On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Christopher Scott Cook. The warrant was issued in connection with an assault investigation that began on April 6, 2022.  On this date, Cook reported to officers that a male subject had threatened him with a knife.  After further investigation, it was learned that Cook had actually been the subject in possession of a knife and that he had an altercation with the subject that he reported threatened him.  The investigating officer applied for charges at the District Court and an arrest warrant was issued for Cook. …

Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford  joined the Maryland Department of Natural Resources earlier this month to announce the second Maryland State Park Week- and on Wednesday he visited  South Mountain State Park in Boonsboro and Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area in Hancock. State Park Week will be held April 15 – April 22, and concludes on Earth Day with the celebration of two new parks. Rutherford has been on a mission to visit every state park in Maryland…

The ongoing demolition of the former Allegany High School on Sedgwick Street has been great for history buffs interested in literally owning pieces of the more than 100 year old building- however much of the more interesting remnants- signs and logos etc- have already been claimed. The city council has been asked if Cumberland has any interest in the concrete façade that encircled the doors to the school. That actually led to some debate during this week’s city council work session- with some dismissing the façade as fairly worthless debris at this point- while others feel there is some value…

Allegany College of Maryland has requested an additional $500,000 from the county for next year's budget- large due to rising inflation and increased wages. During the most recent county budget work session there was consensus to approve the request. AC President Dr Cynthia Bambara said maintaining a reasonable tuition rate for area students was a primary consideration in making the request…

A month from today, the city of Cumberland will conduct a ceremony at the  Baltimore Street bridge to honor former Maryland Speaker of the House Casper R. Taylor Jr.  The request was made by a group of citizens earlier this year as a way to pay tribute to a man who served Cumberland as a member of the House of Delegates for nearly 40 years- the last nine of those as House Speaker. The bridge at Baltimore Street, which crosses Wills Creek, is a primary artery into the downtown. The span is scheduled to undergo a $4 million renovation this…

Record-breaking swimmer Daniel Diehl has been voted the 2021 George Stevenson/Nick Perlozzo Dapper Dan Top Award winner by the Dapper Dan Club of Allegany County. The award, to be given at the 72nd Dapper Dan awards banquet at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club on May 1, is given annually to the individual or organization that brings the most national attention back to Allegany County. Most recently, Diehl, a 16-year-old student at Allegany High School, broke a national age group record for the 15-16 division previously held by Olympic champion Ryan Murphy in the 100-meter backstroke at the Speedo Sectional meet…

UPMC Western Maryland President Michele Martz is one of four national healthcare leaders who have recently been elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare (ACHE) Executives. ACHE’s Board of Governors oversees ACHE operations and member services.     Martz has previously served on various ACHE committees and is also currently a member of the board of directors for Maryland Physicians Care, Allegany College of Maryland and the Cumberland Economic Development Corp.     “This is such a great honor, and I am very thankful to join this prestigious board,” Martz said. “Leadership development…

The Cumberland Police served two Arrest Warrant on Belen Marie Waybright, age 37 of Cumberland, MD.  Both Warrants were issued by the District Court of Allegany County for Failure to Appear for her court dates.  Her original charges were for CDS offenses. She was taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner and held on a combined $1250 bond.  Arrested:  Belen Marie Waybright  Age: 37  Cumberland, MD Charges:  Fail to Appear (x2)

A combination of American Rescue Funds from the federal government and a spike in the assessable base has placed the city of Cumberland in an extremely healthy  fiscal position heading into FY 2023. The Mayor and Council received an initial budget presentation as part of Tuesday’s work session with Comptroller Mark Gandolfi and Ken Tressler, Director of Administrative Services presenting an overview. Gandolfi said there is no need for any rate increases with budget surpluses in the forecast for the next few years… Tressler said even though the fiscal picture looks strong moving forward, he would advise the city to…

The latest COVID-19 numbers released by the Allegany County Health Department are all encouraging- with only 18 new  cases reported in the past week; the county’s  Community Level  remaining low and the daily positivity rate  more than a point lower than the state rate. This current prolonged period of data trending in the right direction prompted Allegany County Health Officer Jenelle Mayer- in response to county commissioner Creade Brodie Jr-   to suggest  the community can begin to look beyond COVID-19…