Schools

School officials fielded complaints from parents at the October 16 board meeting about the treatment of their daughter, a Warm Springs Middle School student.

Derek Eugene Davis, Justin Earl Hargett, Jentry Douglas Meade Jr. and Roni Rae Stotler have been appointed to Class

2-07 at the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy at Kingwood.

Berkeley Springs High School had their annual spirit week October 8-12 leading up to homecoming. Monday was "Jersey Day." Students wore jerseys from all their favorite sports teams. A majority of students wore a West Virginia University jersey.

Students from 11 schools in Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire, and Morgan Counties traveled to Musselman High School on October 8 for Regional Raze On. Students represented the following schools: Martinsburg High, Musselman High, Musselman Middle, Hedges-ville High, Hedgesville Middle, Berkeley Springs High, South Middle, Hampshire High, Capon Bridge Middle, Jefferson High and Paw Paw. More than 50 students and 14 adults turned out for the daylong event that trains members of Raze, the statewide teen empowered tobacco prevention organization.

Students learned not only the effects of tobacco, but also how to utilize the Raze website, recruit new members and commotions. A special presentation was done by Tony Richards from the American Lung Association on Asthma. Educating about Asthma is one of the goals for Raze members this year.

Local teenager James Worley received first place in the youth category of the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District 2007 Photo Contest for his photograph heliopsis flower taken in his family's garden in Berkeley Springs.

In recognition of his achievement, he was invited to attend the annual banquet at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds on October 3, where he was awarded a certificate signed by Gov. Joe Manchin III and a check for $75. As first place winner, his photograph will be submitted to the state level competition.

Morgan County Schools Technology Coordinator

Berkeley Springs High School students had a very different series of "classes" on September 26. It was Teen Issue Day, a day where students could take a break from work and focus in on issues that teens face everyday. Throughout the day, students had sessions that dealt with a specific issue, such as "Rachel's Challenge."

Rachel's Challenge is a program in honor of Rachel Scott, who was killed in the Columbine shooting of 1999, to help start a "chain reaction" of kindness and compassion. Her acts of kindness that were found in her diaries became a foundation for a life-changing school program.

The Morgan County school board held a reception for retired school staff before last Tuesday's board meeting. School officials honored seven former employees for their collective years of service to the schoolchildren of Morgan County.

Logging the longest career with Morgan County schools was Beth Duvall, who spent 35 years as executive secretary to the various superintendents of schools.

The Morgan County school board voted October 2 to terminate the employment of Widmyer Elementary custodian Douglas Maconaughey on the recommendation of Superintendent David Banks.

Maconaughey was indicted by a Grand Jury in early September for possession of cocaine and prescription painkiller Lorazapam. He was arrested in February.

Two new school nurses were hired at the October 2 meeting, following last month's board approval of additional nursing posts to be paid through Medicaid funding.

Gina Mellott and Sherry Ambrose were hired as full-time nurses for county schools, effective at the end of October.