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WCBC’s Top Stories of the Year 2022

January 4th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

  • Plans for to relocate the Union Rescue Mission to North Centre Street was met with controversy from residents in that part of Cumberland- expressing concern that there could be a negative impact on neighborhood.
     
  • Charges were filed in West Virginia’s largest known deer poaching case that spanned three counties and was tied to investigations in Maryland. Allegany County’s Department of Emergency Service EMS chief Christopher Biggs was among those charged.
     
  • Local dignitaries gathered at Canal Place in May to dedicate the former Baltimore Street bridge, renaming it the Casper R. Taylor Jr. Bridge, after the former Maryland Speaker of the House and Cumberland resident. The bridge spans Willis Creek and is a vital crossing into the city's downtown
     
  • The Allegany County Board of Health, in February, voted to a quarantine for school students with close exposure to COVID-19 over the objection of the county's leading health officer. The health board consisted of the three Allegany County commissioners — Dave Caporale, Creade Brodie Jr. and Jake Shade — as well as Jenelle Mayer, the county health officer.
     
  • The local legislative delegation lost 56 years of combined experience in Annapolis when State Senator George Edwards and Delegate Wendell Beitzel announced they would not seek new terms.
     
  • In December, 17 year-old Devon Burroughs was sentenced to a maximum 40-year incarceration with 10 years suspended for the murder of 17-year-old Saiquan Jenkins. According to a police report, Burroughs was charged as an adult for the Oct. 28, 2021, stabbing death of Jenkins. Both were students at Fort Hill High School.
     
  • While the Rolling Mill project continued to move at a deliberate pace with no buildings complete and no businesses ready to open anytime soon- it was  good year for other development with a new FedEx distribution center completed; the Allegany Junction Apartment complex opening on the site for the former North East school; and private investments announced for a number of vacant building downtown.
     
  • A fatal shooting incident witnessed by children  at a school bus stop in Hampshire County.  Sheriff Nathan Sions said the Oct. 26 incident happened at the intersection of Mack Road and St. Peter Lane near Augusta, and included the victim, Shawn Davis, and alleged shooter, John Dulaney.
     
  • In February  fire destroyed the administration building on the campus of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney. The building was unoccupied and no students were on campus at the time of the fire.
     
  • Demolition of the former Allegany High School in May marked the end of a Cumberland institution for 93 years. A new Allegany High School opened in 2018. Plans for the former site include market rate housing.

  • Two incumbent Republicans, Allegany County Commissioner Jake Shade, and Delegate Mike McKay squared off in a spirited primary campaign to replace the retiring State Senator George Edwards. Mckay came out on top in the primary and went on to defeat Democrat Michael Dreisbach in the General Election in November.
     
  • The new and improved branch of the LaVale Library opened it’s door in September. Library System Executive Director John Taube said he envisions the  newly renovated library to serve as a community center and hub of activity.

  • In June, community members and local, state and federal officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Frankfort Elementary School.
     
  • A longtime landmark-the Fruit Bowl  in Cumberland, it was announced in December will close it’s doors in the coming months. The owners said in a statement posted to Facebook in December. “Supply chain issues, labor issues, climate changes drastically affecting fresh produce, and many other struggles of small business in America today have affected this decision,” the statement read.