The Polar Express on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is continuing to carry passengers to the North Pole through the Christmas season, but the railroad’s main star – Steam Engine 1309 – has been missing the trips.  Wes Heinz, WMSR Director, said that he recently had associates in from three other railroads to assist in getting the steam engine back on the tracks, possibly in January… “When they were here, we finished working on one side of the locomotive and then we’re going to move to the other side the first week of January. But the actual new equipment that…

A full agenda awaits both the closed and open meetings of the Cumberland Mayor and City Council this evening.  The closed session includes discussion on development of the former Memorial Hospital site as well as interest in the recently cleared site along Messick Road.  The council will also go over a new employment agreement with City Fire Chief Shannon Adams.  The public meeting will see another Choose Cumberland Relocation Package awarded as well as new parking rates for Baltimore Street finalized.  The public session begins at 6:15 at City Hall.

Maryland’s Board of Revenue Estimates recently approved a very modest adjustment, increasing state revenue for Fiscal Year 2025 by just point-eight percent over the September estimate. Department of Budget and Management Secretary Helene Grady said the shortfall for its $63 billion budget in FY 2025 is projected to grow next year and that is very much cause for concern…       “The projected general fund shortfall of $2.75 billion dollars in fiscal 2026, this is an 11% shortfall.  The DLS shared that the magnitude of the shortfall is the most significant in at least 20 years, including through the great…

Maryland hunters reported harvesting under 11,000 deer on the opening weekend of the 2024 firearm season from that ended December 1, according to data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  The overall deer harvest was nearly identical to last year’s official opening weekend.  Hunters in Region A, Allegany Garrett, and western Washington counties, harvested 1,080 antlered deer, showing an 18% decrease from last year. Hunters faced the opening of the season with below normal temperatures and high winds.

The Allegany County Library System proudly unveiled the National Road Heritage Tree display in the LaVale Library hallway. This unique exhibit showcases a slice of a 366-year-old white oak that once stood along the historic National Road in LaVale, Maryland, a vital artery of American history known as “the road that built the nation.” This collaborative effort was funded and prepared by the LaVale Civic Improvement Association, the LaVale Lions Club, the Allegany County Forestry Board, and the Allegany County Library System.

Students from the area have been recognized as Provost Scholars at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Provost Scholar status is achieved when students complete a minimum of 45 semester hours at IUP and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.  Provost Scholar recognition is given only once during a student’s time of study at IUP. A complete listing of Provost Scholars is available on IUP’s website: www.iup.edu. Provost Scholars from this area and their majors include: Meyersdale: Madison Ann Faner, Greenville Road, B.S. in Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences; Chaddea Oneise Shoemaker, Hardwood Lane, B.S. in Nursing…

Maryland Delegate Terry Baker has been in the House of Delegates since 2023. He recently shared his thoughts on the financial crisis facing the state, saying that many times bills pass that do not do much more than allow for the hiring of more government workers. Baker said he has seen volumes of tax and fee increases since taking office…     “Since I’ve been there they’ve had an increase of approximately 350 new taxes, fee increases, new fees, and the increases are substantial. Just look at your registration – it went from $175 every two years, now it’s $350….

On Monday, December 16th, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Kristi Marie Yoak, 27, of Hagerstown MD. Yoak was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on August 15th, 2024. During that incident, the Cumberland City Police Department responded to a residence on Pennsylvania Ave for the report of an alleged assault. Upon arrival, it was learned that Yoak had been involved in an altercation with a male subject inside the home. As a result of the investigation, an Application for Charges was submitted and charges were issued for…

Gregory Allen Boggs Jr, 25 of Piedmont, WV was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Comply. Boggs has a pending Violation of Probation hearing stemming from a conviction for CDS: Possession-Not Cannabis where he received a 1-year jail term with 11-months and 20-days suspended, with 24 months of Supervised Probation. Boggs was originally held without bond and then later released on a $3,000 Unsecured Personal Bond (UPB) at his bail review. Brandon Scott Baker, 48 of Cumberland and formerly of Meyersdale, PA, was served a Fugitive from Justice warrant from Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Baker is being held without bond…

Due to a water line break, the Allegany College of Maryland Learning Commons and Welcome Center will be closed to the public today.