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House Fire in Cresaptown

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a working house fire between Warrior Drive and Route 220. Units are on the scene

Warbird Showcase Free Ticket Giveaway

The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, in conjunction with the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation, will bring a Warbird Showcase to the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport this Father’s Day weekend June 18-19- and WCBC Radio will be giving away a free ticket to ride in a B-25.  The event will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no parking or entrance fees. Warbirds scheduled to appear include a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the B-25 Panchito, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and a Boeing PT-17 Stearman biplane. The public will have the opportunity to purchase warbird rides in all the…

UPMC Hosting Prescription Take Back Day

UPMC Western Maryland is hosting a prescription drug “Drive Up Take-Back Day” today between 11 am and 3 pm at the hospital campus on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. The event provides an opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medication. According to the latest data, 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them – usually taken from a friend or family member. Simple steps, like properly disposing of medications, can help prevent that misuse. Jen Thomas is manager of Community Health at UPMC Western Maryland…

Parents Raise Concerns on Pride Gifts on Last School Day

A number of parents phoned in to  WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Tuesday morning voicing concern with what they interpreted to be a celebration of Pride Month in parting gifts presented to kids on the final day of the school year. A number of parents said they felt that the multi colored games and beach toys handed out was an endorsement of Pride Month… Allegany County Board of Education President Crystal Bender tells WCBC News that that those reports were investigated and nothing came of it…

Franchot Calls for Special Session for Renewed Gas Tax Holiday

Maryland Comptroller and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot again this week called for the Maryland General Assembly to meet in a special session to pass a 90-day gas tax holiday. Previous efforts to temporarily lower fuel prices in the state have been rebuffed by legislative leaders. Earlier this year, the General Assembly and Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, carried out a 30-day holiday, but it was not extended. Hogan has been supportive of the idea of a tax holiday and Franchot believes he should exercise his authority and force the issue…

Officials Determine Cause of Fire at QCM

A pre dawn fire Tuesday at Queen City Motors was the result of the spontaneous combustion of oily rags in a plastic bucket. The fire, that broke out in a detailing garage at the car dealership, led to damage to the structure and two vehicles. Cumberland Fire Chief  Shannon Adams said  city firefighters quickly knocked down the fire that originated in a rear area of the structure at 99 Henderson Avenue… Surveillance video from the business helped the state fire marshal’s office determine the origin and cause.  Adams said heat from the fire activated the controls and raised the building's garage…

Morriss and George Represent Cumberland at MML Conference in OC

The Maryland Municipal League, which represents the State’s 157 cities and towns and two special taxing districts that are home to 1.5 million Marylanders, returned  in-person to host the 2022 MML Summer Conference this week in Ocean City. The annual Summer Conference offers workshops and networking events for members, including mayors, city and town council leaders, and other municipal government leaders from across Maryland. Representing Cumberland were Mayor Ray Morriss; Councilman Joe George; Administrator Jeff Silka and Citizen Service representative Allison Layton. The keynote speaker Governor Larry Hogan and he highlighted some of the community development investments made in recent…

$1.1 million announced for Greater Cumberland Regional Airport

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Andy Harris, M.D. and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $9,219,719 in federal funding for Eastern Shore and Western Maryland airports to reconstruct and rehabilitate their runways.   “Maryland’s regional airports provide access to more of Maryland’s communities and are essential to our state's economy,” the lawmakers said. “This federal funding will help these airports improve safety and service for passengers, and accommodate future growth. Modernizing Maryland’s transportation infrastructure is a top priority for Team Maryland, and we will continue working to secure federal investments in our regional airports.”    Awardees include: ·         $4,458,531 for the Bay Bridge Airport (W29) to rehabilitate…

Traffic Pattern Change Saturday Downtown

The Cumberland City Police Department is requesting motorists to use caution in the downtown area on Saturday, June 18th between the hours of 10:30am-11:30am.  The following delays or road closures will take place between 10:30am-11:30am.  Smallwood Street @ Washington Street, Greene Street @ Washington Street, Cumberland Street @ Washington Street, North Mechanic Street @ Frederick Street, Pershing Street @ South Mechanic Street and South Mechanic Street @ West Harrison Street.  Traffic entering the downtown area from North Mechanic Street will have to take Frederick Street to Queen City Drive.  Traffic entering the downtown area from South Mechanic Street will have to take Harrison Street to Centre…

Franchot is calling on lawmakers to freeze the gas tax for a year

 Comptroller Peter Franchot has called on state lawmakers to hold a special session and pass legislation to freeze the automatic gas tax increase for one year. WBAL reports that Franchot said the state is in a position to absorb the cost. He also wants a 90-day gas-tax holiday. The gas prices in Maryland are now at or above $5 a gallon, sitting at $5.02. That's slightly above the national average and more than 15 cents one week ago. That's an increase from more than $2 per gallon more than one year ago.