The area’s smaller retailers are getting a huge business bump this holiday season. Allegany County Tourism’s 5th Annual Shop Small, Win Big campaign has seen a new record for entries with 195, totaling over $11,000 in local spending between November 29 and December 4. Each week, a name is drawn from shopping receipts entered for a $50 VISA gift card with a grand prize to be drawn on December 20 of a $550 gift card. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss encourages shoppers to keep money local this year…     “When it comes to our community, the way you can help…

While Garrett County already has two snow events under their belt, the rest of the state is gearing up for the official start of winter a few weeks away. The Maryland State Highway Administration has completed its preparations for winter, using the latest technology, along with some old-fashioned rock salt to keep roads safe for drivers.  Will Pines of the SHA said the WAZE app is a good place for drivers to get accurate road condition information… “That information is being projected out to the public, so everyone can stay informed about roadway conditions. If a roadway user has WAZE…

Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $158.1 million dollars in revenue from slot machines and table games in November, a small increase of .3% over last year. Tax revenue to the state totaled $68.8 million dollars while contribution to the Education Trust Fund totaled $1.9 million. Locally, Rocky Gap Casino’s 628 slot machines and 16 table games combined to bring in $4.1 million in revenue for the month of November.

For only the second time in school history, the Frankfort Falcons will play in a state title football game.  The Falcons maintained their unbeaten streak on Friday night, defeating Williamstown 49-7 in a state semi-final game played in Short Gap.  The Falcons had previously defeated the Yellowjackets 27-7 in Williamstown in Week 8 of the regular season.  The Falcons enter the champsionship at 13-0 and will face Roane County on Friday night at 7pm in Charleston for the AA state title.  The Raiders of Roane County are also undefeated, beating Indpendence 42-7 in the other state semi-final game.   The Falcons…

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on John Northcraft.  The warrant was issued as the result of incidents that occurred during the evening hours of December 6, 2024 and throughout the early morning hours of December 7, 2024.  During these times, officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of Williams Street on multiple occasions for disturbances involving John Northcraft.  Police later discovered that Northcraft was in violation of pre-trial release conditions.  Police filed for charges against Northcraft at the District Court of Allegany County and an arrest warrant was issued.  Northcraft…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to expand access to its Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers — a program that provides family caregivers of eligible Veterans access to services and supports, including training and education, financial assistance, health care coverage, beneficiary travel, peer support, and more.  The VA seeks to expand and clarify access to the program, meaning that thousands more Veterans and their caregivers will be able to access the program.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office on Friday argued a challenge, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to declare unlawful the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recently released new rule on existing coal-, and new natural gas-powered plants.  That rule would force power plants fueled by coal or natural gas to capture smokestack emissions using currently unworkable technologies or shut down. The rule ignored 2022’s rebuke from the U.S. Supreme Court in West Virginia v. EPA, which warned that the EPA should not use a narrow regulatory provision to force coal-fired power plants into retirement.

For the fourth time in a row the Fort Hill football team is Maryland State 1A champions defeating Northern 35 to 0 in Annapolis Saturday afternoon. This is the 11th state title for the Fort Hill Sentinels football team. The WCBC sports crew Rock Cioni, Garrett Eagan, and Mike Connelly provided full coverage. Game Wrap      

Governor Jim Justice’s Chief of Staff, Brian Abraham, shared the following statement today regarding the decision not to move forward with a Special Session initially planned to address a major economic opportunity in Southern West Virginia. "For the past three years, the Governor has been pushing his team to get economic development projects into Southern West Virginia. We have seen so much growth and investment in many parts of the State, but the Governor specifically directed us to get big projects going in the southern coalfields. All of our people deserve opportunity. A few weeks ago, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself….