Weekly COVID-19 Update:  For the 7-day period of September 24-30, 2021, Allegany High School met the Maryland Department of Health definition of a school-wide outbreak of COVID-19 by having three or more classrooms/cohorts having at least two or more positive cases within a 2-week period.  This school, along with Fort Hill High School, Mountain Ridge High School, and the Career Center remain on the MDH list of schools with School Wide Outbreaks.   There were no schools with classroom or cohort outbreaks reported.   ACPS had six staff members and 46 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time. …

A Cumberland man suspected of killing an elderly city woman in her South End home as well as his brother and sister-in-law in Ellicott City has been arrested.  Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 46, was taken into custody about 9 a.m. Friday in Davis, West Virginia, according to Howard County police.  He had pulled to the side of the road while driving a 2007 red Corvette he allegedly stole from his brother’s home. He was taken into custody without incident and a gun was reportedly located inside the vehicle. Burnham was named as the suspect in the Wednesday murder of 83 year…

A Cumberland man wanted for killing an elderly woman in her South End home Wednesday evening is also a suspect in the shooting deaths of two people in Ellicott City. Jeffrey Allen Burnham, 46, remains at large. Burnham was sighted about 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Irons Mountain area east of Cumberland driving the red Corvette, city police said Friday morning. The first victim, Rebecca Reynolds, 83, was found in her residence in the 500 block of Fourth Street around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday. Her death was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner’s office. Howard County authorities said Thursday…

On Thursday, September 30th, 2021, The Cumberland City responded to the area of Mechanic St near city limits for the report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries. Once on scene, Officers observed that a Nissan passenger vehicle and a Honda motorcycle had been involved in the crash and that both parties were injured as a result of the crash. The Cumberland Fire Department responded to the scene and transported both operators to UPMC for treatment of their injuries. Both operators were in stable condition with non life threatening injuries. At this time, the crash remains under investigation and charges…

Some people who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, are eager to get a booster, and are thinking about getting the Pfizer booster. Saying that there is not enough evidence at this point, the Food and Drug Administration does not endorse mixing vaccine. Dr Matthew Simmons, an expert on infectious diseases at UPMC Western Maryland, was asked for his opinion during an appearance on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show”…

According to the Maryland State Board of Education, the latest numbers reported this week shows that 16,559 students have been placed in quarantine since the beginning of the school year and 784 teachers and staff members have also been sent home. Those numbers have renewed a push toward virtual learning. Currently virtual learning is not being utilized in the Allegany County Public School system, but statewide the average virtual learning class size is around 23 students. State board of education member Rachel McCusker said numbers from school systems across the state are unacceptable… There's also concern the large virtual classroom…

Governor Larry Hogan held a press conference Thursday afternoon to provide Marylanders with an update on COVID-19- and to provide some clarity on the booster shot issues.The state has administered more than 78,000 booster shots. In total, Maryland has reportedly administered more than 7.9 million vaccines, including 96.1% of citizens age 65 and older, 83.6% of Marylanders 18 and older, and 82.6% of all eligible Marylanders age 12 and older…

A Mazing City public art exhibit by the Allegany Arts Council opens at Canal place in downtown Cumberland on Saturday October 2nd from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The A Mazing City consists of large, colorful panels in the shapes that celebrate Cumberland's architectural assets in a bright and artful way. Visitors can enjoy walking through the maze-like structure. The A Mazing City is on display through December 1, 2021.  Allegany Arts Council Executive Director, Julie Westendorff