Eastern Panhandle News

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The Jefferson County Schools Parent Education Resource Center (PERC) sponsored a special event to support JCS families as their students move from school to adulthood. The annual PERC Transition Fair took place on November 29 at the Ranson Civic Center. A press release from Jefferson County Schools talked about the event, […]

ROMNEY, W.Va. — More than two dozen people are charged with being part of a drug ring in the Potomac Highlands and Eastern Panhandle regions of West Virginia. U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld announced Thursday 26 people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Ihlenfeld appeared with […]

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — 130 Years of weekly newspapers paint a detailed portrait of Morgan County that wouldn’t exist otherwise — those are words from      Kate Shunney, Editor of The Morgan Messenger, on the weekly newspaper’s 130th anniversary this month: Shunney has been with  The Morgan Messenger for 23 years.  In a recent […]

  HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — US 340 near Harpers Ferry will reopen ahead of schedule after the completion of a major rock fall project. Contractors recently finished a project that started on September 12 to remove rocks and debris from the mountainside high above the road. The roadway plans to be open again on Friday, […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD —  A deputy with the Frederick County Maryland Sheriff’s Department was injured during a crash Tuesday morning in Hagerstown.              The Herald Mail reports the crash occurred on I-70 just west of Maryland 65 just before 6 a.m. The deputy was in a marked patrol vehicle heading eastbound […]

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The collection of well-known names researched for a book by presidential historian Douglas Brinkley is remarkable due to their diverse backgrounds as well as what they have in common. Brinkley’s book Silent Spring Revolution  chronicles the work of a host of historical figures who played a part in conservation efforts. Dr. Mark […]

INWOOD, W.Va. — There will be plenty of holiday cheer to be found in the Eastern Panhandle this upcoming week. On Saturday, Inwood will host the lighting of the South Berkeley Christmas Tree.  The tree lighting will be held Saturday Dec 2nd beginning at 5:30 pm. with Dwight  Daugherty serving as the emcee.  Anyone who […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon says there’s more he’d like to say regarding the recent petition filed by Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Catie Wilkes Delligatti that seeks to remove him from office. “I can only say I’m extremely disappointed how this has been handled and disheartened to say the least with the […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office has announced its Eastern Panhandle Mobile Office dates for December.    A press release from AG Morrisey’s office says a representative from the office will meet with Eastern Panhandle residents in December to discuss consumer-related issues and answer any potential questions. “These public events are a […]

Story by WVMetroNews Correspondent Brad McElhinny MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County prosecutor and county commissioners have filed petition for the removal of Sheriff Nathan Harmon, contending that he “has breached the public trust and abused his position of power in a number of ways.” The petition alleges Harmon is “no longer fit to serve […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — Martinsburg Police Chief Erin Gibbons was a guest on Panhandle Live Tuesday. Among the topics, some recent promotions and some new personnel on the way. Chief Gibbons said two officers were promoted to corporal and two others to sergeant.  And while he could use about 16 new officers, two new ones are […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD — The United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Wednesday said about 3,900 members representing Volvo Group (VOLVb.ST)-owned Mack Trucks ratified a new five-year contract in the U.S., ending a 39-day long strike following the rejection of an earlier deal. Reuters reports the UAW and Mack Trucks had reached a tentative deal in October […]

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The Jefferson County Commission is scheduled to meet this evening, but that likely won’t happen because there likely won’t be a quorum. For the last two months, two commissioners—Tricia Jackson and Jennifer Krouse have refused to attend those meetings. “The issue is a vacancy on the commission and President Stolipher’s control […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A former middle school teacher at a Martinsburg private school is facing charges related to the sexual abuse of minors under his care. 29-year-old Jorge William Mendoza of Martinsburg was a teacher of students in 6-8 grades at Rocky Knoll School. He was fired after being charged last month with sex abuse […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Monongahela National Forest and is set to arrive at the US Capitol on Friday. On its way east, the tree has been on a bit of a celebrity tour, beginning in Elkins as part of 14 stops in the Mountain State. The last West […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD — The strike is not over for Auto Workers at Mack in Hagerstown.    Striking United Auto Workers at Mack Trucks will vote again this week on the company’s last, best and final offer of a master contract, essentially unchanged from the deal workers rejected. Mack told the union that the 20% compound […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD — Dogstreet Road in Washington County is back open, for now. The Washington County Division of Engineering announced drivers now have access to the roadway as of yesterday afternoon. Road crews have been paving and working on a traffic barrier. Officials are expected to restart the project early next year. From Washington County […]

Story by MetroNews Statewide Correspondent Brad McElhinny CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Jefferson County’s prosecutor has filed a petition to remove two county commissioners from office because they have repeatedly refused to meet and help select a fifth commissioner who would fill a vacancy. Today’s filing contends commissioners Jennifer Krouse and Tricia Jackson have failed in […]

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — It’s a conversation some may find uncomfortable, but the Stubblefield Institute hopes those attending their upcoming “Your Community Engagement Conversation” event on hate crimes and  hate speech will embrace their goal of civil communication even when the topic is polarizing.              Wednesday’s community conversation, “Policing of hate […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD — The Foreign Trade Zone that applies to Washington County is being restructured.  Proponents say it’s a way to encourage international commerce and increase investment in the county.  Opponents say it may add more warehousing to the landscape of the county. The Washington County Board of Commissioners had sought the move to increase efficiencies […]

HAGERSTOWN, MD — The Hagerstown Police Department is taking a look back into a busy fall season. A press release from the department says since Sept 1st, HPD has handled 40,466 calls for service and made 355 arrests.  There were also some notable convictions involving arrests made in the past. Recent arrests included: Weapons, Randolph/Locust […]

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV—  Five degree programs will be discontinued at Shepherd University as part of its ongoing rightsizing plan.  Combined with previous measures implemented at Shepherd, the University will have achieved approximately $5 million in base budget adjustments toward its $6 million goal. In a unanimous vote November 9th, the Shepherd University Board of Governors approved the […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Community Veterans Engagement Board/Crusaders will sponsor a Veterans Day Parade at 2 p.m.  Saturday, November 11th that will run along Queen Street in Martinsburg. CVEB’s Kathleen Stotler talked about the parade on a recent episode of Panhandle Live.   

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — With several scheduled meetings passing without a quorum, Jefferson County Commission members who refuse to attend meetings may be breaking a law according to Donald “Deak” Kersey, General Counsel in the WV Secretary of State’s office. Kersey says the fact that a seat needs to be filled furthers the requirement of […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Last night’s meeting of the Martinsburg City Council was the first for new Martinsburg City Manager Andy Blake. In other Martinsburg City Council news, Mayor Kevin Knowles administered the oath of office for a number of promotions among the city’s first responders. Police Sergeant Micheal Castelgrande, Corporal William Staub and Dalton Condo […]

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Morgan County Sheriff KC Bohrer has to close his administrative office again next week (Nov 15 and 16) due to staffing issues. The sheriff tells the Panhandle News Network he only has one full-time administrative secretary and two part-time office employees. Over the past two weeks, he has had to close the […]

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Morgan County Sheriff KC Bohrer says due to medical leave and short staffing, the administrative offices will be closednext week on Wednesday and Thursday (November 15th and 16th.) Officers can still be reached by calling dispatch. That number is 304-258-3805.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The City of Martinsburg has released the agenda for Thursday night’s meeting, which will be held in the George Karos Community Room inside the Martinsburg Police Department at 125 W. Race Street in Martinsburg.  That meeting is set to get underway at 6:30 p.m. The Agenda: 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call […]

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Morgan County EMS says many residents are smelling smoke, but the fire may not be in the immediate area.  A post from the service this week says Morgan County along with several surrounding counties are receiving multiple calls for “smoke in the area.” “There is a large wildfire in Virginia with […]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor counts related to his actions after his daughter Carrie Harmon’s vehicle accident. Harmon was charged in an indictment handed up by the Berkeley County grand jury last month. The charges were  two counts of obstruction and two counts of providing false […]