Looking back at 2012, Sept.-Dec.
PART TWO
by Pauline Waugh & John Douglas
September
A four-hour downpour, the remnant of Hurricane Isaac, causes flash flooding in downtown Berkeley Springs and other areas along Warm Springs Run on Labor Day weekend. The localized downpour hits several businesses, which gradually reopen in the weeks ahead. The event also spurs discussion of the flood’s causes and how to prevent a repetition.
Despite the bad weather, Cacapon State Park’s annual Homecoming celebration takes place, but inside this year.
Melinda Kasekamp, former assistant principal, takes over as principal at Paw Paw Schools from Principal Michelle Fleming who resigned in August.
Nathan Hedrick, 17, of Lower Burrell, Pa. dies in a drowning accident in a pond south of Berkeley Springs.
A record 55 people are indicted by the September Grand Jury. Of those, 24 were charged as a result of Operation Opiate Overdose, a four-month undercover drug investigation by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
Great Cacapon Post Office is being considered for cuts in hours. Paw Paw Post Office has also been warned that hours there could be affected.
Zach Wise of Berkeley Springs High School sets the state career scoring mark for soccer with 122 goals.
The Morgan County Commissioners are offered a lot along the Cacapon River for public river access and a county park, but, after consideration, suggest that the land be given to another entity. They are concerned about taking on more park properties.
Berkeley Springs High School seniors Nativa Kesecker and Michael Jenkins are Homecoming queen and king.
Sandy Buzzerd and Calvin Hoffman are named to the Apple Butter Festival Hall of Fame.
Reading will be the focus for county schools this year, according to Morgan County school officials.
October
Members of the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company are grand marshals of the Apple Butter Festival Parade, which kicks off the Columbus Day weekend festival.
The Morgan County School Board agrees to take over the troubled county soccer field, clearing the way to apply for grants to clean up the property.
State officials issue a permit for a sewer plant for the proposed developments of 434 homes on Snake Eyes Lane near the Virginia line.
A Morgan Messenger feature story spotlights Chris “Dale” Dodson, a Berkeley Springs native who has made a career in Nashville’s country music industry for the past 25 years.
David J. Holiday, Jr., 53, dies on October 10 of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The first case of West Nile virus is reported locally.
Cirka, the retired K-9 of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, dies after eight years of service.
Kinsey Reed, Corey Shetler, Zac Simmons and Sara Younker of the Berkeley Springs Cross Country Team take part in state championships.
Hurricane Sandy knocks out power to nearly 2,600 homes and businesses on October 29. Most power is restored within 48 hours. While the tropical storm winds blew hard here, the amount of rain was less than predicted and there was little flooding.
Great Cacapon residents organize to fight U.S. Postal Service plans to cut post office by two hours a day, which, in turn, could cause the loss of a popular postmaster.
November
In the November 6 General Election, Bob Ford wins a seat on the Morgan County Commission, Vince Shambaugh is reelected sheriff and Ronald McIntire is returned to the assessor’s office. Magistrates Kermit Ambrose and Greg Miller are also reelected. So are President Barack Obama, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.
Jim Buchanan, the new plant manager at U.S. Silica, is introduced to the community in a Morgan Messenger feature story.
Berkeley Springs High School coach Dale McCumbee is named Girls Basketball Coach for 2011 by the National Federation of High School Coaches.
A gasoline spill at Sheetz results in about 350 gallons entering Warm Springs Run. Cleanup activities are under way over the next couple weeks.
Michael D. Lorensen, a Martinsburg attorney, is appointed circuit judge for Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties. He replaces Gina Groh, now a U.S. District Judge. Lorensen begins presiding in Morgan County in mid-December.
The Berkeley Springs Senior Center moves to its new offices at the former U.S. Silica headquarters building, north of town.
Some 243 deer are checked in on the first day of firearms season in Morgan County. During the two week season, 926 deer, plus at least a dozen bears, are checked in.
County students give mixed reviews to the “healthier” school lunches now being served.
The Country Inn asks for a four-month extension to give them more time in preparing a bankruptcy plan.
December
The Morgan Arts Council’s Ice House closes for six months to allow for major remodeling.
Tom Rokisky announces his retirement as president of CNB Bank, effective January 2. He will continue as president and CEO of CNB Financial Services, Inc., the bank’s parent company.
Debate at Town of Bath council meetings, and in The Morgan Messenger, concerns downtown parking meters and enforcement policies and their effect on business.
The Morgan County Commissioners agree to extending Comcast’s cable TV franchise for ten more years.
The design for a $4.4 million redo of the Berkeley Springs High School gym is approved by the Morgan County School Board.
Eileen Markous and her son Matthew Markous file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, Deputies Seth Place and Richard Haynes, and the Morgan County Commission, alleging the deputies used excessive force against them in an incident in December 2010.
Berkeley Springs High School and Widmyer Elementary School are locked down at dismissal time while police investigate a possible burglary nearby, allegedly involving a person with a gun. The report proves unfounded, and students are soon sent home.
