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Latest Stories

Two Commissioners Refuse To Meet

Local Woman Plays For USA Team In Amputee Soccer Tournament

Shepherdstown Day Care Center Celebrates 50 Years

Imaginary Horribles – An Artist’s Perspective

Local Residents Will Perform “The Anvil” At Courthouse In October

Friends Of Music Presents Poulenc Trio In October

Halloween Fun In Jefferson County

Events & Activities – October 2023

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

Jefferson County Planning Commission Takes Comments On Future Land Use

The Emotional Benefits Of Fishing

Stall Tactics On Jefferson County Commission

Read all stories

In Print

Observer 2023-08 cover

Charles Town & Ranson

Walking Tour Of Black History In Charles Town

July, 2023 Tagged With: Black History, Charles Town, In Print Aug 2023

The City of Charles Town is supporting the launch of a new Charles Town African American History Audio Tour. Read the Full Story >>

Solar in Jefferson County

April, 2022 Tagged With: renewable energy, SIGHTLINE, SIGHTLINE INTRODUCES, solar, zoning

lines of solar panels that extend far into the distance which are part of a commercial solar array.

Jefferson County could be home to several large scale solar power projects - if the County can amend its zoning to permit these facilities. There has been much discussion, several amendments, and several lawsuits since this process began in 2020.  Read the Full Story >>

Locals Loving Cocina Plantosaurus in Charles Town

September, 2021 Tagged With: Cocina Plantosaurus, local restaurant, Puerto Rico

Window front of the new restaurant Cocina Plantosaurus in Charles Town.

Cocina Plantosaurus, at 216 West Washington Street in Charles Town, has gotten rave reviews from customers since it opened in July. The tastes are from Puerto Rico, the ingredients are from plants, and the smiles are everywhere. Read the Full Story >>

Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Launches New Event

July, 2021 Tagged With: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival, Katie Tertell

Katie Tertell plays a cello outside on the steps of a cabin in Harpers Ferry.

You can play almost anywhere with four people,” remarked Katie Tertell, artistic director and organizer of the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival. “You can be in an intimate space and the audience can be there with you. When I play informal house concerts, people say it’s such a different experience to be this close. Read the Full Story >>

Main Street America Recognizes Charles Town’s Recovery Efforts

July, 2021 Tagged With: Charles Town Now, COVID-19

A mural in Charles Town that incorporates the phrase "historically hip."

When the Governor issued the stay-at-home order closing restaurants and retail shops in March 2020, the organizers of Charles Town Now (CTN) moved quickly to implement a curbside takeout and gift card program. One year later CTN noted the anniversary with the slogan “One Year, Still Here.” The group’s plucky attitude helped earn Charles Town a second place award nationally in the American Express “Order In, Help Out Innovation Challenge. Read the Full Story >>

Construction Complete, Concerns Continue Over Rockwool

June, 2021 Tagged With: air pollution, groundwater, Jefferson County Foundation, karst geology, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), rockwool, stormwater, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, West Virginia Environmental Quality Board

Rockwool facility in Ranson, as viewed from the Black burial ground (Boyd Carter Memorial Cemetery) adjacent to the factory property.

According to the @ROCKWOOLRansonCommunity page on Facebook, the manufacturing facility will operate equipment in May to “run in” the factory, prior to beginning production operations in June. In an April 30 post, the company stated that “steam” will be visible from the chimney stack above the “wet electrostatic precipitator'' and a “plume” will be visible from the tall chimney Read the Full Story >>

Ranson Local Elections – June 1

May, 2021 Tagged With: city council, local election, mayor, Ranson, vote

Ranson local elections will take place on June 1.

In the upcoming June 1 election, Ranson residents will vote for Mayor and 2 City Council seats. The last day to register to vote in the election is May 11. Voters have multiple options for casting their vote - absentee, early in person, and in person on election day. Concern for COVID-19 exposure is a valid medical reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Read the Full Story >>

Charles Town Local Elections – May 27

May, 2021 Tagged With: Charles Town, city council, local election, mayor, vote

In the upcoming May 27 election, Charles Town residents will vote for Mayor and 5 City Council seats. The last day to register to vote in the election is May 6. Voters have multiple options for casting their vote - absentee, early in person, and in person on election day. Concern for COVID-19 exposure is a valid medical reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Read the Full Story >>

Rebuilding A Shopping Destination In Downtown Charles Town

April, 2021 Tagged With: Needful Things

Storefront of the needful things shop.

Melissa Glascock has long been a supporter of the downtown retail experience. With the end of the pandemic in sight, Glascock sees this as the perfect time to revitalize shopping in Charles Town though a reimagining of Needful Things.  Read the Full Story >>

Discover History At The Jefferson County Museum

April, 2021 Tagged With: Jefferson County Museum

The Jefferson County Museum is now open by appointment, Mondays through Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm. Read the Full Story >>

Volunteers Boost Efforts to Vaccinate Community

March, 2021 Tagged With: COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Terrence Reidy, Jefferson County Community Organizations in disaster, Jefferson County Health Department

Robyn Lance, a nurse practitioner, seated behind a folding table at a covid-19 vaccination clinic.

“We could not do this without these volunteers,” says Dr. Terrence Reidy, a sentiment echoed by everyone else working with the Jefferson County Health Department to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Ranson Civic Center.  Read the Full Story >>

COVID-19 Vaccines & Testing

March, 2021 Tagged With: CommunityImmunityWV, COVID-19, COVID-19 Resources, COVID-19 vaccine

Pre-Register for COVID-19 Vaccine All West Virginia residents over the age of 16 are encouraged to register with the West Virginia Vaccine Registration System (click here). This will help the state schedule the distribution of vaccines to each county as needed. As of March 22, all residents 16+ are eligible to receive a vaccine (ages Read the Full Story >>

Inkwells Tavern Reopens in Charles Town

February, 2021 Tagged With: Inkwells Tavern

Inkwells Tavern has reopened at 200 W. Washington Street in Charles Town and is serving old favorites plus Bolivar Bread and Rations Coffee. Read the Full Story >>

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Park Celebrates 50 Years

February, 2021 Tagged With: C&O Canal, C&O Canal Trust, Canal Town Partnership

The National Park, the C&O Canal Trust, and the Canal Towns Partnership representing the ten nearby towns along its western path are organizing various events and activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the park in 2021. Read the Full Story >>

Transportation Hub for the Eastern Panhandle

February, 2021 Tagged With: commuting, COVID-19, economic development, MARC train

Martinsburg’s Caperton Station

The question to ask is, “do you want to take advantage of economic development opportunities?” said Shane Farthing, Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Martinsburg. He suggested that if the city did not have a train station and “we did a study on how to improve the economy, we’d ask how great it would be to have a train station. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize the good things you already have.  Read the Full Story >>

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