Gov. Jim Justice has hired a former campaign staff member as his Regional Representative for West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle counties.
Martinsburg-native Summer Ratcliff will split her time between Martinsburg and Charleston and work as a Legislative Assistant during the state Legislative sessions, according to a press release.
After the session, Ratcliff will serve as a Regional Representative to Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, Mineral, Grant, Hardy, and Pendleton Counties.
Her role will be the primary point of contact for constituents in those counties and serve as a direct line to the governor.
The press release states she will assist local governments, organizations, and residents who want to communicate with the governor’s office and state government as a whole.
Ratcliff is a graduate of West Virginia University, and has spent her career in public service and politics.
Nov. 30 was the deadline for West Virginia to provide $2.3 million to the Maryland Department of Transportation to keep the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) at its current service. Otherwise, the service in West Virginia would be reduced from six trains per weekday to two.
But it’s unclear if an agreement was reached.
In an emailed statement to West Virginia Public Broadcasting, the Maryland Transit Administration said that MARC is still operating normally in West Virginia, and they would not “implement any change in service without first issuing a 30-day notice.”
The MTA also stated that they remain open to discussions with the West Virginia Rail Authority on “any concerns regarding the proposed service change.”
During the 2019 state Legislative session, Maryland requested $3.4 million to keep the MARC service in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, and the Legislature agreed to fund $1.1 million. In August, Maryland announced they would reduce service unless the remaining amount was paid.
In October, Gov. Jim Justice told local municipalities in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties that if they managed to come up with $300,000, his office would fund the remaining $2 million. But, only about $260,000 was pulled together before the Nov. 30 deadline.
The Governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment before this story was published.
In Morgan County, the Economic Development Authority approved a resolution last week asking Maryland to extend MARC service into Morgan County as a possible funding solution.
The Morgan County EDA cited increased ridership opportunities, increased revenues and increased job opportunities as a few of the benefits of expansion.
Executive Director Daryl Cowles, who’s also a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, said they haven’t received a response from Maryland or Gov. Justice on this proposal.
Currently, the MARC train only serves two counties in West Virginia: Berkeley and Jefferson.
Today, at least 250 West Virginians commute to work using the MARC train during the week, according to the Maryland Transit Administration. It’s been serving West Virginia commuters living in the Eastern Panhandle since the 1970s, but West Virginia has largely never paid for the service except through tickets and upkeep of its West Virginia stations.
On June 7, 1926, a crew mining for sand in Morgan County was preparing an explosion when a spark set off what the Berkeley Glass Sand Company maintained was dynamite. Others, though, claimed it was more dangerous black powder. Six men were killed.
Their deaths inspired John Unger, a local blind singer, to write the ballad “The Miner’s Doom,” which was recorded in 1927 by early country music star Vernon Dalhart.
Sand mining first became a major industry in Morgan County after the Civil War due to the purity of the region’s silica sand, which was used to manufacture glass. In 1893, Henry Harrison Hunter of Berkeley Springs won a blue ribbon at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago for the quality of his sand.
The industry’s modern era began in 1929, when the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation built the largest and most advanced silica facility of its time.
Today, the Berkeley Springs plant is the core of the U.S. Silica Corporation, which has 21 locations across the country and employs about 200 at the Berkeley Springs mine, processing plant, and laboratory.
Gov. Jim Justice’s office made two announcements Friday all related to infrastructure in the Eastern Panhandle.
Gov. Justice was in Morgan County for a ground-breaking ceremony for major improvements at Cacapon Resort State Park.
The project will receive more than $25 million and is expected to bring upgrades to Cacapon Resort and provide additional attractions for visitors in the Eastern Panhandle, according to a news release.
Justice said awards like these for West Virginia’s parks will boost tourism and attract vacationers.
“Our parks are some of the most beautiful places in the world you’ll ever see, and I am following through on my promise to update and improve our parks to make them more attractive,” said Justice. “These improvements will make Cacapon an even more attractive vacation destination in the Eastern Panhandle and bring more tourism dollars to West Virginia.”
Projects include 78 additional guest rooms, a dining room, a lounge, a spa and an indoor pool at Cacapon Lodge. Existing facilities will also receive major upgrades, including remodeling each existing guest room, creating new conference space, renovating the lobby and upgrading utility and electrical equipment.
Construction is already underway and is being performed by Paramount Builders of Saint Albans. Work is expected to be completed by 2020. The project is being funded by bonds financed with excess lottery revenue.
Also, on Friday, Justice announced state and federal grants to improve transportation alternatives and recreational trails in the Eastern Panhandle region.
Corporation of Harpers Ferry: Harpers Ferry High Street Improvement Project is being recommended for $320,000 in federal funding. This is for the construction of two blocks of replacement sidewalk within the business district of Harpers Ferry. The total project cost is $400,000.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Loudoun Heights A.T. Relocation is being recommended for $40,000 in federal funding. This is to construct approximately 1,540 linear feet of new trail along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail outside the Town of Harpers Ferry. The total project cost is $50,000.
Town of Bath: Town of Bath/Berkeley Springs Streetscape is being recommended for $380,000 in federal funding. This is for the construction of a walkable complete streetscape plan including sidewalks, curbs, landscaping elements, lighting and pedestrian amenities within the main 6 block core business area in the Town of Bath. The total project cost is $475,000.
Town of Bath: Berkeley Springs State Park Improvements is being recommended for $300,800 in federal funds. This is for the construction of walkways and bridges in the Town of Bath within the Berkeley Springs State Park. The total project cost is $376,000.
The West Virginia Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program is administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and funded by the Federal Highway Administration.
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.
Governor Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for a handful of counties in the Eastern Panhandle this weekend due to flooding from heavy rainfall.
Credit The Morgan Messenger / Courtesy Photo
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Bevans Industrial Lane in Paw Paw, Morgan County has collapsed. Photo taken June 3, 2018.
Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, and Pendleton counties are under the state of emergency.
Severe storms hit parts of the region on Saturday and brought with it flash flooding and high waters in some areas.
Morgan and Hampshire Counties were hit the hardest, seeing 6 to 8 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 30 roads were closed in Morgan County and several sections of road have been damaged or washed out.
Stefanie Allemong is the Acting Director of the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency. She says there were 14 swiftwater rescues on Sunday – either out of vehicles or from homes, but no injuries were reported.
Credit The Morgan Messenger / Courtesy Photo
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Courtesy Photo
Bridge and construction equipment underwater on River Road in northeastern Morgan County. Sleepy Creek is backed up where it runs into the Potomac River. Photo taken on June 4, 2018.
She says most of the water began to recede on Monday, and most roads in the county have reopened.
“So basically, we’re looking at mostly road damage and debris cleanup and some bridges and culvert damage,” she said.
The extent of damages or estimated cleanup costs is still being determined by emergency officials.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has declared a state of emergency in eight counties for flooding from heavy rains.
The governor’s office says in a news release that some emergency evacuations were underway Sunday following severe storms.
The declaration is for Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties. It allows the use of state assets and directs the West Virginia State Police and the Army National Guard to help hard-hit areas.
The National Weather Service says moderate flooding is forecast along the South Branch of the Potomac River, which is expected to crest nearly 5 feet above flood stage by Sunday night.
It says minor flooding is occurring near the Cacapon River, which is expected to crest about 5 feet above flood stage. Minor flooding also is forecast along the Potomac River at Paw Paw.
