Area News
Town to seek up-front funding for Rail Trail & Streetscapes
by Trish Rudder The town and the state Department of Transportation’s Division of Highways (DOH) are working together on the proposed Rail Trail project and Streetscapes Phase 4A that encompasses Congress Street and one block on North Washington Street. But the DOH no longer allows the town to “pay as you go,” said Rail Trail…
Read MoreSeely Foundation gives $115K in grants to local youth organizations
by Kate Evans In their 22nd year of funding projects that benefit local children and youth, the Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation presented a total of $115,394 in 22 grant awards to 20 organizations serving Morgan County youth. Grants were presented at a June 13 annual awards ceremony. The Foundation was formed by the former…
Read MoreDOH says traffic light work near Widmyer to begin this summer
by Kate Evans Work on a new four-way traffic light at Myers Road on U.S. 522 near Widmyer Elementary is expected to start within the next few weeks, said West Virginia Division of Highways District 5 Construction Engineer Daniel Watts last Friday. The work consists of widening and foundation work for the traffic signal. P…
Read MoreNeighbors find missing man’s body after Friday search
A search effort for a Berkeley Springs man that was suspended after dark on Friday night came to end when neighbors found the man’s body on Cacapon Mountain late Friday night. According to Morgan County Sheriff K.C. Bohrer, police began searching for Carl Hillsman, 57, around 4 p.m. on Friday, June 28 after receiving a…
Read MoreCelebrating the Fourth
Local events are set for the 4th of July around Morgan County. Berkeley Springs The 2019 Fourth of July will be celebrated in Berkeley Springs with a free fireworks display on Wednesday, July 3 on Widmyer Elementary School grounds at dark. This year, vendors will sell sandwiches, drinks and funnel cakes in the school parking…
Read MoreRail Trail cleanup costs considered
by Trish Rudder Cleaning up the lot meant to be the public trailhead for the North Berkeley Rail Trail (NBRT) is moving forward. A portion of the North Berkeley Rail Trail (NBRT) known as “parcel 3” is being considered for brownfields cleanup by using EPA grant funding. The former rail yard by the Berkeley…
Read MoreSewer district asks Water Works to extend line
by Trish Rudder Sewer manager Scott Crunkleton of the Warm Springs Public Sewer District told the Bath Town Council on June 18 that since a sewer line extension on U.S. 522 to about the Morgan County Ball Field is being discussed, would the town want to extend the public water line as well. He said…
Read MoreCounty proposes higher 911 fee on landline phones
by Kate Shunney The Morgan County Commission will seek to raise the 911 fee on local telephone landlines from $2.50 per month to $5.00 per month on August 1. Commissioners voted on Wednesday, June 19 to move ahead with the legal process to raise the fee. That process involves advertising the intention to raise the…
Read MoreFire marshal offering reward for information about Berkeley Springs house fire
by Kate Evans An early morning house fire in Berkeley Springs on Wednesday, June 12 is being investigated by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office as a suspicious fire. Fire officials said Monday they are looking at the fire as being incendiary in nature, meaning they believe the fire was set. Berkeley Springs Volunteer…
Read MorePublic sewer board agrees to seek engineering advice about extension down U.S. 522
by Kate Shunney In response to a request from a “working group” made up of select county and state elected officials, members of the Warm Springs Public Service District board have agreed to seek the advice of an engineer about extending sewer lines south along U.S. 522. Daryl Cowles, the county’s Economic Development Authority director…
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