On Tuesday, July 27th, 2021, Officers with the Cumberland City Police responded to Greene St at the George Washington Headquarters for the report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, Officers located multiple subjects in the area including John Leo Mohl, 48, of Cumberland MD. While on scene, Mohl was actively consuming an open container of alcohol and arguing with another male subject. He was ordered to cease his disruptive behavior multiple times. Mohl refused to comply with the orders and began to yell at officers on scene. As a result, Mohl was placed under arrest. He was issued Citations for Disorderly…

A Garrett County woman was sentenced to 15 days in jail and 18 months of probation after nine malnourished dogs were found at her breeding facility last year. Leslie R. Gillespie, 43, of Oakland pleaded guilty last week to three counts of animal cruelty and neglect and failure to provide vet care. The dogs found on the property in December 2020 were covered in mud and feces and had matted fur, authorities said. Gillespie was a wheaten terrier and poodle breeder who operated Wheaten Hills Breedings Facility, which has been closed.  

 A Garrett County judge has been given more time to respond to a civil lawsuit that alleges he forcibly had sex with an employee. The civil action, filed in May in federal district court in Maryland, details several allegations against Raymond G. Strubin, 65, circuit court and administrative judge for Garrett County. The lawsuit provides claims made by the complainant, Loriann Ludwig, 52, former Garrett court jury commissioner and law librarian. The new deadline is Sept. 9.   

FrostburgFirst is pleased to announce an artist has been selected for an upcoming public art project in downtown Frostburg. In June 2021, FrostburgFirst put out a call for proposals for a public art project next to the Mechanic Street parking lot in downtown Frostburg and received some incredibly creative responses. The review panel selected the proposal submitted by Cumberland resident and local artist Frank Asher to move forward with implementation. The project requirements included the use of sustainable or recycled materials, an interactive element, and a theme celebrating the beauty, history and culture of Frostburg. Frank Asher was delighted that…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced the Delta variant of COVID-19 is in 19 counties during a press conference Tuesday morning. Although the numbers are on the rise, Justice said there is no need to panic or to start thinking that there will be another mask mandate at this time…                                               

More than a year after vacating the Western Maryland Railway Station in Cumberland, the Scenic Railroad board has agreed to return operations to that central location. Last June, pointing to a number of issues created by a $650,000 loss in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, the railroad board moved operations to the Ridgeley rail yard. With a return to normalcy at hand, the train running again and a new leadership team in place, Canal Place executive director Dee Dee Ritchie announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached that will return scenic railroad offices to the Railway Station…  …

Plans for a proposed river park behind Canal Place are moving forward with the team now headed by newly appointed project manager William Atkinson. Local officials have been working on plans to install a whitewater river park on the Potomac River with walking trails, kayak and canoe docks, parking spaces and a spectator viewing area.  An update on the project was given Tuesday during a meeting of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority board. At this point any number of agencies will be part of the review process with the focus being to oversee the basic restoration of the…

Two  Allegany County nursing and rehabilitation facilities ranked as the worst in a new report issued this week, showing how nursing homes stack up when it comes to staff members who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The “bottom 10” nursing homes in Maryland all have staff vaccination rates of less than 56%. Nine nursing homes — mostly in western Maryland — have staff vaccination rates of less than 50%. The two worst ranked facilities in the state are in Allegany County: the Cumberland Health Care Center; and Sterling Care at Frostburg Village with just 41% and 44% respectively. Health Secretary Dennis…

The rising number of coronavirus cases coupled with a lag in vaccinations have some wondering if Governor Larry Hogan will re-impose a statewide mask mandate. Hogan is pushing back, saying he has no plans to move in that direction. Speaking with reporters following a scheduled event, Hogan said the only action the state needs to take is to get more people vaccinated.…                                           

 Allegany County Sheriff’s Deputies on Monday were dispatched to a Baltimore Pike residence for a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival officers, through the main entrance door, observed controlled dangerous substances and CDS activity. Deputies were greeted at the door by 25  year-old Barbara Ann Blow. She exited the residence, slamming the door behind her in an effort to keep police from entering. Blow was placed under arrest. Police entered the residence and located 37 year old Christopher Scott Athey who was attempting to conceal CDS. A warrant was obtained and a search of the property led to the discovery of Heroin/Fentanyl, and…