The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin work next week on the final phase of the MD 51 (Oldtown Road) bridge deck replacement project in Allegany County. Beginning Monday, March 21,and continuing through the end of summer, crews will work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays to remove the existing deck, install temporary shoring and dig out the abutments on the bridge, which is over the C&O Canal. Traffic on the bridge during construction will be reduced to one alternating lane, with use of temporary traffic signals on each end to alternate traffic through a…

The Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Dustin Ray Miller, age 40, of Harrison WV.  The warrant is the result of an investigation from December 2021 when Miller was observed setting fire to paper products at a business on Ali Ghan Road.  He had fled the area when officers arrived.  Miller was apprehended in West Virginia and extradited to Allegany County, where he was served his warrant.  The warrant charged Miller with Second Degree Malicious Burning, and Malicious Destruction of Property, Less than $1,000.  Miller was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his initial appearance and released on…

An officer of the Cumberland Police Department was on patrol on Front St when they observed a male and female arguing.  The female yelled for assistance from the officer, claiming that the male had stolen an item from her.  When the officer stopped to assist, the male fled on foot and refused the officer’s commands to stop.  After a short foot pursuit, the officer was able to apprehend Robert Gene Gray, age 36, of Cumberland MD.  Gray was issued two criminal citations for Disorderly Conduct and Fail to Obey a Lawful Order. He was released from the police station after…

Work continues on legislation that would give Marylanders a 30-day break on the state gas tax. Governor Larry Hogan said he's optimistic the bill will come to his desk this week. Maryland's current gas average of $4.25 a gallon is actually below the national average. Concerns raised during bill hearings in a House and Senate committee include extending the 30-day period and making sure station owners are reimbursed. Some House committee members want to extend the 30-day tax break to cover at least two holiday periods. A House committee did not extend the holiday, but members did vote to amend the bill…

Gun safety advocates and mental health professionals say legislation under consideration in Annapolis will strengthen gun safety and storage laws, and they're urging senators to pass it. WBAL reports supporters hope the same measure will not just reduce gun violence but also youth suicides. In an effort to continue to keep guns away from children, there are tougher gun laws under proposal in Annapolis this week as health experts say there's an ongoing crisis in the country concerning children and guns. Gun safety advocates took aim at irresponsible gun owners during a Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing held this week…

Marshall Weston, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, said this week that the number of restaurants affected by the pandemic was not as high as previously predicted. In 2020, the association predicted that 40% of restaurants would close because of the pandemic. In 2021, they changed that number to 20% of restaurants. And, this week, he said it could be between 15-18%. WBAL reports that after two years, going into the third year of the pandemic, Weston said many restaurants have taken on more debt “hoping for better days,” but it appears those better days are a little ways away for some. He pointed to…

Construction on the Cumberland Gateway Plaza is in full swing- and city officials hope that it is just the first of what could be several commercial developments off Interstate 68. While much of the economic development focus in recent years has been on the Rolling Mill project- there are other locations in the city limits which are attractive to developers and have potential to create additional economic opportunities. Mayor Ray Morriss… The mayor adds that there have been regular, ongoing discussions about the CSX-owned tracts beside Martin’s supermarket on Park Street. The large unencumbered parcels of land beside Martin’s have been…

Gov. Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.9% for February 2022; breaking the all-time record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in state history for the 5th consecutive month. “It’s not an exaggeration when I say right now, today, is the best time ever to get a great job in West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said. “This isn’t a fluke or a one-off. This is record after record after record after record after record, and this is one case where repetition isn’t boring at all. “We’re proving that it’s impossible to get tired of…

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia and the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV) are holding Pipeline Safety Seminars in Charleston on April 5 and Bridgeport on April 7.  The one-day seminars are free of charge to operators and will focus on a review of Federal and State requirements and recent developments in the industry.  Featured speakers at the conference will include the PSC Gas Pipeline Safety Division and representatives of the industry.  Lunch will be provided to participants.    “The purpose of the seminars is to ensure all regulated pipeline operators in West Virginia understand and…

On Monday, March 21, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin two safety and resurfacing projects on sections of MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) and Interstate-68 (National Freeway) in Allegany County. For both projects, crews will patch, grind, resurface and install new pavement markings on the roadway. This resurfacing work is necessary to provide a safe and durable riding surface and extend the life of the roadway.  MD 36 – Crews will work weekdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., from the MDOT SHA salt dome near Sisler Hill Road to MD 935 (Lower Georges…