More than three thousand West Virginia homes and businesses participate in rooftop solar net metering programs. A new proposal by Mon Power and Potomac Edison would slash energy credits for solar in half.  The Biden administration implemented new federal tax credits last year for installing residential solar panels but electric companies are seeking to do the opposite.  Mon Power and Potomac Edison are proposing to cut the energy credits to homes and businesses that have solar panels by half. Net metering gives credits to residential and small business owners for excess energy produced by their solar panels that flows back…

Cumberland's Tree Lighting Celebration starting 5PM at Canal Place Heritage Park tonight. Get in the spirit of the season with holiday music, hot chocolate, goodies and the lighting of our beautiful tree around 6PM. Melinda Kelleher, Executive Director – Downtown Development Commission says Christmas tree lighting is a downtown tradition and will feature music and special guests… WCBC news will stream the tree event Live on Facebook at 5:40PM.  Let’s Beautify Cumberland will celebrated the lighting of the Downtown Christmas tree with the illumination of the red, white, and blue lights at Veterans Park on South Centre Street. Patriotic tunes and…

Cash register operators and business owners be aware, Counterfeit currency has been discovered in our region complicating the holiday shopping season. A financial disaster for any small busines providing services or merchandise only to find out when they make their bank deposits the cash is fake. Locally one dollar bills are being passed off as one hundred dollar bills after the forger washes them. This process unfortunately will pass the routine pen test many cashiers do to authenticate currency. One possible way to validate a $100 bill visually is to check for a stripe embedded in the bill.  A one…

On November 23, 2023 Officers of the Cumberland Police were dispatched to Sheetz on Virginia Avenue for a report of a trespassing complaint. Officers made contact with the store manager who stated that the subject was asked numerous times to leave the business. Officers then made contact with the subject. The subject refused to communicate with the Officers and refused to provide his name. The subject had an open beverage from the business that he failed to purchase. The subject was then place under arrest and transported to Police headquarters. After arriving at Police Headquarters the subject continued to withhold…

On November 23, 2023 Officers of the Cumberland Police Department served two Bench Warrants for failure to appear on Keri Ann Donaldson. The original incident was investigated by the Cumberland Police. The Original charges were CDS: possession not Cannabis. Donaldson was transported to Central Booking. Arrest: Keri Ann Donaldson, Age 33, Cumberland Maryland Charges: (2) FTA, Original charge: CDS: Possession not Cannabis.

The Allegany County Commissioners accepted a grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention for use by the Sheriff’s department for a Comprehensive Opioid Use Site-Based Program.  The grant of over $470,000 will focus on treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and education. County Administrator Jason Bennett tells WCBC more money will be coming in the form of settlements from drug companies and a workgroup is being established for the use of those funds.

Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss seems to be cautiously optimistic about the housing project developing on the city’s West Side.  The land where Allegany High School once stood is owned by the county and officials there are working with builder D.R. Horton to make headway on a housing project.  Morriss says he is excited about what the project means to the city… Morriss is also familiar with the backlash from some residents about the choice of developer and horror stories that have circulated.  He says that Cumberland’s Code Enforcement will be very involved in the building process…

The holiday shopping season has started and Allegany County is encouraging shoppers to stay local and support local businesses.  The county’s tourism office, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Canal Place, Downtown Cumberland and Frostburg First is giving shoppers the chance to win cash prizes through December 20th.  Shoppers who purchase online or in-person from participating small businesses can submit their receipts as contest entries to win $50 Visa gift cards as well as a grand prize of a $550 Visa gift card.  Visit mdmountainside.com/winbig for details on the “Shop Small, Win Big” contest.

Frostburg State University’s Children’s Literature Centre is presenting its 20th annual Storybook Holiday on Saturday, December 2.  This year’s featured author is Will Hillenbrand whose new book “Little Red” is dedicated to the City of Frostburg.  Dr. Sara O’Neal, director of the Literature Centre talked to WCBC about the volunteers that help with the large-scale celebration each year…

The highly anticipated Holiday Tree Lighting Event is set to illuminate Canal Street at Western Maryland Station on November 24th. In the spirit of ensuring the safety of participants and facilitating smooth traffic flow, temporary alterations to the standard traffic pattern are scheduled. Bedford Street will be closed between Centre Street and Mechanic Street starting at 5:00 pm. Mechanic Street Southbound traffic will temporarily divert onto Frederick Street at approximately 5:30PM. Northbound traffic will be detoured onto Harrison Street from Mechanic Street during the same time period. Pershing Street Traffic will not be permitted to exit from Pershing Street onto…