Scout Units from around the region will gather at Canal Place Festival grounds today for the annual Scout Show beginning at noon till 4PM.  Interactive displays on camping, Dutch oven cooking as well as tasting and games will be available to visitors. Michele Brenneman, Assistant Scout Executive spoke with WCBC news about the event saying visitors can participate in fun activities, games, TP story time and a BB gun range… For more information about Scouting please visit the Potomac District Laurel Highlands Council Facebook page, www.LHCScouting.org or contact the Potomac District Office at 301-729-1300.

The 3M Challenge is coming to Western Maryland’s Great Allegheny Passage.  Scheduled for September 9, the event is a timed challenge along 15 miles of the bike trail between Cumberland and Frostburg between bicyclists and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s steam engine.  The event will benefit the Mountain Maryland Trails group that assists with maintenance along the GAP Trail.  To register, visit www.bikereg.com/3m.    Larry Brock of the Trails organization said it should be a nice event, taking place the same weekend as Heritage Days…  

The last Alley Artist Summer Series performance is this Saturday from Noon till 3pm in Merchants’ Alley. Free music will be provided by local musicians “Triad” featuring Janice Ray and Annette and Gary Riggleman.  Outdoor and indoor dining is available and merchants on Baltimore Street will have their backdoors open for shopping access. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to Merchants’ Alley.

On August 17th, 2023 officers responded to a business in the ten block of Queen City Drive for a reported shoplifting. Upon officer’s arrival they were provided a description of the suspect who had fled the area with items from the store. Officers then responded to a shoplifting complaint at a business in the teen block of Greene Street. Officers were notified that the owner of the store had followed the suspect to a nearby area and officers were able to identify him as Tanner Schweinsburg. Officers observed Schweinsburg to be matching the description of the suspect from the previous…

On Thursday August 17th, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Jessica Metty. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from a violation of a court order on August 15th, 2023. During the incident officers were contacted by the petitioner of the court order who advised that Jessica Metty had contacted them in violation of the court order. An application for charges was completed and the Arrest Warrant was issued. Metty was taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was held without bond. Arrest: Jessica Marie Metty, age 41, Cumberland Maryland….

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad received a historical rail car Wednesday afternoon. The Silver Palace dome car from the California Zephyr train line arrived in Cumberland to join the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad fleet as part of their scenic train. Wes Heinz, Executive Director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad spoke with WCBC news about the features including a bar under the Dome, expanded seating and a better experience for entertainment…   Photos TJ Abe: Onboard Services Lead

Let’s Beautify Cumberland has been working on enhancing the look of the city’s parklets, sidewalks, and gardens for 27 years. This week, the group handed out its annual awards for beautification at the Mayor and City Council meeting. Ed Mullaney, co-chair for the organization, presented 14 certificates to home- and business owners for making their properties more attractive. He said more people have volunteered this past year than ever before, working on different projects around town to increase the city’s attractiveness… Mullaney remarked community efforts have been happening since the group began in 1996 and were improved even more when…

West Virginia’s economic development efforts have paid off with the announcement this week of a lifecycle carbon-neutral hydrogen production facility in Point Pleasant.  Governor Justice made the announcement about the facility and new jobs at a special press conference… The plant will be built over time in four phases and over 4200 construction jobs will be created for the plant’s construction. Fidelis New Energy’s Mountainer Gigasystem will produce net-zero carbon hydrogen from natural gas that can be used in datacenters, greenhouses, transportation and steel production.  

During this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting, Cumberland Police Chief Chuck Ternent presented a diploma to police Lieutenant Korey Rounds for completing intensive training through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety in Illinois.  Lt. Rounds currently runs the Patrol Division for the City of Cumberland Police Department.  Chief Ternent explained the coursework the Lieutenant needed to complete was beyond normal policing duties…

30-year mortgages are at a “critical stage,” according to the National Board of Realtors. As of Thursday, the rate on a 30-year mortgage averaged 7.68% – up two-tenths of a percent from last week.  Experts say as the economy continues to rebound, the US Federal reserve could raise its benchmark rate, causing mortgages to top 8%.  Locally, Realtor Liz Rhodes of Coldwell Banker doesn’t think the rate will go that high in this area, but for the Allegany County area, buyers have to consider the cost of renting versus buying… The rising mortgage rates are actually pushing buyers from metro…