In response to a series of directives issued by Governor Hogan Tuesday for all hospitals in Maryland, UPMC Western Maryland issued the following statement: "UPMC Western Maryland is in full compliance with the state of Maryland directives and will continue to cooperate with the Maryland Department of Health in order to keep our patients and staff safe. Over the past months we have optimized our operations so that we can quickly scale up our ability to handle increasing cases of COVID-19 in our communities. When one area needs assistance, the whole system can respond to aid. UPMC Western Maryland remains prepared to…

On Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department responded to an Ascension Street residence for the report of an assault.  When officers arrived, they spoke with a female victim and observed she had a facial injury.  The victim told officers that her son, Jesse Lee Hausrath struck her several times until “he got tired”.  Hausrath was arrested and charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was held without bond.  The female victim did have to seek medical treatment for her injuries sustained in the assault.   Jesse Lee Hausrath, age;…

  Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, his voice cracking with emotion, announcing the death of the state’s youngest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic to date. Saying that things may get worse before they get better, Hogan made the focus of the afternoon briefing the current surge of coronavirus cases burdening the state's hospitals, and announced a series of measures to ensure Maryland is prepared for an intensifying surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations…   The state has launched a website, MarylandMedNow.com, to recruit health care professionals and support staffers, in an effort to boost the state’s capacity to assist with screening, testing, treatment and…

Friday’s first ever virtual holiday tree lighting ceremony in downtown Cumberland went so well, Mayor Ray Morriss said he thinks the city should consider continuing live streaming the event in future years – even when things return to normal. The event, which routinely draws upward to a thousand people downtown on the day after Thanksgiving, had to be done virtually this year due to the COVID-19 crowd restrictions. During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Mayor Morriss said he was pleased with the finished product. It was a light agenda for the council with just a few business items handled. Those included approving the…

Allegany County Board of Education member Robert Farrell says he wants to see kids return to the classroom, suggesting that virtual learning is simply not working. After a virtual start to the school year, the Allegany County Public School System was in the midst of a gradual return to the classroom for students when the COVID-19 numbers spiked dramatically. That forced the school board, on the advice of state and local health officials, to return to the distance learning program.  The board is now making learning program decisions on a week-to-week basis. Appearing on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show,"  Farrell said he believes…

Six Marylanders lost their lives to fire in recent weeks, with hoarding conditions discovered in three during the course of the investigations. Hoarding is defined as collecting or keeping large amounts of various items in the home due to strong urges to save them or distress experienced when discarding them. This behavior can lead to the piling up of items like newspapers, magazines, empty containers, old clothing, paper, rotting food, animals, and occasionally animal manure inside or around a house.  “Our biggest goal is the life safety and health of not only of the person living within the home but anyone…

Earlier this year, the City of Cumberland made available for purchase 20 City-owned real estate parcels through a Sealed Bid Sale Process. The application process for this program evaluated the vision and plan for a return properties to the private sector for their highest and best use. Of the 20 properties originally made available for sale, the City is in the process of closing on 9 of the properties that were bid upon and the new owners will be taking possession of the property shortly. The remaining 11 properties have recently been opened back up for sale with proposals being…

Allegany College of Maryland will celebrate the accomplishments of 185 fall graduates during its virtual ceremony at 7 p.m. on December 18. The college has selected Jillian Kroon of Berlin, Pennsylvania, and Shana Thomas of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, to provide the student commence address. Their pre-recorded speeches will be shared during the virtual ceremony that will be livestreamed on ACM’s Facebook page @alleganycollegeofmaryland. A Facebook account is not needed to view the event.    Kroon, a medical administrative assistant major within the Allied Health program, graduates with an Associate of Applied Science degree. She earned a Medical Administrative Assistant – Medical Coding…

Tuesday morning, the Maryland Department of Health reported over 200,000 confirmed coronavirus cases with the addition of 2,765 cases. WBAL reports that Tuesday marks the 28th consecutive day that Maryland has had 1,000 or more daily confirmed cases. The positivity rate is currently 7.33%, up .47% from Monday. To date, 4, 516 people have been confirmed to die from coronavirus or coronavirus-related complications. There are 1,583 people currently hospitalized with 350 in intensive care.  Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m., Hogan will give a coronavirus update at his news conference.  

 Potomac Edison has installed new interior fencing at an Allegany County substation to help deter climbing animals and protect against electrical equipment interference that can cause power outages. The fencing was installed at the Thomas Street substation in Cumberland, around the 433-foot perimeter of the equipment, to help keep electricity safely flowing to customers while keeping animals out of harm’s way. Next to weather-related damage, animal intrusions are the most common cause of substation outages. Unlike other types of animal traps and deterrents, the special fencing installed by Potomac Edison prevents a wide range of climbing animals – including squirrels,…