On September 24, 2023, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department were dispatched to residence on Virginia Avenue for a check on well-being. A neighbor reported that the upstairs resident was making loud noises all night long. The complainant reported that the neighbor was banging objects off the floor and yelling. As Officers attempted to make all they could hear was loud music coming from that apartment. The Officers continued knocking on the door and heard the subject inside yelling “go away”. The Officers finally made contact and advised the subject, Leonard Lee Davis II, several times to turn down the…

Cumberland City Police may have a new crime-fighting partner soon in the form of drones.  Police Chief Chuck Ternent spoke to the Mayor and City Council recently about grants he has pending for police drones that could help officers in different situations that may prove to be too dangerous.  The chief was skeptical at first about the use of such aerial vehicles, but has seen them at work in recent trainings…  

Allegany County Tourism Director Ashli Workman recently spoke with WCBC about how tourism numbers are trending in the area.  Workman says that the county is very encouraged by what they see in reports from the State of Maryland that tracks visitor spending…   Workman says that the tourists who come to the area are from diverse backgrounds and locations…  

The Maryland State Highway Administration and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller are working to make work-zone safety a priority for workers and drivers throughout the state. The Lt. Governor and the SHA held a joint press conference to announce that public input is needed to improve a dangerous situation. Miller says that 2023 has been a bad year for crashes…   A new survey is available for Marylanders to share their thoughts on making work zones safer at ZerodeathsMD.gov/WZSurvey.   Lt. Governor Miller says the focus on driver attention and education is a key to worker safety…    

Allegany County’s lease with the Federal Emergency Management Association is good for at least another ten years.  At their recent meeting, the County Commissioners agreed to a new lease on the property on PPG Road that FEMA uses for logistics purposes. The lease is for $2.8 million yearly, paid in monthly installments. The General Services Administration had asked the county for a new lease with some adjustments.  Jeff Barclay, Economic Development Director for the county, says the lease includes an additional 5-year option…  

The streets in the City of Cumberland are definitely in need of an upgrade and with all of the many construction projects taking place paving has taken somewhat of a back seat in priorities.  Mayor Ray Morriss took listener calls on WCBC recently and answered a concern about the state of the streets.  Morriss talked about the process to get the city’s streets back in shape, saying it is a long road…  

Smouse’s Mill and Union Grove area resident Richard Mihailovich is working to encourage all citizens to attend a public hearing on the possible location of a waste transfer center.  Mihailovich tells WCBC that Burgmeier Hauling is petitioning the Zoning Board for a land use permit for a tract of property located at the intersection of Route 220 and Bedford Road.  The property sits directly along Route 220 and is adjacent to Sunset Memorial Park…   The Public Hearing is scheduled for 5pm Wednesday, October 4 at the County Office Complex.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD (September 23, 2023) - Deputy State Fire Marshals have charged a Washington County man after concluding that he intentionally set his van on fire after it had become stuck near a set of railroad tracks. Around 9:15 p.m. Monday, the Office of the State Fire Marshal responded to the railroad tracks behind the area of 14635 Daley Road after deputies with Washington County Sheriff's were initially called for a vehicle driving on the railroad tracks. Deputies told investigators they observed a fire within a 2002 Ford Econoline van after arriving. Then they located the driver, identified as Merridth Richard…

Listeners to the Dave Norman program may have noticed the Morning Mayor’s absence from the airwaves recently.   Dave has not been feeling well these past 6-8 weeks since his bout with COVID. It was recently discovered that previous surgeries had created scar tissue resulting in a bowel blockage.  This discovery resulted in surgery this past week which Dave came through well.  He is determined to be back to work as soon as his physician releases him and thanks everyone for their concerns and prayers.  

Like a champion, like a legend, and a very likeable man, Fort Hill/University of Maryland great, served as the Chair of the Greenway Avenue Stadium Committee Improvement Fund, with great energy and much love for his hometown of Cumberland.  Ed Mullaney Committee Member took this photo of Mark Manges and another Fort Hill/Ohio State legend, Greg Hare, at a Greenway meeting in September of 2021.  The old adage of a picture is worth a thousand words is self-explanatory as Mark spreads his arms in a gesture of “let’s get it done, let’s get Greenway finished and well known as the best stadium in…