Calling him “Big Jim Justice,” former President Donald Trump threw his support behind the West Virginia governor for the state’s Senate race on Thursday afternoon. The endorsement appeared on Trump’s Truth Social media platform.  Trump said Justice will be a great United States Senator and has his complete and total endorsement.  Governor Justice noted the support at the end of his weekly administrative briefing…

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police and Barrack C have combined resources to target open and active warrants. As a result, the following individuals have been apprehended. Nalesia McCauley, 22 of Cumberland, was arrested on a Fugitive Warrant from Harrisonburg, VA for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Distribution / Sell for Profit of Schedule I / II Narcotics. She is being held without bond pending extradition to Virginia. Donald Grant Cosner, 50 of Westernport, was wanted by Frederick County Circuit Court for Violation of Pre-Trial Release. On 10/18/23, members of the Allegany County Combined…

A new Demolition Assistance Grant is available for Cumberland residents in an effort to reduce blight in the community.  The program will be a grant of 50% of the approved demolition costs for the improvement of a property in the city limits of Cumberland that is uninhabitable in its current condition. An application packet with complete details is available through the Community Development Department at Cumberland City Hall.

A consumer alert from Maryland’s Attorney General is reminding Marylanders to check out any charity before donating money.  Scammers are setting their sights on people in the United States looking for opportunities to help those affected by the attack on Israel. Before donating money to any charity, the Attorney General suggests checking the Maryland Secretary of State’s Public Registry, available online, or websites such as GuideStar and Charity Navigator to confirm the validity of any organization. Never agree to give money over the phone and avoid giving in to high-pressure or time-sensitive tactics.

BENCH WARRANT SERVED On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a bench warrant on Mark Wharton.  The warrant was issued as the result of Wharton failing to comply with conditions of pre-trial release.  He was originally charged with Assault-First Degree and Assault-Second Degree.  Wharton was arrested and later seen by a District Court Commissioner for a bond hearing.  He was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. ARRESTED:  Mark Blaine Wharton        AGE:  56       Cumberland, MD CRIMINAL SUMMONS SERVED On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Thomas Taccino.  The…

A special ceremony will mark the reopening of the the Dr. Robert S. Zimmer Theatre at Allegany College of Maryland.  The theatre has been dark for a year as renovations upgraded the space that originally opened in 1969.  Shauna McQuade, ACM’s Director of Public Relations, tells WCBC about the funding sources that made the remodel possible… McQuade says the new space serve the community and will see action as a learning environment for the multimedia program…  

Middle school students in Allegany County recently received financial education bags. The county Human Resources Development Commission along with PNC Bank and Allegany County Public Schools provides students a financial literacy program through education technology company EverFi. Students have access to three online financial courses in grades 6-8. The courses help students learn about financial decision-making and long term planning. The bags included workbooks, a calculator, a coin bank, bookmarker and pencils.

Authors of a new study are calling on the state of Maryland to enact air-quality equipment standards similar to California that would phase out the sale of natural gas furnaces and water heaters and encourage using alternatives including heat pumps. The study found that in Maryland such equipment emits more than three times the amount of health-harming nitrogen oxides as all the state's power plants combined. Jamie DeMarco, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network says pollution from fossil fuels is worse in cities… DeMarco says a new state standard for home appliances would not impact existing equipment but would…

October is Cyber Security Month and at this week’s work session for the Cumberland Mayor and Council, Chip Watkins shared what the City has been doing to secure information they do not want falling into the hands of hackers. Watkins says City systems have been updated and redundant firewalls installed. He also talked about what employees and citizens can do to be more secure online…  

Maryland’s Attorney General Anthony Brown has announced one of the largest penalties ever levied in an environmental crime case with a $1 million fine against Curtis Bay Energy.  The medical waste disposal company has been placed on 2 years of probation as well. Katie Dorian of the Attorney General’s office says the Baltimore company routinely handled special medical waste – usually red bag waste from hospitals – in an improper manner, threatening the public health…