The Allegany County Board of Education Tuesday approved a back to school plan that strongly recommends, but does not require masking. By a 3-2 vote, following nearly two hours of discussion, the board approved a plan for in-person, weekday instruction for the school year which begins August 25th. The board meeting began with a presentation from Allegany County Health Officer Janelle Mayer and deputy director Jennifer Corder. Given the county’s low vaccination rates for the general population as well as for students- both strongly advised that students and teachers wear a face covering to start the school year- with the goal…

Governor Larry Hogan announced this week that grants in the amount of $6 million would be spread through various counties in Maryland to help fight the increasing heroin and opioid addiction in the state, along with supporting the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network and heroin coordinators. Allegany County will receive more than $280,000. Hogan said that the funding will support a statewide effort to address the heroin and opioid public health crisis in an integrated investigative manner, and to stop criminal organizations from bringing illegal guns and drugs into communities. The governor says the fight against opioids must be a total team…

As per the directive from the University System of Maryland- Frostburg State University will require students, faculty and staff who will be on campus in the fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19. With students arriving on campus as early as next week, FSU President Dr Ron Nowacyzk joined WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” to provide a COVID/Campus protocol update. He said that exemptions will be granted for medical or religious reasons…

Maryland's COVID-19 numbers are rising as the delta variant becomes a greater concern. The State Health Department reports total COVID related hospitalizations in Maryland is nearing 300, the highest in two months. The seven-day positivity rate is at 3.23%, the highest in nearly three months. The health department reported, as of last week Maryland detected 266 delta variant cases. As for vaccines, the state health department reports close to 78% of adults have received at least one dose, nearly 3.6-million people are fully vaccinated. The vaccination numbers for Allegany County continue to lag significantly behind the state numbers. Despite those trends,…

Fire damaged the Redman’s Club in Westernport overnight.  Units from Allegany, Garrett and Mineral Counties responded to the scene.  Route 135 was shut down in the area for a few hours.  No injuries were reported.  The damage appears to be extensive.  The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

Officials with the Allegany County Health Department on Tuesday recommended that masking be required at the start of the school year in Allegany County, The board is expected to officially release its plan on Friday.

Governor Larry Hogan today touted a transformative partnership between US Wind and Tradepoint Atlantic to expand the development of offshore wind energy in Maryland—including the state’s most ambitious clean energy project to date, helping to put the state well on track to meet its renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Allegany County Public Schools continue to develop plans for traditional in-person learning Monday-Friday for the fall 2021-2022 school year. A draft of the 2021-2022 Reopening Plan will be published on the ACPS website by August 6, 2021.  All reopening plans are to be submitted to the MSDE by August 13, 2021. Wearing a face covering remains a requirement for drivers and students on school buses by order of the CDC  All staff and parents are encouraged to make the best decision for their own personal health and safety, and the health and safety of students. ACPS will maintain physical distancing as…

The We Are Fort Hill Committee will hold a luncheon to honor the 2020 and 2021 Fort Hill Hall of Fame inductees on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at noon in the school’s Media Center, 500 Greenway Ave., Cumberland.   Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 are Dr. Susan Babcock Stanton (Class of 1974); Carl Ray Harbaugh (Class of 1957); Stephen B. Jones (Class of 1969); and Glen Ray (Class of 1957). The 2021 inductees are David R. Lohr (Class of 1971) and Melvin Lee Ritter (Class of 1955).    Honorees for the Deeds, Not Words Award, named for the school…

Allegany High School student, Peyton McDonald, has earned a spot on the 2021-2022 Maryland Center for School Safety's Student Focus Group. She was selected as one of only 25 Maryland students that applied. These student leaders will now follow in the footsteps of the twelve inaugural members of the group, whose one-year terms ended in June.    This student focus group was created to ensure that Maryland students have the opportunity to provide feedback and recommendations regarding school safety issues that are relevant to them. Last year's student group discussed student stress/school safety, met with national and state experts in school safety, learned about school…