County adopts ordinance to regulate unsafe structures
by Kate Shunney County officials approved a new law on Wednesday that created the Morgan County Building Enforcement Agency and set the rules under which the agency can force the repair or demolition of unsafe structures in the county. In a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Bob Ford voting no, the Morgan County Commission adopted the…
Messenger staff win state newspaper awards
Three members of The Morgan Messenger news staff brought home editorial awards from this year’s West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. The annual press award ceremony was held in Charleston on Saturday, August 11. Articles published in 2017 were eligible for the awards. The Morgan Messenger competed in the largest newspaper category – weekly…
Man charged with burglary in Fairview Drive area
A Berkeley Springs man was charged with burglary and illegal possession of a firearm last Thursday, August 9 after residents reported seeing him peeking into house windows. Deputy Luke Shambaugh of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department arrested Stephen A. Kuykendall, 33, of Golden Lane late Thursday afternoon. Kuykendall was charged with burglary and being a…
High school gym renovations will impact fall sports, PE
by Kate Evans Berkeley Springs High School Building C (gymnasium building) and Building D (vocational building) renovations are still moving along, but key closeout dates for some of the work have been revised and pushed back. Completion of the gym and storage is still targeted for the end of October, said Morgan County Schools Maintenance…
Drag racing events pick up speed at airport, raise public safety issues
by Kate Shunney & Geoff Fox An upcoming drag racing event to be held at the Hancock airport is drawing the attention of public safety officials on both sides of the Potomac as organizers estimate that up to 15,000 could roll into the area to attend. Late Model Performance, a Manchester, Md. auto shop, will…
Federal marshals return suspect to Morgan County to face burglary, theft charges
by Kate Shunney U.S. Marshals transported the suspect in a Morgan County burglary case back to the area from Idaho to face felony charges this week. Idaho State Police arrested Joseph S. Puffinberger, 55, of Smithsburg, Md. in Kootenai County in northern Idaho on May 18. U.S. Marshals brought him to the area and Morgan…
Back To School Events
Back To School Bash Friday, August 10 5-7 p.m. at Warm Springs Middle School 271 Warm Springs Way Berkeley Springs Free school supplies for grades pre-K-12. Fun activities for kids of all ages. Pop-up Farmer’s Market & Informational exhibits. Berkeley Springs High School 149 Concord Avenue Berkeley Springs (304-258-2871) Thursday, August 16 5 -7…
Man left at hospital was from Montgomery County, Md.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department has identified the deceased black man who was dropped off at War Memorial Hospital on July 13. Police say the 28 year old man was Elgin Malik Smith. Smith was from the Montgomery County, Md. area, said Sheriff K.C. Bohrer. Deputy Luke Shambaugh is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Smith’s…
Area News
County adopts ordinance to regulate unsafe structures
