Kate Shunney

In a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Tommy Swaim objecting, the Morgan County Commission voted last week to replace long-time County Administrator Bill Clark.

Clark currently acts both as administrator and County Economic Development Director. He has held administrative positions in county government for 24 years.

Police have not yet pinpointed the identity of a body found in a Morgan County home following a house fire on Friday, December 11. Police don't suspect foul play in the death.

Hancock firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene of the fire at 1275 Jim West Road, shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday.

Despite an appeal from most of Morgan County's elected officials to protect a Wage & Review Board for county employees, the Morgan County Commissioners voted 2-1 to dissolve the board on December 10.

Commissioner Tommy Swaim voted against the move, saying he wanted to see the board function if the county employees were in favor of keeping it.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing in Berkeley Springs about a sewer permit for Coolfont's redevelopment on January 6.

After July 1, 2010, those who own land in Morgan County's 100-year floodplain won't be able to get a new well or septic permit for their property.

That rule was approved 3-0 at the December 2 meeting of the Morgan County Board of Health, following an hour-long public hearing.

While much of the focus has been on the cost to construct Morgan County's new $10 million courthouse, county officials are shifting gears and taking a stab at estimating how much it will cost the county to do business in the new building.

County Administrator Bill Clark met recently with the County Commissioners to lay out some of the decisions that lay ahead, regarding the move into the courthouse and utility and maintenance costs for the new building.

Every Friday morning, a small group of adults meets at the Headstart Center in Berkeley Springs to study math.

It's not something they do for fun, though there is plenty of laughing and joking going on.

When the State of West Virginia started paying unemployment benefits on a debit card instead of by check, Charles House thought the new system would make it easier for him to pay his bills while he attends Shepherd University and searches for another job.

House, 23, used to be a security guard for STS in Berkeley Springs, but was laid off a few months ago.

Lunar Herbs, a new herb and aromatherapy shop in Berkeley Springs, has opened at 51 Independence Street.

Owner Chesbet Edleblute makes nearly all of the products she sells — from creamy soothing skin lotion to invigorating bath salts.

As part of a comprehensive computer upgrade for the Morgan County Sheriff's Tax office, the county's property tax information will be available for view online by the end of the year, said Chief Tax Deputy Kim Michael.

The Morgan County Commissioners awarded a $43,000 contract to Software Systems, Inc. (SSI) of Morgantown to replace the tax office's IBM computer server, which has been in service since 1988. The price also included $12,500 to place county property tax records online.