Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – or CPTED – is a program being offered to area businesses through the Cumberland Police Department.  At request, officers will visit a business to help determine better ways of protecting itself against crime.  Captain James Burt says the department has been providing the program for about 10 years, giving advice to businesses and homeowners on crime prevention…     You can contact the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600 to have an officer visit your business, residence or church for a crime prevention evaluation.  

The Blueprint for Maryland’s future promises a transformation to a world-class education system for the state within 10 years.  With over $30 billion dollars in funding planned within that period, the details have been sketchy as to how to get to the envisioned system.  Lawmakers and educators alike have questioned the rollout and funding of the plan, and many school administrators are unclear what the plan means for their schools.  Allegany County is no different – School Superintendent Jeff Blank says there are questions of how to go about planning…    

Work continues at the Greater Cumberland Regional airport, lengthening runways and regrading land for building.  A new airport manager just started work this week, replacing Ryan Shaffer who left in June.  Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett says the airport project is extensive and the county is looking forward to the finished product… With Hagerstown’s regional airport re-introducing flights to Myrtle Beach, the possibility exists that a carrier may once again be interested in Cumberland as well…    

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council heard a presentation on Tuesday from City Comptroller Mark Gandolfi concerning debt affordability.  Three particular areas affect the debt load the city is carrying – the water fund, the sewer fund, and the Municipal Parking Authority. However, the City continues to have an A+ Bond Rating.  Gandolfi told the council that right now, Cumberland is in a good place with a lot to look forward to but also a lot to be careful about…  

Clarification is in order regarding the West Side Neighborhood Association. WCBC spoke with association representative Max Green and he says that the neighborhood group has NO ties to the Live Together developer who lost the bid for the housing site on Sedgwick Street. There had been a perception that all of those who have spoke against D.R Horton at county meetings were members of the association…     The West Side group has a petition open on Change.org asking the county to find another builder for the project or include more interaction with the community, and employ someone to oversee…

On Monday, November 20, 2023, at approximately 12:25 p.m., Frostburg City Police responded to the intersection of New Georges Creek Road and Bishop Murphy Drive for a rollover motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival officers learned that a 71 year-old male subject was operating a 2012 Ford SUV southbound on New Georges Creek Road and attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Village Parkway. Meanwhile, a 49-year-old female was operating a 2007 Mazda passenger car northbound on New Georges Creek Road. The two vehicles collided as the male attempted to make the left turn. The crash resulted in the rollover of…

On Friday, November 17, 2023, at approximately 1945 Hours, the Frostburg City Police Department responded to call from a local business for a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers learned that two juveniles had been in the business. One of the juveniles shoplifted and fled the store, leaving the other juvenile inside. As the business staff tried to confront the shoplifting suspect, the suspect became irate and disorderly before stealing more and fleeing outside. Once the suspect was outside and saw the other juvenile was still inside, the suspect brandished what appeared to a handgun at the business staff apparently to intimidate…

Transparency is the buzzword when it comes to the relationship between the Allegany County Commissioners and the West Side Neighborhood Association.  Several times at county meetings, citizens including Dr. Nancy Giunta have asked about the background work done before making the decision to go with D.R. Horton as the builder for the Sedgewick Avenue housing site… WCBC has learned that the developer that did not receive the winning bid, Live Together representative Jane Rohde, has a personal relationship with members of the West Side Neighborhood Association, going so far as to stay at one of the member’s homes when in…

A familiar face is in the running for the 6th district Congressional seat – Dan Cox who most recently lost a bid for the office of governor, is now vying for the seat being vacated by David Trone who is running for retiring Ben Cardin’s US Senate seat.  Cox talked about the issues that have drawn him in to the race… The Republican candidate is urging Western Maryland voters to be sure to take action during the election…

Students from Mountain Ridge High School received recognition at the recent Allegany County Commissioner’s meeting for their production of a video about the importance of recycling in the county.  The video was the winning entry in a contest sponsored by the Solid Waste Management Board.  All of the entries in the contest came from Mountain Ridge High School students under the direction of teacher Tom Kozikowski.  The winning team was presented with a framed print to display at the school. Board Chair John Kirby described how the contest worked…