There were plenty of local sports stories in the calendar year 2024. As the year winds down, WCBC Sports looks back at the 12 stories that captivated local sports:   FRANKFORT FALCONS COMPLETE UNDEFEATED SEASON, WIN 1ST STATE TITLE:  For the first time in school history, Frankfort finishes 14-0 and hoists a WV AA State Championship. The Falcons’ had been reinstated to WV AA on a second appeal in August after being reclassified to AAA in the spring. FORT HILL VACATES 5 WINS – COMPLETES SECOND 4-PEAT:  After an ineligible player leads to a forfeiture of 5 games during Homecoming week, Fort…

The City of Cumberland’s Engineering Department provides services including consultation, project management, construction supervision, and field investigations. Engineers may come across wooden water pipes or even a dead horse. Which makes this year’s Persons of the Year even more compelling. For 2024, WCBC has chosen City of Cumberland engineers Bobby Smith and Matt Idleman for top honors. Both men have worked hand in hand over the past two years with Triton Construction on the downtown reimagining project, fielding questions from residents, business owners, and the generally curious about construction. They have also been heavily involved with work on the new Cas Taylor Bridge,…

The long-awaited Cumberland Clock arrived on Friday morning and volunteers immediately got to work on the installation at its location beside the Cas Taylor Bridge.  Let’s Beautify Cumberland’s Ed Mullaney talked with WCBC and said he felt like it was Christmas day all over again… “The excitement is that it’s perfectly sized. It’s not overwhelming in size. It fits the space perfectly and it could not have been masterminded better.” The dedication ceremony is scheduled for New Year’s Day at 1pm. Mullaney said the support of the community made the realization of the clock possible… “I look back and think…

Plans for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Downtown Cumberland are progressing for Tuesday night’s event.  The ball drop will be back in the new downtown this year with music by DJ Jimmy Hook starting at 10:30pm. Downtown Development Commission Director Melinda Kelleher said that the celebration will be starting on the streets earlier in the evening and end with fireworks at midnight… “It is open container from 5pm to 1am and the streets will start closing around 4 o’clock. We’re going to have the three main arteries closed since there will probably be a lot of foot traffic…

Wind turbines atop Dans’ Mountain continue to be erected by Clearway Energy.  At the recent Allegany County Commissioner’s meeting, Nick Benjamin, Clearway’s Senior Director of Development, laid out a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) plan with the county that was approved by the commissioners…    “Really, what the payment in lieu of taxes does is it sets out a prescribed schedule of payments. And our proposal here again is predicated on something that Garrett County and Washington County have done where there’s sort of a fixed discount to those payments over time relative to the business-as-usual.” County Administrator said…

Between winter heating and summer air conditioning use, many West Virginians struggle to afford their utility bills. According to data from a US Census Bureau Survey, many sacrifice necessities like food or medicine to pay their utility bills. In West Virginia, over 25% of residents can’t afford their electricity bills.  Dave Ellis of the West Virginia Public Service Commission says that new capacity rates will drive bills in the region higher… “The price for capacity for PJM is going to jump in three years from $30 per megawatt hour to $260 per megawatt hour. Luckily, it’s not going to impact…

West Virginia’s Chief Executive says he is staying in office until Patrick Morrisey is sworn in on January 13. Governor Jim Justice says he wants to avoid the state having multiple governors in a short period and will serve West Virginia for the 10 days between his Senate swearing-in and Morrisey’s inauguration…     “I could move on to something that is in some ways, you could say, is bigger and better. And, ‘Jim, go do the bigger and better thing,’  I just don’t think that’s right. The people of West Virginia put a lot of trust in me, and…

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the passing of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. “When I was a young state legislator in Annapolis, Jimmy Carter was coming on the national scene. He was a model to me that you can be honest and straightforward with the American people and you could accomplish a great deal. He represented the very best values that you want in elected officials. He was humble and as genuine as they come. For me personally, and as a nation, we owe a…

The Associated Press is reporting that discount chain Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores and distribution centers open. According to the AP, Big Lots will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which will then transfer Big Lots’ stores, distribution centers and other assets to other retailers. Variety Wholesalers Inc., which owns more than 400 discount stores in the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and operate them under the Big Lots brand. Variety Wholesalers will also acquire up…

Community members in Cumberland gathered Saturday night at the corner of Mechanic and Baltimore Street to remember Todd Adams, who was murdered last week in the Frederick Street parking garage.  Law Enforcement continues to investigate his death. A short prayer was said on his behalf and several memories where shared as the crowd held candles during the service. A crowd of approximately 75 people ended the remembrance with a singing of Silent Night.