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New Tourism Information Shared with County Commission
Tourism is big business in Jefferson County, according to a new report presented by the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to the County Commission.
In 2024, visitors to Jefferson County spent $876 million which supported 3,700 jobs and generated $68 million in state and local taxes. According to CVB CEO Annette Gavin Bates, Jefferson County led the state in 2024 tourism revenue, accounting for 14 percent of tourism spending statewide.
Bates noted that the county has held the top spot for the past decade, with visitors drawn by the region’s “historic and natural charm.”
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A message from the Skinner Law Firm
Drivers are urged to consider underinsurance, a crucial car insurance coverage that helps when an at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough to cover medical bills and other expenses. With state minimums often falling short, underinsurance can provide additional financial protection and peace of mind on the road.
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Manufacturing in Middleway - A Brief History
One of the county’s hottest topics is the future of the water bottling plant proposed for the former 3M site near Middleway. To plan the future it’s helpful to understand the past, so we reviewed public documents and interviewed former employees to prepare a brief history of the location’s industrial use.
The industrial site, now owned by Sidewinder Enterprises, dates to just after World War II, when Berkeley Woolen Mills (and related companies) acquired two large farms to the west of the village for a fabric washing plant. The Woolen Mills company started to wind down in the 1950s.
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company (3M) purchased the Middleway facility in 1960. 3M used the site until the 1990s to produce printing plates. According to the 3M employees, the bulk of the material handled by the factory was the aluminum, which came in as rolls and left as pre-cut sheets. The factory shipped its products to 3M’s internal distribution warehouses around the country. Workers who were there in the 1980s and early 1990s estimated that there were between 20 and 40 trucks per day.
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A message from Shepherdstown Pedal and Paddle
HELP WANTED. Outdoor enthusiast to work in local Shepherdstown bike and kayak shop; must have excellent driving record, a strong work ethic, and be mechanically inclined to build and repair bikes. Bike shop experience preferred but not required. Contact us at 304-876-3000 or eddie@thepedalpaddle.com.
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Shepherdstown Comp Plan Gets a Hearing
To obtain additional comments from the public on its draft comprehensive plan, Shepherdstown’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing this Thursday, March 13, starting at 6:00 pm at the War Memorial Building (102 East German St). The period for written comments closes on March 13 as well.
The town’s existing comprehensive plan was adopted in 2014 and state law requires the plan to be reviewed and re-adopted every 10 years. The draft plan is significantly reworked from the 2014 plan, with input from a citizen review committee that spent a year and a half reviewing the earlier plan and evaluating how well the town did (or did not) achieve the objectives of that plan.
The draft plan leads off with a vision statement: “Shepherdstown will be the cultural hub of the WV Eastern Panhandle while continuing to cherish our historic treasures, natural beauty, and small-town riverside charm.” It then sets out four goals, with implementation strategies, for the next decade.
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