One hundred years ago, underneath the Old Opera House in Charles Town, locals and tourists danced the night away beside a crystal-clear lake inside a cavern filled with orchestral tones. Today, the Lakeland Caverns cave is quiet, all entries sealed off from the public. Read the Full Story >>
Charles Town & Ranson
Believing in the Community
For Libby Powell, it started with a carnival-type popcorn popper that her kids got her as present. Thinking it might be fun to repurpose the popper to roast coffee, Libby began to experiment a quarter cup of beans at a time. Read the Full Story >>
Perspectives from a Local Solar Professional
For the first article in this series, we invited Danny Chiotos to research and address some questions about the nature of the specific solar generation project that initiated the request for proposed zoning amendment ZTA 19-03. Read the Full Story >>
Solar in Jefferson County
With this post, The Observer introduces SIGHTLINE stories, in-depth explorations intended to engage and inform the community on key topics. Our first SIGHTLINE story explores the implications of large-scale solar development in Jefferson County. Read the Full Story >>
The Challenges and Hope of a Food Pantry
For community services organizations, the pandemic & economic crisis have forced drastic changes to operations and funding - at the same time they are called to meet needs on a scale they’ve never experienced. Read the Full Story >>
Medical Marijuana Loses Traction in Charleston
The West Virginia Legislature passed a bill three years ago legalizing the use of medical marijuana. But that law has never really taken effect. Read the Full Story >>
How Will We Vote During Corona?
Given the current COVID-19 situation across the country, a recent press release from Washington Monthly stated: The 2020 election is at risk. Short of significant reform, voter participation is expected to plummet. Read the Full Story >>
CEG Receives $500K Grant to Bolster HIV Fight in West Virginia
A new $500,000 grant will support CEG’s efforts to improve HIV prevention, testing, screening, and treatment in the state. Read the Full Story >>
And That Works for Me
The July 2020 issue marks a change in ownership of The Observer from Mike Chalmers to Steve Pearson as Editor in Chief & Harriet Pearson as Publisher. Read the Full Story >>
Country Roads Not Friendly to Rockwool
The Rockwool factory in Ranson has been encountering some rocky roads as of late and the fight to keep them from their final destination continues. Read the Full Story >>
COVID-19 Vaccines & Testing
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 is the “everbridge system” and replaces all of the county-specific registration systems. Even if you put your name on a county waitlist, you should register in the state Read the Full Story >>
Big Manufacturers Want a Big Property Tax Break
Once again, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) is coming to the Legislature with a proposal to give large manufacturers and mining companies a property tax break. Read the Full Story >>
A Panhandle Adventure and So Much More
While some people enjoy exploring new places on their own, they can sometimes miss the special things that locals know about. On the other hand, many people just dislike the hassle of making schedules and itineraries, preferring to let someone else do the work. And some locals are so busy with their daily routines that they miss things that are right in their own back yards. To that end, Hike Adventures is a new business headquartered in Harpers Ferry (WV) offering locals and visitors alike something beyond a hike. Read the Full Story >>
Clean Drinking Water Bill to be Introduced
On December 16, several members of the House of Delegates, I included, held a press conference in Charleston at which we announced that we would be sponsoring a bill that would significantly improve drinking water protection. Read the Full Story >>
Food Delivery Lands in the Panhandle with DubvEatz
Have you ever had one of those days where everything went wrong at work, you got stuck in traffic, you’re exhausted, and when you step into your home, your family is staring back at you wondering what’s for dinner? Well, you’re in luck, because all you need to do now is visit the DubvEatz website or app and order any type of cuisine you prefer, and get it delivered right to your doorstep. Read the Full Story >>