Governor Larry Hogan today announced $15 million to advance the state’s long-term “Reach the Beach” plan with safety, access, and congestion relief projects along MD 90 (Ocean City Expressway) in Worcester County. The funds enable the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) to accelerate planning and move to the design phase for improvements along the 12-mile stretch of MD 90 from US 50 to MD 528 (Coastal Highway). On Friday at the Bay Bridge, the governor announced that the state is advancing its strategy to address congestion and future traffic demand crossing the Chesapeake Bay, with the…

On Sunday, June 12, 2022 at approximately 3:17 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 400 block of Maryland Avenue for an assault.  Upon arrival, police contacted the alleged victim who reported that she had an argument with Derrick Pettit.  She advised that Pettit assaulted her during the argument.  The victim sustained injuries.  Pettit was later located and arrested.  He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center on a $1,500 bond.   ARRESTED:  Derrick Vincent Pettit          AGE:  36                Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault-2nd Degree

On Sunday, June 12, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Kristie Wolford.  The warrant was issued as a result of Wolford failing to appear for her case at the District Court of Allegany County.  She was originally charged with multiple theft offenses.  Wolford was arrested and later transported to Central Booking.  Wolford was seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond. ARRESTED:  Kristie Lee Wolford     AGE:  32          Cumberland, MD   On Sunday, June 12, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Jerry Sparkman. …

Mineral County’s Frankfort High School has been ranked in the top ten high schools academically in West Virginia by U.S. News and World Report. The rankings are based on six criteria including: college readiness; state assessment proficiency; underserved student performance; and graduation rate. Frankfort landed at number 9 on the list, consistently scoring better than both Mineral County and the state in math, reading, and science in the state assessments. Mineral County Superintendent of Schools Troy Ravenscroft tells WCBC News that students, teachers and staff all play a role in the school’s excellent ratings…

Although Maryland’s Republican governor is on record strongly opposing legalizing recreational marijuana-  he says he won’t stand in the way if voters approve the reform on the November ballot. Governor Larry Hogan included the cannabis legislation in a list of bills he is not signing or vetoing, but is allowing it to take effect without his signature. Under the law that would be enacted if voters approve legalization at the ballot, the purchase and possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis would be legal for adults. The legislation also would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 2.5…

Larry Brock, president of Mountain Maryland Trails, presented the Allegany County Commissioners with a $5,000 check this week to go toward the cost of a new trailer to assist with maintenance along  the Great Allegheny Passage. Brock began to garner support and financial resources in 1988 to connect the city of Cumberland to Pittsburgh with the Great Allegheny Passage- and the efforts have paid off with towns along the GAP benefiting from the trail, none more than Cumberland, being the hub of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath and the GAP.  1.5 million people plus have used the GAP and…

Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission members made it official Thursday- voting on a new slate of officers to lead the organization moving forward. The change came about as a result of longtime Chairperson Sandi Saville announcing in April her plans to step down from the leadership position.  Doug Schwab and Larry Jackson were approved by unanimous vote to serve as the next chair and vice chair of the board, respectively. Ed Huber has agreed to stay in the treasurer’s post while Saville was named secretary which allows her to remain part of the executive board. In her parting comments, Saville thanked…

David Biser, a retired Cumberland police officer, has been voicing his concern to city officials in recent weeks about the issue of homelessness and vagrancy- but he says it’s the growing drug problem that is most alarming. He says while police efforts to address drug trafficking have been commendable-  it is really a community problem that has to be dealt with on a much larger scale and much wider scope…

(ACCIDENT, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred Sunday afternoon in Garrett County. At about 12:20 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack responded to a three-vehicle crash that occurred on US Route 219 at Pine Ridge Road in Accident, Maryland. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2017 GMC Sierra, driven by Harry Franklin France, 93, of Friendsville, Maryland, was traveling north on Route 219 when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lanes and side-swiped a 2016 Chevy Trax. The GMC then crash head-on into a 2021 Ford F350 pickup. France was…

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Saturday evening in Baltimore County.   At about 9:45 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack responded to the inner loop of I-695 near I-70 for a report of a crash. According to a preliminary investigation, Juan Rivera, 34, of Texas, was driving a 2005 Dodge Dakota when his vehicle suffered unknown mechanical issues that forced him to the right shoulder of the road.   Rivera was outside of his vehicle on the shoulder of the road when Jose Moto Chapol, who was…