Date: 12/05/2021  Time: 2:57 p.m.  Location / Address:  14 Chestnut Ridge Road, Grantsville, Garrett County  Type of Incident: Structure Fire Description of Structure / Property: Two-bay, wood framed, detached garage   Owners: Brandon and Carol Hutzell    Injuries or Deaths: N/A Estimated $ Loss: $25,000.00 Smoke Alarm Status: Not present, no action taken   Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: Not present, no action taken  Arrests(s): N/A Primary Responding Fire Department: Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department    # of Alarms: 1  # Of Firefighters: 25 Time to Control: 10 minutes  Discovered By: Passerby Area of Origin: Exterior wall beside outdoor wood stove     Preliminary Cause: High winds blew sparks from an outdoor wood stove into the exterior wall of the garage starting the…

On December 5th, 2021 the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Timothy Michael Kunis.  The arrest warrant was issued on December 5th, 2021 for a burglary that occurred on November 30th, 2021, where Kunis is believed to have entered a residence in the 400 block of Grand Avenue on 2 separate occasions, without permission, after previously making a delivery to the residence.   Kunis taken to Central Booking for an initial bond hearing, and released on his personal recognizance.        Timothy Michael Kunis, age 60, Cumberland, MD  Charges: burglary 4th degree (x2)   On December 5th,  2021…

According to law enforcement statistics- a growing number of crimes being committed in Maryland are done by repeat offenders. While most of the attention on the subject centers on Baltimore- the problem is being felt in Allegany County as well. States Attorney James Elliot says the light sentences being handed out by judges- particularly with drug trafficking crimes- do not serve as an adequate deterrent…

The Annual Membership Meeting and election of officers of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce was held at the Cumberland Country Club last week with Robert Godfrey elected as the new board chairman. In looking back at 2021 and ahead to 2022, Chamber executive director Julie McCoy said much of the focus of the business community remains on the COVID pandemic and related staffing issues that are continuing…

During the 9 day period that included the Thanksgiving holiday, there were 54 students and 8 staff members in Allegany County Public Schools who tested positive for COVID-10.  In addition, about 130 students and one staff member were in quarantine due to close contact with a positive case. We’ve been talking about vaccines and boosters, but what is next in the fight against COVID-19?  Dr Clay Marsh tells WCBC that a pill medication that should be given in the first three days of symptoms is on the way, from both Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and should help those infected…

Students in Allegany County Public Schools will have a three hour delayed opening when they return to school Monday.  According to ACPS, the time will be used for supervisor staff development and teacher work time.  The delay was not on the original school calendar, but was approved at a recent Board of Education meeting.

On December 4, 2021 officers with the Cumberland Police Department responded to Industrial Blvd and White Oaks Ave for a hit and run motor vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival officers spoke to the victim who advised that he was traveling eastbound on Industrial Blvd, when a vehicle had pulled from White Oaks Ave into his path. The victim was unable to stop in time and struck the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then fled the area, continuing east on Industrial Blvd. The occupants of the victim vehicle were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office assisted…

On December 4, 2021 the Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Ronald William Arthur, 51 years old of Waynesboro, VA. Arthur was charged with Failure to Appear for a court date. His original charge was Theft Less than $100. He was taken to Central Booking for his initial appearance and was released on an unsecured $1,000 bond.   Arrested: Ronald William Arthur Age: 51 Waynesboro, VA Charges: Fail to Appear    

 On December 4th, 2021 officers from the Cumberland Police responded to a business on Industrial Blvd for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival they contacted staff who advised that a female had come to the business and caused a disturbance. Officers contacted Damera Davis, age 22 of Cumberland MD, inside the business. Davis was screaming obscenities at workers and threatening bodily harm. She ignored the officers’ orders to leave the property and to stop causing a disturbance. There were several other people in the business along with workers who were disturbed by Davis’ behavior. After being ordered to cease…

WCBC has lost one of it's own, as local radio and cable television veteran Bob Hidey died Saturday at the age of 70. Hidey was part of the original air staff at WCBC in 1976 and continued at the station through much of the 1980's.  He had a deep, rich, voice that was highly recongnizable, through stops at several Cumberland stations, beginning with WCUM in the 1960's.  He was very proud of Cumberland's broadcast heritage, and was a co-founder of the Cumberland Area Radio Past Facebook page. Hidey was a great friend of the late Jim Robey, and leaves behind…