Cumberland’s Community Development Department is continuing to provide grant programs designed to assist property owners in the city with rehab projects.  One of the programs, the Home Rehabilitation Grant, is using American Rescue Plan funds to give property owners the opportunity to support blight reduction in the City if they own an empty or dilapidated property. Denise Adams tells WCBC what the grant supports…   The grant program provides 50% matching funds, up to $25,000.  Adams says there has been a lot of interest in the program and some properties have been saved from demolition…  

Juliana Leigh McCusker, 37 of Burlington, WV, was arrested on a District Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear on the Original Charge: Possess-Not Marijuana. McCusker was extradited from Potomac Highland Regional Jail, Augusta, WV and subsequently released on her own recognizance. Leonard Wayne Metzer, 57 of Cumberland, was served two Circuit Court Bench Warrants for Violating Pretrial Release. His original charges include: Burglary 4th Degree and Theft: $1,000 to Under $1,500. He is being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center.

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department would like to notify the public that Baltimore Street will be closed to thru traffic between Queen City Drive and George Street from Wednesday, October 4th at 6AM to Thursday, October 5th at 6PM. This closure is necessary to facilitate waterline work within the right-of-way.   Signage will be in place to notify passenger vehicles about the road closure. Clients of businesses with primary access from that section of Baltimore Street should contact the business directly to determine an alternate means of access.   Additional information will be released in the event the closure duration needs to…

The Downtown Cumberland Development Commission is working behind the scenes to create holiday events that will draw shoppers to the entire downtown area.  DDC Executive Director Melinda Kelleher gave information recently on events planned for the holidays this year including the Christmas tree lighting and winter market…

Allegany College of Maryland’s student literary magazine placed second in the Eastern Division of the Community College Humanities Association annual competition. Expressions magazine is an annual edition of essays, fiction, poetry, artwork and photography from ACM students. In addition to the magazine’s award, four ACM students were also recognized for contributions across three categories.  The magazine is viewable online through the college website or hard copies can be obtained at the Thomas Welcome Center on the Cumberland campus.  

In our series this week, Silence during Crisis, WCBC News looks at how emergency information is disseminated to the public in our unique geographical area with multiple county jurisdictions and 3 state lines within the listening area.  911 Joint Communication Center dispatch emergency responders to an incident, and is also responsible for initiating alerts to off duty emergency responders, command staff as well as local media. This information is forwarded to individuals, and in the case of broadcast media, it is the responsibility of that individual to provide the emergency information to the public. This is a manual operation in…

On Monday, October 2nd, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Wayne Eugene King, 50, of Cumberland MD. King was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County Circuit Court on September 29th, 2023. The warrant alleges that King violated the terms of pre-trial release placed upon him that stemmed from a previous assault charge. King was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center where he is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Wayne Eugene King            Age: 50 Charges: Bench Warrant On Monday, October 2nd, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Ashley Lee Tilson, 43, of Cumberland MD. Tilson was arrested on…

Since April of 2021, West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Services has been distributing American Rescue Plan Act stabilization funding to child care providers across the state. September was scheduled as the last month for payments but remaining funds means an additional payment will be forthcoming.  Qualified child care providers will automatically receive the extra payment which will be slightly less than the monthly amount they had been receiving.  

A preliminary injunction has been issued dealing with part of Maryland’s new Concealed-carry gun laws which went into effect October 1st.  The law seeks to severely restrict where permit holders by carry a firearm in public.  Banned locations include locations that sell alcohol, schools, and medical facilities and near public demonstrations.  House Republicans were quick to call the injunction a win for gun-owners.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said that members repeatedly warned Democrats that parts of the gun bill went too far…

Maryland’s Department of Transportation is visiting Allegany County officials this week to discuss the agency’s draft 6-year Consolidated Transportation Program. The draft details a $21.2 billion investment in the state’s transportation network. MDOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld and other officials will outline the states investment plan and discuss Allegany County’s transportation priorities. The meeting will take place on Thursday, October 5th at 2pm at the County Office Complex on Kelly Road in Cumberland. The plan will be finalized later this fall and submitted to the Legislature in January.