Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) is making $5 million available through its Competitive Grant Program for fiscal year 2023. The purpose of the grant program is to support programs and initiatives that address the opioid crisis. State agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations are eligible to apply.  Applications will be scored based on how well they meet the greatest needs around the state and how well they support Maryland’s opioid crisis response goals outlined in the OOCC’s Inter-Agency Opioid Coordination Plan. The deadline to apply for funding is Friday, May 27, 2022, at 5 p.m. EDT. Additional information about…

 U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. “If the draft opinion striking down Roe v. Wade stands, it will put the health, wellbeing and constitutional rights of women across this nation in great jeopardy. Should the court continue on this path, people in more than half of the states would immediately lose access to safe, legal abortion. Low-income families and those without the means to leave their homes for care in states like Maryland will be the most burdened. “No level of government, whether federal, state or local, nor…

ALLEGANY COUNTY, MD (May 2, 2022) - A joint investigation between the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Cumberland Fire Marshals Office has led to the arrest of a Cumberland man.  Yancey Ezra-Sheridon Bailey, 41, was arrested by Allegany County Sheriff's Office this afternoon after Deputy State Fire Marshals and the Cumberland Fire Marshals Office determined he was responsible for setting his home ablaze last Thursday.  Just after 10:00 p.m. on April 28, 2022, Cumberland Fire Department was dispatched for a reported dwelling fire at 23 North Lee Street. Upon the firefighter's arrival, they located and quickly extinguished a fire…

On May 3rd, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Scott Dersin. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court when he violated the conditions of his probation. Dersin was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where he was held without bond.   Arrest: Scott Michael Dersin, age 42, Cumberland Maryland Charges: Violation of Probation.

On May 2nd, 2022 an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Greene Street with heavy front-end damage. Upon contacting the operator, Cora Houdersheldt, the officer observed signs of impairment. The officer continued their investigation and learned that Houdersheldt was the suspect vehicle in a hit and run. After performing standardized field sobriety, the officer observed additional evidence that Houdersheldt was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. She was then placed under arrest and later released on citations pending her trial at District Court.   Arrest: Cora Jean…

A tribute and recognition of State Senator George Edwards and Delegate Wendell Beitzel were among the highlights of the 2022 Allegany County Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club. Both men announced last year that they would not seek re-election. Edwards is winding down a nearly 50 year career in public office and although he will no longer an elected official- he pledged to continue to work for the betterment of Western Maryland in any way he can…

One of the bills passed by the 2022 Maryland General Assembly restores state highway user revenue. That money comes from a portion of the gasoline tax, and is distributed to counties, cities and towns to pay for road maintenance.  Highway user revenue was severely cut by the state to help balance its budget during the 2008 and 2009 recession- and since that time-  without this money for road repair and maintenance, counties and towns were forced to make some tough decisions. For Allegany County the allocation this year will jump to $1.1 million- and while that does represent an increase-…

In a recent appearance on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show”, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss talked about the city’s plans and priorities for the coming year, and he says creating more unity between the downtown mall and Canal Place tops the list. Although separated by only 100 yards- the fact that the Times News building blocks a line of vision between the two is often given as the reason for the apparent lack of connectivity…

With supply chain issues still hampering the construction industry- the Allegany County Commissioners recently tabled action to award two contracts waterline piping- concerned that there was only a single bidder. Those issues resulted from the pandemic-  and the related snarls have plagued the U.S. construction industry for roughly two years now.  Commissioner Creade Brodie Jr, pointing out that the two projects each with single bids will total nearly $340,000 for waterline piping, suggested taking a closer examination before signing off on either one. He doesn’t want to see the county taken advantage of as a result of a depleted inventory…

WCBC News has learned that Stacey Bingaman, the long time president and CEO of First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union, has been relieved of those duties and is no longer employed by First Peoples.  Steve Nelson, chairman of the board of directors, was not at liberty to provide any details…