A Mineral County resident has been sentenced for methamphetamine distribution. 33-year-old Samantha Jo Guinn, of Keyser, was sentenced to 60 months of incarceration for methamphetamine distribution according to Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. Guinn pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in October 2019. Guinn admitted to having more than 50 grams of “crystal” methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” in January 2019 In Grant County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the…

The Allegany County Health Department will offer another walk-in COVID vaccination clinic on Wednesday, August 4 on the ground floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD) From 9 a.m. to noon both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines will be offered for those age 18 and older.  Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. the Pfizer COVID vaccine will be available for those age 12 and older.  Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to be vaccinated.   Health officials continue to urge those who…

Garrett County Public Schools has posted the Draft Reopening and Recovery Plan for the beginning of the upcoming school year on the GCPS website at www.garrettcountyschools.org. GCPS is still processing and analyzing stakeholder feedback specific to the plan as well as monitoring the COVID 19 safety protocol guidance. Please understand that this draft plan is still under development and it is in draft form only. Also, it is very important to recognize that this plan may need to be adjusted based on our local COVID 19 metrics and the most current guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the…

On July 29th, 2021 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 100 block of Independence Street for a reported robbery, where the victim provided the location of the suspect. Officers arrived on scene and located Christopher Scott Cook where the victim had advised. Officers then spoke with the victim who advised that Cook had approached them and demanded money. When the victim did not comply, Cook struck them in the face with a rock and threatened them with a bladed weapon. Officers were able to locate evidence that corroborated the victim’s statements, and Cook’s involvement in the robbery….

State and local officials were on hand in front of City Hall for Thursday’s announcement of a new wireless communications systems for Allegany County first responders. The FirstNet network being implemented by AT& T will give the county the ability to prioritize communications during large-scale emergency incidents. The system will include cellular sites in Cresaptown, LaVale, Frostburg and at the National Guard facility on Brown Avenue in Cumberland. The sites ensure public demand for cellular connections will not  jam networks during emergencies and will expand communication along Interstate 68 and U.S. Route 220.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice Thursday announced a statewide initiative to study preparedness because of increases in infections of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and whether residents will need a booster shot. During his regular briefing, Justice reported that 100 of the more contagious Delta variant cases have been found in the state. The assessment will be called “Booster Battlfield Assessment” and will include a study by a task force of staffing and the status of personal protective equipment in hospitals and long-term care facilities; antibody supplies; available hospital beds and a voluntary evaluation of the antibodies in a person who…

Maryland Sixth District Congressman David Trone, who represents Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, hosted a conversation Thursday with US Representative John Sarbanes on voting rights reform.  Although currently in control of the White House and both houses of Congress, Democrats have no control over state legislatures- many of which have enacted laws that critics believe will restrict voting. Representative Sarbanes is the chairman of the Democracy Reform Task Force and the architect of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which passed the House earlier this year. He said that in his opinion, Republicans are acting in a brazen manner, making no effort to…

Baltimore County Schools have become the latest system in Maryland to announce that they will be moving to universal masking for all students and staff for the fall of the 2021-22 school year. This decision comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled back to previous mask recommendations, deciding that it would be better for all people in grades K-12 to wear masks. While no  decision has been made by the Allegany County Board of Education. Board president Crystal Bender tells WCBC News that a plan is likely to take shape after Tuesday’s meeting with local health officials…                                    …

With the pandemic winding down and a new project manager now in place, Canal Place officials are eager to see renewed momentum for the proposed River Park project. William Atkinson, retired from the Maryland Department of Planning, has been named project manager for the proposal which will see a whitewater course, walking track, docks and a viewing area along the Potomac River behind Canal Place. Although still in the planning and study phase, the project could advance on a fast track as federal, state and local government agencies have all been supportive. Canal Place Authority chair Janice Keene offered praise for the…

In a letter from the UPMC Cardiovascular Services Department, Internal Medicine Chairman Dr. Christopher Haas has recognized the health system’s EMS partners for their role in winning the American College of Cardiology’s “Chest Pain/MI Registry 2021 Platinum Performance Award” for the successful treatment of heart attack victims in the Western Maryland region. In writing the letter, Dr. Haas noted that this award is given to only the very best programs in the country and the only two hospital systems in Maryland received the 2021 award. “The road to recovery for our heart attack patients begins with you, and we are…