As Baltimore Street approaches its first anniversary of completion, the City of Cumberland is looking ahead to its  next big project.  Ruth Davis-Rogers, City Historic Planner, says Virginia Avenue will be the area of focus, and a public meeting will be scheduled in the near future…     “We will have an announcement going out to invite different building owners, property owners, and residents so that they can hear about some of the things that we have in our toolbox to help them.  We do have a façade grant down there, as well as we want to hear their ideas. …

Thomas Dontrell Smallwood, 38, of Cumberland is one of 10 people indicted in Frederick County.  He is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.   He was arrested following a traffic stop on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 on Interstate 70 in Frederick County.   The Sheriff’s Office says Smallwood was a passenger in the vehicle who had 45.7 grams of suspected fentanyl, and 8.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine on his person. The cases now go to the Circuit Court where trial dates will be scheduled.  The Frederick County State's Attorney's Office says indictments are charging documents alleging criminal…

**ADULT ARREST** On Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Anthony Eugene Smith, 60, of Cumberland, MD. Smith was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on August 22nd, 2025. On that date, officers responded to the 600 block of Bedford Street to check on the well-being of a male subject sleeping in a vehicle. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the subject and identified him as Smith. Smith was found to have difficulty conversing with officers and staying awake. At that time, a Cumberland Fire Department ambulance was called to respond to…

All ten members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation have written to President Donald Trump urging a reversal of FEMA’s denial of recovery funds to the Georges Creek area following May flooding.  The bipartisan push was endorsed by nine Democrats and the state’s lone Republican federal elected official, Congressman Andy Harris of the Eastern Shore.  The letter cited the communities of Midland, Lonaconing, Barton, and Westernport as areas strongly impacted by May’s flooding.

Allegany County’s yard waste site at Mexico Farms is temporarily closed.  The site is currently overloaded with debris from May’s flooding.  Thus, the county is having difficulty grinding and processing yard waste.  Further clean up of the site will continue next week.

The Allegany Arts Council Board of Directors has appointed Bethany Ann Thomas as its new executive director, effective September 8.  Thomas holds degrees from Mary Baldwin University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.  She was most recently grant facilitator for Cambria County in Pennsylvania.

**ADULT ARREST** On Friday, August 22nd, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Drew Michael Avey, 27, of Cumberland, MD. Avey was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on August 17th, 2025. On that date, officers responded to a Fayette Street residence for a disturbance. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the residents, who advised that Avey was threatening to harm others in the home. When officers then contacted Avey, he threatened officers and threw a knife at them. Avey was then detained and transported to a nearby medical facility for evaluation. As a result of the incident,…

Two residents of Lonaconing have been charged with first degree child abuse and related offenses.   Kayle Lynn Keller, age 25, and Liam Robert Lafferty, age 23, both of Lonaconing, have been charged with 1st Degree Child Abuse, 1st Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Assault, and Reckless Endangerment.  They are being held at the Allegany County Detention Center pending further court proceedings.

State and federal leaders are reviewing updates for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed agreement. The watershed covers 64,000 miles across six states with 18 million residents. Julia Krall with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says the new agreement needs clear targets with firm deadlines since the current agreement has not met goals… “We need to know what our goals are and what we’re working towards so we know if we’re being accountable to those goals and how we’re going to get there. And that includes habitat restoration and pollution reduction. But we also need to make sure we are addressing climate change.”

West Virginia’s final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment – or BEAD – program is ready for public comment. BEAD is federal funding for high-speed internet to unserved areas. West Virginia is looking for $625 million for nine providers including Comcast and Frontier to build out systems to unserved areas.  Governor Patrick Morrisey said they are one of the first states to partner in the program… “We’ve been working very closely with the Trump administration to bring additional high-speed networks to West Virginia. We went in very early and worked closely with the Trump Administration to get near…