UPDATE Thursday, December 12th at 4:45a.m. Cumberland Police Department reports Gavin Malenich has been located. Thank you for the assistance.  Wednesday, Dewcember 11th at 12:39; The Cumberland Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing juvenile. Gavin Malenich is a 12 year-old white male who was last seen on December 11th at 1:00 P.M in the area of Oldtown Road Cumberland, MD. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts are asked to call the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600 or our Facebook page. Callers can remain anonymous. 

Maryland is one of only a handful of states that do not allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery and similar stores.  That may change during the coming General Assembly session. Governor Wes Moore has said it’s time to make the change – he has heard from people and businesses across the state who are tired of making two stops – at a grocery store and then liquor store. Some lawmakers are cautious, saying that control of where and how many licenses should be allowed, citing higher incidences of alcoholism among certain communities.

Maryland’s State Chamber of Commerce has released its 2025 legislative priorities, targeting areas they see as critical issues. The Chamber advocates in Annapolis on shaping policies promoting and protecting business and communities. Electrical vehicles, or EVs, present challenges for the Western Maryland region – Local Chamber CEO Juli McCoy says that if the state moves to electrical vehicle sales only, car buyers in this area still have gas-powered options…     “We in this area have the opportunity to very easily access those in West Virginia and Pennsylvania just as those on the Eastern Shore can access them in Delaware.”

Allegany College of Maryland’s 2024 fall graduation will take place on Friday, December 13, starting at 7pm in the college gymnasium at the ACM Cumberland campus.  Three high-achieving students were chosen to deliver student commencement remarks. They are Bonnie Buser, a nursing major from Rawlings, Haleigh Kepple, a teaching major from Frostburg, and Robert West, a criminal justice transfer student from Frostburg.  Parking is available near the gymnasium and Humanities buildings.

So far under Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s administration, tax increases have been off the table as an option for raising revenues.  That hasn’t stopped legislators from passing new laws that impose or increase fees that residents pay on things like car registrations.  Republican Terry Baker who represents eastern Allegany County and part of Washington County, says that lawmakers produce a stream of such bills each session…     “Unbelievable the number of bills that we get that’s going to impact our pocketbooks. And it hurts me sitting here, listening to how many of the bills that they present and it’s…

Jason Whitlock was sworn in earlier this week as Mineral County’s new Commission President. Whitlock, a missionary from Keyser, has traveled the world with Youth With a Mission. He ran for and won the commission seat, defeating Cyndi Pyles in November’s election. Whitlock told WCBC in the next six years, he hopes to see balance and transparency in Mineral County…     “I’m hoping to continue to work in collaboration with the other elected officials. I would like to see mended relationships take place, a balanced budget, open transparency and then I think it’s going to probably take me about…

Comptroller Brooke Lierman announced that Maryland collected more than $18 million dollars in adult-use cannabis sales tax revenue in the third quarter of 2024.  The total shows an 18% decline in collections from the previous quarter that ended in June.  The Western Region that includes Allegany County, collected $2.7 million dollars in revenue, the third highest in the state. Monies from the tax revenue are returned in part to the counties for community reinvestment as well as statewide public health and cannabis business assistance funding.

On Wednesday the West Virginia State Board of Education approved the closure of Hundred and Paden City High Schools in Wetzel County.  Students from those schools will now attend Magnolia and Valley High Schools.  Hundred High School is one of the smallest schools in the state and its football team played both Southern Garrett and Hancock this past season, losing to both Maryland schools.

The West Virginia 2A championship game will air on Classic Hits 107, WCBC FM, Friday night. Pregame is at 6:45 p.m. with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.  Unbeaten Frankfort will take on unbeaten Roane County in Charleston.  Garrett Eagan will continue to feature comments from Coach Kevin Whiteman on his morning sports report.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department arrested Michael Allen Wallace, 43, of Cumberland MD. Wallace was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on December 5th. The warrant alleges Wallace failed to appear in court on that date for previous charges of disorderly conduct and failure to obey. He 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:    Michael Allen Wallace                                 Age:   43 Charges:    Bench Warrant – Fail to Appear On…