On Saturday, the Cumberland City Police Department responded to a residence in the 200 block of Springdale St for the report of an assault. Once on scene, Officers contacted a female victim who advised she had been assaulted by Shawn Steven Hamlette, 24, of Cumberland MD. She further advised that she and Hamlette had been involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical. She alleged that Hamlette struck her in the head multiple times with a glass bottle before fleeing the scene on foot. Officers searched the area and were able to locate Hamlette. He was taken into custody without…

In a letter to parents and guardians, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said they will transition all archdiocesan schools, where jurisdictions allow, to optional masking. The move will take place starting on Feb. 14. WBAL reports that for students, this option will be based on parental choice, according to the letter. Staff and visitors will also have the option to wear a mask or not and the change applies to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. Schools in Baltimore City will remain masked because the indoor mask mandate remains in place.

Although the case rate is dropping, Allegany County’s COVID-19 numbers are still among the worst in the state.  The positivity rate is 13% in the county, compared to the state rate of 4.88%. 49 new cases were reported and 3 additional deaths. The county’s fully vaccinated rate is 50.2%, while Maryland is at 73.3%

Maryland lawmakers outlined a package of measures on Thursday to support child-care providers, who have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last two years, more than 750 providers in Maryland have been forced to close, lawmakers said in a joint video conference with delegates and senators. The package includes grants to attract and retain providers, as well as loans for capital expansions for facilities. House Speaker Adrienne Jones said helping providers is critical to addressing the shortage of workers in the state and the nation

Two officers and a suspect were shot Friday after police were called to investigate a suspicious man with a gun in an intersection, authorities said. All three were flown to a hospital in Baltimore, said Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando. He said he was awaiting updates on their conditions and couldn’t immediately say how serious their wounds were. The shooting happened shortly before 1 p.m. after officers responded to reports of the suspicious man, Lando said. The chief said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Frederick is located about 49 miles (79 kilometers) west of Baltimore.  

Allegany County Public Schools high school graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2022 will be held on the following schedule: Fort Hill High School, Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Greenway Avenue Stadium Mountain Ridge High School, Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Mountain Ridge Stadium Allegany High School, Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 3 p.m. at Greenway Avenue Stadium A rain date for these ceremonies is scheduled for Sunday, May 22, 2022. Locations will remain the same; however the times will be as follows: Fort Hill @ 1 p.m.; Mountain Ridge @ 4 p.m.; and Allegany @ 6 p.m.    The Center for Career and Technical Education's…

For the 7-day period of  February 4-10, 2022, there were no schools that met the definition of a School Wide Outbreak of COVID-19.   West Side Elementary School had one cohort that met the definition of a cohort outbreak.   ACPS had 13 staff members and 72 students reported as positive for COVID-19 during this time.  ACPS had 1 staff member quarantined as a close contact.  64 students were reported as close contacts to a positive person and required to quarantine.  This includes all staff and students reported as close contacts, whether the close contact occurred in the home, community, or…

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Cody Horwath. The criminal summons was issued as a result of an incident that occurred on February 7, 2022. On this date at approximately 10:30 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 500 block of Furnace Street in reference to a check on well-being.  The caller advised that he was concerned for the well-being of the resident there.  After further investigation, officers learned that the caller, Cody Horwath, had lied in order to have officers contact the resident on Furnace…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said Thursday he has sent a letter to the state Board of Education, asking for them to rescind its mask policy. Hogan cited the state’s improved health metrics, the widespread availability of vaccines for children, and the growing consensus among medical professionals, parents, and bipartisan state officials. Addressing an audience that included several members of the Allegany County Board of Education on Thursday night, County Commissioners President Jake Shade took the opportunity to echo the governor’s request… Board president Crystal Bender told WCBC News following the meeting that the board has always favored these decisions being…

Review processes from state and federal highway administrations that have not yet been completed may  push the start date for the nearly $10 million Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project into 2023. Matt Miller, executive director of Cumberland Economic Development Corp., gave an update on the project at a meeting of the Downtown Development Commission on Thursday. The redevelopment project is expected to include replacement of underground utility lines followed by reinstalling Baltimore Street through the pedestrian mall. The project’s target start date has jumped from fall of 2021 to spring or summer of 2022- and now it may not happen until…