On 9/19/21, at 6:30 pm, an officer from the Cumberland Police Department received a complaint that subjects were involved in the distribution of CDS in the area of Green Street.  Officers responded to the area and began to look for potential CDS distribution activity. While investigating the complaint, officers observed a subject identified as Drew Truman, age 30 of LaVale, involved in a CDS transaction.  Truman was then approached by officers and explained the reason they were contacting him. While officers were speaking with Truman, he produced a glass pipe containing a suspected controlled dangerous substance (CDS).  Upon the officer…

Now that the city council has filled Seth Bernard’s vacant seat with the selection of Joe George- attention now turns to finding the next city administrator. That position opened with the June 1st retirement of longtime administrator Jeff Rhodes. Currently Ken Tressler, the city’s director of administrative services, is serving in an interim capacity. The Mercer Group, a national personnel search firm, is handling the vetting of applicants and presented the council with a list of five finalists. Mayor Ray Morriss said the initial round of interviews were conducted Friday and Saturday at City Hall…

Maryland Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader said although COVID-19 is an issue, the department's biggest concern is the upcoming flu season. Appearing on WBAL Radio, Schrader said that most of the current hospital cases aren't COVID-19 related- and as flu season is arriving- the state will be multi tasking…

Between the first quarter of 2020 and 2021 overdose deaths involving drugs and alcohol in Maryland increased by 5.7%. Of 682 deaths, 612 were related to opioid use, nearly 90%, according to the state Opioid Operational Command Center report released in June. Allegany and Garrett counties saw decreases in opioid overdose deaths during that time of 38.5% and 50%, respectively. Thirteen people died of an opioid overdose in the first quarter of 2020 in Allegany County, and in 2021 there were eight such deaths. In Garrett County, there were two deaths in 2020 and one in 2021. Maryland’s Lt Governor…

President Joe Biden last week ordered sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million Americans — private-sector employees as well as health care workers and federal contractors — in an all-out effort to curb the surging COVID-19 delta variant. While Baltimore City as well as Anne Arundel County governments have already implemented vaccination mandates for employees- the city of Cumberland is not yet ready to move in the direction. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss…

With COVID-19 once again surging in the region- the status of a number of popular fall and winter events may have to be altered. Fall festivities were on the agenda this month for Cumberland's Downtown Development Commission with Halloween up first for discussion. Last year the annual downtown Trick or Treating was cancelled- with those activities moved to Constitution Park. DDC executive director Melinda Kelleher… In addition to the downtown trick or treating relocating last year, the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony and the New Years Eve Ball Drop were both done virtually.

WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” took issue Friday with the Cumberland Times-News reporting on last weeks UPMC Western Maryland’s temporary EMS diversion- saying the story blurred the line between news and commentary. The article in question suggested that the surge in COVID-19 cases may have been the reason for the action. Questions submitted to UPMC Western Maryland from the newspaper seeking specifics were not replied to immediately. The “Morning Mayor” questioned the reporter speculating on possible causes- and called the article a “hit piece” on the hospital administration…

On September 18th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to an Ali Ghan Road business for a report of a driver who was operating a charter bus under the influence of alcohol. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with the operator of the bus, James Blair Currie, who exhibited signs of impairment. After conducting Standardized Field Sobriety Tests officers observed additional evidence of impairment and placed him under arrest. Currie was later released on citations pending his trial at District Court.   Arrest: James Currie Blair, age 64, Harpers Ferry West Virginia.   Charges: Driving Under the Influence of…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of September 17, 2021, there have been 3,664,554 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 219,439 total cases and 3,370 deaths.    DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 75-year old male from Clay County, a 95-year old male from Monongalia County, an 84-year old male from Raleigh County, a 61-year old male from Mercer County, an 85-year old female from Tucker County, a 70-year old female from Barbour County, a 67-year old male from Wood County, a 45-year old male from Wood County, a 76-year old…

Fall has not yet begun in Maryland and many trees across the state are still a bit bashful about revealing their fall finest before the season officially kicks off September 22. However in Western Maryland, pockets of trees are slowly starting to greet us with hints of brilliant color. Traditionally this is the region where leaf color changes are seen first, with the foliage in Garrett and Allegany counties beginning to turn in late September and peaking toward the middle of October.