City Police have provided an update on the homicide and arson investigation of December 2nd that occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue in Cumberland.  The deceased victim has been positively identified as Isaiah Michael Hagans, Age 25, of Baltimore, MD.  As a result of the forensic autopsy Mr. Hagans was found to have died from gunshot wounds in addition to trauma cause by the fire.    The Cumberland Police Department as well as the rest of the investigative team continue to investigate the case working to develop as much information as possible about the incident.  If anyone has any information about this…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of December 3, 2021, there are currently 7,673 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 17 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 4,962 deaths attributed to COVID-19.     DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 88-year old female from Pendleton County, a 31-year old female from Marshall County, a 59-year old male from Lincoln County, a 92-year old female from Marshall County, a 63-year old female from Lewis County, a 70-year old female from Kanawha County, an 83-year old male from Ohio County, a…

      Photo by Duane Tucker                                 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported 10,419 deer taken on the opening weekend of the 2021 Maryland firearm season, Nov. 27-28. The overall harvest was 6% lower than last year’s official opening weekend harvest of 11,123 deer, as windy conditions prevailed.  The harvest total included 4,780 antlered and 5,289 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 168 antlered and 182 antlerless sika deer. The two-week deer firearm season runs through Dec. 11. “Hunters experienced windy conditions in many parts…

Warrant Served   On December 3rd, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Cassandra Kay Porter, age 40 of Cumberland, MD, for failing to comply with conditions of release.  Porter was transported to Central Booking for an initial bond hearing, and held at the Allegany County Detention Center without bond.   Cassandra Kay Porter, age 40, Cumberland, MD                                      Charges:  Fail to Comply     Assault Arrest   On December 3rd, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Columbia Street residence for a reported assault.  Upon arrival officers made contact with the female victim,…

The Allegany County COVID-19 case rate is currently 44.43 cases per 100,000 population, more than double the state rate of 19.39.  Other Western Maryland counties are also experiencing COVID case rates well above the state average with Garrett County at 64.01 cases per 100,000 population and Washington County at 62.14 cases per 100,000.   Health officials continue to encourage county residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  Vaccines and booster doses are available locally at pharmacies, urgent care clinics and some primary care providers. The Allegany County Health Department is offering the following COVID-19 vaccinations on a walk-in basis every Wednesday…

The number of deaths in Maryland tied to COVID-19 now tops 11,000, including 11 since yesterday. Maryland reports 1,700 new cases have been reported since yesterday, and it's the third day in a row the daily increase has been above 1,000. Hospitalizations are up to 762 and the seven-day positivity rate is 5.48%, the highest since early September. As for vaccinations, nearly 90% of the adult population 18 and over have received the first dose of vaccine, and as state officials attempt to get young children vaccinated, the health department finds just over 23% of kids ages 5 to 11…

A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to his role in a bid to victimize businesses and cause losses totaling more than $4 million through a stolen check scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland says in a news release that Oyekanmi Oworu, 35, of Hyattsville pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to his guilty plea, between February 2017 and July 2020, Oworu conspired with his co-defendant and others to get checks made out to legitimate businesses, then fraudulently register shell companies to obtain state business certificates in the identical or similar name…

State health officials confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Maryland. The omicron variant's presence in Maryland was confirmed by the Maryland Department of Health Public Health Laboratory, in collaboration with partner laboratories. All three of the cases involve individuals from the Baltimore area – two cases are from the same household, including a vaccinated individual who recently traveled to South Africa and an unvaccinated person who was a close contact of that individual. One unrelated case involves a vaccinated individual with no known recent travel history. None of the three individuals are hospitalized. Comprehensive contact tracing efforts…

Robert A. Godfrey, Behavioral Health Therapist, UPMC Western Maryland, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chamber in 2022.  James S. Crowder, Manager, External Affairs, FirstEnergy, will serve as the Chamber’s First Vice Chairman, Parika Andreassen, Owner, Hampton Inn Frostburg will serve as the Second Vice Chairwoman and Nicole R. Wigfield, Vice President Finance, Skypacket Networks, will serve as Past Chairwoman.                  Newly elected members to the board were Ahmad H. Ahmad, Assistant General Manager, Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Catie M. Brenneman, Program Coordinator, Healing Allegany, AHEC West, Marisa Bowen Miller, Senior Talent Acquisition…

Today, U.S. Congressman David Trone and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) announced $1,202,449 in new American Rescue Plan funding for the Hagerstown Regional Airport ($1,143,449) and the Frederick Municipal Airport ($59,000). The federal relief funds will be used to cover costs of operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and to prevent the spread of pathogens at the airport amid the COVID-19 pandemic.   “Investing in our airports supports our local economies and helps drive business in the region,” said the lawmakers. “That’s why we fought to pass the American Rescue Plan and…