Berkeley Lands $50M Drone Plant; EP Drought Deepens

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

A Defense Drone Maker Is Setting Up in Berkeley County.

On Monday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College that Helsing — a German defense-technology company — will make an initial $50 million investment to build advanced drone manufacturing in Berkeley County. When the Martinsburg-area facility is running, it's expected to produce up to 2,000 HX-2 strike drones a month and employ 60 full-time workers at an average salary of $125,000. Governor's Office.

Helsing is not a small player. The company has already delivered roughly 6,000 of its AI-enabled HX-2 drones to Ukraine's front lines, and the U.S. Army field-tested the system in Lithuania last month. The West Virginia announcement landed the same week Helsing raised $1.8 billion at an $18 billion valuation — one of Europe's largest startups. WV Public Broadcasting.

Morrisey credited West Virginia's “speed to build” for winning the deal over competing sites. For Berkeley County, it's another high-wage employer in a corridor that's been landing them — $125,000 sits well above the county's median household income.

Worth watching: exactly where the plant lands, when hiring starts, and whether a defense-manufacturing foothold pulls more of the industry into the Panhandle behind it.

Quick Hits

• Martinsburg's women's and children's shelter cut its hours. Community Networks, Inc. announced July 8 that funding shortfalls forced Bethany House — the area's only dedicated emergency shelter for women and children — to stop food service and drop to overnight-only hours (7 p.m.–7 a.m.), down from 24/7. The 40-year-old shelter's main grant came in at $110,493 for the year, below operating cost. Donations go through Community Networks. The Journal.

• Berkeley County is wrestling with data centers it can't say no to. At its July 9 meeting, the County Commission debated whether to voluntarily run incoming data-center projects — including one proposed by developer Penzance — through county planning review, even though House Bill 2014 gives siting authority to the state, not the county. No action was taken; Commissioner John Hardy floated writing the county's own “data center criteria” as a best-practices guide instead. The Journal.

• Opposition to a 765-kV power line is organizing across the Panhandle. The Valley North project — a roughly 260-mile Valley Link transmission line from Putnam County, WV to Frederick County, MD — has drawn mounting pushback at open houses in Jefferson and Berkeley counties, with residents citing farmland loss, property values, and the fact that much of the power would flow to Northern Virginia. Groups like Jefferson County VOLT have formed to fight it. WV MetroNews.

• Morgan County is now a federal drought-disaster area. Morgan is among 25 WV counties designated natural-disaster areas over ongoing drought, which opens USDA emergency farm loans for growers. State officials say the wider Eastern Panhandle remains in moderate drought despite recent rain, and are urging residents to prepare. PNN • WVPB.

• WVU Medicine will pay $4.17 million to settle a DEA case. The health system — which operates Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg and Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson — agreed to resolve allegations of Controlled Substances Act recordkeeping failures and unreported drug thefts over roughly seven years. The deal adds oversight, including security cameras at dispensing areas. WV Public Broadcasting.

• The state's tourism chief is stepping down. Chelsea Ruby, WV Tourism Secretary across three administrations and a visible champion of Eastern Panhandle destinations from Berkeley Springs to Harpers Ferry, is leaving for a new role. WV MetroNews.

• The Berkeley County Sheriff is warning about a jury-duty scam. Callers posing as deputies are telling residents they missed jury duty and owe a fine payable by kiosk, gift card, or online — it's a scam. BCSO says it will never call demanding payment over a warrant; report attempts at IC3.gov.

• A sixth rabid animal turned up in Berkeley County. A rabid skunk was found in Martinsburg — the county's sixth confirmed animal rabies case of 2026. It's peak season: keep pets vaccinated and give wildlife a wide berth. PNN.

• A boutique assisted-living home is opening in Shepherdstown. Songbird House — a roughly 10,000-square-foot residence on 7.5 acres at 1163 Gardners Ln., licensed for up to 16 residents — is soft-launching now, with a public open house Saturday, July 19, 1–3 p.m. Founder Sharon Hallinan, a Virginia-based developer, is running it as private-pay (about $7,200/month). Spirit of Jefferson.

• A stomach bug is spreading faster than usual statewide. West Virginia health officials are tracking a spike in cyclosporiasis — a parasite-driven intestinal illness usually traced to contaminated fresh produce — with confirmed cases up to 69 statewide as of mid-July, far above the handful typically seen in a full year. Wash produce well. WVPB.

Worth a Cheer

Good News From Around the Panhandle

• Jefferson County's sheriff is now a statewide leader. Sheriff Tom Hansen was elected President of the West Virginia Association of County Officials, which represents officials in all 55 counties. Hansen has been with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office since 1995 and sheriff since 2020. Jefferson County Commission.

• Eastern Panhandle schools are going geothermal. A WV Public Broadcasting segment highlighted the growing adoption of geothermal heating and cooling in EP schools — a quieter, cheaper-to-run system that's steadily gaining ground locally. WVPB.

• Paw Paw is having a national moment. Travel site Islands.com featured the tiny Morgan County town — “a charming town with a peculiar name” — spotlighting its history, outdoor recreation, and Potomac-side setting near the Maryland line. Islands.com.

• A Martinsburg teen took a seat at the commission table. Mercedes Custer, a member of the Martinsburg Boys & Girls Club, was recognized as Honorary Commissioner at the July 9 Berkeley County Commission meeting.

• Forty-five runners went the distance at Cacapon. The Cacapon 12-Hour Challenge sent trail runners looping Cacapon State Park from morning to night — a growing fixture on Morgan County's endurance-sports calendar. Morgan Messenger.

Schools & Families

• Back-to-school clothing vouchers open July 20. The WV Department of Human Services begins accepting applications July 20 for its school clothing allowance — worth flagging for EP families heading into the new year. WVPB.

• The state schools chief is touring the Eastern Panhandle. West Virginia's superintendent of schools is scheduled to visit Eastern Panhandle schools this summer — part of a statewide listening tour ahead of the new year. WVPB.

• Mountain Ridge Primary is getting a temporary campus. For 2026–27, the Berkeley County Board of Education approved a modular campus next to Mountain Ridge Middle School while the permanent building is finished. Falling Waters Elementary, meanwhile, heads into agency review this summer, with bids opening in September and construction expected in October. PNN.

On the Agenda

Jefferson County Commission, July 17: The commission meets on the third Thursday of the month. The agenda wasn't posted as of this week — we'll flag anything notable next issue.

Berkeley County threats case, July 16: Paul Butler, arrested July 7 after allegedly posting social-media threats against BCSO deputies, has a preliminary hearing the day this issue lands. PNN.

deSoto trial pushed to fall: The case against Berkeley County delegate-elect Joseph deSoto, arrested in December 2024, came off the July 21 docket as the defense pursues a mental-health evaluation. The next status hearing is set for October 13. PNN.

A $3 million sheriff's-office fraud case heads toward trial: Lisa French, one of two former Berkeley County Sheriff's Office employees indicted in June in an alleged scheme that drained more than $3 million from accounts held under the department's conservatorship, was arraigned July 8 and released pending trial. Jury selection is set for Sept. 1 in Martinsburg. WV MetroNews.

This Week & Upcoming

JUL

Contemporary American Theater Festival — Shepherdstown

Now through Aug 2 • Shepherdstown • Still running — the nationally known new-play festival, with five plays (four of them world premieres), is in its final weeks. Schedule & tickets.

JUL

Live Music Fridays — Downtown Martinsburg

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

JUL

Concert in the Park — Berkeley Springs State Park

5:30 p.m. • Berkeley Springs State Park, Morgan County • Free • The Morgan Arts Council's summer series runs every Saturday through August (rain site: The Ice House). Details.

JUL

Rick Springfield — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

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

JUL

Songbird House Open House — Shepherdstown

1–3 p.m. • 1163 Gardners Ln., Shepherdstown • Tour a new boutique assisted-living home (up to 16 residents) at its public open house. Spirit of Jefferson.

AUG

Appalachian Chamber Music Festival — Jefferson County

Aug 5–16 • Jefferson County • The festival's main concert series, “Metamorphosis,” plays venues across the county; tickets are on sale. Appalachian Chamber Music Festival.

AUG

Gabby Barrett — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

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

AUG

Richard Marx — Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

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

AUG

Morgan County Expo — Morgan County

Fairfax Street, Berkeley Springs • Livestock shows, carnival rides, and live music at the annual county expo. Discover Berkeley Springs.

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EP Digest — 2026.07.16