Spirited debate continues over whether the City of Cumberland should spend $30,000 to purchase an artificial Christmas tree for downtown. A caller to WCBC said that there is already a tree decorated at the church overlooking downtown the City could use yearly. Morning show host Dave Norman summarized his thinking on the topic…     “After you raise the water rate, after you raise the trash rate, how do you advocate for a $30,000 artificial Christmas tree?” City Councilman Rock Cioni explained the city’s thinking on the matter…     “I think the staff got a little gun shy when…

DelFest kicks off Thursday with 39 acts set to perform on three stages over 4 days at the Allegany County fairgrounds. The bluegrass and American music festival returns for the 17th time here in Allegany County. Del McCoury band will open the festival on Thursday around 4:15 p.m. Thursday's line up includes Sister Sadie, Dan Tyminski, Larry Keel Experience, Wood Brothers and Kitchen Dwellers. WCBC radio will carry for the first time Del's Church program on Sunday beginning at noon with bluegrass and Gospel music live from the Allegany County fairgrounds.

An officer of the Cumberland Police Department has been suspended from his duties pending a criminal investigation. Captain James Burt has surrendered his firearm and badge and is no longer working at the Cumberland Police Department. WCBC news reached out to city officials for comment, but they have declined to add any detail saying that it is a personnel matter. City officials will meet later today to receive legal guidance and address the ongoing criminal investigation against Captain Burt and other officers of the Cumberland Police Department. Captain Burt joined the Cumberland Police Department in 2002 and served as second…

Maryland State Troopers from the Cumberland Barrack responded to the area of Orleans Road at High German Road on Monday at 7:58 p.m. for a motor vehicle collision. Investigation revealed a pickup truck operated by a 50-year-old man, was heading south on Orleans Road near High Germany Road when it collided with a motorcyclist traveling north on the same road. The pickup truck driver was taken to UPMC Western Maryland for treatment. The motorcyclist, a 65-year-old man, was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.

Officials in Mineral County are not expecting a federal disaster declaration for their area as the result of flooding last Tuesday, but recovery resources are available. Residents can visit mineraldisaster.com for information on assistance and report damage. Delegate Gary Howell told WCBC that he has been in touch with his Maryland co-horts, including Senator Mike McKay, throughout the storm and recovery…     “Mike and I talk a good bit because there’s so much cross-border stuff. Like Keyser supplies water and sewer to McCoole, Westernport currently supplies water to Piedmont, we have a joint airport that’s in my district.”

US News and World Report has recognized CountryHouse Residence for Memory Care as a Best Memory Care community. It is the third year in a row the Cumberland facility has received the honor. Executive Director Nicole King tells WCBC that over 3,800 communities are evaluated for the designation…    “They measure the management component of the building, the staffing, the care that the caregivers are giving the residents, the food and dining experience. And also they measure the ‘feel like home’ atmosphere.” King said the CountryHouse staff is important in keeping standards high in the community…     “It’s truly…

An addition to the popular Heritage Days weekend this fall is going to be the return of Railfest to the area. Wes Heinz, the executive director for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad tells WCBC several vendors are already making plans to be at the event which will blend in with the location of Heritage Days…     “We’re going to be actually in the Canal Place, in the parade ground, I call it the parade ground, in the pavilion area behind Fairfield Marriott and the Shops At Canal Place. And we’re going to have live entertainment on the stage on…

A bridge on Route 219 in Somerset County is closed after being destroyed in last week’s flooding. The bridge, located in Boynton, suffered severe damage after heavy rains. Emergency repairs are underway, installing a temporary bridge for vehicles while heavy truck traffic will travel a 50-mile detour. Penn Dot spokesman Carl Metzgar said the bridge is not salvageable….     “We discovered that the center pier, or the center column that holds up the bridge was undermined substantially and the bridge actually dropped several inches.”

Mercer Community College of New Jersey defeated Potomac State College, 9-2, Monday at the Softball World Series.  The Catamounts return to action Tuesday at 5 p.m.

A fire that caused an estimated $125,000 damage to a Mount Savage home Friday evening remains under investigation, the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal said.  The blaze at 13009 Irving Street started about 5:30 p.m. Investigators said residents escaped without injury after a passerby alerted them to a fire under a deck.  More than 50 firefighters battled the fire at the home owned by Lorri Ann Melon. One firefighter was treated for possible heat exhaustion.