• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Observer

Stories of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle

  • Home
  • Sightline Stories
    • Jefferson County Ambulance Services
    • School Construction In Jefferson County
    • Solar in Jefferson County
    • Remembering Hartstown
    • Waters of Jefferson County
    • 2022 Elections
    • Ambulances
  • Columnists
    • Editor’s Notes
    • Book Reviews
    • Nature
    • Environment
    • Education
    • Health & Wellness
    • Local History
    • Law
    • Government & Politics
    • A Little Time Away
  • Newsletter Sign-up

Primary Sidebar

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

In Print Apr 2022

Ambulance Proposal Raises Alarms — Inside the Fitch EMS Report

April, 2022 Tagged With: ambulance, Emergency Services Agency, EMS, In Print Apr 2022, Jefferson County Commission, Volunteer Fire Department

fire trucks at jefferson county commission meeting

Consultants' study recommends reductions in ambulance service, accuracy of data questioned. County Commission eager to proceed, citizens raise multiple concerns.  Read the Full Story >>

Ambulance Response Times Explained

April, 2022 Tagged With: ambulance, Emergency Services Agency, EMS, In Print Apr 2022, Jefferson County Commission, Volunteer Fire Department

The report from Fitch & Associates recommends the adoption of standards from CFAI (Commission on Fire Accreditation International). Following the “rural” standards, the report indicates that the "goal time" for EMS unit response (turnout + travel) would be 15 minutes (the "benchmark"). The same standard also indicates an acceptable time of 19 minutes, 42 seconds. Read the Full Story >>

Local Conversations About The Future

April, 2022 Tagged With: editor's note, In Print Apr 2022

lower taxes sign

Like a family we may squabble, but we also need to work together and tackle these problems, listening to the advice of experts, but also listening to the expertise of experience right here at home. Read the Full Story >>

School Board — How It Works, Why It Matters

April, 2022 Tagged With: elections, In Print Apr 2022, In Print Mar 2022, Jefferson County Board of Education, Jefferson County Schools, vote

Voters will elect 3 candidates to the Jefferson County Board of Education this year. Read more about how the School Board works. Read the Full Story >>

An Ordinary Person in a World Turned to War

April, 2022 Tagged With: book review, In Print Apr 2022, ukraine

and that Ukraine’s heritage is not distinct from Russia’s. Highlighting Ukraine’s rich literature is a clear way to counter this false narrative, and Serhiy Zhadan is one of the best writers in translation with whom to start. Read the Full Story >>

D.O. or M.D.? What’s the Difference?

April, 2022 Tagged With: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, In Print Apr 2022, primary care

Have you ever seen the initials “D.O.” after a doctor’s name? In my experience, many people are curious — what exactly is an Osteopathic Doctor? How is this any different from an M.D.? What can I expect when I am being treated by a D.O. versus an M.D.? All of these are fair questions. Read the Full Story >>

Meet the 2022 Candidates — Board of Education, Jefferson County

April, 2022 Tagged With: elections, In Print Apr 2022, In Print Mar 2022, Jefferson County Board of Education, Jefferson County Schools, vote

school bus

Voters will elect 3 candidates to the Jefferson County Board of Education this year. Read what the candidates are saying.  Read the Full Story >>

A Timeline of the Fitch EMS Report

April, 2022 Tagged With: ambulance, Emergency Services Agency, EMS, In Print Apr 2022, Jefferson County Commission, Volunteer Fire Department

Fitch & Associates is a consulting firm with many years of experience in assisting local governments in evaluating and improving both fire and emergency medical services. The County Commission contracted with Fitch in May of 2021 for a very limited review of the county’s EMS system — a basic analysis of ambulance response data. There Read the Full Story >>

Footer

Topics

  • Community
  • Economy & Environment
  • Education
  • Government
  • Public Health

Sightline Stories

  • Solar in Jefferson County
  • Remembering Hartstown

Columnists

  • WV Perspectives
  • Book Reviews
  • Nature
  • Environment
  • Education
  • Health & Wellness
  • Local History
  • Government & Politics

The Observer

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Connect With Us
  • Print Issues
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook

Copyright © 2023 WV Independent Observer LLC · Log in