In the last week, Maryland gas prices averages have seen both increases and decreases. The statewide average is down week-over-week, as are the local gas price averages in Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick, Salisbury and the Washington suburbs. However, the average in Cumberland remained even with last week and Hagerstown saw a penny increase.   Since last Friday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by three cents. In its latest weekly report, new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that gas demand dropped while total domestic gas stocks increased. Typically, lower gas demand amid growing…

The huge Big Wheel Ferris wheel that returned to the downtown landscape late last week will be coming down next week after it was determined it was encroaching on the public Boardwalk. On Monday, the Mayor and Council gave Trimper’s Rides, who partnered with Wood Entertainment to bring the giant Ferris wheel to the historic amusement part for a 40-day stint that began last week, a tight window to rectify a zoning violation caused by the attraction’s roughly 10-foot encroachment over the Boardwalk. The Mayor and Council gave Trimper’s one day to come back with a solution and late Tuesday…

The Allegany County Health Department has announced an updated roster of COVID-19 walk-in vaccination clinics, including the following events:    June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.:  Allegany County Health Department, Ground Floor, Willowbrook Office Complex, 12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD.  This clinic is open to those ages 18 and older and will offer the Moderna COVID vaccine.  June 16 from 9 a.m. to noon: Potomac Fire Company #2, 61 Main Street, Westernport, MD.  This clinic is open to those ages 18 and older and will offer both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines.    No appointment is…

Allegany County Emergency Services reported that one lane of Ellerslie Road was briefly closed early this afternoon  near the state line as a result of a motor vehicle accident. 

The owner of three coal-fired power plants in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio said Thursday that it will shut them down. Houston-based GenOn Holdings LLC said it will shut down a generating unit at both Avon Lake station on Lake Erie near Cleveland and Cheswick station on the Allegheny River outside Pittsburgh by Sept. 15. It said it will shut down two generating units at the much larger Morgantown station on Maryland’s Cobb Neck peninsula by next June 1. Combined, the four coal-fired units can provide up to 2,421 megawatts. In a statement, GenOn blamed “unfavorable economic conditions, higher costs including…

Maryland State Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after the bodies of a father and his young son were found along the Appalachian Trail in Washington County early this morning.    The victim is identified as Dawson Thomson, 2, of Frederick, Md.  His father is identified as Sean M. Thomson, 34, of Frederick.  Both were pronounced deceased at the scene.    According to the preliminary investigation, about 10:30 p.m. yesterday, the wife of Sean Thomson and mother of Dawson contacted the Maryland State Police and reported her husband had picked up their son from her parent’s home near Boonsboro about…

A flood watch remains in effect Friday, a day after thunderstorms prompted a water rescue in the southern end of Mineral County.  A line of thunderstorms that dumped more than 2 inches of rain just before 8 p.m. Thursday forced New Creek out of its banks along U.S. Route 50 and state Route 93.  The Cumberland Times News reports New Creek and Keyser firefighters were called to a mobile home court near the U.S. 50/Route 93 intersection about 8:20 p.m. after water surrounded a trailer. A swift water rescue team from the Fountain Volunteer Fire Company utilized a raft to rescue…

On Thursday, June 10th, 2021, officers with the Cumberland City Police Department observed a vehicle traveling on Interstate 68 with the operator not restrained by a seatbelt. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and contact made with the occupants. During the course of the stop, a K-9 was utilized to conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle which alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. During a subsequent search, multiple CDS paraphernalia items as well as a loaded handgun were located inside the vehicle. As a result, Kenneth Paul Bell, 31, of Walker WV, was…

The Allegany County Commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to place the Washington Street Bridge as the county’s number one transportation priority project.  Each year the county is required to submit a priority list to the Maryland State Highway Administration. Originally ranked at number 15 of a total of 19 projects submitted- Commissioners President Jake Shade made the motion to bump Washington Street to the top spot.  Replacing the bridge is currently part of negotiations between the city of Cumberland and CSX Transportation- however little progress has been made in those talks and in April the commissioners voted unanimously to permit county…

UPMC Western Maryland provided $68 million “community benefits” last year for programs and services to improve the health and quality of life for all the communities the system serves. The $68 million total includes: providing care for the region; mission driven health services; health professions education and supporting programs that enhance the health of the community. Many of these programs address health priorities identified in UPMC Western Maryland’s Community Needs Assessment. Appearing on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Thursday, UPMC Western Maryland President Michele Martz said the system is proud to be able to contribute so much to the community…  …