City of Cumberland property owners can now view their current tax invoices, make payments, set up paperless billing and manage their account online at cumberlandmd.igovservices.com or through the City’s website at ci.cumberland.md.us. Online tax inquiries can be done by partial or full name, property ID, or street address. Beginning July 19th, the City fully transitioned from its AS400 tax software to iGov Services tax software.  All data from the City’s AS400 software has been transferred and verified in the iGov software. The invoice format is configured to look substantially similar to what has been received in the past and current…

The Mayor and Council for Cumberland heard a proposal from Bobby Smith, City Engineer to revise the ordinance for construction times in downtown Cumberland.  Smith asked the council to consider revising the allowed start time so that Triton Construction would be able to start work earlier, add an hour a day to their schedule and create less business interruptions…  The Council will vote on the revision at their August meeting. Smith said they are trying to create a better environment for businesses and residents while construction continues…

The House Committee on Appropriations markup of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill shows a reduction in the funding for the Carver Center in Cumberland. The appropriation is now $850,000 – originally, Congressman David Trone had asked for an appropriation of $2 million for the renovation of the Center. Carver Center is planned to be a location for community organizations to locate and co-exist, creating an opportunity for cooperation and helping those in need.  The Center is intended to directly impact low and moderate income families in Allegany County, including workforce development, youth enrichment and…

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 5% toll increase for 2024. The hike will take effect on Jan. 7 and will apply to both E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers across the commission’s toll highways in the state.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is turning over a new chapter in The Imagination Library legacy – celebrating 200 million books gifted globally since inception in 1995. The early childhood book-gifting program mails a high-quality, free book each month to children from birth to age five. The Imagination Library of Allegany County is excited to celebrate with every child/family enrolled locally. Started in March of 2011, a total of 254,938 have been mailed to children in Allegany County. Currently 1,824 children receive books monthly and another 4,437 children have graduated from the program. To celebrate this global 200 million book milestone,…

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council took up the issue of parking rates at their work session on Tuesday.  City Administrator Jeff Silka made a presentation to the Council showing that the Municipal Parking Authority has been operating in the red, with expenses exceeding revenue and cash flow.  Recommendations from Silka include contracting with ParkMobile for mobile parking payment services, ceasing the policy of two warnings to parking violators before receiving a ticket, and increasing the hourly parking rates at meters and for monthly permits.  The Council did not take action during the work session but it is expected to…

Otto Edward Artfitch, Sr., 79, of Oldtown, died Saturday, July 8, 2023, at UPMCWestern Maryland. A former FBI official in Washington, D.C., in the Fingerprint Division, he joined the Maryland State Police until he retired, in 2004, after 38 years of dedicated service. Friends will be received at Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, 1601 Frederick Street, Cumberland, on Aug. 25th, from 11 a.m. to noon. A memorial service will follow, at noon, in the church, with the Reverend David Wright officiating. The Upchurch Funeral Home, P.A., Cumberland, assisted the family with arrangements.

Recreational marijuana in Allegany County was one of the topics discussed when Allegany County Commissioner Bill Atkinson was a guest on the Dave Norman Show.  Atkinson said that there are two dispensaries in the county that are now licensed for both medical and recreational marijuana and the county will benefit from the sales that became legalized July 1… Atkinson made mention of a unique tourism revenue stream now available to Allegany County that has been happening across the country where cannabis is legal…

On 07/18/2023 at approximately 8:30 AM the Cumberland City Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of Maryland Avenue for a disturbance. The officer made contact with the complainant and learned that Robert Steele was attempting to get inside the residence. The complainant advised Steele was yelling and screaming for them to let him in. The officer observed there to be items thrown at the front door of the residence. The complainant advised that Steele had thrown the items at their door. The officers contacted Steele whom was still yelling. Steele admitted to throwing the items…

On 07/18/2023 the Cumberland City Police responded to the 100 block of Memorial Avenue for a hit and run complaint. Upon arrival the officer learned the vehicle was legally parked on Memorial Avenue. The officer observed damage to the victim’s vehicle with white paint transfer. The suspect vehicle is white with no further known information. The incident is suspected to have occurred the evening of 7/17/2023 or the early morning hours of 7/18/2023. Anyone with information about this case please contact the Cumberland City Police Department at 301-777-1600 and reference case number C2023-16483.