National Night Out will be held this evening, with local events scheduled in South Cumberland, at Bel Air Elementary School, and at the Garrett County Fair in McHenry from 5 until 8 PM. In Cumberland, it's the 7th Annual National Night Out and activities will be centered on East First Street, near the Salvation Army. There will be plenty of activities and chances to have some fun with local law enforcement at each of the events, which are free of charge. In South End, events will include a dunk tank, featuring County Commissioner Dave Caporale, Mayor Ray Morriss, Councilman Eugene…

We should have a better idea as to how Allegany County Public Schools will deal with COVID-19 issues when schools reopen after a meeting this afternoon at 3:00 at the central offices. Those wishing to attend in person were to have signed up by yesterday. Email comments will be considered if they are received by noon today. Recommendations on how to proceed with the school year will be made by Superintendent Jeff Blank. The CDC has recommended that all students in grades K-12 wear masks while indoors at school. Some systems down state have already said they will continue to…

The Maryland Department of Health has reported that the total hospitalizations in the state stands at 281, the highest level in two months. The seven-day positivity rate is at 3.23%, the highest in nearly three months. Ater three days of gains above 500, the number of new cases reported as of this morning is 447. No additional deaths were reported. Additionally, nearly 3000 people who had been vaccinated had tested positive for COVID-19. Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Shrader tells WCBC News that his department plans to launch a new advertising campaign to push for higher vaccination rates in Mountain Maryland……

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has spent plenty of time on the Senate floor bemoaning the lack of cooperation leading to stalemates on projects and funding he considers to be critical to his constituents. This week, with the Senate poised to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill, he sounded a more upbeat tone…   Senator Manchin is considered a key vote as fellow Democrats try to push through a measure which would expand the definition of infrastructure to social programs such as child care.

Although there have only been a handful of Delta Variant COVID cases in our immediate area, the problems associated with the variant are right on our door step. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced yesterday that the Delta Variant is spreading through his state, and the highest numbers so far are in the Martinsburg area. Dr. Clay Marsh said Delta is spreading more quickly and gave the latest guidance at a news briefing attended by WCBC yesterday…  

Allegany College of Maryland is offering $100 Campus Bookstore gift cards and a shot at $500 for vaccinated students enrolled in classes at the college this fall. Starting August 4, students may show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination any of the college’s vaccination clinics, the Nurse Managed Wellness Clinic (Allied Health Building, Room 115), or the Student Services Office at the ACM Bedford County Campus to redeem their $100 gift card. The gift card may be used at the Campus Bookstore in-person or online at bookstore.allegany.edu.   Vaccinated students who learn remotely may also redeem their $100 Bookstore gift card using the Nurse Managed…

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced an update on the top 10 and bottom 10 nursing home facilities in the state ranked by percentage of staff with at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 and highly contagious variants. MDH also announced 14 nursing home facilities in the state that did not submit adequate staff COVID-19 vaccination data as required by the state.    On May 4, 2021, the Maryland Department of Aging launched the Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccination Dashboard, which weekly publishes data on residents and staff vaccinated against COVID-19 at each of the skilled nursing…

Men's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Dennis Gibson announced today he has decided he will not return to Garrett College for a 37th season as Head Basketball Coach. "It's a bittersweet decision. The program is at its highest level ever and my assistant coaches and I have left it in a very good place. Coach Hoffman and Coach Hegeman did a great job of recruiting and we had a strong nucleus returning.” Gibson said that his future is a bit up in the air. “I am not sure I am done coaching, I have had a few schools reach out…

Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dennis Schrader commented this week on a recent news release of staff vaccination rates at long term care facilities.  The results that survey show staff COVID vaccination levels at two Allegany County facilities, Cumberland Healthcare Center and Sterling Care, of Frosburg, were the lowest in the state. WCBC News asked Secretary Schrader if the purpose of the survey was to shame low ranked facilities to improve…  

Nearly 2,500 Marylanders lost their lives in opioid-related deaths last year, according to a new state report, and that represents the largest annual total on record. Allegany County has experienced the largest increase in the state. The overall numbers for the region are skyrocketing, up more than 45%. Allegany County Emergency Services Director Jim Pyles, addressing the problem during a recent appearance on WCBC, said that not only are the number of cases spiking- so is the cost to his department…