On 10/16/2021 at approximately 12:00 PM an officer from the Cumberland City Police Department observed Shane Matthew Oester walking on Queen City Drive. The officer confirmed that Mr. Oester had an active arrest warrant for violation of probation. The officer contacted Oester and advised him he was under arrest for the warrant. Oester pushed the officer’s hand away and then fled. The officer pursued Oester on foot and deployed his departmental issued Taser. Oester was taken before a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond.   Arrested – Shane Matthew Oester (43) Cumberland, MD…

On Saturday at approximately 5:30 PM, Cumberland City Police were dispatched to the 100 block of High Lane for a trespassing complaint. Upon arrival officers made contact with the complainant. Officers learned that Jonathan Alan Chesnutt had come to the residence intoxicated and tried to get into the residence. Officers contacted Chesnutt and advised him to leave but he did not comply. Chesnutt started yelling at the officers and the complainant. Chesnutt would not lower his voice or leave the area. Chesnutt was placed under arrest and escorted to the police vehicle. Before entering the police vehicle Chesnutt is said…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of October 15, 2021, there are currently 10,213 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 60 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 4,108 deaths attributed to COVID-19.     DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 37-year old male from Jackson County, a 69-year old female from Raleigh County, a 52-year old male from Raleigh County, a 65-year old male from Nicholas County, an 88-year old female from Raleigh County, a 72-year old male from McDowell County, a 94-year old female from Kanawha County, a…

Here we are, mid-October, and reports indicate that the leaves are dropping quickly. With wet conditions the past few days and some wind in the forecast for the weekend we may see significant leaf loss through the next week. Fall seems to have taken hold across the state with the west near or at peak foliage and areas east slowly following suit. Most of the Eastern Shore has yet to substantially change, but we see signs that will change soon.    “I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was…

According to a press issued this week, the\ owner of the Tri-State Zoological Park was ordered Thursday to pay nearly $58,000 in legal fees incurred by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals during the zoo’s lost appeal of a federal Endangered Species Act lawsuit earlier this year. When combined with a previous order from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the zoo is on the hook for more than $114,000 in legal fees.

On Friday at approximately 7:00 AM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to Bellevue Street for a suspicious person inside a vehicle. Upon arrival officers spoke to the John Wright. While speaking to Mr. Wright the officer observed CDS paraphernalia in plain sight. Mr. Wright was removed from the vehicle and a probable cause search was conducted. During the search officers located a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and cocaine along with prescription medications. Mr. Wright was placed under arrest and taken before a District Court Commissioner. Mr. Wright was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond.   Arrested…

Friday, in the Oval Office, President Biden signed H.R. 2278, bipartisan legislation to designate the “September 11th National Memorial Trail”, a trail route linking the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.   Introduced by Reps. Representatives Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Don Beyer (D-VA), the bill previously passed the House of Representatives 423-0 and in the Senate by unanimous consent.    “Today in the Oval Office, as we continue to honor the 20th anniversary of September 11th, President Biden…

Gov. Larry Hogan says the White House is expecting the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. WBAL reports the governor says that the White House told the states this week to prepare for vaccination efforts for that age group when the vaccines are approved.   Hogan says Maryland is ready and waiting for the approval. “We’ve been planning for it for a number of months,” Hogan said on Thursday. “Just waiting for that day that we get the approvals and we do believe that will happen.” Hogan expects the approval to happen by the end…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that the COVID-19 case rate in Allegany County remains well above the Maryland rate.  The average daily case rate in the county is 56.6 cases per 100,000 population, more than three times the state rate of 16.81 cases per 100,000 population.    The highest COVID case rates in Maryland are found in jurisdictions with low vaccination rates including Allegany County.  As of October 14, 45.8% of Allegany County residents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 65.4% of all Marylanders.   Free COVID-19 vaccines are available locally at pharmacies, urgent care clinics, pediatric offices,…

Weekly COVID Update: For the 7-day period of October 8-14, 2021, there were no Allegany County Public Schools identified with a School Wide Outbreak. Cash Valley Elementary School had one classroom that met the definition of a classroom/cohort outbreak. ACPS had four staff members and 42 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time, and two staff members and 111 students were identified as a close contact to a positive person. Those who are close contacts complete a quarantine period of 10-20 days, depending on their individual circumstances.