The Salvation Army of Cumberland provides programs and assistance to children and families including spiritual help, after-school programs, and disaster relief.  The familiar bell-ringers and red kettles serve as a reminder to give toward these programs. It’s the last weekend for Red Kettle donations before Christmas, but Lt. Resa Robinson tells WCBC that the funds collected are used all year round. “Any little incident can put somebody over that line of needing assistance, and so any little bit that we can get back from our community to help those in need is the most important to us.”

West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore is leading the celebration of ten years of the ABLE Act. ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. The act provides a financial tool for eligible people with disabilities to save and pay for essential expenses without being at risk of losing federal needs-based benefits. Almost 1,000 accounts exist in West Virginia. Across the country, over 186,000 ABLE accounts are open, with more than $2.1 billion dollars saved by account holders.

The Cumberland and Frostburg locations of Big Lots will be closing.  The chain had tried to work out a deal with Nexus Capital to save the retailer, but it fell through. The Ohio-based chain said going out of business sales would start immediately though the store is still seeking a buyer. Big Lots had started Chapter 11 proceedings in September and had already closed several stores.

The annual PACE Reception is set for January 16 and 17 at the Westin Annapolis.  Prior to the evening reception on Thursday, three information sessions will be conducted.  From noon until 1:50 p.m., the area's outdoor recreation economy will be explored.  From 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., the topic will be housing needs.  From 4:10 p.m. until 5 p.m., the State Highway Administration will discuss Route 219 and Cresaptown traffic improvements.  WCBC will provide live coverage of the PACE Reception Thursday evening and Friday morning.

The Frostburg Mayor and City Council has approved a roundabout near the FSU campus.  The roundabout will help alleviate congestion at the intersection of Bowery, Center, Park, and Braddock.  City officials hope the roundabout will be ready by early 2027.

Frostburg city administrator Elizabeth Stahlman will be leaving her position in January.  Stahlman will become the executive director of the Tri County Council.

On Wednesday, December 18th, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Christopher Chase King, 42, of Cumberland MD. King was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on December 17th, 2024. During that incident, it is alleged that King violated a protective order by threatening a subject that he was prohibited from contacting. King was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. Name:    Christopher Chase King                                  Age:   42 Charges:    Violate…

Winter officially begins at 4:21am Saturday morning, but the snowy weather has already made a mark in Western Maryland.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA is encouraging everyone to embrace winter weather safety, so families can be prepared for winter’s unpredictable turns. A FEMA spokesperson offered some key steps to being winter-ready including signing up for area alerts and winterizing your home…     “You should have supplies to last at least three days. Flashlights and batteries, food and water. You should also have supplies at work, and in your vehicle. And don’t forget about extra supplies for your pets.”

The Washington Commanders are another step closer to the possibility of returning to the franchise's old home in the nation's capital. A provision to transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia is included in Congress' short-term spending bill, which lawmakers are racing to pass. It's a significant victory for the organization and the NFL after controlling owner Josh Harris ande Commissioner Roger Goodell lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act earlier this month.

Maryland’s muzzleloader deer season begins again on December 21 and runs through January first. Hunters can use muzzle-loading firearms to harvest white-tailed and sika deer during this time. Antler-point restrictions remain in place and hunters must purchase a sika hunting stamp to pursue sika deer. The DNR encourages hunters to consult the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping for information on bag limits, and other regulations.