With Maryland surpassing 2,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide, Governor Larry Hogan today provided Marylanders with an update regarding ongoing emergency actions: “As we have been projecting, our statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations have now reached record levels and surpassed 2,000—a surge driven primarily by unvaccinated patients. It cannot be stressed enough that getting vaccinated and getting boosted are your strongest possible defenses against this virus and its variants. “With hospitalizations and deaths our primary focus, we have already taken a number of emergency actions in preparation for this surge. Earlier this month, we established a surge operations center to optimize bed capacity and…

In the West Central Pa. and Maryland region, including UPMC Western Maryland, UPMC Altoona, UPMC Bedford, and UPMC Somerset, UPMC is currently caring for 90 COVID-19 inpatients.   UPMC Western Maryland continues to be open and available, committed to do all we can to serve those who need care in our region.   Omicron is very contagious, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.   We are seeing increases in both COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, but it is rare to see someone who has been through a full vaccination series and boosted come in and require hospital care.  Vaccination, including boosters,…

The Cumberland City Police Department would like to announce the following street closures that will take place for the annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks display in the downtown area on Friday, December 31, 2021.  Baltimore Street between Greene and Mechanic Streets will be closed at 9:00 p.m.  to prepare for the fireworks display which will take place on the Baltimore Street Bridge at midnight.  We will allow no vehicular traffic or pedestrian traffic in this area.  All vehicles and pedestrians should use Cumberland Street to Market Street as a detour from the west side of the city. …

On December 28, 2021, at approximately 3:00 p.m., deputies with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office served an arrest warrant on William Jeffery McKenzie of Mt. Savage, Maryland. The arrest warrant was issued for an incident on December 10 2021 when McKenzie allegedly shot several times at a neighbor. McKenzie was successfully apprehended at his residence in Mt. Savage without incident. McKenzie was then transported to the Allegany County Detention Center where he awaited his initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner.   McKenzie was charged with the following: 2 counts of Assault First Degree / CR 3-202 FELONY 2 counts…

On Tuesday December 28, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business on the 1200 block of West Industrial Blvd for a single vehicle crash into a building.  Upon arrival officers spoke to the operator of the vehicle and observed him to be under the influence of an unknown substance.  After conducting field sobriety tests the operator was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence.  He was issued several traffic citations. 

Warrant Arrest On Tuesday December 28, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Joanna Marie Wagus, age 37 of Cumberland MD.  The warrant charged Wagus with Failure to Appear for a court date on December 17th, 2021.  Her original charge was for possession of a controlled dangerous substanace-not marijuana. Wagus was taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance with the District Court Commissioner. She was held on $2,500 bond at the Allegany County Detention Center.  Arrested: Joanna Marie Wagus  Age: 37 Cumberland, MD Charges:  Failure to Appear   Warrant Arrest On Tuesday December 28, 2021 the…

Recent media reports revealed that millions of tax dollars in Maryland have been going to educate students who aren’t in school. It is a point of concern for Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot- who says the way public schools are funded, needs to change. Franchot, first as a delegate and now State Comptroller, has been involved in school funding debates since the 1980s. So, earlier this year, when lawmakers passed the largest education spending increase in our state’s history, known as the Kirwan plan, Franchot had some criticisms…

A late fall discussion initiated by Western Maryland officials exploring the idea of Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties seceding to West Virginia never got off the ground- but it did get the attention of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. While Hogan said little publicly on the subject other than to call it a “political stunt”- aides say privately he was angered to the point of cancelling a scheduled visit to Allegany County. After being hit by some wide ranging stinging criticism from elected officials and the public- the District One Delegate immediately withdrew support of the proposal. During a recent appearance…

According to 2020 U.S. Census data released in August- jurisdictions in rural saw some significant population decline. In Western Maryland, Allegany County’s population dropped by about 9%, from 75,087 to 68,106, and Garrett County’s population dropped by about 4%, from 30,097 to 28,806. While Western Maryland is losing population- overall the state saw a 7% increase over the past decade. Delegate Mike McKay…

This past June an overflow crowd filled the festival grounds at Canal Place for a free concert from the Del McCoury Band. That event proved to be such an  overwhelming success that it immediately sparked discussion about having regular concerts scheduled there.  Delegate Jason Buckel, who heads a Task Force appointed to examine the future of Canal Place, said taking advantage of what is clearly an under utilized  venue has been part of the discussion..