Cpl. Christopher Roper, 51, of Inwood was charged by Sgt. Smith of the West Virginia State Police on Wednesday morning and is currently on administrative leave while the case moves through the courts.

Morgan County Sheriff Johnnie Walter issued a press release on Wednesday afternoon confirming…

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West Virginia News Service

West Virginia is seeing a sharp rise in alpha-gal syndrome as lone star ticks spread across the state.

The tick-borne condition can make people allergic to red meat, dairy and other products from mammals. Reactions can include stomach problems, hives, wheezing and trouble breathing.

Madison Flory, fellow at the West Virginia Science and Technology Policy Initiative, said state figures are showing a steep uptick in the numbers.

“The…

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter.

As fall weather settles in, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can be dangerous for both people and bears, said DNR officials.

“During the fall, bears need to consume far more calories than during the spring and summer, consuming in excess of 20,000 calories a day,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director, Karina Stonesifer, said. “To keep everyone safe and our bears wild, residents should remove any food and attractants from their properties to mitigate potential human-bear conflict.”

The top food attractors for bears are bird feeders, containers of pet food and trashcans that are accessible.

Black bears in Maryland are concentrated in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties, but are known to roam into other northern and central counties, including densely populated areas.

West Virginia and Pennsylvania are home to roaming bear as well, with local mountains and forests offering attractive places for black bear to eat and hibernate.

Since bears may travel many miles in search of food, motorists traveling in the region are reminded to watch for them crossing roads, especially during October and November.

Bears will begin entering dens in mid-November; and most will remain inside by mid-December, say wildlife experts.

More information about living with black bears can be found online, by calling 410-260-8540 or 301-777-2136, or visiting BearWise.org.

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Voters can enter their first name, last name, date of birth, and home county to see a list of contests that will appear on the official ballot. A sample ballot can also be printed out so voters can review their selections before heading to the polls.

Morgan County’s sample ballot can be viewed at this URL — https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/2026GeneralSampleBallots/SAMPLE%20-%20WV%20Morgan%20261103%20General%20-%2014inch.pdf.

Sample ballots will also be printed in The Morgan Messenger on October 14 and October 28.

“The sample ballot lookup tool is a resource that helps prepare voters for Election Day. Reviewing your sample ballot in advance can help you feel more confident and prepared when you enter the polls,” said Secretary Warner.

Voters can go to https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/SampleBallots to review sample ballots from all 55 counties.

Last day to register Oct. 13

Secretary Warner reminded fellow West Virginians that Tuesday, October 13, is the deadline to register to vote or update voter registration information.

Early in-person voting begins October 21 and continues through October 31.

The deadline to request an Absentee Ballot is October 28. Absentee ballots will be delivered through October 29.

To learn more about the upcoming November 3 General Election, including the new photo ID requirements, absentee voting, and other important election information, visit GoVoteWV.com.

Amendment 1

A proposed Amendment to the West Virginia Constitution will appear on the November 3 General Election Ballot.

The proposed West Virginia Constitutional Amendment to Section I, Article IV relates to the right to vote in elections held in West Virginia.

The notice is issued in accordance with Senate Joint Resolution 9. The amendment will appear on the November 3 General Election ballot.

The Public Notice is listed below:

Title of Amendment: “Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote in West Virginia Elections Amendment”

Full Text of the Amendment: §4-1. Only citizens of the United States who are citizens of this state shall be entitled to vote at all elections held within the counties in which they respectively reside; but a person who is a minor, or who has been declared mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or who is under conviction of treason, felony or bribery in an election, or who has not been a resident of the state and of the county in which he or she offers to vote, for 30 days next preceding such offer, shall not be permitted to vote while such disability continues; and, a person in the military, naval, or marine service of the United States shall not be deemed a resident of this state by reason of being stationed therein.

In a press release drawing attention to the amendment, Secretary Warner added insight into the legal standing of voting in West Virginia.

“The proposed amendment would change Article IV, § 1 by expressly providing that only citizens of the United States who are citizens of West Virginia are entitled to vote in elections held within the state,” Warner wrote.

“West Virginia election law already requires a person to be a United States citizen to register to vote. If approved by the voters, the proposed amendment would add that requirement expressly to Article IV, § 1 of the West Virginia Constitution.”

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More than a dozen contributing buildings within Bath’s historic district have been lost since the town was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

According to documents amending the record for Town of Bath’s National Historic District, 14 contributing buildings have been destroyed by demolition or fire or are no longer eligible due to “incongruous alterations” – changes to the buildings that are not in the same style or…

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Get ready for audience participation, including five live bingo games, at Berkeley Springs High School auditorium during three live performances of “Holy Mother of Bingo!”

A murder mystery set in a present-day small-town parish, the play is “all about community and coming together. It is uplifting,” said senior Braden Brinegar, who has the lead role as Father Ron.

The play is directed by the school’s drama teacher Amy Taylor, under whose leadership the theater program has matured over the last several years.

More students are auditioning now, according to senior Natalie Koontz, who portrays Sister Helen.

If they wish, audience members hold bingo cards during the performance, and get to play five rounds, competing for prizes, while helping – or hindering – the investigation.

Performances will be held at Berkeley Springs High School’s Connie Perry Auditorium on Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, October 17 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase at the door.

Children in second grade and under are admitted free. Those in grades three through 12 see the play for half price.

Doors open 30 minutes in advance. Concessions will be on sale in the lobby.

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The shuttle service is not available Friday evening for the WV Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden Kickoff Party.

Free parking for the shuttle service is available on Saturday and Sunday at:

Route #1: Senior Life Services of Morgan County & Warm Springs Middle School

Route #2: Gat Creek, the U.S. 522 Ballfield Complex & Coolfont Resort

Both routes will bring you right downtown, with pickup and drop-off at the corner of Fairfax Street and Mercer Street, just steps from the festival.

Shuttles are fully accessible and will stay in constant motion throughout the day. They don’t run on a set timetable, just as traffic allows.

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The weekend begins Friday evening with the West Virginia Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden Kickoff Party and continues through Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, the festival kicks off with the morning Apple Butter Festival Parade at 9 a.m., led by this year’s Morganite Community Award recipients, honored for their outstanding contributions to Morgan County.

Entries will begin at the Berkeley Springs High School and parade through town to the historical Berkeley Springs train depot.

Afterwards, the festival officially opens in Berkeley Springs State Park and surrounding streets.

More than 200 new and returning artists and craftspeople will fill the streets of historic downtown with everything from traditional Appalachian crafts and fine art to handcrafted jewelry, pottery, woodworking, home décor, and one-of-a-kind gifts. The experience extends beyond the festival streets into Berkeley Springs’ galleries, shops, and the Ice House art center.

This year’s festival introduces several exciting additions, including the first-ever Apple Butter Festival Trail 5K at Cacapon Resort State Park on Sunday morning. Runners will wind through scenic mountain trails before heading into town to enjoy the festival.

Families can enjoy the new Family Fun Zone, where kids and grown-ups alike can challenge each other to oversized games, hula hoop and jump rope contests, and other activities designed to bring everyone together for fun, laughter, and a little friendly competition before heading back out to explore the festival.

While there are exciting new experiences to discover, the heart of the Apple Butter Festival remains unchanged. Volunteers from the Greenwood Community Center will once again spend the weekend stirring apple butter over open fires in the giant copper kettles that have become the festival’s most iconic image, filling downtown with the unmistakable aroma of fresh apple butter that welcomes visitors each October.

Despite a late spring frost that significantly impacted this year’s apple crop, partners throughout the community came together to keep one of the festival’s most beloved traditions alive.

Crowd favorites include the Beard & Mustache Contest, Hog Calling, Egg Toss, Baking Contest, and a raffle for the beautiful handcrafted Apple Butter Festival Quilt.

Live music fills the festival all weekend long, with performances ranging from bluegrass and gospel to rock, country, and classic favorites. Saturday’s Main Stage features West Virginia rockabilly favorite Ryan Cain & the Ables, followed by Hillbilly Biscuits, whose energetic blend of bluegrass, country, and mountain music is sure to keep toes tapping all afternoon. Sunday begins with the uplifting Southern gospel of Hymns for Him before longtime festival favorites The Flashbacks return with the oldies, classics, and vintage rock ‘n’ roll that have made them a crowd favorite year after year.

The Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden features performances by Mark Cullinane, Rusted Blue, Circa Blue, and Saturday night headliner Cazhmiere, one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most in-demand Top 40 dance bands. Combined with West Virginia craft beverages, delicious food, and a lively atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to cap off a day at the festival.

Today, the Apple Butter Festival is one of West Virginia’s largest and longest-running fall festivals, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to Berkeley Springs each October.

One of the festival’s biggest attractions is the variety of food. From two food courts to vendors throughout downtown and the Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden, visitors will find everything from smoky BBQ, handcrafted flatbread pizza, giant turkey legs, blooming onions, funnel cakes, apple dumplings, Amish donuts, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and fresh-cut fries to Greek, Thai, Jamaican, and other international favorites.

New this year, visitors can even enjoy authentic poutine alongside all the classic festival treats.

Admission to the Apple Butter Festival is free. Free shuttle service from designated parking areas makes getting to the festival easy, while additional parking is available in lots operated by civic organizations throughout downtown.

Hosted by the Berkeley Springs-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Apple Butter Festival is made possible through the support of hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, community organizations, and local businesses who come together each year to welcome visitors from near and far.

For the complete festival schedule, parking information, shuttle locations, and additional event details, visit BerkeleySpringsChamber.com, follow Apple Butter Festival WV on Facebook, or call the Berkeley Springs-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce at 304-258-3738.

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The Morgan County Commission held a Special Meeting on Wednesday, September 30 to accept the retirement/resignation of County Clerk Kim Nickles and lay out the steps to choose her replacement. They will be accepting applications now through October 16.

Nickles has been the Morgan County Clerk since she was sworn in on January 1, 2017. She’s worked in the clerk’s office for far longer, having served under former clerk Debbie Kesecker for…

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From the southern end of Morgan County to its northern part, in chairs, churches, studios, parks, and on trails, modern yoga is making a connection with residents and visitors.

Some people seek yoga for relief from stiffness, aches and pains, while others are in search of enlightenment or longevity.

All such gifts can be found in the 5,000-year-old tradition of yoga, which translates from Sanskrit, humankind’s oldest continuously used language, from the root word “yug,” which means to yoke or harness.

The act of “yoking” referred to the linking up of one’s lower consciousness with a higher one.

Over time, the word yoga has also been translated as “union” to refer not only the union between lower and high consciousness, but the union between mind and body.

Physical benefits of yoga include improved strength, balance, flexibility and circulation.

Mindfulness, or the vigilant practice of watching the mind and its activities, is a skill gained through yoga.

Regrets over the past or worries about the future can’t creep in when you’re fully focused on the present.

By paying attention to your breath and letting go of previous attachments and expectations, you can gain control over the perilous constructs of your mind through a sequence of postures in yoga class.

As in any endeavor, comparison is a waste of energy, and a destroyer of self-esteem. Start slowly, do what you can, and appreciate the moment.

Since you can’t become someone else, you might as well focus on becoming the best version of yourself.

Above all, consistency in yoga practice produces the best results for improving mind and body.

When choosing a yoga instructor, find someone who you admire in the way they move through the world, and think twice if anyone asks you to join a certain religion. Yoga is a philosophy, not a theology.

Mind-body connection

“When we think stressful thoughts, our body releases stress chemicals, like cortisol and adrenaline. This can have a negative impact on the physical body, especially if it is prolonged. When we think good or positive thoughts, our body releases chemical messengers of serotonin, endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine. These messengers help to reduce stress, ease pain and create lasting feelings of happiness and well-being,” said local yoga instructor Laura Falcon in an email.

Falcon teaches flow yoga, or “vinyasa,” in classes held at the Ice House and Berkeley Springs State Park, in rotation with other instructors and as weather allows.

Weekend yoga classes are free, sponsored by Travel Berkeley Springs on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m.

Falcon’s classes are mixed level, and each one is different.

Vinyasa, or “connecting movement,” is an ancient form of yoga rediscovered when its original scripts were found written on old palm leaves in India during the 1930s, redefining yoga for a modern age.

Often called flow yoga, or power yoga, popularized in the 1990s, vinyasa yoga connects movement from one posture to the next, focusing on breathing and alignment.

Falcon also volunteers to teach chair yoga at Morgan County Senior Center in Berkeley Springs on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Chair yoga classes at the senior center are free and there is no age restriction. There is some paperwork to fill out for liability reasons.

Nature, therapy and yoga

In southern Morgan County, Erin Harris-Smith, owner of Twilight Holistic Healing, teaches traditional yoga classes and offers yoga nature hikes for all ages and abilities.

Practicing yoga in nature combines the mind-body benefits of yoga with the restorative effects of being outdoors, creating a powerful synergy for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Smith is also a licensed mental health counselor specializing in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, play and art therapy, talk therapy, and the integration of nature into counseling sessions through hiking and hands-on interactions with her family’s farm animals.

Her traditional yoga classes and chair yoga classes are held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church on Valley Road the second Saturday of each month.

Chair yoga begins at 10 a.m. and traditional yoga starts at 11 a.m.  Each class is $5 and drop-ins are welcomed.

Anyone who would like more information, or to register for the next yoga and hiking event can find Twilight Holistic Healing on social media.

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