Program Open Space funding through the Department of Natural Resources has decreased steadily over the past few years from almost two million dollars in 2023 to this year’s apportionment of $360,000. Adam Patterson, Director of Public Works for Allegany County said they received requests for ten projects this year, but will only be able to recommend seven for funding…   “In comparison to previous fiscal years: Fiscal year 23, we got almost a million dollars from the State for program open space funding, Fiscal year 24, just $7,000 shy of $1 million and unfortunately this year, we are way down…

Many travelers over the upcoming Labor Day holiday will be taking their dogs with them on vacation.  Many dogs enjoy road trips, but if the dog is not used to being in the car, there may be issues according to Brian Moody of AutoTrader.  He spoke to WCBC recently about why some dogs don’t do well in cars…   “One of the reasons dogs might not like being in the car, is because they associate the car with something negative, meaning you only ever put them in the car to go to the vet They are going to get shots,…

Due to an ongoing shortage of rainfall that has caused drought conditions, Governor Jim Justice has extended the State of Emergency for all of West Virginia’s 55 counties by 30 days. The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates extreme, severe, and moderate drought conditions have continued to impact the entire state. Mineral County and the majority of Hampshire County are in the severe drought category.

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department is notifying the public that the Cas Taylor Bridge / Baltimore Street Bridge will reopen to two-way traffic today at 9:00 AM. The bridge has been under reconstruction since February of 2023.  The Greene Street lane reduction will remain in effect until construction on the clock tower is finished.  Traffic devices and signage will be in place due to the lane reduction on Greene Street.  Additional information will be released in the event the lane reduction changes.

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at approximately 9:19 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the area of the 700 block of Gephart Drive for an assault.  Officers arrived and learned that the altercation was over a parking issue.  Police contacted one of the parties involved who was identified as Michael Simmons.  Simmons was screaming and still trying to entice other subjects to fight him.  Police ordered him to stop yelling multiple times and he refused to listen, thereby obstructing officers in their investigation of the assault.  It was later learned that Simmons attempted to damage a car…

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at approximately 2:45 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 700 block of Park Street for a trespassing complaint.  Police received information that the suspect was Timothy Ryan, the same suspect who had been creating a disturbance there the previous day.  Officers located Ryan walking on Park Street and detained him.  Police then discovered that Ryan stole property from the store.  Ryan was arrested and transported to police headquarters where he was issued a criminal citation.  Ryan was also served with a criminal summons that was issued in connection…

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at approximately 9:48 AM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to Ella Avenue at E. Elder Street for a female sleeping inside of her vehicle.  Officers checked on the female who was identified as Jatanna Miller.  Police observed that the female appeared to be impaired.  Officers then observed in plain view that Miller was in possession of suspected crack cocaine.  Police conducted a search of the vehicle and located more controlled dangerous substances and paraphernalia.  Miller was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.  She was then issued criminal citations and released pending…

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Jeremia Abe.  The warrant was issued as the result of Abe violating probation.  Abe was originally charged with Theft less than $100.  He was arrested and later seen by a District Court Commissioner for a bond hearing.  Abe was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center on a $1,000 bond. ARRESTED:  Jeremia Scott Abe      AGE:  33         Cumberland, MD BENCH WARRANT SERVED On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Anthony Smith.  The warrant was issued as the result of Smith…

The National Weather Advisory has issued a heat advisory for Wednesday from 1-7 p.m.  

A Romney man was killed Saturday in a head-on collision on U.S. Route 50 near the West Virginia Division of Highways garage in Burlington, according to the Mineral County Sheriff's Office. Police said John Mabry, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:33 p.m. crash. Mabry was reportedly operating a Subaru Legacy station wagon east when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle traveled left of center and into the path of a Ford Explorer being driven west by 52-year-old Frank Biskerski of Yorktown, Virginia. Biskerski suffered minor injuries and was treated at Hampshire Memorial Hospital, police said.