The new minimum wage for 2024 will be $15 per hour. Governor Wes Moore’s Fair Wage Act was signed in to law in April of this year making Maryland the sixth state to enact a new minimum wage for all workers, regardless of company size.  The Moore administration says the hike in wages will affect over 200,000 Maryland workers and 150,000 children.  Governor Moore sees the raise as another aspect of leaving no one in the state behind…    

TOP STORY – Location of Abortion Clinic in Allegany County – The Women’s Healthcare Center relocated to Route 220 near Rawlings from Charleston, West Virginia when that state made abortions illegal.  Clinic Director Katie Quinonez said the clinic came here to serve the “abortion desert” that exists in Western Maryland. Hunter Douglas Factory Closure The factory closure announcement came in March of 2023 for the Mexico Farms plant.  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…

WCBC’s List of the Twelve Most Compelling People for 2023 is now official. These are amonth the individuals or entities that have somehow influenced the area this year –  Fred Timbrook, Jr. has expanded his family automobile business to Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and carried on his ministry with City Reach Church. His newest project is developing the Lila Building in downtown Cumberland into lofts and commercial space. Max Green heads up the West Side Neighborhood Association and has made an impression on residents and neighbors alike with his persistence for answers about development at the former site of…

Fort Hill graduate Ty Johnson continued his contributions to the Buffalo Bills with a versatile performance Sunday in a 27-21 win over the New England Patriots.  Johnson rushed for 22 yards on 5 carries for a 4.4 average.  He also returned two kicks for 42 yards, averaging 21 yards per return. Johnson and the Bills conclude their season next Sunday night in the NFL's final game of the season.  The Bills and Dolphins will meet for the AFC East title.  If the Steelers beat Baltimore Saturday, the Bills will need the win to make the playoffs.

On December 31, 2023, Officers of the Cumberland Police Department observed two subjects illegally cross train tracks belonging to CSX. The trespassers walked past numerous clearly Marked “CSX Property No Trespassing” signs. The signs were placed in the location where there are heavy train movements. Both subjects were issued criminal citations and released.   Arrest: Lonie Louise Benton, age 69, Cumberland Maryland. Virgil Thurman Webb Jr., age 40, Cumberland Maryland. Charge: Trespassing.

The Cumberland Times News is once again raising rates for subscriptions for both print and digital editions of the newspaper.  Citing the rising costs of operations, transportation, newsprint and ink, the rate change is effective January 1.  The local paper is now only published five days a week.

WCBC’s List of the Twelve Most Compelling People for 2023 is now official. Here are some of the individuals or entities that have somehow influenced the area this year –  Peggy Keene is the local regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution.  She and others maintain the site of George Washington’s Headquarters at Riverside Park.  Faced with issues of vagrancy, trash, and vandalism, Keene has continued to provide tours of the Headquarters for tourists and local groups. The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization celebrates 40 years this year. The volunteer group works throughout the year to maintain and recognize the…

The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation announced its 2024 reassessment of 767,000 “Group 3” residential and commercial properties. The overall statewide value increase for “Group 3” properties was 23.4 percent – the state groups properties into 3 sections, assessed every 3 years. In Allegany County, 8,661 improved properties increased in value. When property values increase, the increase is phased in equal increments over the next three years to offer some cushion for taxpayers during periods of swift and considerable increases in property values.

A Maryland State Police helicopter crew rescued an injured man who fell off a cliff Thursday evening in Frederick County Maryland. State Police Aviation Command assisted Frederick County Sheriff’s deputies with the extrication of an injured person who fell 30-40 feet off a sheer cliff behind a residence in Keymar, Maryland. Trooper 3 responded to the scene and successfully extricated the victim from the steep creekside terrain onto a small landing at the base of the cliff. The patient was hoisted into the aircraft and transported to Cowley Shock Trauma in Baltimore.  

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council took time recently to honor the members of the Allegany High School Soccer team who recently competed in the state finals.  Mayor Ray Morriss says the team has been steadily improving under Coach Blake Geatz…