Eric Douglas Fleek Jr., 43 of Cumberland, was served a Circuit Court warrant for Violation of Probation. Fleek was found guilty on 3/6/24 of felony Sex Offense Third Degree, and was sentenced to an 8-year jail term with all but 47-days suspended along with 5-years supervised probation. He is being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. Travis Wayne Brady, 44 of Cumberland, was served two (2) Circuit Court warrants – Violation of Pretrial Release where he has a bail review pending to account for the pending sentencing on a felony CDS: Possession With Intent to Distribute; Narcotics…

A bill that may see a vote today in Annapolis could have far-reaching consequences on what is recognized as a religious institution. The bill does not deal with separation of church and state – it seeks to make sections of existing state law more gender and religion neutral. However, Senator Mike McKay says current wording in the bill defining the term “religious institution” could end up including cult groups like the Zizians who were recently arrested in Frostburg and are suspected of nationwide murders – something the bill never intended…     “And while I don’t think this group was…

AAA is reminding homeowners to review their property insurance policies. Recent bouts of high winds have resulted in downed trees and power lines that can cause damages to home and business property. AAA Vice President Dan Scroggins says as spring’s stormy weather approaches, now is a good time to check property and deal with any potential problems…    “If you have a tree that is suspect, if you have tree that’s got a limb that looks like may not be as healthy as it should be, have a professional take it out. Either take the limb out or the whole…

While there are court challenges to President Trump’s federal spending freeze, state leaders in Maryland are taking a practical approach to showing how the freezes affect citizens. Recently, Maryland Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth held a town hall where she spoke with state Comptroller Brooke Lierman about some of the resource cuts…     “Paying for foster care kids to paying for vaccination issues to paying for the teacher at your schools that do English as a second language. It’s highway dollars. It really is across the board.”

On February 24, 2025, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office Deputies initiated a traffic stop on Route 36, in Lonaconing, where the driver, later identified as Jahare Bishop Steglich (27 y/o male of Silver Spring MD), refused to comply with the traffic stop and provided false information to include his name. When deputies attempted to remove Steglich from the vehicle, he grabbed hold of a deputy and accelerated his vehicle, injuring the deputy in the process. Steglich then fled south bound at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued Steglich south on Route 36 and relayed this information to West Virginia Law…

On Monday, February 24, 2025, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 100 Block of Bedford Street. Pursuant to the Officer’s initial investigation, a police K9 was called to the scene to conduct a free-air sniff of the vehicle which resulted in an alert. A search of the vehicle yielded controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. The passenger of the vehicle, Brittany Murphy, was placed under arrest for CDS Paraphernalia possession. Murphy was issued a criminal citation and released pending her trial at the Allegany District Court.  Arrest: Brittany Renee Murphy, Age 32, Cumberland,…

On Monday, February 24, 2025, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a building in the 400 Block of Baltimore Street to assist Cumberland City Code Enforcement with securing a condemned building. Upon arrival, Officers searched the residence to ensure there were no persons inside as there was previously posted signage prohibiting occupation. Officers did locate two males inside the residence who were identified as William Dibuono and Logan Aldrich. Both Dibuono and Aldrich were arrested and issued criminal citations. They were released pending their trials at the Allegany District Court.  Arrest: Logan Ray Aldrich, Age 27, Cumberland, Maryland. …

Matt Miller of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation told WCBC that there was great response to the Request for Proposals to develop housing along Memorial Avenue where the hospital once stood.  Miller said the response shows people are looking at the area…    “We received 25 interested responders from RFP process. Of those, I would say more than half are very qualified and capable development companies. So that showed interest; we are on people’s radars.” Miller says the next step is working with those companies on a plan, but it comes with a certain amount of financial risk for the…

Governor Wes Moore’s Chief of Staff Fagan Harris testified Monday in the House Public Safety and Administrative Committee on cuts the Department of Legislative Services is recommending in regards to the state’s federal governmental affairs contract.  Harris said the governor’s office concurs that the cut of $480,000 should be made but will instead fund it with savings from unfilled open positions in the administration. Harris said the government affairs program is crucial to keeping billions in funding for facilities like Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground in place…    “Our kind of strategy here is that we need to bring…

The West Virginia Senate has signed off on a bill allowing religious and philosophical exemptions to the state’s school vaccination requirements. The bill now goes to the House for debate. Governor Jim Justice vetoed a similar bill last year. Delegate Michael Hornby of Berkeley County was raised in Zimbabwe and has seen first-hand the issues that come with avoiding vaccinations…     “The devastating outcomes of these diseases – I’ve seen people walking on their hands, crippled for life. My own brother contracted mumps as a child, which left him unable to have children.