On Friday, rhe Cumberland City Police responded to a residence in the 400 block of Columbia St for a reported assault. Upon arrival, officers contacted a female victim. They advised that they had gotten into an argument in the residence with a male family member. The argument escalated and the victim advised they were assaulted by the male suspect. The male suspect was identified as Michael Eric Smith, 30, of Cumberland MD. Throughout the investigation, Smith was disruptive with officers on scene creating disturbances which drew the attention of other subjects in the area. As a result, Smith was placed…

After being listed by Governor Larry Hogan as  one of eight county school systems in Maryland that had not submitted a reopening plan for schools to the state- the Allegany County Public School System has released a statement clarifying that in fact a plan had been submitted prior to the state deadline:  ACPS just wanted to make a point of clarification regarding yesterday's press conference from the Governor regarding our Recovery Plan. After receiving confirmation from MSDE today, all local school systems' Recovery Plans were submitted on time. Many districts, including Allegany County, actually submitted plans prior to the August…

WTOP reports that after a summer of national reckoning on racial injustice, the University System of Maryland is taking proactive steps to examine structural racism that may be inherent in its own system and across its 12 affiliate institutions. The first part of this process within USM involves introspection, officials said Wednesday. “This is the gap analysis, measuring whatever that space is between what we say, what we stand for…on the one hand, and our actions on the other hand,” Chancellor Jay A. Perman said during a Board of Regents special meeting. The board will examine indicators within its system,…

A partnership among West Virginia University, WVU Potomac State College, WVU Extension Service Institute for Labor Studies and Research, the West Virginia Carpenters Training Center and the West Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council will allow apprentices to further their skills and education through a new associate degree program.  Beginning in spring 2021, registered apprentices in the Carpenters training program will become part of the Apprenticeship Pathway Associate Degree Program offered through WVU Potomac State College. The program will be available at the West Virginia Carpenters Training Center’s three locations—Parkersburg, Charleston and Bridgeport, West Virginia.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and the Maryland Congressional Delegation announced  Friday announced $3.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Recovery Assistance to support Maryland small businesses and entrepreneurs harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  That includes $1 million for the  Tri-County Council for Western Maryland in Frostburg  that will provide critical gap financing to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties. The three grants announced will capitalize Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs for a range…

UPDATE: Rotation was initially Doppler indicated. The storm is located just north of the state line and tracking to the east. WCBC will continue to monitor Doppler radar and pass along additional information when it becomes available. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a * Tornado Warning for… Southeastern Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania… * Until 400 PM EDT. * At 327 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Farmington, or 9 miles southeast of Uniontown, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD…Tornado. SOURCE…Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT…Flying debris will be dangerous to those…

The Allegany County Health Department reports five new cases of COVID-19 in Allegany County.  The latest cases include a female in her teens, two females in their 20s, a male in his 30s, and a male in his 40s.  None of the new cases has required hospitalization.  The cumulative total number of cases in Allegany County since the first case was announced in April now stands at 391.   To date, 15,524 Allegany County residents have been tested for COVID-19 and received their results.  Of those, 15,133 people have tested negative and 391 have tested positive. 

On August 4, 2020, the Interim Superintendent, Mr. Jeff Blank, recommended a fully virtual learning model to begin the 2020-2021 school year, which the Board of Education unanimously approved. ACPS knows that returning to school with in-person options is important for the development and well-being of the students, but also recognizes our obligation to pursue reopening in a manner that is safe for students, teachers, and staff. On August 27, 2020, the state of Maryland issued a new document entitled “COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools”.  It is noted in this document that the guidance is provided to assist schools to…

Friday’s planned vaccination clinic at Fort Hill High School has been cancelled as a result of expected heavy rain. The Allegany County Health Department  had scheduled FREE 7th grade required vaccinations for Allegany County school students at three drive-through clinics.  The first was held last week at Mountain Ridge High School. The remaining clinic will  be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on the September 10 at the  Allegany County Fairgrounds  (rain or shine).

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today joined a multistate lawsuit of 27 state and municipal plaintiffs challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful final rule curtailing requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that federal agencies review and assess the impact of their actions on the environment.  The final rule also limits public participation in the review process, robbing vulnerable communities of the opportunity to make their voices heard on actions that are likely to have adverse environmental and health impacts.  In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that the final rule abandons informed decision making, public participation, and environmental and…