The West Virginia Board of Education appointed Michele Blatt as the state schools superintendent Friday after accepting the retirement of David Roach in fallout over a review of a county school system’s pandemic spending. The board voted unanimously to accept the retirement of Roach, who had served just 10 months. It then met in private before voting to named Blatt as the third state schools superintendent since 2020 and the seventh in a dozen years. Blatt joined the Department of Education in 2007 as a leadership development coordinator and became a deputy state superintendent in 2020. She had more than…

A federal judge ordered companies owned by Gov. Jim Justice and his family to pay $154,484 in a court case over required beneficiary payments for retired mine workers dating back seven years. U.S. District Judge Frank Volk had already entered a summary judgment in favor of the retired miners suing the Justice coal companies. The latest order specified how much the companies must pay. The case is over health care premium payments from July 15, 2017, through May 15, 2023.

Saturday, June 24, 2023     BENCH WARRANT SERVED   On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Rason Patterson.  The warrant was issued as the result of Patterson failing to comply with an order of the court.  He was originally charged with Trespass: Private Property, Disorderly Conduct, Disturb Peace Hinder Passage, and Theft Less Than $100.  Patterson was seen by a District Court Commissioner for his initial hearing and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond.   ARRESTED:  Rason Michael Patterson     AGE:  31         Cumberland, MD   _____________________________________________________________   CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED…

A local musician is raising money to cover his travel cost with the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. Benjamin Eft of Fort Ashby is a tuba player with West Virginia University and is training with Jersey Surf for the summer tour.  The Vendor Bingo fundraiser to support his efforts will be held at Mezzos on Centre Street on June 27th with doors opening at 5pm and the games starting at 6:30. Prizes include Paprazzi, Pampered Chef, Thirty-One and more. Bonnie Eft, Ben's mother, talked to WCBC about the opportunity… Ben says that he's been playing brass instruments since elembentary…

A Memorial Service for the Unborn is planned for this Saturday at Davis Memorial Cemetery on Uhl Highway. Sponsored by the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization, the service will take place in the cemetery at the Monument to the Unborn.  The monument is the largest of its kind in the state of Maryland and was erected in 2004 on land donated by Davis Memorial Church.  Ed Taylor, Jr – President of the Cemetery organization said a larger group than normal is expected this year due to the increased attention on the issue of abortion.  Taylor shared the lineup of speakers for…

On June 23, 2023 a Cumberland Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on Decatur Street.  The stop resulted in the driver receiving Driving under the influence and traffic Citations. The driver was identified as Brittni Sarah Davis of Cumberland. Davis was transported to the Cumberland Police Department and was later released to a friend. Arrest: Brittni Sarah Davis, 35, Cumberland Charges: Driving under the influence/ traffic Citations.  

On June 23, 2023 Cumberland Police Officers were dispatched to Lee Street for a report of a theft. Upon arrival Officers were advised by the Taxi driver, that he provided transportation for a subject that now refuses to pay the fare. The suspect was identified as Nikita Loraine Waller. Waller was a issued criminal citation for theft less than $100.00. Arrest: Nikita Loraine Waller, 35, Cumberland. Charge: Criminal Citation- Theft less than $100.00

On June 23, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Woodrow Matthew Dean. The Arrest Warrant stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 20, 2023. Officers from the Cumberland Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Altamont Terrance for a report of harassment. It was later determined that Mr. Dean made numerous threats to burn down the house belonging to a neighbor. Dean also assaulted the victim prior to leaving. Mr. Dean was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center and was held without bond. Arrest: Woodrow Matthew Dean, age 65, Cumberland. Charges:…

Cumberland’s Mayor and City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to submit a grant request of $600,000 to the Department of Housing and Community development.  The money is earmarked for four projects across the city including a unique program called “Choose Cumberland.”  With the increase in the number of people who can work remotely, suburban areas are growing in attraction to big city living.  The “Choose Cumberland” program is designed to attract remote workers to the area to put down new roots.  Ruth Davis-Rogers of the Historic Preservation Commission shared details about how the program would work for new residents deciding…

A heavy veterinary drug is showing up on the street, being mixed with other drugs. Xylazine is a drug used in veterinary medicine for sedation, as a muscle relaxant and analgesic.   Now, law enforcement and healthcare officials are coming upon overdose cases where that drug has been mixed with fentanyl, heroin, and other opioids.  The drug has been seized in 48 of the 50 states since 2022.  The presence of Xylazine in these overdoes cases creates an additional issue for first responders trying to save lives. Allegany County Director of Emergency Services Jim Pyles tells WCBC that Xylazine complicates matters…