On Friday an officer from the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 700 block of Greene Street for a destruction of property complaint. When the officer arrived on the scene she learned that several thousands of dollars in damage had been done to the plant/flower inventory and real property of the business owner. Currently, the police department is seeking assistance from the public with this matter.  If anyone observed anything suspicious in the 700 block Greene Street during the overnight hours of 05/13/21-05/14-21 they are asked to contact the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600 or http://www.facebook.com/CumberlandPD  A confidential tip can be submitted to the Allegany-Mineral…

On Thursday, May 13th, 2021, the Cumberland City Police arrested Marley Zaire Powell, 27, of Cumberland MD. Powell was contacted at a Maryland Ave residence on this date and found to be wanted on five separate arrest warrants. The charges of each were as follows: -Circuit Court Bench Warrant for failing to appear in court on 4/6/21 on a previous charge of felony 1st Degree Assault. – Circuit Court Bench Warrant for failing to appear in court on 4/20/21 on a  previous charge of felony 2nd Degree Burglary. -District Court Bench Warrant for failing to appear in court on 4/12/21…

Dunkin’ Donuts has confirmed the company will open a site later this year in the LaVale Plaza on National Highway, at the former location of First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union. A spokesperson told the Cumberland Times-News the new store would employ 20-25 people and be one of the franchise’s Next Generation stores. Features of Next Gen stores typically involve a dedicated pick-up area for mobile orders, innovative tap systems for cold beverages and energy-efficient buildings.  

Faced with a utilities budget deficit of more than $325,000- county residents could be hit with a 9% water and sewer rate hike beginning July 1. In the midst of finalizing the FY 2022 budget, county officials received water and sewer rate recommendations from the county’s Sanitary Commission during Thursday’s public meeting. Adam Patterson is the county’s director of public works and he detailed what the proposed increase will mean for the average customer…

For a second consecutive meeting of the Allegany County Board of Education student member Mitchell Septoff advocated for expanding the role of that position. Septoff, an Allegany High School senior, said that he is not seeking a vast overhaul- but rather just a few changes that would lead to students having more of a voice when it comes to matters handled by the board. His proposals included moving the student board member comments from the end to the beginning of the meeting; being permitted to sit in on executive sessions; and most importantly to be considered at least for a…

With a survey response rate of nearly 50%- the Cumberland Downtown Development Commission will now begin to review input received from business owners. A series of questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the pending redesign of the mall  were recently emailed to businesses in the downtown area-  and DDC executive director Melinda Kelleher reports that 47% replied. One of the questions asked business owners to identify the biggest challenges they have been dealing with…

When all of the data from the latest Census report is released-  the numbers are  expected to show population declines in  both Allegany and Garrett counties. Delegate Jason Buckel told local business leaders Thursday that those statistics are a concern-  and need to be the single biggest priority moving forward for the “Task Force on the Economic Future of Western Maryland”. The task force, which was appointed in 2020, began as  a response to the slow rate of economic growth in Maryland’s western panhandle, especially when compared to the rest of the state.  Addressing the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce…

13,612 unemployment claims were filed in Maryland last week, an increase of more than 2,000 from the previous week, according to the state labor department.  Many Maryland businesses are hiring but are having issues finding employees, partially due to covid-19 and partially due to people opting to stay on unemployment, according to Governor Larry Hogan. “It’s not just anecdotal, I mean there’s no question there are some people that have made the decision to stay home and to collect unemployment rather than returning to work,” Hogan said during a press conference Wednesday. Nationally, unemployment numbers have dropped to a pandemic-era low.  

In order to continue to facilitate vaccination efforts in Allegany County and to better serve the community, UPMC Western Maryland is pleased to partner with the Allegany County Health Department to announce an upcoming Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination clinic to be held Friday, May 21, from noon until 6 p.m. in the hospital auditorium.      All Individuals age 12 and older are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and this clinic will administer the first dose. Please note, individuals under the age of 18 must have a parent present to sign a consent form.     Those interested can register for an appointment…

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Allegany County, James F. Elliott, State’s Attorney, along with the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force, announced, John James Howard, Baltimore, Maryland pled guilty to, CDS distribution large amount of heroin, CDS distribution large amount of fentanyl and distribution of heroin in the Circuit Court for Allegany County, Maryland.  After pleading guilty, the Honorable Jeffrey S. Getty, Circuit Court Judge for Allegany County, sentenced Howard to 55 years in the Maryland Department of Correction. All but 30 years of the sentence was suspended, with the first 10 years of the sentence being mandatory minimum,…