Harvest 16% Lower, Population Remains Healthy Photo by Olivia Wiley The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 26,569 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 27 through Dec. 11. The harvest was 16% lower than last year’s official count of 31,649. “The two-week firearm season continues to be our most popular deer season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “Although we have seen a mix of harvest results this season, the deer population remains healthy.” Hunters reported taking 10,492 antlered deer during the two-week season, down 10% from last year’s official total of 11,649. The antlerless harvest decreased 20%…

On Friday, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Benn Roby Deal.  The warrant was issued as a result of an incident that occurred on December 18, 2021.  On December 19, 2021, the victim reported that she had been assaulted by Deal.  The victim alleged that Deal destroyed her cell phone, threatened her with a knife, and held her against her will.  An application for charges was filed against Deal at the District Court of Allegany County and an arrest warrant was issued.  Deal was arrested and transported to Central Booking.  Deal was held at the Allegany County…

Nearly 5,500 families in West Virginia who receive state assistance are going to get a one-time $400 boost in benefits beginning next week. The state Department of Health and Human Resources announced Tuesday it will issue the one-time payment to families that are part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program who are active in the WV WORKS program. The money is coming from a portion of the DHHR’s federal pandemic relief funds. To be eligible, the recipients had to be active in WV WORKS this month and eligible to be part of the program again next month.

No white Christmas in 2021. Unseasonably warm weather for Christmas with winter feeling more like spring in Cumberland. Christmas Day temperatures will approach the mid 60's.

 Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania man early Christmas Eve after setting multiple Christmas wreaths on fire at a local Hagerstown cemetery.  Peter J. Custer, 43, is charged with Second Degree Malicious Burning, Malicious Destruction of Property Under $1,000, and Trespassing on Private Property. Witnesses called 911 just after 1:00 a.m., after driving by Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Hagerstown and saw Custer standing by a fire.  Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Office of the State Fire Marshal responded and concluded that Custer took plastic wreaths from three or more burial plots, placed them on an access…

On December 24, 2021 at approximately 1250 hours, the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack received a call of a vehicle accident at westbound I- 68 at the 62-mile marker.  A Trooper was dispatched and the conditions of the roads were found to be icy/hazardous due to sleet/icy rain.   The Cumberland Barrack started receiving multiple calls for vehicles sliding off the road and other accidents.  The Snow Emergency Plan was put in to effect at 0030 hours.  Several calls for vehicles off the roadway were received.  The roadway was shut down by SHA at the 64-mile marker west bound I-68.  The…

The state of Maryland has surpassed the threshold of 1,500 COVID-19 hospitalizations, triggering additional actions by hospitals, as required by a Maryland Department of Health order issued earlier this month. To date, Maryland has reported 6,869 additional COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, an increased positivity rate of 12.8% and 1,505 people are hospitalized. The state has also not updated the number of deaths as of Dec. 4. With the Omicron variant now spreading, Governor Larry Hogan earlier this week announced an additional $100 million in emergency funding for hospitals and nursing homes to help address urgent staffing needs…

The holiday season has done nothing to soften the war of words between Baltimore's top prosecutor and Governor Larry Hogan. Baltimore City’s State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby is  taking issue with criticism from Hogan. About a month after her office was criticized by the governor, who demanded she disclose her conviction rates, Mosby released figures in a letter to Hogan, that were already available to the public. Mosby said  that Hogan’s actions so far are “purely political”, and she referred to his remarks as incessant  “dog-whistling”  attacks about Baltimore crime…

Gov. Jim Justice joined religious leaders from across West Virginia Thursday to conduct a virtual statewide Day of Prayer and Hope service.  The service was held to provide West Virginians an opportunity to come together in prayer during the holiday season to honor the 5,251 West Virginians who have been lost to COVID-19…

Maryland State Police are gearing up for the week between Christmas and New Year’s with additional troopers on patrol using a variety of initiatives to urge both motorists and pedestrians to use common sense, take responsibility and be more courteous on Maryland’s roadways. Between today and January 2, troopers from each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks statewide will be focusing enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that often contribute to highway tragedies, especially during holiday seasons…