If you had to bet on one, I would say Shepherdstown was probably founded first, simply because it's on an important thoroughfare connecting the Shenandoah Valley to the important Delaware ports, where a lot of European migrants, principally Scots Irish and German migrants, were arriving in the 18th century. So it's likely that these migrants arrived at the banks of the Potomac River in the valley before they arrived in the South Branch Valley. So it's likely that Shepherdstown was founded earlier.
High waters are creating dangerous conditions in southern West Virginia. Dispatchers say some residents are being evacuated.
Emergency dispatchers in Wyoming County say that the rainfall Wednesday morning caused a mudslide. One resident in Jesse told dispatchers that part of the mountain slid into their residence. Deputies are on scene evaluating the situation.
Several roads in Wyoming County including route 971 in front of Westside High School are closed. Students were not in class because board members made the proactive decision to cancel school Wednesday, anticipating high waters in the region.
Some roads are also closed in Raleigh County due to high waters including parts of Airport Road between the Mining Academy and the Raleigh County Airport. Traffic is being rerouting because dispatchers say parts of the road have caved in.
Dispatchers also say about 10 homes were evacuated from Violet Lane in Beaver because of rising waters.
Video by Mel Petrey, standing on the bridge by Beaver hardware in Raleigh County.
Some roads in Mercer County are also closed. McDowell County officials are currently out in the region to assess the damage while Summers County is reporting no issues at this time.
Dispatchers throughout the region are bracing for more flood conditions.
On this West Virginia Morning, Shepherdstown and Romney both lay claim to being the oldest town in West Virginia – but there’s some confusion as to which town is actually correct. Shepherd Snyder spoke to Appalachian historian and Shepherd University professor Benjamin Bankhurst about why the answer is more complicated than it appears.
On this West Virginia Morning, hundreds from close to home and around the nation attended the memorial service for slain West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard. Randy Yohe spoke with some of those who came to honor the life and legacy of a beloved trooper who was shot and killed in the line of duty last Friday.
With weather systems expected to hardly budge, the smoky blanket billowing across the U.S. and Canada from wildfires in Quebec and Nova Scotia should persist into Thursday and possibly the weekend.
