THEFT ARREST   On Friday, March 1, 2024 at approximately 3:20 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business on Queen City Drive for a shoplifting complaint.  Police contacted the staff who reported that Eric Savelli stole merchandise from the store.  After further investigation, Savelli was issued a criminal citation and released pending trial.   ARRESTED:  Eric Ryan Savelli            AGE:  36            Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Theft less than $100     ASSAULT ARREST   On Friday, March 1, 2024 at approximately 11:03 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to Interstate 68 Westbound in the area of…

The City of Cumberland is seeking an Operator for the Constitution Park Pool Concession Stand for the 2024 season. Sealed bids are being accepted at City Hall until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27th. The Concession Stand Operator would be responsible for selling food and drink items from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day. Interested bidders may attend a walk-through of the Concession Stand area on March 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. A bid packet may be obtained from Ryan Mackey, Director of Parks and Recreation, at 57 N. Liberty Street, Cumberland, MD, or by calling 301-759-6636 or emailing ryan.mackey@cumberlandmd.gov….

Allegany High School’s Mock Trial team is the Maryland Circuit Four Champion after completing their regular season with a 10-0 record. The ten matches were the most regular season matches played locally in over twenty years. Eight circuit champion schools across Maryland will begin playoffs to earn a chance to advance to play for the state championship. Mock Trial is an academic activity by which students throughout the state are provided a casebook through MyLaw, a Maryland state organization that fosters programs to allow students to learn about our legal system through real world learning opportunities. This year’s case is…

A Bedford County couple involved in an extreme animal hoarding situation have each been charged with 99 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.  Nyal and Renee Piper are being held in Bedford County on $1 million dollars bond each.  On New Year’s Eve of 2023, state troopers went to the Piper home on Route 220 and found dogs, cats, and a turtle – 99 animals total in crates stacked floor to ceiling.  A number of dead animals were also observed.  Rescues throughout the area took the animals in for care.

UPMC lab services will be available in Grantsville, Md. beginning Friday, March 1. The lab, located at 116 Main St., Suite 112, Grantsville, MD 21536, will be open Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. and will offer blood draw and urine testing. For more information, please call 301-895-8062.

The National Park Service has determined that the Yoshino Cherry Trees that surround the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. should reach peak bloom this year between March 23-26.  The white and pink flowers have a short bloom period that attracts tourists from across the country.  Peak bloom varies every year depending on the weather conditions but usually happens between the end of March and the first half of April.  Over 3,000 trees were gifted to the United States from Japan in 1912.

A total of 1,789 candidates throughout the state registered to participate in West Virginia's Primary Election scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 14th. A total of 504 national, congressional, statewide, and judicial candidates, filed with the WV Secretary of State's Office.  In addition, 1,285 county-level candidates filed to run in the Primary Election with their local county clerk. Those positions include county commission, sheriff, assessor, magistrate, board of education, and surveyor. 

Construction traffic alert eastbound Interstate 68 off-ramp to Maryland Avenue, exit 43D is going to be closed for the next 6 to 8 hours.

Voter ID is once again being brought up in Annapolis. House Bill 192 seeks to establish legislation requiring that voter present identification each time they go to vote. Thirty-seven other states already require some form of ID for voting. There is flexibility in the kind of identification that can be presented from a driver’s license to utility bill or bank statement.  Those against the bill says it would disenfranchise voters and could create barriers to some.

There was a special “shout-out” from the Maryland Governor at this week’s Board of Public Works Meeting.  In attendance were Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss, Frostburg Mayor Bob Flanigan, and Executive Director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Wes Heinz.  Moore took time to highlight the railroad receiving money at the meeting… Mayor Flanigan who serves on the railroad board, thanked the governor and board members  for their interest in keeping the railroad going…