The City of Cumberland will unveil the newly revitalized duck pond at Constitution Park on Monday, November 13 at 2pm. The pond area in the lower loop has undergone extensive renovations to incorporate areas for viewing, picnicking, and access to the walking path.  The work on the duck pond is part of the larger project to update Constitution Park that has included new signage, pool updates, and work on the watchman’s house and amphitheater.  

The Centers for Disease Control and the Maryland Department of Health are highlighting the importance of getting updated flu, RSV, and Covid-19 vaccines as winter approaches to protect against the triple viral threat.  Marylanders 6-months and older can get the newest Covid-19 vaccine while flu shots and the new RSV vaccine are recommended for adults and pregnant women as well.  Dr. Demitri Daskalakis of the CDC says this year’s flu shot protects against 4 different strains of the virus…

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin will not seek re-election in 2024.  The announcement came Thursday afternoon and Manchin reflected on his years of service to his state, remembering the inspiration of John F. Kennedy on his choice of career.  He said months of deliberation resulted in his decision not to run for the Senate again. He has served in the US Senate since 2010.  Recent polls have shown he is trailing in the polls behind Governor Jim Justice.  As for his future, the plan is to work on uniting the country…

In honor of Veterans Day, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to illuminate state and county buildings and landmarks in green From November 6-12 as part of Operation Green Light, a campaign to show support for veterans and military families. The nationwide initiative raises awareness of the unique challenges faced by veterans and the resources available at the federal, state, and county level to assist the military community. Government House in Annapolis along with the Warehouse at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium are among the buildings participating in the state.  Local businesses as well as residents…

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that hunters harvested 103 black bears during the state’s 20th annual black bear hunt held the last week of October in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The harvest consisted of 40 male and 63 female bears.  DNR officials said hunters had good conditions for this year’s hunt with cool mornings and clear weather.  A record 643-pound bear was taken by a hunter in Garrett County while the average bear weighed 166 pounds.  Over 4,500 hunters applied for the 950 permits that were awarded for the season.

On November 9th, 2023 at approximately 12:50 am officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 200 block of Greene Street for a reported trespassing complaint. Upon officer’s arrival they contacted Nakota Durham, who was served with a “No Trespassing” letter. Durham was placed under arrest and later released on a Criminal Citation pending her trial at District Court. Arrest: Nakota Cheanta Durham, age 32, Cumberland Maryland. Charge: Trespassing.

On November 8th, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Dalton Colmer. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the Circuit Court when he violated the conditions of his probation. Colmer was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. Arrest: Dalton John Colmer, age 23, Lonaconing Maryland Charge: Violation of Probation.  

UPMC Western Maryland received an “A” grade recently from the Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization.  Dr. David Burwell, Chief Quality Officer for UPMC Western Maryland, spoke with WCBC about the rating and explained that Leapfrog can be viewed as a sort of TripAdvisor for healthcare…. Dr. Burwell says that receiving the “A” grade is a direct reflection of the high quality of care that UPMC’s teams provide…

Hampshire County Schools Special Education Services are under a state of emergency to address critical areas identified during a recent Special Circumstance Review. The West Virginia Department of Education initiated the Review in September due to a lack of progress on a targeted improvement plan developed by the WVDE. The county has received a “Needs Assistance” rating in the Special Education Indicator of Efficiency for the past three years. This resulted in increased monitoring and technical assistance by the WVDE, however, sufficient progress was not achieved. The State Superintendent of Schools has now appointed staff to on-site school improvement efforts…

State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is pleased that the West Virginia First Foundation is finally off the ground.  The board that is charged with handling the state’s distribution of over a billion dollars from opioid settlements met in Charleston this week. Morrissey says he looks forward to how the state will benefit from the funds… Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey is the Chair of the Foundation. He said the first round of funding is going out to West Virginia counties in the near future…