The Maryland State Fire Marshal was issued a report on Sunday's structure fire in Rawlings:   Time: 3:06 am Location / Address:  24711 21st Street Bridge Rd, Rawlings, Allegany County MD Type of Incident: Structure Fire Description of Structure / Property: Single Story, block framed, storage garage with metal sided addition built on the rear          Owners: Jack Amoruso       Injuries or Deaths: N/A        Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $1,000 Smoke Alarm Status: Not present          Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: Not present  Arrests(s): N/A  Primary Responding Fire Department: Potomac Fire Company #2     # of Alarms:  1  # Of Firefighters: 13 Time to Control: 20 minutes  Discovered By:…

The Cumberland City Police Department has issued a statement on social media, attempting to clarify a political candidate's suggestion that local law enforcement agencies have offered an endosrment. Below is a copy of that statement:   We have been informed of a photo being used in the Mike McKay campaign depicting Chief Ternent, Sheriff Robertson, Senator Edwards, along with Mike McKay. The photo was taken at the Maryland State Police Barrack opening in July of 2021 and was posted during that time and was not taken for the purpose of a political campaign. It was recently used in a mailing…

The Naval Academy has identified the midshipman who was found dead in Chile on Sunday. WBAL reports the Academy officials said 21-year-old Luke Bird, of Texas, died from a fall while hiking with a Chilean Naval Academy student near the Salto El Agua waterfall in the Valparaíso region of Chile. Bird reportedly lost his footing and fell over the waterfall around 11 a.m. on Sunday

The Cumberland Police Department and the City of Cumberland would like to invite the community to participate in the National Night Out block party taking place, Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the area of Somerville and First Street in Cumberland.        The National Night Out occurs annually across the country on the first Tuesday in August.  The event is a community building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships.   These events build neighborhood camaraderie and brings public safety agencies and neighbors together under positive circumstances.  This year’s event on Sommerville Avenue will be bigger than…

Comptroller Peter Franchot announced today that his agency has processed more than three million state individual income tax returns for the 2021 tax year, with more than 2.78 million, or 93 percent of returns, filed electronically. So far, more than $2.34 billion in refunds has been returned to 2.14 million Maryland taxpayers. The average refund check is about $1,100. “Many Marylanders continue to endure the economic impact of the pandemic, as well as the current rise in inflation and gas prices. We are focused on getting refunds back into the pockets of hard-working taxpayers as soon as possible,” Comptroller Peter Franchot…

On July 17th, 2022 an Officer with the Cumberland Police was on patrol when he observed two subjects sitting under the I-68 bridge, near the George Washington Headquarters.  There was a large amount of garbage scattered around the immediate area where the subjects were, along with their personal items scattered about.  Earl Willis Robinette Jr, age 57 and Samuel Stuart Resnick, age 40 were both issued Criminal Citations for Littering and released from the scene.   Arrested: Earl Willis Robinette Jr  Age: 57  Cumberland, MD                  Samuel Stuart Resnick  Age: 40 Cumberland, MD…

On July 17, 2022 an Officer with the Cumberland Police Department was on patrol when he observed a male walking in the center of Greene St, screaming.  He stopped to check on the individual and after making contact with him, the Officer advised him not to cause any further disturbance.  A short while later, several people outside of local busines contacted the Officer to advise that the same male was still walking through town, screaming at random people.  The subject, Paul William Umstead Jr, age 34, was located on the Downtown Mall.  Umstead was placed under arrest and taken to…

With interest in many of the buildings in the historic downtown district picking up considerably, there are tentative plans to hold a work shop or seminar to educate individuals and developers interested in those properties on what financial assistance is available. Ruth Davis-Rogers, Cumberland’s historic preservation planner, told the Downtown Development Commission that while the interest level is high- not all of the potential buyers or developers have a thorough understanding of grants, tax credits and other beneficial programs that could expedite their efforts..

In December the city of Cumberland and Allegany County  agreed to purchase 40 acres at the junction of Messick Road and state Route 51 for $250,000. Officials hope the land will be an ideal location for a distribution center or other business venture- and thus far progress has been swift.  The city of Cumberland's economic development activities are handled by the nonprofit Cumberland Economic Development Corporation.  Matt Miller, CEDC director, said one tenant will be announced in the near future…

Former President Donald Trump and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan aren’t waiting until 2024 to fight over the future of the Republican Party. Approaching the final months of his second term, Hogan is encouraging GOP voters to rally behind gubernatorial candidate Kelly Schulz, who served as labor secretary and commerce secretary in his administration. Trump, however, is backing Dan Cox, a state legislator who has said President Joe Biden’s victory shouldn’t have been certified, called former Vice President Mike Pence a “traitor” and sought to impeach Hogan for his pandemic policies. Hogan, who  has left open the possibility of running for the White House in…