In recognition of National Recovery Month, the Appalachian Regional Commission has announced that the ARC will be accepting applications for a new initiative to address the region’s substance abuse crisis. The  $10 million INSPIRE initiative is designed to assist those victims of substance abuse by creating or expanding a recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry or re-entry. Awards made via the INSPIRE Initiative will support the post-treatment to employment continuum. An overview of the initiative was presented during Thursday’s regular meeting of the Greater Cumberland Committee by Guy Land, Legislative Liason for the ARC.  Land noted that the numbers of…

Although some Maryland school systems started the school year last week, most are beginning Tuesday, post-Labor Day. Every system in the state is starting the school year with virtual, or online instruction. Governor Larry Hogan received some strong push back and criticism recently when he announced that school systems should begin preparing for returning kids to the classrooms.   Hogan called the reaction overblown and without merit, saying that there was no mandate of any kind to force school systems to provide in-person instruction.  

Education leaders in two West Virginia counties rejected an offer last week by Governor Jim Justice to resume fall sports competitions if athletic teams test negative for the coronavirus. Justice had suggested the compromise to Fayette, Logan and Kanawha counties, whose schools were allowed to hold team practices but cannot play games due to their status on a color-coded county map. However school officials in Fayette and Kanawha counties turned down the plan. During his regular COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Justice did not mask his disappointment, saying he believes this is a lost opportunity to gather important health information that could…

The city of Cumberland has multiple street paving projects and sidewalk upgrades in the works- but elected officials realize the priority list is long and growing and represents a challenge moving forward.  The projects are being done in tandem with Columbia Gas in those some neighborhoods as the utility company has been replacing underground lines and subsequently paving in those areas as well. Potholes and necessary street upgrades are perhaps the most common complaint city council members hear about. Mayor Ray Morriss said that while most the main thoroughfares in the city are in decent shape- he acknowledges there are dozens of secondary…

The Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant Saturday on Blair Christian Rattenni. The warrant was issued when Rattenni failed to appear in District Court for providing false accident information on a previous case.  Rattenni was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on his personal recognizance.   Arrested – Blair Christian Rattenni (32) Cumberland, MD Charge – Failure to Appear

The West Virginia School map was officially released Saturday evening, and all local systems are good to go. Mineral, Hampshire and Morgan Counties are in the Green Category for recent COVID-19 cases, while Hardy and Grant Counties are Yellow, which also allows in person learning. Sports are also a go for the coming week in local West Virginia Counties. This week's West Virginia school map was good for local systems, but red flagged Monongalia County, which won't be able to hold classes or sporting events in the coming week. Eight counties in the southern portion of the state have been…

Fort Hill's Ty Johnson has made the 53 man roster of the Detroit Lions for the second straight year. Johnson, a speedy running back who became one of the top backs in University of Maryland football history, saw significant action last season, and became a social media sensation during the off season when pulling a jeep was caught on video.  

  The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (reports as of 10:00 a.m., on September 5, 2020, there have been 453,285 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 11,289 total cases and 243 deaths. CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (34), Berkeley (822), Boone (152), Braxton (9), Brooke (99), Cabell (577), Calhoun (15), Clay (29), Doddridge (11), Fayette (398), Gilmer (20), Grant (143), Greenbrier (106), Hampshire (92), Hancock (125), Hardy (75), Harrison (296), Jackson (210), Jefferson (386), Kanawha (1,650), Lewis (36), Lincoln (125), Logan (516), Marion (228), Marshall (133), Mason (119), McDowell (74), Mercer (344), Mineral (146), Mingo (272), Monongalia (1,342), Monroe (133), Morgan…

On Friday at approximately 12:30 PM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to the double digit block of South Massachusetts Avenue for a disturbance. Upon arrival to area officers observed a vehicle leaving the scene not displaying a registration plate. An officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle however the operator failed to stop and continued driving into West Virginia. Officers spoke to the complainant from the disturbance and learned the operator of the vehicle that fled was Shawn Patrick Tallman. The officer filed charges on Mr. Tallman and a warrant was issued. On 09/04/2020 the Cumberland…

One person was transported from a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon near the Millstone Grocery on Route 51, according to emergency service officials.    "Fire and EMS units were dispatched to Oldtown Road in front of the Millstone Grocery for a reported head-on crash with injuries," Lt. Todd Bowman, public information officer for the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services said. "First arriving units reported that all occupants were out of the vehicles."   A male driver was transported with minor injuries by an ambulance from District 16 to UPMC-Western Maryland for evaluation after the 3:38 p.m. crash, according to Bowman.   Fire department units…