Allegany County Board of Education member Robert Farrell tells WCBC News that he feels media coverage of the school board- and certain members- may be somewhat slanted. Referring to a recent Cumberland Times News article which reported that neither Farrell nor member David Bohn wore masks during a recent meeting- Farrell confirmed that apparently a followup story on that same subject is being pursued. He says a Times News reported has contacted the superintendent with questions about the type of mask that Bohn has worn to board sessions. Earlier a Times News article had made mention of Bohn wearing casual…

The Allegany County Health Department has announced that Allegany County kids age 18 and under can now receive free drive-up COVID-19 testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds Multipurpose Building Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.  This testing is expected to be available through the fall. The health department would like to thank the Allegany County Commissioners for their support of this important public health effort and for allowing us to use the fairgrounds to offer this testing to our youth. Since Wednesday, Allegany County has had thirteen new cases of COVID-19, with the majority of those cases involving…

The first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in an Allegany County, Maryland resident occurred on April 1, 2020.  As of September 30, 2020, 18,417 Allegany County residents had been tested for COVID-19 and received results (26.2% of the total population, based on a 2019 count of 70,416 people living in the county). Cumulative total case counts for Allegany County at that time were 483 positive tests and 24 deaths.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has installed a year-round early warning system at Jennings Randolph Lake intended to notify downstream public users of impending rapid increases in water levels, and to evacuate the river immediately to higher ground for their safety.   "Public safety is the Army Corps' absolute top priority," said Ken Fernandez, Jennings Randolph Lake operations project manager. "Jennings Randolph Lake is authorized for multiple purposes, and this new warning system ensures continued safe recreation for our visitors and communities downstream of the lake."   The siren will wail at a high frequency for six…

The NFL has rescheduled the Pittsburgh-Tennessee game postponed from Sunday to Oct. 25 in Week 7, and the Steelers now will play Baltimore on Nov. 1 as a result of the Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak. The league announced the scheduling changes Friday, hours after the Titans’ outbreak expanded by two more players to a total of 14 within the past week. Week 8 had been the bye week for both Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

The Frostburg State University baseball team is in quarantine after five players tested positive Thursday for COVID-19. Based on the results of contact tracing, the Allegany County Health Department provided guidance to the university to quarantine the whole team. The Cumberland Times News reports that practices were suspended when the positive results were received and all members of the baseball team were tested. "All of us at Frostburg State University appreciate our partnership with the Allegany County Health Department for their public health guidance throughout the COVID pandemic, and we look for continued collaboration as we all work to ensure…

Ed Dawson, a retired teacher and one time president of the Allegany County Teachers Associaton, has passed away. A Fort Hill graduate in 1954, Dawson taught english at Fort Hill, Washington and the Career Center. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced

Maryland State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in investigating several fatal hit-and-run crashes that have been reported over the past eight months. These crashes occurred between Feb. 29 and Sept. 27 in Howard, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties. None of these cases are believed to be connected. The most recent case occurred between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 in Howard County. According to investigators, the suspect vehicle struck three people who had been involved in two other crashes moments prior to the fatal incident. The series of three crashes occurred on southbound Interstate-95 near Route 100.  The…

On Thursday, October 1st, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Columbia Avenue residence for the report of a disturbance.  When officers arrived, yelling could be heard from inside the residence.  Officers then contacted a male with an injury to his lip who stated that Cindy L. Conners struck him during an argument.  Conners was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault.  She was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was released on her own personal recognizance pending trial.   Cindy Louise Conners, age; 53, Cumberland, Maryland

On Thursday, October 1st, 2020 the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Richard Eugene Dentinger Jr. charging him with burglary 1st, 3rd, and 4th degree, assault, theft, and malicious destruction of property.  The charges were issued by District Court based on an application filed with the District Court Commissioner’s Office by an Allegany County Citizen.  He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center held without bond.   Richard Eugene Dentinger Jr, age; 35, Cumberland, Maryland.