The Tribune-Democrat reports a Northumberland County man is accused of killing a man inside a Bedford County home, striking him with an arrow fired by a crossbow. State police did not say what prompted the shooting, but said Alec Paul Rhoads, 24, retrieved a crossbow from a bedroom moments before the weapon was discharged. A Saxton-area woman said she was talking with 53-year-old Daren Lingenfelter, of Claysburg, Blair County, when the arrow struck him in the neck, causing him to collapse onto a bed, police wrote in an affidavit. Police said Rhoads was one of at least four people inside…

Following reports that two local teenagers face felony cruelty charges after being accused of killing a cat and leaving the animal’s body on a playground, TeachKind—PETA’s humane education division—sent a letter to Superintendent Jeffrey Blank of Allegany County Schools this morning urging him to implement lessons in compassion.   “If these reports are true, these teens tormented a cat to death and discarded the animal’s body like a broken toy,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Programs Marta Holmberg. “PETA’s TeachKind division is on standby to help schools teach students that violence is wrong, whether the victim is an animal…

Firefighters are evacuating a portion of the North End after a vehicle struck a building and natural gas meter on North Mechanic Street Tuesday. Firefighters were called to Braddock Electric, 806 N. Mechanic St., about 10:35 a.m. There were no reported injuries. Cumberland Police and firefighters evacuated the Southern States building. Centre and Mechanic streets from Queen City Drive to the Narrows also were closed. Fire crews from Bedford Road, Bowling Green, LaVale and Ridgeley were standing by in their stations for Cumberland firefighters.  Columbia Gas and the Cumberland Street Department also was on the scene.

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland’s statewide COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped below 2% for the first time during the pandemic—another major milestone in the state’s fight against COVID-19.   First Time Under 200 New Cases Since March 2020. Maryland is reporting 160 new confirmed COVID-19 cases today—the first time fewer than 200 new cases have been reported since March 30, 2020, and the lowest number since March 26, 2020. The state’s rate of cases per 100K dropped to 5.32—the lowest level since April 4, 2020.  COVID-19 Hospitalizations at Seven-Month Low. The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations declined to 442—the lowest…

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, Mr. Steven James, Cumberland Martins Store Manager, joined ACPS Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Jeff Blank, and ACPS Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services, Mr. Todd Lutton, to present the school system with a donation in the amount of $18,531.32 from the Giant Feeding School Kids Program.    "We are very fortunate to have business partners such as Giant/Martins in our community," said Mr. Blank. "Our students will benefit from their generosity, and we greatly appreciate the support of Mr. James."   According to Mr. James, "At Giant/Martins, everything we do is about supporting kids and…

UPMC Western Maryland has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. UPMC Western Maryland is one of only 212 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.     The award recognizes UPMC Western Maryland’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that UPMC Western Maryland has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.     To receive the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry…

On Monday, May 24, 2021, the Cumberland City Police served an Arrest Warrant on Chasity Kesner, age 31 of Cumberland, Maryland. The Warrant stemmed from a May 6, 2021 investigation into a fraud complaint by the Cumberland City Police.  During the investigation, officers learned that Kesner had been assisting the victim.  While assisting the victim, Kesner obtained the victims banking information and used it in multiple locations.  At the conclusion of the investigation, an Application for Charges was submitted in District Court, and an Arrest Warrant was issued.  The Warrant charged Kesner with 4 counts of use/disclose of credit card…

On Monday, May 24, 2021, the Cumberland City Police served an Arrest Warrant on Garrett Pullium, age 21 of Cumberland, Maryland.  The Warrant stemmed from an officer conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Pullium for a traffic violation.  While conducting the traffic stop, officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.  The search revealed a quantity of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) along with other evidence related to the distribution of CDS. Subsequently, an Application for Charges was submitted to District Court.  The Warrant was issued charged Pullium with CDS possession with intent to Distribute and…

  Funeral Services for 12-year-old Karleigh Adams will take place on Thursday. The teen, a student at Calvary Christian Academy, died a few days after she was struck by a vehicle on Route 36 last week. Friends will be received at Central Assembly of God in Cumberland from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 P.M. Interment will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. 

While Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was in Cumberland last week, WCBC News took the opportunity ask him about a local African American who was pardoned by the governor during a “racial reckoning” event.  William Burns had been charged with the 1907 death of Cumberland Policeman August Baker, and then was dragged from the jail and shot before being tried.  Hogan said his action did not address the alleged crimes against the 34 men he pardoned…