Republican State Senator Mike McKay was the featured speaker on the floor of the Maryland Senate to bring the annual Lincoln Day Speech on Monday.  The theme of the senator’s speech was “character,” and McKay spoke of the resilience of Abraham Lincoln during his presidency and lifetime…    

Small business owners came together on Tuesday to explore different ways to collaborate, network, and share valuable insights on the unique challenges facing them in the community.  Hosted by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, the event was designed to open conversations and generate ideas and solutions.  Chamber Director Juli McCoy said this is the first such event with more to be planned.  She said one of the challenges discussed was getting the community involved with locally owned businesses…    

On 2/13/2024 the Cumberland City Police Department served an arrest warrant on Brittany Lantz. Lantz was wanted for failing to appear in District Court on 2/12/2024 for a theft charge. Lantz was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center. Lantz received a hearing before a District Court Commissioner and was released on an unsecured $1,000.00 bond. Arrested – Brittany Lynn Lantz (35) Cumberland, MD Charge – Failure to Appear On 2/13/2024 the Cumberland City Police Department served an arrest warrant on Haley Kirk. Kirk failed to obey conditions of probation from a previous theft charge. Kirk was transported to the…

Jacob Lee Haines, 35 of Cumberland, was arrested on a District Court Bench Warrant for Failure To Comply with Pre-Trial Release. His original charges include: 1st and 2nd Degree Assault. He is being held without bond pending a bail review in District Court. Melody Joy Llewellyn, 45 of Frostburg, was arrested on a District Court Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. Her original conviction was for: Assault 2nd Degree where she was sentenced to 3-years incarceration with 2-years and 178-days suspended with 24-months supervised probation. She is currently being held without bond pending a bail review in District Court. Hil…

Reward money of up to $14,000 is being offered to anyone who can provide the identity of a woman with critical knowledge in a sexual child exploitation investigation.   Police are asking for assistance in identifying the woman captured in video screenshots from 2020. The photos show an adult woman with distinctive tattoos including a chest tattoo and multiple arm/hand tattoos. One wrist tattoo appears to read “12-17-16”.   Investigators believe this woman has specific knowledge related to the identity of a female infant that was sexually abused. Investigators believe the child victim is now likely 4-5 years old.   Maryland…

Gas prices are fluctuating again in the Tri-State area.  AAA shows an average in Allegany County of $3.25 per gallon with neighboring Washington County at $3.23. The least expensive gas right now in Maryland is on the eastern shore in Queen Anne’s County where the average is $3.18 per gallon.  Prices have inched back up along with oil prices linked to Middle East tensions and attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

The community is mourning the passing of Gaylord Brooks, a pioneer in Allegany County’s environmental health arena – he was 93.  He held a Bio-Science degree from the University of Maryland and was the Director of Environmental Health for Allegany County for a number of years. While under his direction, the county did away with open-burn dumps and moved toward the use of abandoned strip mines as landfills. The Scarpelli Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

On February 12th, 2024 the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Damera Davis. The warrant was issued after an officer, from the Cumberland Police Department, conducted an investigation into a theft that occurred on February 9th, 2024 at a business on Queen City Drive. The officer was able to identify Davis as the suspect who removed property from the store and applied for charges at District Court. Davis was served the arrest warrant and an outstanding bench warrant issued on April 29th, 2022. She was transported to Central Booking where she was later seen by a District Court…

On February 12th, 2024 the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Jami Laraine Anderson. The warrant was issued for previous charges of theft at a Park Street business. Anderson was served the warrant and transported to Central Booking where she was later seen by a District Court commissioner and released on her own recognizance. NAME: Jami Laraine Anderson AGE: 42  Cumberland, MD CHARGES: Theft Less Than $100.00

Senator Mike McKay spoke with WCBC this week on a number of bills in process during the General Assembly session.  One of McKay’s bills involves an “uncoupling” of Canal Place and the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area.  McKay says a new 3-member board for Canal Place from the City, County, and Western Maryland Delegation would simplify property management… McKay thinks it is time for the two organizations to be separated so that the Heritage Area’s operations mirror the Heritage Areas in the rest of the state…