The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of October 4, 2021, there are currently 12,284 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 47 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 3,769 deaths attributed to COVID-19.   DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 88-year old female from Lincoln County, an 80-year old male from Mineral County, a 73-year old female from Lewis County, a 21-year old male from Braxton County, a 59-year old female from Pleasants County, a 70-year old male from Kanawha County, an 81-year old male from Randolph County, a 77-year…

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced an update on the top 10 and bottom 10 skilled nursing facilities in the state ranked by percentage of staff with at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 and highly contagious variants. MDH also announced an update on skilled nursing facilities that did not submit adequate staff COVID-19 vaccination data as required by the state.   Per vaccination protocols in effect since September 1, 2021, all nursing facility staff are required to have their first or single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Nursing facilities that fail to comply with vaccination protocols…

On October 3rd, 2021 an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Kyle Andrew Merkel, and detected signs of impairment. Standardized Field Sobriety was conducted and Merkel displayed additional signs of impairment. The officer also learned that Merkel had an active Arrest Warrant from Pennsylvania and placed him under arrest. During a subsequent search the officer located a quantity of a controlled dangerous substance and evidence that it was packaged to be distributed along with other paraphernalia. Merkel was taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was held without bond.   Arrest: Kyle Andrew Merkel,…

Over the past six months, the Cumberland City Council conducted a national search with the help of an executive recruitment firm to hire a new City Administrator.  As a result of that search, the Mayor and City Council will vote October 5, 2021, during their regular public meeting on the appointment of Jeffrey F. Silka as City Administrator. WCBC news spoke with Mr. Silka about why he applied for the city position ​ Mr. Silka’s contract is proposed for an initial term of three years with an effective date of November 1st next month.

In the ongoing battle against opioids and overdose deaths in Maryland, a new partnership between Maryland State Police and the department of health will help identify dangerous illicit drugs to get them off the streets and lower the overdose risk as a whole. Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, in making the announcement, said the partnership couldn't have come at a better time as overdose deaths are on the rise and thanks to this partnership, forensic scientists are finding more and more illegal drugs on the street are being laced with fentanyl, resulting in more overdose deaths. Rutherford talked about the reasons…

Governor Larry Hogan announced that Maryland is taking additional steps to increase nursing personnel. Hogan says the new efforts aim to give hospitals more flexibility to address staffing. With that, Health Secretary Dennis Schrader issued a notice stating that registered nurses or licensed practical nurses who hold a current active license in any other state or jurisdiction may render nursing care. State health officials also encourage all hospital leaders to work with their local nursing programs to ensure that hospitals can use student nurses to the maximum extent feasible. Schrader said that while hospitalizations remain relatively low in Maryland- this…

Cumberland officials are reporting that interest has grown in 19 Frederick Street. The  building was constructed between 1902 and 1904. A request for proposals to allow developers to submit potential plans and bid has been published. The building has been used as a post office, police station and an HRDC senior center over the years, but has been vacant since 2010. Cumberland Economic Development Corporation executive director Matt Miller  tells WCBC News that while there is  no preferred use for the building  yet identified-  the hope is the private sector will propose any number of opportunities…

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is a candidate for governor and he was asked during a recent interview- if elected- what would be his initial priorities. His response: Answer the phone. Franchot says a myriad of problems with the system revealed themselves during the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders in need of assistance routinely found themselves running into busy signals; recorded messages and no responses to emails. Franchot has made direct assistance available in the Comptrollers office- with enough staff on hand to deal personally with calls for help. He wants to see that done in every department and state…

Barrelville’s Kiya Wilhelm outlasted 15 other aspiring chefs from across the country- taking third place on “Hell’s Kitchen: Young Guns” . Although the Fox television show was actually filmed in 2019- it was broadcast this summer with the finale airing in September. At steak- a grand prize of a head-chef position at Gordon Ramsey Steak at Paris Las Vegas. Wilhelm, who attended Mountain Ridge High School, Allegany College of Maryland and the former Art Institute of Pittsburgh, completed an online questionnaire followed by in-person interviews to become a contestant. Although nervous going into the contest,  she adapted quickly and advanced…

The Joint Communications Center of Allegany County reports a vehicle rollover which has shutdown eastbound Interstate 68 near the 68 mile marker.  Police, fire and EMS have responded to the scene of the crash.