Kate Shunney

It's a remarkable year to be learning the basic principles of economics. Many adults are getting a short-course in it, while local high school students are studying the subject in earnest.

Berkeley Springs High School juniors and seniors in Ron Bittinger's Economics class are getting a close-up view of rising costs, market shifts and consumer spending habits as they collectively run a company they created last fall.

Stubborn winter weather two weeks ago pushed Morgan County's school calendar off track, driving the number of snow days past the four already built in to the academic schedule.

So far this year, local schools have closed six days (seven in Paw Paw) because of bad weather or hazardous road conditions.

A plea hearing for Michael Hofe, an investment counselor accused of embezzlement, has been delayed until April 6.

Circuit Judge Gina Groh cited concerns that Hofe's multiple Hampshire County embezzlement convictions and sentence were still being challenged there.

Sophomore Aaron Stangle wasn't too hung up on the political implications of January 19. Instead, the Paw Paw student was just thinking about warming his hands enough to play his drums for Governor Manchin's Inaugural Parade.

Temperatures at the State Capitol barely reached 30 degrees on that morning, and nearly an inch of snow covered everything in Charleston.

For many local radio listeners, Mike Fagan's gravelly voice has been part of their daily routines for years – filling them in on the morning weather and news, providing live local sports coverage, and cracking jokes during breaks in the workday.

But after 18 years as a DJ and announcer at WDHC, Fagan has stepped away from his microphone and is pursuing his dream of being a teacher. His last day on the air was Friday, January 9, just two days before he moved to the Virginia Beach area.

Acting quickly on warrants issued Wednesday, January 7 by Circuit Judge Gina Groh, the Morgan County Sheriff's Department arrested eight county residents that evening for a variety of drug offenses. Police pulled the suspects into custody from 5 p.m. until nearly midnight, then bussed the group to the Eastern Regional Jail.

The arrests were the culmination of Operation Done Deal, a five-month drug sting conducted by area police, said Sheriff Vince Shambaugh.

Both of Morgan County's high school marching bands will take to the pavement at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 19 in Charleston to help Governor Joe Manchin celebrate his second inauguration.

The theme of events surrounding Manchin's inauguration is "Celebrating the Journey," which mirrors the feelings of our local bandleaders as they prepare students to represent Morgan County in Charleston.

For those Morgan County residents who have some form of health insurance coverage, their policies often leave a gap that can be tough to fill.

Rick Jenkinson doesn't have gripes about his health care, which is provided completely by the Veteran's Health Administration.

Cars and trucks were lined up to mark the opening of Morgan Count's permanent recycling center on Monday, December 15.

Following a grand opening ceremony to dedicate the center to long-time recycling volunteer Charles Biggs, a line of vehicles pulled up in front of trailers to unload plastic, glass, metals, newspaper and cardboard for recycling.

With a committed and talented group of singers in the Berkeley Springs High School Choir, director Kathy Seager has high hopes for the second half of the school year.

On the list of activities are the state choir auditions, a solo/ensemble festival at Shepherd University, a traditional spring concert and maybe a choral festival in the Williamsburg, Va. area.