Jefferson County is a busy place these days with many festivals and lots of new housing on the way. Read the Full Story >>
Editor's Notes
A collection of Editor’s notes from the monthly print issues of the WV Independent Observer.
Republican Party Divison Stalls County Government
Following the removal of Tricia Jackson and Jennifer Krouse on May 1, the Jefferson County Commission will operate with only 3 commissioners. Read the Full Story >>
Things Are Heating Up In Jefferson County
It feels like everything runs a bit faster these days, which is why local residents cherish the bucolic spaces that are still here in Jefferson County. Read the Full Story >>
Wrestling With The County Budget
Jefferson County Commissioners balance budget for fiscal year 2025 with no pay raises for employees. Read the Full Story >>
Concerns About Preserving Farmland
The farmland protection effort is not just about keeping the land bucolic — it’s about preserving farming as an activity. Read the Full Story >>
The Road Ahead For Jefferson County
Route 340 is finally being widened south of Charles Town (below) and the construction of new homes continues to tick up dramatically. There is still a lot of open space and active farmland in the county, but many residents have concerns. Read the Full Story >>
Jefferson County Commission Has A Backlog Of Unfinished Business
The agendas for the next few meetings will likely be contentious, as the Commission addresses some of the complex issues left unresolved over the past few months. Read the Full Story >>
Salute To Veterans
The Navy Sea Chanters include a salute to veterans of all of the United States uniformed services in their public shows, a joyful recognition of those who have served. Read the Full Story >>
Stall Tactics On Jefferson County Commission
Jefferson County Commissioners Jackson and Krouse block routine county operations over political conflict. Read the Full Story >>
Making Connections To Overcome Roadblocks
A lot of what makes local government work is listening to what’s on people's minds and connecting to the right resources to solve problems. Read the Full Story >>
Hold On Tight!
Some carnival rides don’t look too scary when they’re not moving. The one above is just a bunch of swings that go around in a circle like a merry-go-round, right? But wait till it picks up speed — then it’s time to hold on tight! Read the Full Story >>
Moving Around Jefferson County
The Board of Education kept to its timetable of appointing a new Superintendent, who starts on July 1. He inherits some big holes from his departing predecessor — literally in terms of the two elementary school construction projects, one of which has yet to even go to bid despite the hoopla of a ground-breaking ceremony over a year ago. The twin challenges of retaining & recruiting staff and addressing the fall-off in student achievement are arguably even more complex. All of these issues will no doubt be topics for the School Board election next May. Read the Full Story >>
Changes Underway in Jefferson County
A lot of the articles in the June 2023 issue touch on change (we didn’t plan it that way, it just happened — a sign of the times). Read the Full Story >>
Creating Connections in Our Community
The word angel was used more than once. Even if you had never met Sara Lueck, you could feel her kindness and positivity in the tributes offered during a recent vigil. She made a career as a librarian at Jefferson County Schools and a vocation of serving the community. And those connections live on. Read the Full Story >>
Spring Brings Growth
First it’s the daffodils. Then it’s the forsythia. The wind still blows cold, but springtime is in the air. Doug Pifer explains that some of the haze we see around this time is quite natural — just trees doing what trees do. Local garden club leaders have been eager for spring too. For some, it’s been a four-year wait to stage their annual home and garden tour. It’s quite a show, and it raises money for beautification projects around the Eastern Panhandle. Read the Full Story >>