The Cumberland Mayor and City Council formally adopted their budget for Fiscal Year 2025 at Tuesday’s meeting.  The total budget is $86.2 million for the coming year which includes Fire, Police, and Administration, water, and sewer. The budget is down from the current year due to the coming completion of the Baltimore Street Access project.  One good thing citizens can look for in the coming year is increased paving projects according to Mayor Ray Morriss…

With just over three weeks left in the 2024 Fiscal Year, West Virginia is banking another hefty surplus. Fiscal Year 2023 ended with a record $1.8 billion dollars in surplus funds to the state and revenue collections for the year to date indicate another excess of near $800 million dollars could be achieved.  Governor Jim Justice celebrated the surplus while at a bill signing near the West Virginia Turnpike near Beckley, marking the importance of what he calls “minding the shop”…

Applications for the nine-month program of Leadership Allegany, supported by the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, are now available. Participants have a number of topic days scheduled through the year.  One is a field trip of sorts to Annapolis where members visit the State House, possibly meet the Governor, and observe House and Senate meetings.  Chamber Director Juli McCoy says there is also time to meet with the local legislative delegation…

A 10-Year strategic plan on aging has launched to serve as a roadmap for how state, regional, and local agencies can work together to meet the needs Pennsylvania’s senior population. Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich said that Aging Our Way P-A was developed from the ground up, listening to the parties the plan would affect the most so input was timely and relevant…

Ruth Davis-Rogers of Cumberland Historic Preservation is pleased to see the interest from business owners in the latest façade grant program. So pleased that the date to participate has been extended. Davis-Rogers spoke with WCBC recently about the area the grant program covers on the north end of town… The matching grant can cover a variety of projects for a local business owner…

Funeral services have been set for Pat O'Rourke, brother of WCBC's Tom O'Rourke.  Sheridan Funeral Home of Lancaster, Ohio is taking care of arrangements.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption.  O'Rourke died Sunday at the age of 74.

Maryland hunters harvested 4,959 wild turkeys during the 2024 spring regular and junior turkey seasons. This year’s harvest was 7% lower than the record amount set last spring, but surpassed the harvest totals from previous seasons. DNR surveys documented average to excellent reproductive success in many regions during the summers of 2021 and 2022, resulting in a good number of 2-3 year-old gobblers available this spring. Adults comprised 87% of the total harvest. Garrett County reported the highest harvest with 546 turkeys while Allegany County counted 345.

The West Virginia Senate GOP Caucus has thrown the weight of its endorsement behind Patrick Morrisey for Governor of West Virginia. A statement from the group says Morrisey has exemplified strong leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing conservative values and under his stewardship, the state has emerged as a forefront for conservative policies and initiatives.  The group believes Morrisey will continue to fight for conservative republican values as the state’s Governor.

CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Jonesha Fields.  The summons was issued as the result of a private citizen filing for charges against Fields at the District Court of Allegany County.  Fields signed for her copy of the summons and she was released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Jonesha Lee Fields       AGE:  50          Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault-2nd Degree BENCH WARRANT SERVED On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department served a Circuit Court bench warrant on Melissa Congrove.  The warrant was issued as the result of Congrove failing to appear…

Allegany County citizens will have some help with lower-cost mortgages, thanks to the Maryland Mortgage Program. Almost $3 million dollars is being made available for those in Allegany County to buy a new home.  David Nedved of County Economic Development, says that the parameters of the program are very generous and will benefit a large portion of the population…