Today is the deadline for public school systems in Maryland to submit “back to school” plans to the state- and the Allegany County Board of Education is expected to officially approve a plan during a special meeting this morning. After much debate at a meeting last week, the board voted 3-2 to essentially follow the state guidance- that being to recommend but not require face coverings. That plan was tentatively approved despite warnings from health officials that the COVID-19 numbers are rising and transmission in a school setting could easily lead to mass quarantines. Allegany County Health Officer Jenelle Mayer…

Families can prepare to have fun at the City Center Summer Celebration set for Saturday, August 14 beginning at 2 p.m.  The Allegany County Library System, Allegany Arts Council, Queen City Creamery and Civil Air Patrol will offer activities along with sidewalk sales set up by downtown merchants from 2 to 4 p.m. Embassy Theater Players will take the stage from 4 to 4:30 p.m., followed by Risque Rock ‘N Roll, the Queen City Antique Car Club show and Lost Mountain BBQ food vendor from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Downtown Development Commission and Downtown…

A proposed $26 billion settlement with opioid producers could bring as much as $485 million to Maryland to help address the opioid epidemic.  Attorney General Brian Frosh said the settlement will require reforms of industry practices. He said that while this settlement cannot undo the harm suffered by millions of Americans who have been hurt by the opioid epidemic, it is an important step forward. Maryland and other states have been investigating allegations that the three largest opioid distributors in the nation and Johnson & Johnson, have engaged in a variety of illegal promotional activities while distributing many more drugs…

Although they have until 2024 to spend it- the Allegany County Commissioners have begun preliminary discussions on how to best utilize it portion of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act funds.  Passed by Congress, the federal aid package is intended to combat the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total, an estimated $362 billion will go to state and local governments across the country. Allegany County will receive a total of $13.6 million- being issued in two equal portion over two years. Reviewing five pages of requests and potential projects- the county officials and staff…

Allegany County 911 has dispatched several fire units to the Hyndman area to help with a structure fire in that Pennsylvania community.

On 08/11/21 the Cumberland Police Department was contacted by a concerned citizen in reference to a check on well being complaint. The complainant advised that they had dropped 40 year old Angela Redovian off at the Canal Place area in the morning hours on 08/10/21 due to Redovian wanting to walk the C&O canal from Cumberland to Washington DC. The complainant has not heard from Redovian causing concern. It is not believed that Redovian is in any type of immediate danger at this time. Redovian is described as a white female, 5'10, 150lbs  last seen wearing a black shirt and…

On Thursday  morning at 10:30 a.m. units from the Cumberland Police & Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash at South Mechanic Street and Howard Street.  Upon arrival, it was learned that the operator of a vehicle had driven under a tractor and trailer as it was making a right hand turn from Howard Street onto S. Mechanic Street.   As a result, the vehicle became wedged under the trailer of the truck. The driver of the passenger vehicle, Douglas Dorsey was escorted from the vehicle by members of the Cumberland Fire Department; he was eventually transported to UPMC with non-life threatening…

Effective Monday, August 16, 2021 the Allegany County Library System will require facemasks to be worn by all library visitors over the age of two (2).    Allegany County has reached a community transmission level of "high" as of August 11, 2021 according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.  People in areas with a level of “substantial” or “high” community transmission rates are urged to wear masks in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.  After considering several factors, the Library Board of Trustees voted to reinstatea mask requirement in the library buildings at their monthly meeting on Tuesday. John…

On Wednesday August 11th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Jennifer Lynn Carlisle. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court when an officer completed an application for charges against Carlisle stemming from an incident on May 29th, 2021. During the incident officers responded to a Memorial Avenue address for a reported destruction of property complaint. Upon officers arrival they spoke with the victim who advised that Carlisle had broken into their vehicle and stole items from inside the vehicle. Officers interviewed a witness to the incident who identified Carlisle as the individual…

On July 2, there were 97 people hospitalized because of COVID-19 in the state and as of Wednesday the state reported that number had risen to 456. Health officials announced that Maryland has recorded 476,070 cases of COVID-19. That is 886 more than the day before. The majority of new coronavirus cases are in unvaccinated people. Bob Atlas, President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, told WBAL that the rise in hospitalizations is a concern, and clearly represents a move in the wrong direction.