News Briefs

Tabb to run for old seat
Jane Tabb who was a Jefferson County Commissioner from 2001 to 2006 has announced that she plans to run for her old seat on the commission. If elected she would represent the Middleway District. Tabb will seek the Republican nomination to run for the commission seat.
Tabb is a program assistant for the West Virginia University Extension Service. She also works on her Farm that has been in her family for many years. In a published report Tabb says she is concerned that the taxpayers money is spent in an appropriate way. She went on to say that she is very committed to the citizens and Jefferson County. “I have seen some things happen in the last six years that I wasn't happy with, and I think I can make a positive difference and that's why I'm running again," she said. In a published interview.
In 2007 she lost her bid for re-election too Commissioner Frances Morgan, who is current
Member of the Jefferson County Commission representing the Middleway District.

New Delegate Map has Errors
Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan. told the Commissioners Thursday the clerk’s office had been notified by state officials that there was a mistake on The Jefferson County final House of Delegates redistricting map.
Maghan said that the mistake is with the 65th and 66th Delegate Districts. The district lines will not change, the positions of the two districts are wrong on the map.
Originally House District 65 included Middleway and Shennondale areas of Jefferson County while District 66 included Charles Town and Ranson.
According to the state officials The way it should be on the map is that House District 65 includes Charles Town and Ranson areas. House District 66 takes in Middleway and Shannondale
Maghan was told by the state officials that the mistake happened because the change was made minutes before the legislature passed the redistricting bill. The mistake was not caught before the maps were sent to the county.
The County clerk told those present that the error will not affect the Jefferson County Commission's magisterial redistricting process. She did say that corrections will have to be made before the voters are notified of the new districts.

Court gives State more time
In a news release from the U.S. District Court it was announced that West Virginia government was no longer under a deadline set for January 17, to submit to the court
a new plan for congressional redistricting plan. The state can not hold this year’s U.S. House Race. There three Congressional Districts in West Virginia. The ruling of the court was handed down this past Tuesday. The panel earlier concluded by 2-1 that the redistricting plan approved last August by the West Virginia legislature did not meet the standards of the one-person, one-vote principle.
The Court strongly recommended that Legislature re-draw the Three congressional districts that would be nearly equal in population.

Shepherd University looking for comments
Shepherd University is seeking comments from the public about the university in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. In a prepared press release Shepherd announced that it will host a visit March 5-7 with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Shepherd University has been accredited by the commission since 1950. The team will review the institution's ongoing ability to meet the commission's Criteria for Accreditation.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding Shepherd University to: Public Comment on Shepherd University, The Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411.
The public also may submit comments via email on the commission's website at "http://www.ncahlc.org".
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing. All comments must be received by Feb. 5.
Shepherd's reaccredidation documents may be reviewed at http://www.shepherd.edu/accreditation/self-study.

Compiled By James P. Whipple

Open Letter to the Jefferson County Commissioners

To the Jefferson County Commissioners:
I have been a resident of Jefferson County for 36 years. I have seen many changes since Rt. 340 became a dual highway. Commercial growth was inevitable but we have managed to still preserve the character of the area immediately adjacent to the Harpers Ferry Park by keeping commercial areas and housing developments clustered more closely to Charles Town. The most positive changes to the area in my opinion have been those that enabled the park service to acquire historic battlefields and adjacent properties. While preserving and protecting them they have invested millions to enhance the area making it even more attractive for tourism. If it were up to me, I would have left it all alone to selfishly enjoy the rural flavor of the apple orchards, the old quarry houses, and the wide open spaces. But I’m only one taxpayer and this is not just my land (my home). It is shared by a nation of taxpayers who trust us to preserve our parks and historic lands for them and future generations. We cannot do that if we allow individuals to develop pieces of it for their own profit--by doing so we all lose.
Rezoning this property from “Residential Growth” to “Residential/Light Industrial/Commercial” will allow developments to degrade the historic character of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. This threatens its status as a regional economic engine which has as much to do with its aesthetic appeal as it does with its history. At risk are pristine sightlines from School House Ridge, where General Stonewall Jackson oversaw the capture of 12,500 troops in 1862--West Virginia’s most significant Civil War battle! Development of the property would detract from the park’s historic integrity and natural beauty. Since community leaders and partners, including the West Virginia congressional delegation, have invested millions to protect the historic character and meaning of Harpers Ferry we should not waste their investment or efforts on a shortsighted change. Please deny this application for rezoning.
Sincerely,
Carol R. Mathers
Bakerton, WV

Book Signing at the Four Season Book Store

A Book Signing will be held at the Four Season Book Store On Sunday January 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.. The book store is located at 116 West German Street in Shepherdstown The book is entitaled “Big Ban Jazz in Black West Virginia 1930 - 1942”. The book is by Christopher Wilkinson, Professor of Music History, West Virginia University.
The coal fields of West Virginia would seem an unlikely market for big band jazz during the Great Depression. That a prosperous African-American audience dominated by those involved with the coal industry was there for jazz tours would seem equally improbable. Big Band Jazz in Black West Virginia, 1930-1942 shows that, contrary to expectations, black Mountaineers flocked to dances by the hundreds, in many instances traveling considerable distances to hear bands led by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Andy Kirk, Jimmie Lunceford, and Chick Webb, among numerous others. Indeed, as one musician who toured the state would recall, “All the bands were goin’ to West Virginia.”
The comparative prosperity of the coal miners, thanks to New Deal industrial policies, was what attracted the bands to the state. This study discusses that prosperity as well as the larger political environment that provided black Mountaineers with a degree of autonomy not experienced further south. Author Christopher Wilkinson demonstrates the importance of radio and the black press both in introducing this music and in keeping black West Virginians up to date with its latest developments. The book explores connections between local entrepreneurs who staged the dances and the national management of the bands that played those engagements, In analyzing black audiences’ aesthetic preferences, the author reveals that many black West Virginians preferred dancing to a variety of music, not just jazz. Finally, the book shows bands now associated almost exclusively with jazz were more than willing to satisfy those audience preferences with arrangements in other styles of dance music.

Coal Country Tours in the news

Over the holidays, Coal Country Tours was the subject of a number of news stories. First, on December 23 we were featured on West Virginia Public Radio and on This Week in Appalachia. Hear our interview here: "http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=23287"
On Christmas Day we were featured on NPR's "All Things Considered with Guy Raz. You can hear that story here:
"http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=144260831&m=144260876"
Finally, this past week we were the subject of an Associated Press article by Vicki Smith that was picked up by hundreds of media outlets worldwide. You can Google "Guide, Coal Country has tourism potential in southern W.Va." or you can see it posted on CBS News here:
"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501843_162-57349227/guide-coal-country-has-tourism-potential-in-w.va/"
We have expanded our West Virginia Mine War Tour to four days and will be departing in 2012 from Columbus, OH, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, PA, Hampton Roads, VA, and Baltimore, MD. We will also be offering a four day Hatfield McCoy Tour departing from Baltimore, MD, and Charleston, WV. We will have pickups in various cities en route or you can join any of our tours in Beckley, WV. Make your reservation by January 31 and save $50. Check us out at"http://coalcountrytours.com/", on facebook at Coal Country Tours, or follow us on Twitter at @WVTours. Doug Estepp"mailto:coalcountrytours@gmail.com" "http://coalcountrytours.com/"
PO Box 94 Toms Brook, VA 22660 (540) 233-0543

County Notices

Final meeting on U.S. Route 340 to be held
The final public input meeting regarding the U.S. Route 340 East Gateway Plan is scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Charles Town Library.This is the fifth public meeting that allows you to provide input regarding the future transportation and land use plan for the segment of U.S. 340 between Charles Town/Ranson and Harpers Ferry/Bolivar. This study, being developed by the Jefferson County Departments of Planning & Zoning, is a collaborative process to create a small area plan using a series of meetings to gather citizen input related to land use and future planning efforts for this corridor. All public input, meeting presentations, and maps are available: "http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/Rt340.html"
　
Notice
Board of Review and Equalization
The County Commission of Jefferson County will convene as a Board of Review and Equalization in the County Commission Courtroom at the Courthouse of said County on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., for the purpose of reviewing and equalizing assessments returned by the Assessor of Jefferson County for the tax year 2012.
The Commission will continue to sit as a Board of Review and Equalization on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, February9th , 2012, at 1:30 p.m., and thereafter as deemed necessary.
Persons wishing to appear before the Commission should apply to the Assessor no later than Friday, February 10th, 2012, at noon, in order to complete the proper forms and to schedule a hearing date prior to the planned final date of Thursday, February 16th, 2012.

Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency Meeting
The January Regular Meeting of the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency (JCESA) Board will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the JCESA Operations Center located at 419 Sixteenth Avenue in Ranson, WV.
AGENDA
o Roll Call
o Approval of the December 20, 2011 regular meeting minutes
o Approval of the January 10, 2012 special meeting minutes
o Presidents Report
1. Discussion on Career / Volunteer Monthly EMS Activity Report
2. Review of requesting agenda items for Board meetings
o Treasurers Report
1. Financial Status
2. Status of conversion of accounting system
o Board member Requests
o Employee Liaison comments
o Directors Report/Service report
1. JCESA Quarterly report for County Commission
2. Blue Ridge Mt Fire Dept funding request for security door access pad
o Public Comment (limit of 5 minutes per person)
o Committee Reports
1. Quality Assurance Committee (Hannon)
2. Personnel Committee (Boober)
3. EMS Training Committee (Engle)
4. Impact Fee Committee
5. Audit Committee (Freeman)
6. Updating Committee Listings and Chairs
o Board Member comments
Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting. The JCESA Operations Center is Handicapped accessible. Members of the public having questions about the meeting may contact JCESA at (304) 728-3287 during business hours.

Wanted a few good men and women

If you want better government, you need to make it happen by being elected, or encouraging someone else good to run for office. The deadline to file is coming fast: Sat, Jan. 28, 2012. It always comes in January in order to prepare for the May Primary.JOB ANNUAL SALARYU.S. Senate $174,000U. S. House of Representatives $174,000Governor $150,000Attorney General $95,000Auditor $95,000Commission of Agriculture $95,000Secretary of State $95,000Treasurer $95,000State Senate $20,000House of Delegates $20,000State Supreme Court Justice $136,000Circuit Court Judge(unexpired) $126,000Family Court Judge (unexpired) $94,500County Commission (Middleway District) $36,960Prosecuting Attorney $96,660Sheriff $59,880Assessor $64,000Magistrate $57,500Board of Education about $7,500Conservation District Supervisor