Governor Larry Hogan today announced that COVID-19 ICU levels in the State of Maryland have dropped below 200 for the first time since November 12. Overall, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state have fallen by more than 60% since peaking close to  2,000 in January, to 765 (570 acute, 195 ICU). Since the third wave peak, the state’s positivity rate has dropped by 61.7%, and the case rate has dropped by 74.3%.

On March 11,  members of the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force, with the assistance of the Frostburg City Police Department, Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. Team and Allegany County Sheriff’s Office executed a search and seizure warrant in the Bowery Street area of Frostburg, MD. The search warrant was the result of a six-month investigation by the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force into the distribution and sales of fentanyl in the Allegany County area. During the subsequent search, Allegany County Narcotics Task Force investigators located large amounts of fentanyl, CDS packaging materials and U.S. Currency. The approximate street value of the…

A recorded message phoned to parents of Flintstone area students regarding back to school plans has caused some confusion.   Allegany County School Board vice president Bob Farrell joined WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Friday morning to clarify the issue,  

The City of Cumberland has responded to an ongoing dispute with Allegany Medical Marijuana on Beall Street by re-installing a guardrail, blocking an area in which the owner, George Merling, had cut into the existing floodwall to construct a drive-thru for the business. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss told WCBC News the Army Corps of Engineers previously notified the city Merling had directed workers to cut into the earthen flood wall, thereby weakening the strength of the wall. Morriss said Merling had been warned about the situation on several occasions. Merling joined WCBC's "Dave Norman Show" Friday to give his side of…

On 3/1/2021 at approximately 3:00 AM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to a residence on West First Street for a destruction of property complaint. During the incident officers learned that one of the victim’s tire had been cut. The officer conducted an investigation and developed Samantha Leigh Smith as the suspect. The officer filed charges through District Court and an arrest warrant was issued. On 3/11/2021 Ms. Smith was arrested on the warrant. Ms. Smith was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on a $2,500.00 unsecured bond.   Arrested – Samantha Leigh Smith (33) Cumberland, MD…

In February it was reported that the Federal Railroad Administration had ordered the replacement of railroad ties between Cumberland and Frostburg- with an estimated price tag of more than $2 million. With concerns growing on the part of county officials- and no firm dates established as to when the scenic railroad can begin operations again or when steam engine 1309 will be ready- the Allegany County Commissioners are planning to takeover track maintenance. A lack of confidence in railroad management has been evident for sometime as the county commissioners had a performance audit conducted in 2019- and just two months…

The City of Cumberland is inviting members of the public to join a special live-streamed event Tuesday, March 23, at 10:00AM, during which the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project will be discussed.  Mayor Ray Morriss and the project’s designer, William Cochran, will provide a status report on the $9.7 million project.  The hope remains that a groundbreaking ceremony can be scheduled for late summer. While the project highlights involves reopening Baltimore Street to vehicular traffic and limited parking; a new streetscape including parklets, trees and a variety of flowers and shrubs- the real benefit will be the replacement of aging underground utility lines and…

President Biden on Thursday signed his sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package into law. The passage of the bill Wednesday  marked the first major legislative achievement of the new administration and a Congress that is now under full Democratic control, with narrow majorities in the House and Senate. While many argued that the amount was too large and not COVID relief focused enough, Senator Ben Cardin fully supported the measure noting that the country is not close to recovering from the economic collapse caused by the pandemic- and millions of Americans are struggling to survive. The Maryland Democrat said given the unpredictable nature of…

While Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has been calling on school systems to reopen and return kids to the classrooms, it’s been somewhat of a mixed message, as both the CDC and the state health department recommend schools implement policies to maintain six feet between students, staff and others who are not living in the same household.  While the Allegany County Board of Education has approved an  incremental transition plan for returning kids to schools, board vice president Robert Farrell told WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Thursday that given the guidance coming from state and federal health officials, a full return wouldn’t be prudent at…

Allegany County is on board and ready to go along with Governor Larry Hogan's latest executive order on reopening. The order, which takes effect at 5 p.m. Friday, will lift capacity limits on nearly all establishments. Large venues, including theaters, concert venues and sporting venues, will be able to operate at half capacity. Quarantine requirements and other restrictions on out-of-state travel are also lifted. Though capacity limits are lifted for bars and restaurants, they must still maintain physical distancing between parties under Hogan's order. Parties must be seated and tables must be arranged at least six feet apart. Booths must…