The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, in close partnership with the Downtown Development Commission and The Western Maryland IT Center of Excellence, has formally announced the creation of a new training opportunity aimed to assist downtown Cumberland businesses in strengthening their online presence.  The program, named ‘Reimagine Your Business’, is intended to provide business owners with the tools and knowledge to modernize their online business platform and marketing strategies. DDC Executive Director Melinda Kelleher…  

The help wanted signs are everywhere. Companies are looking for workers in Allegany County with some offering more than the state’s minimum wage of $11.75 per hour. In Cumberland, employers, in a recent survey, identified finding people willing to work as their biggest issue in trying to bounce back from the pandemic. Without question, enhanced unemployment benefits are the main culprit in preventing people from returning to work.  Governor Larry Hogan’s recent decision to reinstate the pre-pandemic requirement that Marylanders who receive unemployment insurance benefits be actively searching for work- while viewed as a step in the right direction-  it falls short of what…

The Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council approved 27 new registered apprenticeship programs from March 2020 to March 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These new apprenticeships are designed to expand opportunities for jobseekers by connecting them with high-wage jobs in traditional and non-traditional industries while supporting the workforce needs of local businesses. Apprenticeships are full-time careers that include on-the-job training and classroom instruction that allow apprentices to earn while they learn. Anyone 18 or older can be a registered apprentice, while high school students can pursue youth apprenticeships. James Rzepkowski is an Assistant Secretary with the Maryland Department of Labor…

Details concerning an incident that occurred on Wednesday have been released by Cumberland Police. 30 year old Nicholas Craig Moreland was asked to leave a Greene Street business when he allegedly threatened the owner with a knife. He was picked up early Sunday, and charged with assault, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession.  

There is another retirement pending from a leadership position in the City of Cumberland. Fire Department Chief Donald Dunn will retire on July 1, and in the interim, Department Fire Marshal Shannon Adams will take over on an interim basis until the Mayor and City Council makes a permanent appointment to the position.

On Saturday, Cumberland Police served a Calvert County Circuit Court bench warrant on 36 year old Ernest Thomas Magruder III. The warrant was issued for failing to appear for trial on April 15th for not paying child support. Magruder was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center held without bond until he can been seen by a circuit court judge.

Karleigh Adams passed away yesterday. She would have been 13 on May 31st. Karleigh was struck by a vehicle on Route 36 Thursday afternoon, and thousands of local residents have been praying for her and her family. She was a student at Calvary Christian Academy, which confirmed her death on their Facebook page. We'll have the funeral arrangements when they become available

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that COVID-19 hospitalizations in the State of Maryland have dropped below 500 for the first time since October 27, 2020. Hospitalizations have declined by 62% over the last month. In addition, the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate fell to another new low of 2.04%, and is down 65% since April 14. The state’s rate of cases per 100K—5.7—is down 76% since April 14. COVID-19 hospitalizations are at 490, including 134 ICU patients.  Official data is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov. Get Your Shot For A Shot To Win Maryland reported 47,102 new vaccinations, for a total of 5,855,655 vaccinations to…

An Oakland woman was killed when a driver lost control of his car and hit a treet along Route 135 Saturday. 34 year old Wayne Moyer III, of Swanton, was the driver, and 32 year old Delana Hardesty, of Oakland, was a passenger. Moyer was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for treatment, according to Garrett County Sheriff's Deputies.  

The Friday West Virginia state health metrics map had some local improvement. Hampshire County, which had been red last week, has improved to orange, while Mineral County remains yellow. Morgan and Berkeley Counties, in the eastern panhandle are gold, whild Grant and Hardy Counties are in the best situation and designated green. 5/21/2021 ​The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of May 21, 2021, there have been 2,870,079 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 159,735 total cases and 2,772 deaths.       DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 60-year old female…