Just last week a media release was sent out promoting the return of the Mountain Maryland PACE reception- however it is appearing more and more likely the event will face a similar fate as last year. The annual affair in Annapolis has served as a showcase for Western Maryland since 1977 and provides leaders from local business and government a chance for face to face meetings with state directors to discuss regional economic development opportunities. Last year COVID concerns forced PACE to be cancelled- and with the virus surging once again- the scheduled reception and follow up legislative breakfast set…

WCBC's 12 Most Compelling List fof 2021 includes… Allegany County Economic Development Director Jeff Barclay, who has been sidelined by medical issues most of the past two years. Barclay, though, made a big splash at year's end, announcing that FedEx would be locating a distribution center at Mexico Farms tha would eploy a sizable number of local residents in the near future. Cumberland turned to longtime resident Joe George as an appointment to City Council after the midyear resignation of Seth Bernard, George was an executive with CBIZ, and has also been very active with efforts to Save The Shrine…

WCBC's 12 Most Compelling List fof 2021 includes… Allegany County Economic Development Director Jeff Barclay, who has been sidelined by medical issues most of the past two years. Barclay, though, made a big splash at year's end, announcing that FedEx would be locating a distribution center at Mexico Farms tha would eploy a sizable number of local residents in the near future. Cumberland turned to longtime resident Joe George as an appointment to City Council after the midyear resignation of Seth Bernard, George was an executive with CBIZ, and has also been very active with efforts to Save The Shrine…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to surging COVID-19 hospitalizations, which have surpassed 3,000. The 30-day emergency declaration is intended to help hospitals manage a sharp rise in COVID-19 patients and staffing shortages afflicting health systems throughout the state, the governor said. The governor also announced two executive orders, one that empowers health officials to regulate hospitals’ bed space and resources and another to shore up the EMS workforce.

On January 3rd, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 200 block of Bowen Street for a reported motor vehicle theft. The officers spoke with the victim and broadcasted an attempt to locate for the vehicle. The vehicle was located by Hancock Police Department and the Maryland State Police. They stopped the vehicle and transported the operator, Jaden Jessie, to the Allegany County Detention Center, where he was placed under arrest. Jessie was taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was held on $5,000.   Arrest: Jaden Tyrone Jessie, age 22, Cumberland Maryland Charges: Theft of…

Lynn Workmeister, who had spent decades as a prominent Cumberland area businessman, has died at the age of 80.  On Monday, local funeral director Wendy Upchurch shared her thoughts on her friend with WCBC's Dave Norman…

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin says Republicans blocked the nomination of a key appointee of President Joe Biden to the Small Business Adaminstration.  Cardin says the nomination of Delawar Syad was scuttled over the use of payroll protection plan funding for Planned Parrenthood….

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…