The long awaited reconstruction of the Cumberland Street Bridge is slated to begin around this time next year and at Tuesday’s Mayor and Council meeting, the consent agenda included a new agreement for the Fayette Street bridge reconstruction.  Mayor Ray Morriss explained that the cost-sharing agreement includes monies from the federal government, Maryland Department of Transportation, CSX, and the City of Cumberland… Three of the city’s bridges were damaged by a CSX freight train and 2 have been closed since the incident.  

A public hearing for the proposed raise for the Cumberland Mayor and City Council was held on Tuesday night with only one citizen speaking.  Former Councilman Joe George addressed the meeting and supported the charter amendment that would effectively double the current pay for the Mayor and Council members… George commented that the council does many things out of their own pockets and a good rate of pay is the only way to attract qualified candidates in the future…

Healing Allegany and AHEC West are encouraging the community to support Recovery Month throughout September.  “Allegany Goes Purple” helps celebrate the successes made by people in recovery from Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder.  Lindsay Wood of AHEC west tells WCBC that wearing or decorating with purple shows support and helps lessen the stigma of those challenged by addiction… Wood says that the Peer Recovery Specialists at Healing Allegany are there to support those with substance abuse issues and come from a unique understanding of the issues…

Several roads in Allegany County are not regularly kept up by county road crews. However, a special program does exist to help residents in some of these areas with road improvements. County Administrator Jason Bennett says it is called the “Other Public” or O-P Roads program… The road improvements investment will help several residents throughout the county this year…

North Centre Street will be closed to thru traffic between Union Street and Frederick Street from 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 7th. Signage will be in place to detour passenger vehicles around the road closure. Pedestrian traffic will also be re-routed around the construction at the intersection with Baltimore Street.  

A 93-year-old Cresaptown man has died from burn injuries he sustained yesterday after a brush fire he was tending inadvertently got beyond his control.  Charles W. Armstrong passed away this morning at MedStar Washington Hospital Burn Center after being treated for first, second, and third-degree burns to his body.  Deputy State Fire Marshal's preliminary investigation determined that Armstrong was burning brush on his property in the 15100 block of Long Hill Drive when the fire extended beyond his control. Heavy smoke and flames impeded his ability to move away safely. There is no evidence that Armstrong was using an accelerant…

Maryland Ventures, LLC will be the new promoter for the dirt-track at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  Jason Bennett, County Administrator, made the announcement at the monthly county commissioners meeting.  A Request for Proposals was put out in February to find a promoter with only one response…

With VISA and MasterCard both raising fees to merchants for credit card use, many businesses are choosing to pass the cost onto the customer in surcharges.  Fees are charged by credit card companies every time a card is used to make a purchase and those costs come out of the retailer’s pocket.  WCBC talked to Levi Lutz of Bella Napoli Restaurant on Greene Street in Cumberland and he said the credit card fees are one of the main reasons most businesses prefer cash transactions…    

Cumberland Jeopardy at Heritage Days is planned for this Saturday and Sunday at the Washington Street stage. Ruth Davis-Rogers, Historic Preservation Planner for the city said a Local Historian Celebrity Jeopardy edition will take place on Sunday afternoon.  This game will have more challenging questions than the two games being held on Saturday. With one well known local historian committed, Ruth is searching for two more local history buffs to officially have a Local Historian Celebrity Jeopardy. If you're interested contact Ruth at 301-759-6431.

On September 5th, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Iywania Lisa Conaway. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the Circuit Court stemming from an assault investigation that occurred on January 22nd, 2023. The investigation was conducted by the Cumberland Police Department and C3I, and as a result of the investigation this Arrest Warrant was issued. Conaway was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where she was held without bond. Arrest: Iywania Lisa Conaway, age 20, Cumberland Maryland. Charges: Five Counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder First Degree, Four Counts of Conspiracy to Commit First…