The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) has received a Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant of $693,000 to help community partners build capacity to keep Marylanders safe. The grant will cover activities from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2024. “The TVTP grant provides the funding that will improve our understanding of targeted violence aimed at public spaces where Marylanders gather every day. It will also fund the risk assessment tools needed to develop strategies that will improve the security and protection of these gathering sites,” said MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland. “This grant will allow us to work…

LOCATION / ADDRESS: 12505 McMullen Highway, Cumberland, Allegany County TYPE OF INCIDENT:  commercial structure fire DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE / PROPERTY:  shopping plaza containing a restaurant and stores OWNER / OCCUPANTS: owner (Mary Skiver)  occupant (Krista Gulledge) INJURIES / DEATHS: none ESTIMATED LOSS – STRUCTURE:   $3,000                            CONTENTS: $1,000 SMOKE ALARM STATUS:  present – activated FIRE ALARM / SPRINKLER STATUS: none present ARREST(S): n/a PRIMARY RESPONDING FIRE DEPARTMENT: Bowling Green Volunteer Fire Department # OF ALARMS:      1                                    # OF FIREFIGHTERS:  15 TIME TO CONTROL: 5 minutes DISCOVERED BY:  passerby AREA OF ORGIN: interior wall PRELIMINARY CAUSE:  Accidental – pellets placed near a…

Allegany County Emergency Services reported that Interstate 68 East was shutdown this morning at the 64 mile marker due to a vehicle fire. EMS and Police responded. The interstate was re-opened around 9:30

The Cumberland Police served an Arrest Warrant on Cassandra Kay Porter, age 40, of Cumberland, MD.  The Warrant charged Porter with Violation of Probation.  Her original charge was for Possession of CDS-Not Marijuana.  She was taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner and held on $2,500 bond. Arrested:  Cassandra Kay Porter  Age: 40   Cumberland, MD Charges:  Violation of Probation The Cumberland Police served an Arrest Warrant on Benayah Reuben Del Toro, age 26, of Cumberland, MD.  The Warrant charged Del Toro with Failure to Appear for an original Second Degree Assault charge.  He was…

There is an old cliché that the “wheels of justice turn slowly”- and both city and county officials are experiencing that first hand with ongoing efforts to see the Washington Street bridge replaced. It was in April of last year that the Allegany County Commissioners directed attorney Lee Beeman to file a complaint against CSX with the National Surface Transportation Board in regard to the closed West Side span. Beeman told WCBC News Thursday that as of today- a date for a hearing has not yet been scheduled by the board. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said at this point the…

Cumberland residents have been complaining that their mail delivery service has slowed substantially in recent years- and a report from the Office of the Inspector General’s Office validates those concerns. According to the report, mail processing operations are less efficient and service performance lower for Western Maryland since processing was moved to Baltimore in a cost-cutting move by the U.S. Postal Service. The Cumberland processing center was consolidated in 2014. After hearing numerous complaints about poor service from constituents- Congressman David Trone requested that the Inspector General’s Office examine delays and disruptions in mail delivery in Western Maryland. Trone said…

With funeral services set for Monday, Maryland leaders and residents are continuing to pour  in their condolences following the passing last week of Queen Elizabeth II after more than 70 years as the United Kingdom's matriarch. Queen Elizabeth, 96, enjoyed a strong connection with Maryland as the state welcomed her during her first state visit to the country in 1957- and again during her last state visit in 2007. Maryland Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford called it the end of an era… Comptroller Peter Franchot…  

The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation is hoping that applications can be received by the end of the month for the Downtown Comprehensive Investment Program. That program will offer grants for downtown businesses wishing to upgrade their properties. Phase one of the three-phase program is for facade improvements and technical assistance grants. The second phase will include residential development and infrastructure improvements including water and fiber. A third phase will be a business attraction component. CEDC executive director Matt Miller said that any business or building owner that will be impacted by the Baltimore Street Access project in the downtown special…

In last week's high school football contest between Allegany and Boonsboro, a Campers players was penalized and ejected from the game for a blindside block on a Warriors player near the end of the game. The injured player was taken off the fild on a stretcher. When some post game media coverage of the incident identified the Campers player- he began receiving death threats and other critical messages on social media. Rock Cioni, a veteran of WCBC's sports team, was part of the broadcast and said with these types of incidents, every effort is made to protect the players involved:

After a relatively slow start to the rollout of the new COVID-19 booster, the Maryland Department of Health began a outreach program this week, aimed at increasing the booster vaccination rates in the state. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced the state’s already established "COVIDReady" campaign will focus on encouraging residents to get the updated COVID booster and flu shot at the same time to maximize protection against the upcoming flu season and the omicron variant. “The new bivalent booster shot is another important tool in our toolbox to help Marylanders stay COVIDReady,” Hogan said in a press release. So far,…