Berkeley Opens First Civil War Park; Utility Rate Hearing

EP Digest — Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia

Welcome back to EP Digest. Every Thursday morning, the best local news, events, and happenings from Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties — tailored to what you actually care about. No doom-scrolling, no algorithm. Just the stuff that matters in the Eastern Panhandle. Let's get into it.

The Lead

Berkeley County Opens Its First Civil War Park.

On July 2, Berkeley County dedicated Hoke's Run Battlefield Park in the Falling Waters area — the county's first Civil War battlefield park. The date was chosen deliberately: it marked the 165th anniversary of the Battle of Hoke's Run, fought July 2, 1861 — the first Civil War battle in the Shenandoah Valley. Berkeley County.

The park was built with private money — more than $200,000, including a $125,000 gift from Macy's for the pavilion — and pulled together by five partners: the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, the County Commission, the Board of Education, the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board, and the Falling Waters Battlefield Association. On the ground now: interpretive signage, a recreation trail, a pavilion, and restrooms.

County Commission VP Steve Catlett called the dedication “the fulfillment of a promise to our community.” SVBF CEO Keven Walker put the county's place in plainer terms: “Berkeley County is the northern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley.”

Worth watching: the county is pursuing a congressional designation to add Berkeley County to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District — a step that would open the door to more preservation dollars down the road. For now, it's a new place to walk, and a piece of local history finally marked on the map.

Quick Hits

• The Potomac Edison rate hearing is today. The Public Service Commission holds its evidentiary hearing on Potomac Edison's proposed increases at 9:30 a.m. this morning in Charleston. If approved, a typical residential bill rises about 3% on Aug. 1 and again in mid-2027. You can weigh in without leaving home — file a public comment via the PSC website. Bigger picture: WV electric bills are up roughly 50% over the past decade.

• Jefferson County is hiring eight new firefighters. The County Commission approved the positions to close a staffing gap in county fire and emergency services — a rare direct investment in career firefighting for a system that has long leaned on volunteers. The Journal.

• The HOPE Scholarship cracked down on two schools. The state permanently disqualified one private school — Tygart Valley Christian Academy in Randolph County — for financial misconduct, and placed another, Laurel Academy in Preston County, on probation for rule violations. Neither is in the Eastern Panhandle, but with 26,000+ WV students in the program (including EP families using it for private school or homeschooling), it signals the Treasurer's office is watching how the money is spent. WV Public Broadcasting.

• Kroger is buying Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion. The grocery giant announced plans to acquire the regional chain in a deal that could reshape supermarket competition across the Mid-Atlantic. Kroger already operates in Martinsburg, so it's worth watching how the merger plays out locally. WV MetroNews.

• Our Maryland neighbors hit pause on data centers. Washington County, MD — just across the line from Berkeley County — voted 4–1 to impose a one-year moratorium on data center applications while it writes zoning rules. A notable contrast as data centers keep surfacing on the WV side, from Bedington to Summit Point. PNN.

• The Route 522 bypass is ahead of schedule. WVDOH says the northern half of the U.S. 522 Bypass in Morgan County is on track for its October 2027 target — and “may very well beat it.” Paving is underway, with a T-intersection planned at the northern tie-in. Morgan Messenger.

• Corridor H's final leg just got a builder. The WV Division of Highways awarded Triton Construction an $85.4 million contract for the first 3.74-mile section of Corridor H from Wardensville to the Virginia line — twin bridges at Trout Run, plus grading and paving. It's the first of four contracts to close the last 6.8-mile gap in the decades-long highway. Morgan County drivers who take Route 55 into Virginia have a stake in this one. WV MetroNews.

• A new mental-health clinic opened in Martinsburg. Bloom Health Centers — one of the region's larger mental-health practices — opened a Martinsburg location at 115 Aikens Center, offering psychiatry, therapy, medication management, TMS, and telehealth. Same-day services and most major insurance accepted — a concrete addition in a region where mental-health access has been thin. The Journal.

Worth a Cheer

Good News From Around the Panhandle

• The Seely Foundation gave $280,000+ to Morgan County kids. The Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation granted more than a quarter-million dollars to 35-plus nonprofits serving Morgan County children — the Boys & Girls Club, Morgan County Schools, CASA of the Eastern Panhandle, the county library, and many more. That's part of a nearly 30-year run totaling over $2.7 million. Morgan Messenger.

• Berkeley County robotics kids won on a world stage. Two Berkeley County 4-H FIRST LEGO League teams brought home hardware — the LEGO League Ladies earned a Core Values award at the FIRST World Championship in Houston (160 teams from 65 countries), and LEGO Force took a Motivate finalist trophy at a regional event in Massachusetts. The Journal.

• Berkeley Springs' Kyle Moore made All-State baseball. The Berkeley Springs High junior earned All-State recognition after a standout season on the diamond — a strong close to his junior year, with a senior campaign still ahead. Morgan Messenger.

• Morgan County's photo contest crowned its winners. Nature's critters and mountain views topped this year's Morgan County Photo Contest. Kasey Perry took Best Landscape for “Dusk in the Valley,” shot from Panorama Overlook at sunset; Alan Meyer won Best Structure for a black-and-white of an old frame building on Independence Street. Morgan Messenger.

Around the Panhandle

• A forgotten Berkeley Springs church may get a second life. Mount Pisgah Church — a historically Black congregation founded in 1877, once known for hymns that carried through the neighborhood — sat unused for decades, serving mostly as a storage shed. Now, as the Town of Bath marks its 250th year, community leaders are working to preserve it, with talk of a small museum or interpretive exhibit on the African American families who helped shape Morgan County. WV Explorer.

• The Governor made two EP stops on July 4. Gov. Patrick Morrisey started Independence Day walking through Harpers Ferry, then joined a flag-raising at the Morgan County Courthouse in Bath, where Mayor Greg Schene welcomed him for the town's own 250th-birthday celebration. Part of a statewide America 250 tour. The Journal • Morgan Messenger.

• A southern-county food trailer beefed up its menu. Valley Munch — run by Debra Melson in the lot of Rock Gap Mercantile — added hot and cold subs, Reubens, and sandwiches, a welcome expansion in a corner of the county that's long been short on dining options. Morgan Messenger.

• Morgan County's school board has a new member. Pam Hessler was sworn in to the Morgan County Board of Education on July 1 after winning her seat in May; two other members took the oath for new terms. Morgan Messenger.

This Week & Upcoming

JUL

CATF Opening Weekend — Contemporary American Theater Festival

July 10 – August 2 • Shepherdstown • The nationally known new-play festival opens its season with five plays, four of them world premieres. Schedule & tickets.

JUL

Live Music Fridays — Downtown Martinsburg

6–8 p.m. (happy hour 5–6 p.m.) • The Town Square • Free • Every Friday in July (10, 17, 24, 31). Main Street Martinsburg.

JUL

Storyteller Mick Souter: “All Aboard the Iron Horse” — Cacapon State Park

7 p.m. • North Patio, Cacapon State Park, Morgan County • Free • Railroad songs and stories from WV performer Mick Souter. Morgan Messenger.

JUL

Bluegrass & Barbeque — Orr's Farm Market

2–5 p.m. • Orr's Farm Market, Martinsburg • Live bluegrass, BBQ from The Truck Stop, cornhole, fresh lemonade. Second Saturdays through October. Details.

JUL

Dusty Slay: The Neighborhood Guy Tour — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

8 p.m. • The Event Center, Charles Town • 21+ • Stand-up comedy. Tickets & info.

JUL

South Morgan Fireman's Carnival — South Morgan VFD

July 14–18 • Fire company grounds, Winchester Grade Road, Morgan County • Free entry • The 5th annual carnival — rides, food, nightly live music, and Friday fireworks. Morgan Messenger.

JUL

Rick Springfield — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

8 p.m. • The Event Center, Charles Town • 21+. Tickets & info.

AUG

Buddy Guy — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

8 p.m. • The Event Center, Charles Town • 21+ • The blues legend turns 90 this year. Tickets on sale now. Tickets & info.

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EP Digest — 2026.07.09