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…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a vehicle crash that temporarily closed McMullen Highway in Cresaptown.There was also a report of police activity in that area. 

***Adult Arrest***      On October 17th, 2022, The Cumberland City Police served a Criminal Summons on Damon Xana Smith, 32, of Cumberland MD. The summons was in reference to an incident that occurred on September 29th, 2022, at an Elder St residence. During that incident, it is alleged that Smith had taken the victim to the residence and would not let them leave. It was during that time that Smith engaged in unwanted sexual contact without the victim’s consent. Smith was served with the summons and released, pending trial in District Court. Arrested: Damon Xana Smith                 Age: 32 Charges: Sex…

The November general election is less than a month away, and Maryland voters will weigh in on a variety of ballot measures — including marijuana legalization. A new poll conducted by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland suggests the majority of registered Maryland voters support the legalization of marijuana. Nearly 3 in 4 of those surveyed, 73%, indicated their support for the measure to legalize “the use of cannabis” by July 2023 for residents aged 21 or older. An earlier Goucher College Poll had just 59% in support, but pollster Maleah Kromer although the numbers have fluctuated somewhat, the bottom…

The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation has officially announced the Downtown Comprehensive Investment Program, a three-phased collaborative grant program with funds provided by the City of Cumberland, Allegany County, and the state of Maryland. Phase One will make funds available for Downtown Facade Improvements and Downtown Technical Assistance. Phase Two, which opens on January 9, 2023 and closes on February 10, 2023 will provide the opportunity for Downtown Infrastructure Upgrade Grants to help building owners take advantage of water and fiber internet upgrades that will be occurring simultaneously with the Baltimore Street Access Project. Phase Three of this Comprehensive Grant Program…