On Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at approximately 2:31 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Baltimore Street residence for a CDS complaint.  Officers contacted the resident, Christopher Tabler, who allowed them to enter the residence.  Officers observed in plain view, a baggie of a suspected controlled dangerous substance.  Tabler advised that the CDS belonged to him.  Tabler was arrested and released on a criminal citation pending trial.   ARRESTED:  Christopher James Tabler             AGE:  32              Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  CDS Possession-Not Marijuana

The former Memorial Hospital site has been officially transferred to the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation with plans now centering on construction of a housing development. City officials approved the transfer at the most recent City Council meeting. The hospital was vacated in 2009 with the opening of a new hospital (now UPMC Western Maryland) on Willowbrook Road.  The former hospital structure was razed in 2015, leaving an 8-acre tract that includes a 300-space parking garage still intact at the south end of the property. Matt Miller, executive director of the CEDC, tells WCBC News that the property is prime for…

Western Maryland Scenic’s historic steam-powered locomotive 1309 will be inaugurated into regular service beginning next Friday, May 6 at 10:30 am. While No. 1309 has made multiple trips for special charters and a brief appearance during 2021’s holiday events, this debut into regular service is viewed as the crowning achievement of WMSR. After enduring seven years of restoration railroad officials and crew are ready to official unveil the very last steam engine built by Baldwin in 1949.  Railroad executive director Wes Heinz tells WCBC News that public is invited to the Cumberland Station located at Canal Place for the ceremony…

Some Washington lawmakers are continuing to seek ways to help curb prices at the gas pump by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax. While that may sound like good news to consumers, experts say the change would likely not result in a meaningful reduction in prices. A spokesperson for AAA said that federal taxes make up a small portion of what consumers spend on gas and in reality a federal gas tax holiday would provide very little relief at the pumps.  Maryland was the first state in the nation to approve a gas tax holiday for one month- and although…

Despite the hit casinos took from the COVID-19 pandemic- Allegany County will receive nearly $2.7 million this year in Rocky Gap Casino proceeds. In an arrangement dating back to the casino’s opening in 2013, Allegany County receives a percentage of the revenues accrued annually from electronic gaming. Those proceeds are subsequently distributed to fire and rescue companies, educational institutions, municipalities and nonprofits each year. Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett said the casino has rebounded from the pandemic in a big way…                                                                                                                                                                     …

The façade that surrounded the doors of the former Allegany High School on Sedgwick Street will be placed in storage by the city of Cumberland- with the hope being that some group or individuals in the community will be able to put it to good use. The demolition of the building has proven a great resource for history buffs interested in literally owning pieces of the more than 100 year old building- however much of the more interesting or significant remnants- signs and logos etc- were  claimed early on. There was some debate during last week’s city council work session-…

Gov. Jim Justice today joined officials with PepsiCo Beverages North America for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to commemorate the grand opening of their brand-new warehouse and distribution center in Cabell County. The $16.5 million, 100,000-square-foot facility will distribute millions of cases of beverages per year to customers throughout West Virginia and Kentucky. “This state-of-the-art facility is amazing and I truly believe it is going to bring even more goodness to Cabell County and beyond,” Gov. Justice said. “I could never thank the great people of PepsiCo enough for their commitment to our state and our people. All that they do across…

Candidates in West Virginia’s May 10 primary are hoping for the chance to earn their party’s nominations for the U.S. House or the state Legislature. The overall ballot in the midterm election may be smaller, but the voting landscape changed after the state's once-a-decade redistricting was completed last fall. Early voting in West Virginia runs from Wednesday through May 7.

The Cumberland Times News reports court dates and plea offers were discussed at hearings Monday for West Virginia’s largest known deer poaching case. West Virginia Natural Resources Police conducted an investigation that led to 223 charges involving at least 27 antlered bucks taken illegally in Mineral, Grant and Hampshire counties from mid-September to late December against Tyler Biggs, his father Christopher Biggs, Dalton Dolly, Colton Broadwater, his father Gregory Broadwater, Ivy Rodehaver, Robert Horner Sr. and his son Robert “Beau” Horner Jr. At Mineral County Magistrate Court Monday, Rodehaver’s attorney, Dan James, who also represents the Biggses, asked for the…

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $238,825 to help provide Maryland schools with the tools and services they need to enhance internet connectivity in their communities. These funds were provided by the Federal Communications Commission through the Emergency Connectivity Fund – a fund that the lawmakers helped establish in the American Rescue Plan to address the digital divide. Maryland has received over $68.5 million since the fund’s creation. This funding has supported over 70 schools and libraries across Maryland and expanded broadband internet access for thousands of students, school staff, and library patrons.   …