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Latest Stories

County Commission Returns To Work

Shepherd University Trims Services and Adjusts Academic Priorities

Police Officer Austin Simms of Shepherdstown Receives Award

Filing Window For Local Candidates To Run In 2024 Elections Is January 8 — 27

Chamber Musicians Bring Holiday Cheer

Happy Retreat Hosts Jazz Concert

Try Dancing — It’s Good For You

Hot Chocolate Competition Heats Up Downtown Charles Town

A New Twist On An Old Play In Shepherdstown

Witness The Winter Waterfowl

New High-Voltage Transmission Line Proposed To Cross Jefferson County

November 30 Deadline for Public Comment On Ranson Planning Map

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In Print

national parks

Visit Our Local Parks

June, 2022 Tagged With: America the Beautiful Park Pass, biking, hiking, In Print June 2022, national parks

With gasoline prices climbing, it makes more sense than ever to take advantage of nearby recreation options. Fortunately, there is no shortage of national wilderness areas and parks within a short drive from Jefferson County. And you can stretch your dollar even farther by taking advantage of discounted or free access passes from the National Park Service. Read the Full Story >>

Smithsonian to Honor Local Filmmaker, John Grabowska, with Retrospective

February, 2016 Tagged With: climate change, film, national parks, Smithsonian

Scientists propose naming a new epoch in time the Anthropocene—the Age of Man—dating from the time human activities began having global impacts on Earth. A mini-retrospective of films on that theme by local environmental filmmaker John Grabowska screened at the National Park Service Centennial Film Festival at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown on February 25.  Read the Full Story >>

Behind the Fire Line, Part II: Flames, Fatigue, and Following Orders

December, 2015 Tagged With: climate change, fire fighting, national parks

In the second installment of this two-part series, The Observer looks into what it's actually like to fight a major wildfire out West by speaking with two Jefferson County natives who make a living working with the National Park Service. Read the Full Story >>

Behind the Fire Line, Part I

November, 2015 Tagged With: climate change, fire fighting, national parks

In this two-part series, The Observer looks into what it's actually like to fight a major wildfire out West. We got inside the heads of two Jefferson County natives who make a living working with the National Park Service—but who also have to pick up and leave their lives as soon as they get the call to head out West and battle a monster fire. Read the Full Story >>

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