Funding issues debated by Jefferson County Commission

At the Thursday, April 9th meeting of the Jefferson County Commission the Jefferson County Clerk went before the county commission to ask them to reconsider there previous decision about the cuts made to the county clerks office in the 2009 budget. The Commissioners had cut the budget of the county clerks office by $48,000. Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer S. Maghan had said after the cuts were made that she would have to cut one full time position as well as a part time position. As soon as Maghan had made her request Commissioner Frances Morgan moved to table the request to reconsider the commissions decision on the cuts to the county clerks budget. The motion was seconded and with out discussion passed. It has been reported that Commission President Dale Manuel said that if the funding had been restored they would also have to restore other cuts made to the budget. In other Business before the Jefferson County Commission a debate about paying for an outside lawyer for the Planning commission was also brought up.
The Jefferson County Commission say they have questions about authorizing a payment for an outside attorney hired by the Planning Commission
The Planning Commission voted to take legal action to try to have a ruling by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals overturned. And hired an outside firm to handle the case. The county commissioners are aware that the Planning Commission wanted to hire a lawyer but thought that they would come before the county commission first. County commissioners said they had had hoped to have a chance to discuss their concerns about paying for the attorney's legal fees.
a meeting Must be arranged between the Planning Commission and the county commissioners to discuss paying for attorney fees until this happens there should be no action taken on paying for an outside lawyer. the county commission does not feel it should pay out any moneys. "At present,” Manuel said. I do not support authorizing payment for the legal fees associated with the case.”
Commissioner Patsy Noland said she also had questions about paying for the legal fees, "I'm opposed to paying for outside counsel, period," Noland said, pointing out that the county has attorneys on staff in the prosecutor's office who are capable of handling such issues.

A Challenge 100 miles 100 Days


100 miles in 100 days This was a challenge that Commissioner Lyn Widmyer made to her fellow commissioners during the County Commission meeting on April 9th. “I’d like to challanger my fellow commissioners as well as our staff to a 100 mile walk in 100 days,” she said. The 100miles in 100 days is a fitness program. The Jefferson County parks and Recreation Commission is also challenging residents to walk 100 miles in 100 days this summer. Walking just one mile a day between Memorial day and Labor Day will earn you a certificate to honor your completion of the 100 miles.. You will also receive a 30-day punch pass to use at the JCCC. According to the JCCC the program is designed to promote health and well being among the county residents. By using this program it is hoped that many county residents will incorporate exercise in their daily lives From May 30th to September 7th you may turn In your miles to JCCC to help keep track of your progress. To participate simply visit our web site to print off a registration form and email it to jmyers@jcprc.org.

John Brown Raid Sesquicentennial
1859 – 2009
Here is a list of events that will take place in Jefferson County in recognition of the celebration of the sesquicentennial John Brown Raid at Harpers Ferry in 1859. Make plans to visit or take part in the upcoming events through out the year.



“In the Footsteps of John Brown” Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 11 a.m. on June 7, 14,21, 28, July 5,12,19 & 25, August 2,9,16,23 & 30, September 6, 13, 20, & 27, October 4, 11, 16, & 25.


April 18, 2009 – “A Prelude to History: The Wedding of Virginia Kennedy” At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 10-4.


May 9, 2009 – Music of “Sword of the Spirit” Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, 2 pm


May 30, 2009 – “Remembering John Brown” Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, 1:00 pm

New Book Section

Charlotte the Wonder Dog

Local writer D.C. Gallant (Carol) and her dog Charlotte have been busy making appearances in the County to promote Gallant’s recent book, Charlotte the Wonder Dog, a biography of “A dog pound mutt who finds her way to friends, fame and peanut butter.” It has won praise for both its photos and the wit and humor of the writing. Charlotte, rescued from death row by Gallant in Charlotte, N.C. in 1995, is well known in the area for appearances on the OOH stage, including the role of Sandy in the play Annie, and at non-profit events. Gallant, a former Capitol Hill press secretary, has a number of writing awards to her credit and is also an active member of the community, most recently as President of the heritage group, JCPASH.
As part of Gallant’s commitment to animals and to her home area, profits from the book go to the Paws No-Kill Sanctuary/Hospice in Harpers Ferry, and Chapter Five of the book (“Driving Mz. Charlotte) highlights Charlotte’s visits to Jefferson County sites and businesses. The Wonder Dog is pictured with many of her local friends. You’ll recognize some faces and places for sure.
Books are for sale in locally-owned businesses and Gallant says she hopes people will make a visit to these places: Valley Hardware, Jumpin’ Java and Needful Things in Charles Town; the Country Café in Harpers Ferry; Southwood Books in Martinsburg; and Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown. Local libraries have Received a free copy. The 115-page book, with some 70 photos, is available on-line from Amazon.com and from major book sellers such as Barnes and Noble. For more information on the book, visit the website: dcgallantbooks.com.
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WV Author publishes his third historical novel

Local author Bob O’Connor announced today that his third historical novel, “Catesby: Eyewitness to the Civil War” has been published by Infinity Publishing of West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The new novel is the saga of a real slave who was captured by John Brown during the famous raid at Harpers Ferry in 1859. The book follows Catesby’s life after the raid and his determined quest to become a free black man.
During his journey, Catesby encounters terrible conflicts, trusted friendships and love, as the war seems to follow him from place to place. A skilled blacksmith and an educated man, Catesby becomes the “inside source” to describe events of the war readers might have not even imagined. Catesby’s life story is unforgettable.
According to O’Connor, Catesby was a slave belonging to Lewis Washington, George Washington’s great grand nephew. Lewis Washington lived at Beall Air, a property between Charles Town and Harpers Ferry that still exists today.
The book’s cover is a painting by famed Civil War artist Mort Künstler called “Distant Thunder” showing General Robert E. Lee leading his troops past the Cashtown Hotel in Pennsylvania on July 1 just prior to the battle of Gettysburg. The painting was chosen because Catesby was a blacksmith at the Willow Grove Hotel which is just up the road from the Cashtown Hotel. Catesby shoed the general’s horse as the Confederate troops marched toward Gettysburg.
“This book is definitely my best so far,” O’Connor admits. “It’s a little different than my other two books in that not all the characters in this book are real. But the events really happened as I describe them.”
Of particular note in the novel are incidents involving the 90 U.S. Colored soldiers at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. “Of the 35,000 Union prisoners, only 90 were African American,” the author continued. “They were an important part of the stockade, because as time went on, over one hundred men were dying every day. And the U.S. Colored soldiers were digging graves. Catesby reports on the colored soldiers who were there, which regiment they were from, and who survived. It’s a story that has rarely been told.”
Another aspect of O’Connor’s novels that is unusual is that the author uses photographs to legitimize the events as they happened.
O’Connor’s first two novels, “The Perfect Steel Trap Harpers Ferry 1859”, the story of the John Brown raid, and “The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln”, the story of Lincoln’s personal bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon, continue to sell well. “I’m no Nora Roberts or James Patterson,” O’Connor says, “but only seven percent of the 3 million books in print have sold more than 1000 copies in a single year. And I have exceeded that number both in 2006 and 2007.”
All three books are available at the author’s website http://www.boboconnorbooks.com/ or at http://www.amazon.com/ . They are available locally at Four Season’s Books in Shepherdstown, at the Charles Town Visitors Center and at the Harpers Ferry Visitors Center. “The Virginian Who Might have Saved Lincoln” is also available on Audio Books in a 6 CD set.
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