Area News
Property owners along proposed 522 bypass told of options
by Trish Rudder More than 60 people attended an information session last Thursday, August 29, to learn how the property acquisition process works and about the property owners’ rights regarding the proposed U.S. 522 Berkeley Springs Bypass to be constructed by the state’s Division of Highways (DOH). The event was held at the Ice House…
Read MoreLocal pollinator plots, monitoring part of monarch butterfly survey effort
by Kate Evans Some 75% of flowering plants and almost 75% of food crops depend on pollinators. The monarch butterfly and other butterflies, bees and pollinators are in danger from urban development, loss of farmland and habitat, climate change and the use of pesticides and weed killers that kill plants on which their larvae feed…
Read More911 fee doubled, officials consider more rule changes
by Kate Shunney Morgan County Commissioners will discuss today, Wednesday, September 4, whether they want to make further changes to the county’s E-911 fee ordinance. Commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday, August 21, to double the fee from $2.50 per month to $5.00 per month. The fee hasn’t been raised since 1998, when it was put…
Read MoreMan makes local stop in cross country trek for cancer awareness
by Geoff Fox Flynn Donoho has been riding across the United States since January 6, 2011 and has been to every state at least twice on a journey to raise funds for cancer research. He and his canine companion stopped in Hancock last Tuesday. Donoho, of California, is riding in support of raising funds for…
Read MoreThree die in crashes on U.S. 522
Local businessman killed in crash tied to road rage, suspect dies on scene by KATE SHUNNEY Two separate motor vehicle accidents within 36 hour of each other on U.S. 522 claimed the lives of three local men last week. Both collisions happened south of Berkeley Springs. A two-vehicle crash on Wednesday, August 21 claimed the…
Read MoreJudge dismisses suit by gas company to force access under rail-trail
by KATE SHUNNEY A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Columbia Gas in which the gas company argued it should have access to a right-of-way under the Western Maryland Rail Trail for a proposed natural gas pipeline. In January, Maryland officials on the Board of Public Works denied the gas company access to…
Read MoreBypass comments favored two lanes rather than four
by Trish Rudder The majority of the 35 public comments on the proposed U.S. 522 Berkeley Springs Bypass want the bypass to be reduced to two lanes instead of the four lanes as it is now designed. The comments are from the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways (DOH) workshop meeting on February…
Read MoreCDC reports 193 cases of severe lung illness tied to vaping
by Kate Evans Some 193 potential cases of severe lung illness associated with e-cigarette use and vaping have been reported by 22 states this year between June 28 and August 20, announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week. Cases have primarily been among adolescents and young adults. One death was reported…
Read MoreFriday morning accident claims local man
An early morning single vehicle accident on U.S. 522 south of Berkeley Springs claimed the life of a Morgan County man on Friday, August 23. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident. Sheriff K.C. Bohrer has identified the crash victim as Wesley Todd Mowery, 34. Deputy Luke Shambaugh and Lt. Seth Place are…
Read MoreUPDATED: Collision kills two Wednesday on U.S. 522, police identify victims
Thursday, 9 a.m. — Story updated with names of those killed in the accident. ————————————————————————————————- A two-vehicle crash on Wednesday, August 21 has claimed the lives of the drivers of the two vehicles, according to police. Sheriff K.C. Bohrer on Thursday morning identified the deceased as Richard N. Keefer, 53, of Buzzard Acres in Berkeley…
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