Troopers from the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack responded to a local tow business for a report of several individuals who took their vehicles that had been towed to the business without paying their bill.      Four vehicles had been towed by the tow company that had been blocking the garage doors at another local business and did not have permission to park at that business. Four individuals arrived in one vehicle at the tow company. One individual paid for her personal tow bill while three other individuals went directly to their vehicles and sped away from the tow…

 Maryland State Troopers from the McHenry Barrack responded to South Yoder Street in Grantsville, Maryland for a report of an individual slumped over the steering wheel of the vehicle.       Upon arrival Troopers made contact with Marvin Bowman, 38 years old, of Grantsville, Maryland who was slumped over the steering wheel of the running vehicle and appeared to be nodding off and confused. The Trooper recognized these actions as indicative of CDS use.      After ensuring Bowman did not need medical attention, and upon further investigation, Bowman was arrested and charged with related DUI and CDS offenses. Bowman was…

Since February 1, gas prices across Maryland have increased by at least 23 cents. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 27 cents since the start of the month, increasing nine cents just this week. Gas prices locally and nationally have increased due to longer-than-expected refinery outages as a result of last week’s winter storm that impacted the Gulf Coast.   The gas price average in Maryland today is $2.70, up respectively seven cents from last week, 23 cents in the last month, and 26 cents from this date last year.   Today’s national gas…

A new study released by Safehome.org looks at guns in the U.S. over the past 20 years and offers many breakdowns related West Virginia. Nationally, gun sales in 2020 increased by 158% from gun sales in 2000. Since 2000, gun sales have risen in every state, the majority increasing by triple digits, the study said. In 2020, West Virginia ranked 28th in gun sales, but when adjusted on a per capita basis, the state jumped to 5th. While experts expect West Virginia’s gun sales to be up about 20% over 2019, 2020 will actually be a down year compared to prior years…

The Maryland General Assembly gave final approval Friday to expanding a state tax credit for low-income workers to include immigrants, including some living in the country illegally who work and pay taxes in the state. The House of Delegates voted 91-44 for the measure already approved by the Senate, sending it to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Shareese DeLeaver-Churchill, a Hogan spokeswoman, wrote in an email the governor will review the legislation. The measure would extend the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income residents to people who use individual taxpayer identification numbers in addition to those who have Social Security numbers….

In accordance with the most recent Order of the Governor of Maryland dated February 23, 2021, “Outdoor venues at which sporting events occur (including, without limitation, major league, professional, minor league, semi-professional, amateur, recreational, motor sports, and collegiate sporting events) may open to the general public, provided, however, that the total number of persons permitted in an Outdoor Sporting Venue at any one time shall not exceed the lesser of (A) 50% of that Outdoor Sporting Venue’s Maximum Occupancy, or (B) 250 persons.”             Additionally, the order also states “The total number of spectators permitted in an indoor sports facility…

Allegany County Public Schools will begin the transition back to school buildings for concurrent in-person/hybrid learning on the following schedule: Monday, March 1, 2021 – Students in Grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1; students failing or failing to engage in virtual learning; and identified students with special needs (M, T, W, Th; and Friday all virtual) Monday, March 8, 2021 – Students in Grades 2-5, 6, 9, 12 (See details below) Monday, March 15, 2021 – Students in Grades 7, 8, 10, 11 (See details below)             Students in Grades 2-5, 6-8, and 9-12 will report to school Monday through…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that, to date, 9,904 Allegany County residents (14.1% of the county population) have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 6,539 (9.3%) having received both doses.  Comparatively, the Maryland Department of Health reports that 13.2% of all Marylanders have received their first vaccine dose, and 7.1% have received both doses.    ACHD reports 7 new COVID cases since Monday, bringing the county’s cumulative case count to 6,400.  One additional death was recorded, bringing the cumulative number of COVID fatalities to 198 for Allegany County.  The current case rate in Allegany County…

Governor Larry Hogan today joined State Superintendent Karen Salmon for a visit to Easton Elementary School in Talbot County. With funding, guidance, and support from the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Health, schools across Maryland continue to reopen safely for in-person instruction.Governor Hogan again emphasized the public health mitigation practices in place to protect teachers, staff and students, including clarification of the school masking policy. The governor’s new executive order announced this week clarifies that masks are required for anyone over the age of 5 in any area of a school setting where interaction is…

On February 25, 2021 at 11:48 am, officers from the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 700 block of Park Street for a theft.  When officers arrived, they contacted an employee who advised that they had observed Walter Taylor, age 61 of Cumberland, Maryland, checkout and not pay for several items.  The property was returned to the business, and Taylor was subsequently arrested. Taylor was then issued a Criminal Citation for Theft under $100 and released pending trial in District Court.   On February 25, 2021 at 5:08 pm, officers from the Cumberland Police Department responded to…