Allegany County has spent $6.4 million to date on infrastructure restoration in the Westernport and Lonaconing areas since the May flood.  Adam Patterson, Director of Public Works, says with the winter months closing in, there is somewhat of an end in sight, but money is key.  Administrator Jason Bennett added that the state has yet to offer funds, but the county is scheduled to meet with the governor’s office today… “We’re nearing $8 million in total cash out of the door from us.  No one else has invested so far today in infrastructure. Just the county.  Westernport and Coney have put…

Former Allegany County commissioner Jake Shade presented the argument at Tuesday's city council meeting that Delegate Jason Buckel’s recently passed bill about damaging state infrastructure could be used against CSX for the Washington Street bridge issue. CSX struck the bridge in 2017, causing it to be closed.  Buckel has said he isn’t sure the bill can be used retroactively, but Shade would like to try…     “Part of what this bill does is say, look, as of October 1st, the city has the ability to claim a nuisance that has been created on the West Side because of CSX’s…

City Historic Planner Ruth Davis-Rogers presented the final draft of Cumberland’s Wayfinding project to the mayor and city council during Tuesday’s open work session.    Consultant Merje Design works in phases to redesign city directional signage, and Rogers explained to council members that the plan is to address parking sites first, making them easier to identify…     “What would be more helpful with the parking is not to just call it parking lot ‘K’—or whatever—but to have ‘Liberty Street Lot’ or to actually refer to it by the street.”

The City of Cumberland is sending notices to water customers asking them to check the material of water service lines that connect from the street main to the property owner’s line.  The city is working to identify service line materials throughout the water system and has determined that some properties may have lead pipes or galvanized pipe that was previously connected to lead. A Service Line Survey is available through the city website to help property owners determine their line material.

The importance of transparency in government is important to its citizens. Recent issues that were uncovered at Allegany County commissioners meetings have made other municipalities check their procedures.  For the City of Cumberland, Mayor Ray Morriss said he is glad to have the attention of City Solicitor Michael Cohen keeping their meetings on track…     “Our City Solicitor works very hard to make sure we stay in compliance with open meetings acts. When it comes to – whenever we have a closed session – I can assure you he’s taken a good purview of it to make sure that…

Today, six of Cumberland’s locally-owned boutiques are holding a Pink Friday Boutique Crawl. Pink Friday is a national movement encouraging shoppers to support local small business first before the rush of Black Friday.  Madison Paige, Myla & Maple, Gus and Oliver, Cat’s Cradle Vintage, The Vintage Thrift Garden, and Buttercup Boutique will be open 11am to 7pm so those who work later can get their shopping in, according to Buttercup owner Marcy DeArcangelis…   “We’ll have a card at every location and you’ll get a little heart on your card when you visit.  If you visit four of the six…

On November 19, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Brittany Murphy. The summons stemmed from an incident on November 4, 2025, when Murphy was arrested on an active bench warrant. During the arrest, she was found to be in possession of suspected CDS paraphernalia. An application for charges was subsequently filed with the Allegany County District Court, which then issued the criminal summons. Murphy signed for her copy of the summons, and she was released pending trial. ARRESTED – Brittany Renee Murphy, Age 38, Cumberland, MD CHARGES – CDS Possession-Paraphernalia **CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED* On November 19,…

Two giants of the local bar association have retired. Bob Paye and Jack McMullen, longtime partners in the Geppert, McMullen, Paye, and Getty law firm, have retired after decades of practicing law in Allegany County. Their colleague, attorney Matt Gilmore, praised Bob Paye as one of the top attorneys in the state…    “Bob Paye is a giant in our legal community. He’s been a very big wheel in the Maryland law community for a very long time. You know, if we were going to build a Mount Rushmore of legal greats in Western Maryland, Bob Paye is certainly on…

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have a little over a month to diffuse what Democrats are calling the health care time bomb. At the end of the year, Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire.  Senator Chris Van Hollen said that there is a ticking time bomb on healthcare coverage and Americans will have to pick up the slack for those who lose their coverage…    “Over 20 million Americans are going to see their premiums and other healthcare costs go through the roof. Four million of them will have no more coverage because they won’t be able to afford it….

A pre-trial hearing was held on Wednesday for three individuals being held in Allegany County on misdemeanor charges from February. The three – Jack Lasota, Michelle Zahjko, and Daniel Blank have been in custody for nine months and have been linked to the Zizian cult.  Seven pre-trial motions were to be heard by Judge Michael Twigg, however only three were introduced. One motion was to dismiss counsel for the defendants, but that motion was withdrawn. Other motions involved dismissal of the case for violations of discovery regulations but those were not resolved during the hearing time.