On Saturday at approximately 3:00 PM, Cumberland City Police were dispatched to a business in the 700 block of Park Street for a shoplifting complaint. Upon arrival officers spoke to a loss prevention employee. The employee advised they witnessed Angela Francine Growden place items inside her purse while in the store.  Growden then utilized the self checkout line of the store and did not purchase the items.  Growden was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial in District Court.   Arrested – Angela Francine Growden (58) Cumberland, MD Charge – Theft less than $100.00

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has posted the November 14, 2020, Saturday Education Map that determines which counties will hold in-person and blended instruction and directs the level of extracurricular activities permitted. The map is developed with information from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and vetted by the COVID-19 Data Review Panel. The weekly updates are posted at https://wvde.us/reentrymetrics. County plans should be reviewed for additional requirements. Red (Substantial Community Transmission): Counties must move to remote learning. No extracurricular competitions or practices are permitted. Staff may report to their schools, as determined by the…

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), led 25 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package.   Established in 1990, TPS is a renewable program that allows foreign nationals to legally live and work in the United States if they are unable to safely return to their home country due to…

Charlie Amos has died at the age of 90. Amos was a multi talented man who rose through the ranks to the management of the Western Maryland Railway, later found his way to the directorship of both the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.  He was a railroad artist of great renown, and most recently wrote a book about his life, “Iron Horses and Paintbrushes.”

Back in August, Cumberland Police investigated damage to the parking gate at the parking garage on George Street. After viewing surveillance video, police identified 23 year old Garrett Knisely as a suspect and filed charges through District Court. On Friday, police served Knisely with the charging documents, which allege Malicious Destruction of Property and Theft of less than $100.

1:15 PM – Units have cleared the scene.  WCBC;s Chris Myers reports that the problem involved a clean break of a pressurized line believed to have been servicing the kitchen area of the former Manhatten Social. INITIAL REPORT:   WCBC's Chris Myers reports that the Cumberland Fire Department is investigating the cause of an odor or gas on Merchants Alley. As a precaution, some residents in that area are being evacuated. We'll monitor the situation. 

Bishop Walsh School made the move to distance learning on Friday, and will continue remote learning until the Thanksgiving break. Technically, the distance learning will run through November 24, and then the students would go on Thanksgiving break. We'll have further details as they become available.

Friday afternoon at 12:21 PM, members of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Upper Georges Creek Road near James Forest Trail for a single vehicle accident with entrapment. Upon arrival, Deputies found that a 2005 Ford Taurus had run off of the roadway and struck a tree causing severe damage to the drivers’ side of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle Kelli Melissa Wills, aged 35, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS. An Accident reconstructionist and a medical examiner was requested to the scene and responded. The preliminary investigation…

On August 8th, Cumberland City Police responded to the parking garage on George Street for damage to the parking gate. Officers reviewed the surveillance video and observed the suspect lift the gate by hand locking it in the upright position and then parking their vehicle inside the parking garage without paying the fee. When the gate was lifted manually it damaged internal parts which needed repaired. Officers were able to identify the suspect as Garrett Lane Kniseley. Charges were filed through District Court and a criminal summons was issued. On Friday. the summons was served on Kniseley.   Kniseley signed for his copies…

The Allegany County Health Department reports 317 new cases of COVID-19 and three deaths in Allegany County since Monday, bringing the county’s total cumulative case count to 1,470 and the death toll from the disease to 30.  Due to the extremely high number of new cases, an age breakdown was not immediately available.  However, the health department will continue to provide those details in the future whenever possible.   On Wednesday, the Allegany County Health Department and Maryland Department of Health partnered to offer ongoing COVID-19 testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  The hours for this free drive-thru testing are 2…