Washington County law enforcement is reporting that Pedro Argote, the man wanted for the murder of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson has been found dead.  Argote’s body was discovered just before Noon on Thursday in a heavily wooded area between Clear Spring and Bottom Roads in Williamsport.  Argote’s car had been found in the area earlier in the week. The judge was gunned down in his driveway last week by Argote following a child custody hearing earlier that day.  

The City of Cumberland will begin its annual leaf collection on Monday, October 30th. Residents should rake leaves into piles near the edge of the sidewalk, avoiding the street to avoid clogging storm drains. The collection is for leaves only and not for other yard debris.  Streets will only be done once, but residents may also bag leaves for collection on regular trash days.  A complete schedule with locations is available on the City of Cumberland website.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs inducted Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Wesley E. Craig, Jr. of Oreland, PA into its prestigious Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes citizens for their exceptional service to the department, the National Guard and Pennsylvania's veterans. Major General Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania adjutant general, inducted Craig at a ceremony in Annville.  

Friday After Five on October 27 will be the last for 2023, Opening act is Replay from 6 to7PM followed by blues & funk band Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes from 7:30 till 10:30PM on North Centre Street. Before and after Friday After Five, The North Centre Street’s Roper’s Romp, dress as your favorite Three’s Company character for the 80’s sitcom and enjoy the day on North Centre Street. Music begins at 3PM with a Helen & Stanley-themed band and the the Never Too Late ladies will dance at 5:30PM. Guest judges will select their favorite Three’s Company costume for gifts and prizes. Artisan vendors…

On Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police responded to the downtown mall area for the report of a male sleeping in public. Upon arrival, officers located the male, Nicholas Lee Craig, 31, of Folkston GA. Craig was issued a Cumberland City Municipal Citation for sleeping in a public place and released, pending trial.  Arrested: Nicholas Lee Craig         Age: 31                        Charges: Sleeping in a public place 2300-0830

On Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police served a Criminal Summons on Tammy Lynn Porter, 44, of Cumberland MD. The summons was in reference to an incident that occurred on October 20th at a residence on Manns Terrace. During that incident, it is alleged that Porter spit on a subject and attempted to shove them down a flight of steps. Porter was served the summons and released, pending trial in District Court.  Arrested: Tammy Lynn Porter          Age: 44                    Charges: Assault 2nd Degree, Attempted Reckless Endangerment

Labor industry leaders from Maryland, Virginia, and DC met recently to discuss area plans in the event of a government shutdown. A shutdown was averted in September but a new deadline of November 17th is looming for lawmakers to approve a spending bill to keep the government running. Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu says the state has programs in place for such an event…   

The Republicans finally settled on a new Speaker of the House with Representative Mike Johnson being the fourth nominee in three weeks finally getting the votes needed with unanimous party support. Meanwhile, the Democrats in the House continued to call out the chaos in the Republican Party.  Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin recently told political podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen that Dems would not vote for just anybody to fill the Speaker’s role…     

Some citizens are still upset with the decision of the Allegany County Commissioners to go with D.R. Horton for the housing development on the former Allegany site, but Commissioner Bill Atkinson says the county is working with Live Together, the other bidder from the Allegany project, on sites within the county…     

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and State Public Defender Natasha Dartigue announced Wednesday the Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative – designed to break the crisis of over-incarceration of Black citizens in Maryland. Public Defender Dartigue says change is urgently needed… AG Brown said the answer will not come quickly and needs to be comprehensive…    The collaborative is made up of over three dozen key government, community and private sector stakeholders.