Commuters experienced significant delays traveling through the intersection of Route 9 and Harpers Ferry Road in Loudoun County and across the Rumsey Bridge leading into Shepherdstown during the first week of the Route 340 rockslide remediation project. Read the Full Story >>
Staff Contributor
Childcare Options Needed In Jefferson County
The Jefferson County Development Authority estimates that more than 1,600 families in Jefferson County have an unmet need for licensed child care. Read the Full Story >>
Appalachian Heritage Festival At Shepherd University To Highlight Family And Community
The 2023 Appalachian Heritage Festival will be held on September 23 at various locations on the Shepherd University campus. Read the Full Story >>
School Attendance Matters For Academic Skills
Jefferson County Schools has designated September as “attendance awareness month” — an early emphasis intended to establish strong attendance patterns. Read the Full Story >>
Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Receives $2.5 Million In Funding
Supporters of the Shepherdstown Battle Field Preservation Association gathered to celebrate many successes over 19 years of hard work. Read the Full Story >>
Expanded Services at New Shepherdstown Library
With the successful launch of the new building, the Shepherdstown Public Library has also initiated a leadership transition. Director Hali Taylor, who has worked at the library for 33 years, and development director Lee Ann Warner have both announced their retirements. Read the Full Story >>
Developer Seeks Increased Housing Density For Harvest Hills Subdivision
Arcadia Development Co, developer of the Harvest Hills subdivision is requesting a zoning change from rural to residential growth, which would allow for higher density of housing on the site. Read the Full Story >>
New Book Festival In Shepherdstown Hosts Regional & National Authors
The inaugural Shepherdstown Book Festival, which runs from September 15 through 17, will host three days of events, all revolving around the love of books and writing. Read the Full Story >>
2023 Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Notes Places That Inspire
This year’s Appalachian Chamber Music Festival will feature sixteen musicians in twelve performances taking place between August 17 and 27. Read the Full Story >>
Walking Tour Of Black History In Charles Town
The City of Charles Town is supporting the launch of a new Charles Town African American History Audio Tour. Read the Full Story >>
Art Gallery Fundraiser for Animal Welfare Society
The Bridge Gallery in Shepherdstown will host a charity bazaar on August 12 & 13 to benefit the Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County. Read the Full Story >>
Planning Commission To Collect Input From Residents At County Fair
The Jefferson County Planning Commissioners and staff will be hosting a booth at the Jefferson County Fair. Read the Full Story >>
Hill Top House Hotel In Harpers Ferry Seeks Special Tax District
The Hill Top House Hotel project is seeking a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District for its 9 acre property in Harpers Ferry. Read the Full Story >>
New Superintendent For Jefferson County Schools
William "Chuck" Bishop steps into the role of Superintendent for Jefferson County Schools on July 1. The Board of Education voted on May 24 to hire Dr. Bishop from a pool of 17 applicants to replace the outgoing superintendent, Bondy Gibson-Learn, who resigned on short notice earlier this year. Bishop earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Virginia Tech and his Master's and Doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Virginia and has thirty years of experience in K-12 education. The Observer spoke with Dr. Bishop as he was preparing to start his new role. Read the Full Story >>
Comprehensive Plan Survey Open For Public Comment
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 >>