Governor Jim Justice began his semi-daily COVID-19 briefing by going over the most recent deaths to occur in West Virginia. The total number of deaths in WV have now reached 2,679.  In sounding a familiar theme – Justice once again urged younger West Virginians to get vaccinated, by reiterating how safe receiving the vaccine is…

The Maryland State Board of Education wants all students to have the option to return to the classroom full-time next school year. The board unanimously approved a resolution last week, saying schools must be able to provide at least 180 days of in-person learning to all students starting in fall 2021. The resolution says teachers must be in classrooms. The action got some immediate push back from the state teachers union headed by Cheryl Bost…   School districts will be allowed to ask the state board for exemptions- however it doesn’t appear any such request will come from the Allegany County Board…

2:45 PM UPDATE: Maryland Department of Transportation advises that lanes 2 and 3 will be closed for an extended period for repair.  Lane 1 will also be affected during the removal process. INITIAL REPORT: The Joint Communications Center of Allegany County has dispatched units to westbound Interstate 68 in Cumberland. A tractor trailer has spilled its load, causing damage to the highway and closing the 2nd and 3rd lanes. The mishap occurred early in the 1 PM hour.

The Allegany County Sheriff's Office will have Rt. 220 closed in the area of Weis Market between Cresaptown and Belair for a motor vehicle crash investigation. The north and south bound lanes will be shut down for approx. one hour between 5pm to 6pm on May 2, 2021.   

On Saturday, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the area of Gulf Memorial Drive and Union Street for a report of a subject near the train tracks. Upon the officers arrival they spoke with Kelly Brian Swick, who was intoxicated, and was advised to leave the area due to him being at the tracks and the trains being unable to run. Kelly began to act in a disorderly manner and his actions caused numerous motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area. Kelly was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and later released on a criminal citation pending his trial…

The Joint Communications Center of Allegany County dispatched units to Interstate 68 in the eastern part of the county for a potential vehicle rollover. The accident occurred just before 3:00 AM, and EMS tended to three patients at the scene. The westbound passing lane was closed for a period of time during the emeregency response.

The Tri Towns EMS Building was struck by a pickup truck Saturday morning around 6:00 AM, resulting in two injuries to the occupants and the need for major repairs to the EMS building. Although Tri Towns had a basic life support crew and an Allegany County Department of Emergency Services medic on scene, the crash made their ambulance inaccessable for transporting the injured. Neighboring fire and rescue departments swung into action, as the county's building collapse team was called to assess the damage. Belt Construction was able to stabilize the building, the ambulance was eventually extricated, and Tri Towns EMS…

The Mayor and City Council of Cumberland will hold their regular public meeting on Tuesday beginning at 6:15 p.m. via video conference. Council will consider hiring a recruitment firm to assist in the process to replace retiring City Administrator Jeff Rhodes. The meeting will be live streamed and may be viewed through the city's website.  

US Route 220 near Hannah Plaza in Cresaptown was shut down in both directions for about an hour Saturday afternoon as a result of a vehicle collision. The shutdown was reported just before 5 PM, and the road was reopened at around quarter to six after the emergency response of police, fire and EMS units from the area.

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a vehicle accident at the Tri-Towns EMS building in Westernport. Two people have been injured and the collapse team has been called to the scene.