On Sunday, August 30th, 2020 a Cumberland Police Officer on patrol in the area of Frederick Street observed a maroon late model mustang travelling at a speed well above the posted speed limit.  The officer attempted to stop the vehicle but it failed to stop.  Another officer in the area of Bedford Road and Nave’s Crossroads, observed the same vehicle speeding and driving recklessly.  He also tried to stop the vehicle but it failed to yield for him and travelled onto Shades Lane well above the speed limit.  The officer then lost sight of the vehicle and moments later, located…

The Cumberland Police Department is requesting the assistance of the public in locating Paul Edgar Wilhelm; age 53.  He’s a white male, approx. 5’6”, and weighs approx. 310 lbs; last seen wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and camouflage hat. Wilhelm was last seen on 8/30/2020 around 6:30 p.m. in the 500 blk. of Columbia Avenue.  He has been reported missing and is also wanted for questioning in a breaking and entering and a sexual offense that was reported to police earlier on 8/30/2020.  Anyone that has information to Wilhelm’s whereabouts is asked to contact the law enforcement or the…

In February, shortly before the Coronavirus Pandemic brought most things to a halt, some controversy had been brewing about the possibility of Allegany County no longer funding the local opportunity scholarship program. It now appears those dollars will be remaining at least for one more year.  Allegany County receives a 3.75% share of the revenue accrued each month from electronic gaming at Rocky Gap Casino Resort. Those funds are deposited into the Rocky Gap Local Impact Fund and subsequently dispersed to local nonprofits by Allegany County. The largest beneficiaries of the funding have been local fire and emergency medical service…

Mail-in voting will play a major role in the November 3rd general election but those individuals who prefer the more traditional method will have that option – albeit with fewer voting centers. Diane Loibel, Allegany County Board of Elections administrator, said the voting centers have been were instituted due to coronavirus concerns.  Instead of casting ballots at the precincts normally used by voters, Loibel said six voting centers will be made available — Allegany, Fort Hill and Mountain Ridge high schools, Westmar Middle School, Flintstone Volunteer Fire Department and the Allegany County Office Complex on Kelly Road. She cautions, however, that those…

While there is growing support for an alternate, modular structure to replace the Washington Street Bridge- that won’t necessarily put the project on a fast track. Delegate Jason Buckel calls the inaction ridiculous. Buckel was among those on hand at a recent rally designed to shine a light on the lack of progress being made on the bridge which first closed in 2012- and he said those responsible should follow the longtime mantra of former Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer and  “do it now”…

Governor Larry Hogan’s announcement last week that school systems in Maryland are now authorized to begin the process of reopening the classrooms caught many by surprise- and proved to be a major concern for many teachers.  The Maryland State Education Association issued a statement saying, among other things, that the governor and the state superintendent have “undercut hard decisions schools have made to keep students and educators safe” just  days before the year begins. MSEA President Cheryl Bost called it a recipe for chaos and confusion… Allegany County Board of Education President Tammy Fraley tells WCBC News that there has been…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has released the updated color coded map which indicates local high schools will be able to begin, or continue, sports contests in the coming week. Locally, Mineral and Hardy Counties are coded yellow, which does not prohibit competition, but bears watching.   Should cases spike and the status change to orange by next Saturday evening, practice could continue, but games would be postponed. The colors are based on a seven day rolling average of cases for larger counties, and a 14 day rolling average for smaller counties.   Generally speaking, if a county…

The Allegany County Department of Emergency Services was notified late Saturday evening that the second clinician tested for the contagious COVID-19 virus had tested negative, according to emergency services officials.    "The results came back for the second clinician as negative," Lt. Todd Bowman, public information officer for the Allegany County Department of Emergency Service said. "Our policy, as guided by local and state medical direction will be to continue to keep the employee off work and perform a second COVID-19 to confirm the initial findings."    Any clinician that tests positive will be off work at minimum of 14-days and required to undergo…

On Saturday, Cumberland Police served a criminal summons on Skyler Stone Atkinson for theft. The summons was issued by District Court in reference to a complaint the Atkinson stole a 3 lawn mowers from an Eastern Avenue residence on August 25th, 2020. He signed and received copies of the charging documents weas released pending trial at District Court pending trial. Skyler Stone Atkinson, age; 25, Cumberland, Maryland.  

On Saturday, Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Shawn Stephen Hamlette for assault, disorderly conduct, and numerous traffic offenses. The warrant was issued by District Court in reference to an incident that occurred  on August 23rd, 2020 when Hamette is alleged to have struck the complainant’s vehicle intentionally and fled the scene. He was taken before the District Court Commissioner and was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center held on a $7,500 bond.   Shawn Stephen Hamlette, age; 22, Cumberland, Maryland.