharing the same space as older adults at the Thanksgiving dinner table and family get togethers…

We celebrate Thanksgiving through the weekend, as families try to split time between different branches. West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito issued her annual message for the holiday this week…

Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine appointments are available for Wednesday, December 1 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  Interested individuals can register for an appointment at health.maryland.gov/allegany.  In order to be eligible for the booster vaccine you must be age 18 or older and meet one of the following criteria: Received your second dose of Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago Received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID vaccine at least two months ago   The Allegany County Health Department will also offer other COVID-19 vaccinations at the fairgrounds on a walk-in basis December 1 from 9…

After reaching a peak of 81.56 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people (four times the state average) in mid-September 2021, the Allegany County case rate declined through the month of October. However, since early November, we are once again seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. Currently, the case rate in Allegany County is nearly three times the state average. Between July 1 and November 17, 2021, there were a total of 3,192 new cases of COVID-19 in Allegany County. 65% of those cases were in individuals age 18-64. 22% of cases were youths under age 18, and 13% were individuals age…

While Giving Tuesday is a day that marks the season of helping others, the Maryland Secretary of State’s Office and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General warn that this year’s holiday season comes with an increased urgency to protect against scam artists preying on generous donors.  “There are Marylanders across the state who depend on the generosity of donors for basic needs,” said Maryland Secretary of State John Wobensmith. “And while we are grateful to our reputable charities, we urge our citizens to be on alert for scam artists who take advantage of unsuspecting donors.” Secretary Wobensmith warns donors…

 In anticipation of increased traffic ahead of the extended Thanksgiving weekend, troopers across Western Maryland participated in a joint initiative to keep motorists safe as they travel to their holiday destination.  Troopers from the Frederick, Hagerstown, Cumberland, McHenry and Waterloo barracks, along with troopers from the Traffic Incident Management Division and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division focused enforcement efforts Monday and Tuesday on violations for speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving and the move over law.  This effort resulted in troopers issuing 144 citations, including nine for drivers with suspended/revoked licenses. Troopers also seized two illegal guns, recorded three criminal arrests and…

For the 5-day period of November 19-23, 2021, there were no schools identified with a School Wide COVID-19 Outbreak.    Cash Valley Elementary School had one cohort that met the definition of a cohort outbreak, and the Center for Career and Technical Education had two cohorts that met the definition of a cohort outbreak.   ACPS had two staff members and 25 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time, and zero staff members and 37 students were identified as a close contact to a positive person and required to be quarantined.

On 11/12/2021 at approximately 8:00 PM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to the 500 block of Broadway Circle for a disturbance. Upon arrival officers spoke to several witnesses. They learned that Ricky Broadwater was intoxicated and attempted to retrieve a rifle from his residence. Witnesses were able to take the rifle from Broadwater. Officers took Broadwater into custody and transported him to the hospital for an unrelated matter. Officers learned that there was an active Protective Order against Broadwater with a condition that he could not possess firearms. Charges were applied for and on 11/23/21 an Arrest Warrant…