With unprecedented levels of reserve funds in place- one member of the Allegany County Board of Education is advocating that those dollars be invested in programs to help students, teachers and administrators immediately as opposed to simply banking the money.  As a result of the Kirwan Education reforms- the local school system learned this month it would be in receipt of an additional $700,000 from Allegany County.  With students having just gone through a pandemic and an opioid crisis still impacting the region- board member Deb Frank says a proactive approach to addressing these issues should be a priority…                                  …

Update 12:45 PM – US 220 has been reopened after a 25 minute shut down. The Joint Communications Center of Allegany County says US Route 220 has been shutdown in Cresaptown at Warrior Drive due to a motor vehicle collision.   Units were dispatched to the scene at around 12:20 PM.  Fire, EMS and police are on the scene.    

 Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:30 PM, an officer from the Cumberland City Police Department was patrolling the 100 block of Independence Street when they observed what appeared to be a CDS transaction. The officer contacted Hadley Star Jenkins and began investigating. The officer requested permission to check Jenkins purse and she placed it on the ground and opened it. The officer observed suspected CDS in plain sight and advised Jenkins she was under arrest. Jenkins began pushing the officer and attempted to resist arrest. Jenkins was placed under arrest after a brief struggle. A search incident to arrest was conducted…

On Saturday at approximately 1:30 PM, an officer from the Cumberland City Police Department was on a uniformed bicycle patrol in the area of the Western Maryland Train Station. The officer heard three individuals yelling and went to investigate. The officer separated the parties and began getting their sides of the story. While interviewing the other parties, Ryan Andrew Roach continued to yell and interrupt the officer. The officer warned Roach to stop yelling several times. The subjects separated and started walking in opposite directions. As the officer was leaving he observed Roach approach one of the other subjects and again…

A couple of traffic accidents reported midday Saturday. Southbound Route 220 was blocked in the area of Hannah Plaza for about an hour, and another mishap shut down Mount Savage Road for less than an hour. Later, a car fire was reported on Interstate 68 near the 46 mile marker. That shut down the eastbound lanes just before 6 PM. A water main break in the area of Wendy's on Cumberland's South Centre Street cause some issues on Saturday afternoon. Water crews from the city were dispatched to fix the main. Most often, water main breaks occur during the winter…

The Health Metrics Map from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is practically all green when it comes to COVID-19. Locally, Mineral, Hampshire, Morgan, Grant & Hardy Counties were among the 53 counties in the green. Only two counties are in the yellow designation, Lincoln and Mingo, and they are located in the southwestern area of the state. The mask mandate was dropped last weekend, and officials are monitoring the numbers.

Young Brayden Pielert got to go fishing with his dad at a nearby pond and the smile on his face says it all. Photo by Noah Pielert                           Summer is in full swing and those who have been sequestered by pandemic, work, or school are flocking to the outdoors. Maryland State Parks are having another busy season, and just viewing the weekend traffic headed towards the beaches or western mountains makes it clear folks want to get out and do something. Many Marylanders are also finding plenty of outdoor recreation…

Remember when you were a kid and you had a slip and slide in the front yard? It would kill the grass under in, and there would be a big mud spot at the beginning of it, but it provided hours of fun. Now as an adult when you want a slip and slide you get a tarp, some soap, and beers! If you want have the world record for longest slip and slide you get the pros to do it! Natty Light wants to bring the Guinness World Record for longest slip and slide back to America this 4th…

On Friday at approximately 8:00 PM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of Bedford Street for an assault. Upon arrival officers contacted the victim and learned they were assaulted by David Earl Troutman Jr. The victim advised Mr. Troutman threw them against a door and then strangled them. Officers observed injuries consistent with an assault. Mr. Troutman was placed under arrest without issue. Mr. Troutman was taken before a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. The victim did not require medical treatment while on scene.   Arrested – David…

Fans and air conditioners that may have been idle over the past few days across the northeastern United States will get another workout as temperatures will be on the rise into the weekend. AccuWeather forecasters say the mercury will climb even higher by early next week, and many areas along the Interstate 95 corridor will experience the second official heat wave of the season. On Monday and Tuesday, hot and humid air will expand and intensify across the Northeast with temperatures ranging from 95-100 from Maine to Virginia, while cities such as Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., may see temperatures…