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Latest Stories

County Commission Returns To Work

Shepherd University Trims Services and Adjusts Academic Priorities

Police Officer Austin Simms of Shepherdstown Receives Award

Filing Window For Local Candidates To Run In 2024 Elections Is January 8 — 27

Chamber Musicians Bring Holiday Cheer

Happy Retreat Hosts Jazz Concert

Try Dancing — It’s Good For You

Hot Chocolate Competition Heats Up Downtown Charles Town

A New Twist On An Old Play In Shepherdstown

Witness The Winter Waterfowl

New High-Voltage Transmission Line Proposed To Cross Jefferson County

November 30 Deadline for Public Comment On Ranson Planning Map

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In Print

Economy & Environment

Witness The Winter Waterfowl

December, 2023 Tagged With: In Print Dec 2023, nature

D Pifer illustration

Thousands of ducks, geese, swans, and loons visit Jefferson County every year, stopping on the nearby Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.  Read the Full Story >>

New High-Voltage Transmission Line Proposed To Cross Jefferson County

December, 2023 Tagged With: electric grid, First Energy, In Print Dec 2023, PJM Interconnection, solar

Towers supporting high-voltage transmission lines in Kabletown (Jefferson County WV)

PJM is proposing to construct a new 500 kV transmission line through Jefferson County by 2027. The new line would be built alongside the existing 500 kV line. Read the Full Story >>

Comment On Air Permit Modification For Rockwool Factory In Ranson Due Oct 23

September, 2023 Tagged With: air pollution, In Print Oct 2023, Rockwool-Ranson, WVDEP

Rockwool - Ranson factory air emissions

The public can comment on WVDEP's proposed modifications for the Rockwool Ranson factory's air permit until October 23. Read the Full Story >>

Hammerhead Worm Has Odd Habits

August, 2023 Tagged With: nature

hammerhead worm. Photo credit: D. Pifer

Hammerhead flatworms, although recently touted as our latest alien threat, have been in the USA since 1891. Read the Full Story >>

Caterpillars With Eyes And Horns

July, 2023 Tagged With: In Print Aug 2023, nature

caterpillars

Hog caterpillar (left) and sphinx caterpillar (right). Photo by D. Pifer. Last summer I was lucky to find two amazing-looking sphinx moth caterpillars. They were feeding together on a Virginia creeper vine growing up the bricks next to our back door. My wife had been asking me to remove the creeper vine before its tendrils Read the Full Story >>

Comprehensive Plan Survey Open For Public Comment

July, 2023 Tagged With: economic development, In Print July 2023, Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan, Jefferson County Planning Commission, population growth

The general discussion at the June 5 session drilled down to identify specific concerns in these general areas. There was strong agreement among participants that natural beauty is a key asset of the county. Looking at the concern of growth and lack of infrastructure, participants suggested clustering development around existing urbanized areas of the county and a focus on improving the roads in those areas. Read the Full Story >>

Battle Between Kingbird and Hawk

July, 2023 Tagged With: birds, In Print July 2023, John James Audubon, kingbird

Yesterday a hawk flew overhead. It was a Cooper’s hawk carrying prey in its talons, probably headed towards its nest of hungry young in our neighbor’s woods. But it also looked as if something was riding on its back. As the hawk flew over our upper pasture and headed for the woods, a smaller bird flew off the hawk’s back and returned to our field. I recognized the white banded tail tip of a kingbird. Drama over — and enemy departed — the kingbird returned to the vicinity of its nest. Read the Full Story >>

Tending to the Herb Garden

July, 2023 Tagged With: herbalism, In Print July 2023, Sacred Roots, United Plant Savers

Hillary Banachowski, founder and owner of Sacred Roots in Shepherdstown, welcomes me to the land with bare feet and open arms. “This spring has been so weird!” she muses as sparse rain falls from a sunny sky. Banachowski has been an herb grower, educator, and steward on these beautiful 30-plus acres for seven years. Read the Full Story >>

Public Input Session for Comprehensive Plan Update On June 5

May, 2023 Tagged With: In Print June 2023, Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan, zoning

word cloud

What do you like about living in Jefferson County? What are your concerns about the community? These are the types of questions you’ll hear as the County’s planning team works on updating the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan.  Read the Full Story >>

Jefferson Orchards Requests Industrial Zoning Near Rockwool

May, 2023 Tagged With: In Print June 2023, Jefferson Orchards, Ranson Planning Commission, rockwool, zoning

A zoning change request in Ranson has prompted significant questions and concerns.  Read the Full Story >>

Downtown Emporium Nurtures Small Businesses

May, 2023 Tagged With: Cocina Plantosaurus, In Print May 2023, Missy Glascock, Needful Things, Needful Things Emporium

Needful Things Emporium storefront

The evolution of the Needful Things Emporium is a tale of savvy merchants with a penchant for regeneration and grit. Melissa Glascock (or Missy as she’s locally known) is the current owner of this longtime family enterprise. From the warm greetings from literally every customer who passed by during our interview, it’s obvious she’s an integral part of downtown Charles Town Read the Full Story >>

Saluting A Habitat Tree

May, 2023 Tagged With: In Print May 2023, wildlife habitat tree

It’s good for a tree’s overall health to remove dead branches. And falling limbs can be a true hazard. But there is great value in keeping a dead tree standing in a safe spot in your yard or property. My wife and I were thrilled to discover a big Kentucky Coffee tree growing next to our driveway when we moved here. As it began to leaf out, we sadly learned it was near the end of its life.  Read the Full Story >>

Tourism Growth Continues in West Virginia

May, 2023 Tagged With: economic development, In Print May 2023, Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, tourism

There’s a lot of hard work going on in West Virginia. But there’s also a lot of fun and play too. According to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, travel-related spending totaled $4.9 billion in 2021. That works out to just under 7 percent of the state’s “gross domestic product” (GDP). Read the Full Story >>

Agriculture at Home Program Promotes Local Products

April, 2023 Tagged With: agriculture, Charles Town Farmers Market, Farmers’ Market, In Print Apr 2023, Jefferson County Development Authority

Drive around Jefferson County and you will see evidence of agricultural production. But, where can you buy locally-grown and made products? Later this month a new program launches to help make it easier to find and buy such products. Read the Full Story >>

Windy Days are Important

April, 2023 Tagged With: In Print Apr 2023, nature

Looking out the kitchen window one morning last week, I thought it had started to snow. When I went out later, I saw that my “snowflakes” were really the fluffy seeds of sycamore trees.  Read the Full Story >>

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