Governor Larry Hogan Thursday announced that the State of Maryland will launch a new $1.6 million grant program to provide additional support for non-public schools. The governor established the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) program in 2016 to provide scholarships for low-income students from areas with under-performing schools to attend non-public schools. Through BOOST, the state has provided more than $50 million to fund scholarships for low-income students. Hogan said providing funding for non-public schools has been one of his priorities of his from day one in office…

Due to paving on Decatur Street on Friday, September 9, 2022, Cresaptown Elementary School Bus #18 will be unable to make its regular stop on Decatur Street at Ray's Cleaners. Those students will need to be picked up at Baltimore Avenue at Decatur Street in the morning and dropped off there in the afternoon.

The Cumberland Times News reports excursions on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad have been canceled through the weekend due to track damage from recent heavy rains. According to railroad officials, rain that fell this week caused softening of wooden railroad ties near WMSR's shop and rail yard in Ridgeley, West Virginia. Rides scheduled between Sept. 8 and 11 were canceled so crews could repair the damage. Wes Heinz, the railroad's CEO and general manager, said damage was confined to about 250 feet of ties. The scenic railroad's train yard is on the West Virginia side of the North Branch Potomac…

Maryland's Republican nominee for Governor will spend his day Friday in Allegany County. His day being with an appearance of WCBC Radio.   8:00-8:15am In person live radio interview, WCBC Dave Norman Address: 35 Baltimore St. Cumberland, MD (downtown) 8:30am Coffee at Marks Daily Grind, Downtown Cumberland the commence walking tour to next site visits 9:00am Visit Dave Caporale’s bakery, Allegany County Commissioner Dave Caporale’s family business Address: 151 N. Mechanic St. Cumberland, MD (downtown) 9:30am Visit Steam Engine 109 at the Western Maryland Train station 13 Canal Street Cumberland, MD(downtown) *Joined by WMSR Board Chairman and Maryland State Delegate Mike McKay 10:30am Visit Savage Mountain Minerals, Inc….

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will perform a project this weekend to improve both Naves Cross Road NE park and ride lots at MD 144 (Naves Cross Road NE) near the I-68 (National Freeway) ramps in Allegany County, and will need all cars to be removed from the lots by Friday evening, September 9, to allow crews to begin work Saturday morning, September 10. Weather permitting, the project will be complete by 6 p.m. Sunday, September 11. MDOT SHA crews will clean drainage ditches, cut trees and brush, paint pavement markings, and replace parking curbs….

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at approximately 9:00 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 600 block of N. Centre Street for an armed robbery.  Officers arrived on scene and learned that the suspect, John Conner, had been armed with a knife, walked into the store, and attempted to rob the owner.  A struggle ensued between Conner and the owner.  The owner was able to disarm and detain Conner until responding officers arrived.  The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the altercation.  Conner was placed under arrest and transported to Central Booking. …

BENCH WARRANT SERVED On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Jessica Miller.  The bench warrant was issued as a result of Miller failing to appear in court on September 6, 2022.  She was originally charged with Trespassing: Posted Property. Miller was arrested and transported to Central Booking.  She was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. ARRESTED:  Jessica Lynn Miller      AGE:  38         Cumberland, MD   BENCH WARRANT SERVED/ASSAULT ON POLICE ARREST On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at approximately 1:52 PM, officers of the…

Maryland Sixth District Congressman David Trone met with Cumberland officials Wednesday morning at City Hall with the discussion centered on the three West Side bridges that need replaced. Trone is trying to secure $4.8 million in federal funding for a new bridge to replace the damaged Fayette Street structrure- but that package still requires Senate approval. The bridge on Fayette Street along with spans on Cumberland and Washington Streets are in various states of disrepair. In total the city is looking at four major bridge projects including replacing the Baltimore Street bridge over Wills Creek. Congressman Trone said he is…

The proposed River Park at Canal Place project could be a game changer for the region’s tourism and economy. That was the message from Maryland Sixth District Congressman David Trone as he was briefed on the project in a Wednesday afternoon session with members of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority. Executive Director Dee Dee Ritchie provided an overview on the project which would be located on the North Branch of the Potomac River behind Canal Place. It includes trails, whitewater features and river access for boating and fishing to create a destination for hikers and bikers and use…

City officials are in the process of of determining how to allocate $45,000 in hotel/motel proceeds. The annual distribution of funding was a topic of discussion Tuesday during a City Council work session at City Hall. Each year, a portion of the hotel/motel accommodation tax collected by Allegany County is distributed to the city, and officials subsequently make a portion available to organizations located within city limits that help attract visitors to the area. The city received a total of 19 applications and those requests total close to $100,000.  Even with the larger than usual request total, City Administrator Jeff…