On Tuesday,at 2:27 PM, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Maryland State Police, responded to the 20000 block of McMullen Highway in Rawlings for a reported assault. First arriving Deputies spoke with witnesses, who advised that a female had approached them, stating that she had just been assaulted. The 40 year old victim spoke briefly with Deputies, and indicated that she had been assaulted, a shotgun had been pointed at her, and she had just escaped from a residence where she was being held against her will. She pointed out the residence to the Deputies.              …

A house fire was reported early Wednesday morning on Virginia Avenue. The structure located at 35 Virginia Avenue is a duplex. Emergency crews were on the scene and traffic was shut down as crews battled the blaze. WCBC News will update this story as infortmation becomes available. 

     On October 18th, 2022, The Cumberland City Police arrested Antonio Maurice Smith, 32, of Cumberland MD. Smith was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on May 27th, 2022. The warrant alleged that Smith failed to obey the terms and conditions of his probation due to a previous conviction on charges of violation a protective order. Smith was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Antonio Maurice Smith                 Age: 32 Charges:…

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Tuesday urged Marylanders to get their annual flu shots, as well as their COVID-19 booster shots. Since the beginning of the official flu season this fall, MDH has identified three laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza. Flu season is already underway in Maryland and MDH Secretary Dennis Schrader says he encourages every eligible Marylander to get their flu shot at the same time they get their COVID booster shot. Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford who was in Hancock Tuesday to promote the health benefits of outdoor recreation-  said while the focus has been on COVID for three years- he…

In less than three weeks, Maryland voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Statewide referendum question No. 4 is on the ballot for Election Day. As printed on the ballot, the question reads: "Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the state of Maryland?" If voters approve the constitutional amendment, possession of up to 1 1/2 ounces of recreational marijuana would be legal. It also would remove criminal penalties for up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana and…

Major league baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr headlined Tuesday’s session of the Appaclahian Regional Commission Conference at Rocky Gap Casino Resort. The Baltimore Orioles legend is no stranger to Appalachia having spent parts of three minor league seasons in Bluefield Kentucky Charlotte North Carolina and Rochester New York. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, ARC co-chair, hosted the fireside chat with Ripken and asked about his 1995 season that saw him break Lou Gehrig’s all time record for consecutive games played. Ripken said it was actually his rookie season in 1982 that saw the Orioles miss the playoffs by just…

It may be hard to believe but Christmas is right around the corner and downtown Cumberland will be decked out for the holiday’s and ready to ring in the new year with some favorite longtime traditions on the schedule. The popular holiday tree lighting ceremony and the New Year’s Eve ball drop were held virtually in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but they did return last year. There had been some concern about this year’s festivities as there was a chance that construction on the redesign of Baltimore Street would interfere- but that won’t be the case…

WCBC Radio is once again sponsoring a series of candidate forums ahead of the November General Election with the first scheduled for this evening. Each night will feature two forums beginning tonight at 5 with the two candidates vying for the State Senate seat which is being vacated by George Edwards. The race pits Republican Delegate Mike Mckay against Garrett County businessman Democrat Michael Dreisbach… The senate candidates will debate for one hour and will be followed by the six candidates running for three open seats on the Allegany County Board of Education. Next Monday the candidates running for Cumberland City…

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $67,724,611 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for previous COVID-19 testing costs.   Funding is authorized by Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The federal dollars will be used to pay for more than 1.3 million COVID-19 PCR tests that were administered to Maryland public school students and staff between…

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of Belt Paving, would like to notify the public that beginning on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, through Friday, October 21, 2022, Davidson Street from Decatur Street to Linden Street will be closed to allow for the road to be paved. The road will remain closed until the paving is complete.   Detours will be set up to direct traffic around the site. Parking will be restricted in the areas during construction. Please use caution in the area and follow detour signage.   Residents are advised to avoid the area as much as…