UPMC Western Maryland welcomed its first baby of the new year, Thor Atlas Grimes, on Monday, Jan. 1, at 7:18 a.m. Thor weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Parents Elizabeth and Scott Grimes are eager to introduce Thor to his sister and four brothers at home in Cumberland.  

Attorney General for West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, has announced that the state has begun sending out checks from a fund set up with settlements of opioid lawsuits. The state has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the US. The West Virginia First Foundation will manage about $1 billion from the settlements and will distribute nearly 75% of the money. A quarter of the money will go directly to local communities and 3% will be kept in trust.

One of the events making the list this year of WCBC’s Top News stories involved the closure of the Hunter Douglas plant in Mexico Farms. The closure announcement came in March of 2023.  Ironically, the closure was due to production moving to Mexico, but it meant the loss of over 300 jobs locally.  Hunter Douglas originally came to the county in 1990. The company also shuttered factories in North Carolina and Texas to move work south of the border.

New Year’s Eve for Downtown Cumberland was a bit different this year with celebrations moving from the town center over to the Canal Place Plaza.  A crowd of almost 300 revelers attended the event and Downtown Development Director Melinda Kelleher says a good time was had by all… A change in location of the midnight fireworks display didn’t dampen spirits, either…

On January 1st, Officers from the Cumberland Police Department (CPD) located Charles Tivis Dearing in the 100 block of Springdale Street. Charles Tivis Dearing was served a Bench Warrant and arrested on scene. An investigation was conducted and Charles received two additional new charges for violations of the conditions of his release. He was transported to Allegany County Detention Center where he was held without bond. Arrest: Charles Tivis Dearing, age 40, Cumberland MD Charges: Bench Warrant failure to Comply to a Court Order on original charge of Assault Second Degree. On view charges (2) of violation of condition of release. 

On January 1, Officers from the Cumberland Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to the 100 block of Greene Street to a business for an assault. Upon arrival Officers located two persons that needed medical treatment. An investigation was conducted to where Daniel Webster Myers was placed under arrest. Upon incident to arrest, a Controlled Dangerous Substance was located on his person. Daniel was transported to Allegany County Detention Center to await his hearing.  Arrest: Daniel Myers Webster, age 53, Old Fields WV  Charges: Assault 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree, Controlled Dangerous Substance (suspected Cocaine)

Several law enforcement agencies, along with the Allegany County Health Department and Pharmacare of Cumberland are sponsoring Prescription Drug Take-Back Days in January.  Jennifer Hare of PharmaCare talked to WCBC about the event, saying people should not be concerned about turning in old medicines and others seeing the prescription names.. Dates for the event are January 16 from 11-3 at PharmaCare South on Industrial Boulevard and January 18 from 11-3 at PharmaCare West on Greene Street.

Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss has hopes of a bright and shiny new year for the city. He recently called in to WCBC to congratulate 3 city employees who made the WCBC Twelve Most Compelling People list and also talked about the progress that he hopes will continue into 2024     For 2024, Morriss believes the city’s progress will continue on a steady pace…    

One of side effects of all the downtown construction has actually been good.  Melinda Kelleher, Downtown Development Commission Director, says that merchants are working together to promote shopping in the area – building relationships that will last long after the construction ends, especially along Centre Street…    

Maryland does have a plan to meet its climate action goals, but what it does not have yet is a way to pay for it.  Maryland’s Department of the Environment has rolled out a plan to achieve goals under the Legislature’s 2022 Climate Solutions Now Act that says the state will achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. MDE Secretary Serina McIlwain says the plan is there but admits that needing over a billion dollars a year  to fund it is a challenge…