With the Omicron variant on the march, last week President Joe Biden seemed to indicate that a stronger federal response was not in the cards. WCBC asked West Virginia Governor Jim Justice for a reaction to the Presdeint's statement….

After being unanimously nominated last fall, Governor Larry Hogan was officially selected today to serve as the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states’ co-chair for 2022. As part of ARC’s unique federal-state partnership structure, the states’ co-chair works with the federal office of the ARC and fellow Appalachian state governors to invest in economic growth across the region’s 423 counties in 13 states. Governor Hogan will be serving the 69th term as ARC states’ co-chair, and is the first states’ co-chair from Maryland since 1992. “It’s a great honor to be the first Maryland governor in 30 years to serve as co-chair of…

Golden Entertainment, Inc. has announced the addition of hospitality industry veteran, Brian Kurtz, as senior vice president and general manager of Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. “Brian has been a valued member of the Golden Entertainment team for nearly a decade and brings a vast depth of experience in the hospitality industry to this integral role,” said Blake Sartini II, executive vice president of operations at Golden Entertainment. “We are confident that he will continue to propel the Rocky Gap brand forward with his strategic vision for guest care and resort operations.” In his new role, Kurtz oversees resort operations and further…

Schools reopen for students tomorrow, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, with a 3-HOUR DELAYED OPENING. Additionally, isolation and quarantine guidelines for ACPS students and staff have not changed. A 10-day isolation period is required for a student or staff member that tests positive for COVID-19. The CDC has made some modifications to isolation and quarantine guidelines, but these modifications do not apply to schools.  

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting Emergency Use Authorizations (EAU) to two oral COVID-19 antiviral medications in late December, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has received an initial two-week allocation of 5,460 medication courses – 960 courses of Paxlovid (by Pfizer) and 4,500 courses of Molnupiravir (by Merck) – from the federal government. These new oral antiviral medications are not used to prevent COVID but instead to treat individuals who have contracted COVID. Due to the limited supply, MDH has directed healthcare providers to reserve their portions of these antivirals for COVID patients at the greatest…

A prominent local businessman has passed away. Lynn H. Workmeister, 80, died on December 31, 2021. Visitation has been scheduled at the Upchurch Funeral Home on January 13th from 2-4 p.m. Emmanuel Episcopal Church is handling the funeral services on January 14th at 11 a.m.

On Sunday, January 2, 2022 the officers with the Cumberland Police Department were called to a business on S. Centre St for a report of a male subject who had been found going through an unlocked vehicle.  When officers arrived, they located the male suspect, identified as Christopher Jason David Moore, age 24 of Hancock MD.  After speaking with the victim, it was learned that Moore was seen attempting to get into several other vehicles in the area as well.  Moore had an active arrest warrant through the Circuit Court of Allegany County.  He was taken to Central Booking where…

On Sunday January 2, 2022 officers with the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence on New Hampshire Ave for a report of an assault.  Through the investigation it was learned that Karen Naomi Eveler, age 57 of Cumberland MD had assaulted a male inside the residence.  When officers arrived on scene they could hear yelling inside the residence.  When they were able to contact the parties, they observed injuries to the victim.  Eveler was placed under arrest for Second Degree Assault and taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance with the District Court Commissioner.  She is being held…

As he enters his final year serving in the Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Wendell Beitzel says he wants to put a halt to, or at least slow down what he says are ongoing efforts to defund the police. In 2021, the General Assembly passed a number of extensive police reform measures. While supporters say these are simply efforts designed to protect the public from overzealous officers and to hold the law enforcement community accountable for their actions- critics see a number of problems; including placing severe restrictions on police officers that could hinder their ability to keep the peace. Beitzel,…

The Union Rescue Mission of Western Maryland has had more than it’s share of challenges in trying to function during the Coronavirus pandemic-  however despite some social media rumors to the contrary- no one is being turned away. The mission, located at 16 Gulf Memorial Drive but more commonly referred to as Queen City Pavement, annually serves tens of thousands of meals in its dining room and shelters hundreds and men, women and children.  Pastor David Ziler has served in the executive director’s post since the end of 2016. He tells WCBC News that while the mission is taking as many…