Denise Lynne Wachter 1951-2026 Denise Lynne Wachter, age 74, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at UMPC Carlisle Hospital. Born July 24, 1951 in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of June Helen Hammersla Franklin of Daytona Beach, FL and the late Vernon Rees Franklin,[Read More…]
Author: editor
Dennis William Lewis, Jr.
Dennis William Lewis, Jr. 1968-2026 Dennis William Lewis, Jr., 58, passed away on Monday, April 20, 2026 at his home in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Born on March 19, 1968 in Baltimore, Md. he was the son of the late Dennis William Lewis, Sr. and Georgia Lou Meile Byrne. Dennis was[Read More…]
Editorial: Support the school excess levy
Since the start of the special school levy, The Morgan Messenger has supported Morgan County’s School Excess Levy – the locally-approved tax that adds dollars to the better functioning of the Morgan County school system. Now, more than ever before, these local dollars from us ensure that students have what[Read More…]
Middle school musicians picked for Regional Honor Band
Four students from Warm Springs Middle School band were selected to participate in the Region IX Honor Band. The students were Ellie Rosensteel, Melissa Carr, Elias Lyda, and Zebadiah Didawick. There were a total of 77 student musicians from Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire, Grant, Mineral, Hardy, and Pendleton Counties. The[Read More…]
Arbor Day ceremony held at Berkeley Springs State Park
by Lisa Schauer Town of Bath Tree Board hosted an Arbor Day ceremony at Berkeley Springs State Park on Saturday, April 25. West Virginia’s state tree, a Sugar maple, was planted by town arborist and tree board member Craig Dean, and Sam Adams, Urban Forestry Coordinator with West Virginia Division[Read More…]
County, regional fire companies train together on emergency water movement techniques
Six fire companies, include all four of Morgan County’s fire agencies, gathered for an all-day training session on Sunday, April 26 that covered techniques of moving large quantities of water in a rural setting for a coordinated emergency fire response. Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company and South Morgan Volunteer Fire[Read More…]
Early Voting begins April 29 in non-partisan & primary election
by Kate Shunney Registered West Virginia voters can begin casting ballots in the state’s non-partisan and primary election today, April 29, as Early Voting opens. Eligible Morgan Countians can vote early in person at the Morgan County Courthouse on the first floor in the County Clerk’s office. Multiple voting machines[Read More…]
Bath lowers tax rate as values rise
by Lisa Schauer In a public meeting held on the third Tuesday in April, Town of Bath Council voted unanimously to lower the tax on municipal property by ten percent. Starting in the new fiscal year on July 1, owner-occupied residential real estate in the town will be taxed at[Read More…]
Partners in Prevention give “Whirlwind of Change” awards to advocates for children
Members of Morgan County’s Partners in Prevention workgroup hosted a breakfast and award ceremony last Wednesday, April 25 at The Country Inn for community partners who work to protect children and create family supports in Morgan County. Audrey Morris, Executive Director of Morgan County Starting Points, led the program by[Read More…]
Karlie Dawn McJilton
Karlie Dawn McJilton 1977-2026 Karlie Dawn McJilton, age 48, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Winchester Medical Center. Born on November 21, 1977 in Newark, Ohio, she was the daughter of Margaret Ellen “Maggie” Boyer Stiles and the late Dana Franklin Stiles. She attended[Read More…]
