Mike Chalmers, Author at The Observer

A Deep-Dive Into Anger, Abuse, and Resurrection with Debut Author Timothy J. Hillegonds

October 5, 2019

A Chicago native, author Timothy J. Hillegonds stepped foot in Shepherdstown for the first time in 2012, and found himself smitten from the start. Seven years later, he readily calls Shepherdstown his second ho...

American Overdose

Mike Chalmers

August 17, 2019

Drugs & Addiction

— Drop what you’re doing and read this book. Back in December (2018), Observer contributor Gonzalo Baeza reviewed award-winning journalist Beth Macy’s book Dopesick, in what he described as a “… timely, in-d...

Behind the Scenes with CATF 2019

Mike Chalmers

July 8, 2019

Community, Society

Entering its 28th year, Shepherdstown’s renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) runs from July 5-28 and comprises six new plays by American playwrights—spotlighting contemporary issues that both ...

Debut Writers Conference Geared Towards Authors at Every Level

Mike Chalmers

July 4, 2019

Education, Writing

On Friday and Saturday, September 6-7, Shepherd University will host the first-of-its-kind “From Manuscript to Marketplace” writers conference, designed to deliver success strategies and insider advice for writ...

JCPS Responds to Rise in Special Education Needs with New Student Support Center

Mike Chalmers

June 17, 2019

Features

In April, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) announced in a press release that, due to a significant increase in both the number of students and the level of student needs served in the past decade—particul...

Drug Take Back Day Gets an Upgrade in Shepherdstown

Mike Chalmers

April 7, 2019

Drugs & Addiction

Across the U.S. every year, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day lands in cities and towns with the goal of providing a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while als...

Martinsburg High School’s Grant Harman Simply Won’t Be Denied

Mike Chalmers

March 1, 2019

Features, Sports

Say the name Grant Harman pretty much anywhere in the Panhandle, and those who follow sports, and many others, will not only know the name, but will likely have more than a few adulatory things to say about the...

Shepherdstown Debates the Emergence of Transient Lodging

Mike Chalmers

January 8, 2019

Features, Society

Arguably the oldest town in West Virginia, Shepherdstown remains surprisingly on trend within an assortment of social, political, and even municipal categories. Which is why it should come as no surprise to lea...

Tyson Bagent’s Record-Setting First Season at Shepherd

Mike Chalmers

November 30, 2018

Features, Sports

This time last year, we put Tyson Bagent on the cover in recognition of his inspiring achievements as Martinsburg High School’s starting quarterback, which had culminated in a second straight state title and un...

You’re Either on Team Recovery or You’re Not

Mike Chalmers

November 5, 2018

Drugs & Addiction

Some of the most recent opioid numbers reveal approximately 72,000 yearly drug overdose deaths in the U.S. (2017)—around 30,000 of those directly related to opioids. Depending on the study, and particularly, th...

Author Mike Chalmers