The Potomac District which serves local scouts in the Tri state area invites local youth, families, and community members to participate in their first annual bike/hike fundraiser and “Scout Skills Show” event to be held Saturday July 31 at Canal Place in Cumberland.     100% of the funds raised at the Potomac District Bike/Hike fundraiser will benefit local area scouts in Allegany, Garrett, Mineral, Hampshire, Hardy and Grant counties. Registration for the Bike/Hike Fundraiser portion of the event is $10 and open to all scouts, youth, adults, families, and community members.   All participants will receive a boxed lunch, event t-shirt…

Beginning May 3, the Allegany County Library System will extend library hours to open from 11 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Thursday at the Frostburg, George’s Creek, South Cumberland, Washington Street, and Westernport Libraries. The LaVale Library remains closed for renovations. The extension of the library hours comes as the next step in the library’s reopening plan that was developed last May. With the extended hours, the libraries will also reopen all of the children’s rooms as well as ease some of the safety constraints including the length of stay limitation. Enhanced safety procedures will remain in place including…

County health officials confirmed Tuesday that two more Mineral County residents have died from COVID-19. The Mineral County Health Department announced the deaths of a 57-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman. Both had reportedly been hospitalized. Mineral County has seen ebbs and flows in its case rates of late. County health Administrator A. Jay Root has said in recent weeks that was to be expected moving forward, and that county residents should continue acting cautiously to prevent the spread of the disease. He also emphasized the importance of eligible folks receiving the vaccine. Health officials reported last week a confirmed case of one of…

U.S. health officials say fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear masks outdoors anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers, and those who are unvaccinated can go without a face covering outside in some cases, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the updated guidance Tuesday in yet another carefully calibrated step on the road back to normal from the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 570,000 people in U.S. For most of the past year, the CDC had been advising Americans to wear masks outdoors if they are within 6 feet of each other….

Through the university’s twice-weekly testing protocol, 15 positive tests were identified during last week’s seven-day testing period. The week’s positivity rate is 0.75 percent. While the rate remains below the region and state positivity rates, students and employees must remember that the virus IS STILL IN OUR community and practicing health and safety measures is essential.    The total number of tests conducted continues to drop as the semester ends — this Friday is the last day of classes before final exams. Students and employees who report being completely vaccinated are exempted from twice-weekly testing (they can still test if they…

The Cumberland Times News reports volunteer firefighters from three counties responded to fire in a residence at 7 W. Hampshire St. early Tuesday. According to the Mineral County 911 emergency center no  injuries were reported in the fire that was reported at 12:47 a.m. The fire was reportedly brought under control at 1:28 a.m. by the Tri-Towns Volunteer Fire Department with assistance from Westernport, Bloomington, Keyser, Fountain, New Creek, Ridgeley, Barton, Lonaconing, Midland and Frostburg fire departments. Tri-Towns EMS and the Mineral County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene. Unofficial reports from the scene indicated the property was occupied…

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan advocated Monday for a more narrowly focused infrastructure plan that cuts huge chunks out of the $2 trillion proposal put forward by President Joe Biden. The GOP governor also criticized the next phase of Biden’s sweeping economic recovery plan, which is expected to be unveiled this week and will reportedly include tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans…        

Monday’s regular meeting of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Board of Directors focused on the upcoming season- kicking off with Memorial Day weekend excursions. Railroad officials said diesel-powered engines will be used while repairs continue on the massive Baldwin steam locomotive No. 1309. The scenic railroad was halted in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. Board member Bob Flanigan said the return of the dialy three hour Cumberland to Frostburg excursions will begin May 29th …   In other business, board chair Mike McKay provided an update regarding concerns that had been raised about the condition of the railroad ties supporting the 16…

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council are moving forward with plans to invest $200,000 to renovate the Carver Community Center. The building has seen significant vandalism and damage  in the years since the facility was closed. The restoration will be the second rehab of the facility located at 340 Frederick St. More then $1.5 million was invested into the building in the early 2000s to convert the former Carver High School into a community center. That effort ended in 2011, leaving city officials at a loss as to the future of the structure. Mayor Ray Morriss said that the appointing…

During Monday’s COVID-19 briefing, West Virginia Gov. Justice announced that as part of his ongoing initiative to get more younger residents vaccinated, West Virginia will begin offering a $100 savings bond to each person from 16 to 35 years old who chooses to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The incentive will be retroactive, meaning all West Virginians age 16 to 35 who have already been vaccinated will also receive a $100 savings bond.