Tag: Hardy County

Businesses in Two W.Va. Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans

Some small businesses in two West Virginia counties are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans as a result of storms last year.

The U.S. Small Business Administration said the loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in Hardy and Pendleton counties.

The loans are available as a result of a drought disaster declaration by the agriculture secretary covering the effects of rain, flash flooding, flooding and hail that began April 15, 2018.

Kem Fleming of SBA’s Field Operations Center East says Hardy and Pendleton counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Virginia.

Applications may be made online or by calling (800) 659-2955, or (800) 877-8339 for the hearing impaired.

October 3, 1864: Confederate Raider McNeill Wounded in Va.

In the predawn hours of October 3, 1864, Confederate guerilla John “Hanse” McNeill led a raid near Mount Jackson, Virginia. After a quick exchange of fire with Union cavalry, McNeill collapsed from a gunshot wound. He would die five weeks later.

McNeill had formed his guerrilla force two years earlier—in September 1862. Operating out of the Moorefield area, McNeill’s Rangers launched raids on Union troops and camps. But, most significantly, they destroyed property belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Like most guerillas during the Civil War, McNeill’s Rangers were largely independent of the Confederate command.

Many similar groups, such as Quantrill’s Raiders, were often erratic and unlawful—so much so that the Confederate government banned them in early 1864. But, an exception was made for the guerrillas from Hardy County who had proven so effective. 

After McNeill’s death, his son Jesse led the rangers until the end of the war. Their most famous exploit occurred just two months before Appomattox. The rangers snuck into the town of Cumberland, Maryland, and kidnapped Union generals Benjamin Kelley and George Crook from their hotels—the crowning achievement of McNeill’s Rangers.

Disease Spread Prompts Deer Transport Restrictions

West Virginia officials have placed restrictions on the disposal and transport of deer carcasses in two more counties in response to a disease.

The state Division of Natural Resources says in a news release the restrictions start July 1 in Berkeley and Mineral counties. The restrictions are already in Hampshire, Hardy and Morgan counties.

The restrictions are designed to combat the spread of chronic wasting disease, which is concentrated in brains and spinal cords of infected deer. There are exceptions, including finished taxidermy mounts and meat that has been boned out.

The statement says the disease was found in two road-kill deer in Berkeley County and one sick deer in Mineral County.

The disease has been detected in nearly 350 deer since 2005, nearly all of them in Hampshire County.

Confederate Raider McNeill Wounded in Va.: October 3, 1864

In the predawn hours of October 3, 1864, Confederate guerilla John “Hanse” McNeill led a raid near Mount Jackson, Virginia. After a quick exchange of fire with Union cavalry, McNeill collapsed from a gunshot wound. He would die five weeks later.

McNeill had formed his guerrilla force two years earlier—in September 1862. Operating out of the Moorefield area, McNeill’s Rangers launched raids on Union troops and camps. But, most significantly, they destroyed property belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Like most guerillas during the Civil War, McNeill’s Rangers were largely independent of the Confederate command.

Many similar groups, such as Quantrill’s Raiders, were often erratic and unlawful—so much so that the Confederate government banned them in early 1864. But, an exception was made for the guerrillas from Hardy County who had proven so effective. 

After McNeill’s death, his son Jesse led the rangers until the end of the war. Their most famous exploit occurred just two months before Appomattox. The rangers snuck into the town of Cumberland, Maryland, and kidnapped Union generals Benjamin Kelley and George Crook from their hotels—the crowning achievement of McNeill’s Rangers.

Eastern Panhandle Author Shows Diversity in Coffee-Table Book Set

If you’re out-and-about West Virginia bookstores or gift shops this Christmas, you may come across a coffee-table book set titled, Panhandle Portraits: a Glimpse at the Diverse Residents of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.

The two-volume set features 77 portraits of people and groups in the 8 Eastern Panhandle counties – Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton.

Author & Photographer Katherine Cobb is originally from California, but 25 years ago, she followed a friend out to West Virginia and never left.

Cobb lives in Jefferson County and works as a columnist for the Martinsburg Journal. Two years ago, she published her first novel, and now Panhandle Portraits.

Statement from Katherine Cobb:

“I wanted to show the breadth and depth of West Virginians. We have such an interesting population, both people who have lived here for several generations and others who arrived at various junctures but who have made a significant contribution in some way,” said Cobb. “It’s also no secret West Virginians are often negatively stereotyped, and I find that frustrating. The people here are like anyone in any other state. I enjoyed putting something positive about our citizens into print, and putting something positive into the world, period. There’s so much negativity and tension this past year — this is something that will make people feel good when they open it up.”

Panhandle Portraits is available for purchase at select bookstores and gifts shops across the state. It is also available on Amazon.

W.Va. Education Officials Dispute Spending Totals

A report released Monday by NPR tracks the amount of money spent on each student across the country by county. But representatives of the West Virginia Department of Education say the data reported doesn’t add up in West Virginia.

NPR and the national publication Education Week attribute their spending numbers to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their map says in West Virginia, McDowell County spent the most at $14,000 per student in 2013. Jefferson County, according to the map, spent the least per pupil at around $8,000.

But Amy Willard, Executive Director of School Finance for the West Virginia Department of Education, says the numbers don’t match state spending records.

“The numbers that are reflected in this story do not agree to the data that we have,” she explained, “It says in the story that the data is adjusted for regional cost differences, and it appears there have been additional adjustments made, and we cannot speak as to what those adjustments are.”

Willard says the state Department of Education’s data shows Jefferson County spending over $11,000 per student in 2013, with Hardy County spending the least amount per pupil at $9,700.

County Boards of Education Per Pupil Expenditures for the 2012-2013 Year:


In both cases however, NPR’s data and the state Department of Education show McDowell County spending the most on its students. Willard says this in part has to do with the county receiving a considerable amount of federal funding to spend on education.

“Presumably due to the economic conditions in that county, they are receiving a higher amount of federal funding, which is driving up their overall per pupil expenditures. That appears to be the main reason for the higher expenditures in that county.”

According to the state Department of Education, Doddridge County is the only other county to spend over $14,000 on an individual student per year.

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