On Monday, September 25, 2023 at approximately 12:40 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the first block of Arch Street for an assault.  Police arrived and contacted the alleged victim who reported that he was assaulted by Karen Beiler.  Officers observed that the victim had sustained injuries from the altercation.  After further investigation, Beiler was placed under arrest and later transported to Central Booking.  She was seen by a District Court Commissioner and released on her personal recognizance.   ARRESTED:  Karen Kathryn Beiler               AGE: 23                Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault-2nd Degree

On Monday, September 25, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Brain Shelton.  The warrant was issued as the result of an incident that occurred on September 13, 2023.  On this date at approximately 5:30 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the urgent care center on W. Industrial Blvd. for an alleged victim of a robbery.  Officers contacted the victim who reported that Brian Shelton pepper-sprayed him, struck him in the face, and stole his wallet.  The victim advised that this occurred in the foot path behind the health facility.  After further investigation, police…

On Monday, September 25, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Gregory Bach.  The summons was issued as the result of an incident that was reported to police on August 28, 2023.  On this date at approximately 10:28 AM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 1000 block of Bedford Street for a theft of services complaint.  Officers contacted the owner who reported that a customer had not paid for services that were completed on May 24, 2023.  The suspect was identified as Gregory Bach.  Charges were filed against Bach at…

A 12-acre parcel of land off Messick Road is having a timber inventory done for future site development.  The land is jointly owned by Cumberland and Allegany County and current plans are to prepare parts of the site to make it more marketable for industrial or commercial use.  Mayor Ray Morriss says the land has prospects for several uses… Morriss wants to work with anyone that has ideas for developing the land to become beneficial to the area…

A new multi-modal transportation study is in the works for Allegany County.  According to the request for proposals, Allegany County’s current fixed route bus system is inadequate in meeting the needs of residents trying to get to work, medical appointments, or classes.  Adam Strott, Economic Development Specialist, requested that the commissioners award the bid for a strategic plan study jointly through the Appalachian Regional Commission… The winning bid of $99,850 went to Baltimore design firm Whitman, Requardt, and Associates…

State arts organization have benefited from a $40 million in supplemental funding added to the Maryland State Arts Council’s annual budget of almost $29 million.  The additional funding provided operating and project funds for grants to assist with debt relief, investments, and artist living expenses. Arts Relief funding allowed for 2,500 grants in FY23, more than three times its usual volume. The supplemental funds grew the State Arts Council’s budget by 138%. Allegany County Arts programs received over a million dollars in funding in FY2023.

The possibility of an off-road system similar to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail in West Virginia was introduced during the recent Allegany County Commissioner’s meeting.  James Retino, president of the Maryland Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance, asked that dialogue be opened for privately owned land to be used for public OHV recreation.  Retino says the trail system could be an economic benefit to the area… 

Education continues to be a visible priority for the Governor of Maryland.  Wes Moore appeared with US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona at the National Association of College Admission Counseling in Baltimore and reiterated his stance that Maryland needs to give students opportunities to take the best path that suits them.  Counselors at the event say the college marketplace has changed, a point that Secretary Cardona addressed in remarks about admissions since affirmative action has been overturned…

The Downtown Development Commission will be holding its next quarterly update on the Baltimore Street construction project on Wednesday of this week. Updates on construction, promotions and other details will be available.  Anyone who would like to submit questions ahead of time can send them to DDC Executive Director Melinda Kelleher at Cumberland’s City Hall.  The meeting will take place via Webex – the link to the event is available on the Cumberland Historic City Center Facebook page and at ReimagineCumberland.com/news.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has announced that St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown will no longer receive funding after this school year.  The Goretti community is studying its options to stay open next year.  Jennifer Flinn, principal of Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, said that there are Catholic elementary feeder schools in Hagerstown and thus Goretti is only for high school students, a contrast to BW. While the Archdiocese of Baltimore has contributed over 8 million dollars to St. Maria Goretti in the last few years, Flinn says that Bishop Walsh receives other types of support from Baltimore.