Local News – The Panhandle News Network | WEPM & WCST
- The Panhandle News Network Reflects on the Biggest Stories Out of the Eastern Panhandle in 2025 December 31, 2025MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — On the last day of December 2025, we took a look back at some of the major stories covered by the Panhandle News Network over the year in a special segment of Panhandle Live. Among the top stories covered on the Panhandle News Network in 2025: The efforts of Sidewinder Enterprises, LLC…[email protected]
- West Virginia Parks Host First Day Hikes to Bring in the New Year December 31, 2025BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. – New Year’s Day, or “First Day” hikes are catching on in the Mountain State. Valerie Chaney is the chief naturalist for West Virginia State Parks system and works out of Cacapon State Park. She says while First Day Hikes are catching on in West Virginia, they got their start with National…[email protected]
- Locality pay is on the agenda for Senate Judiciary Chairman Willis ahead of legislative session December 31, 2025MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – The issue of locality pay will be back on the table during the upcoming legislative session as long as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, has his way. The discussion of higher wages for state employees in high-growth areas is not a new one, but Willis is making it a priority…[email protected]
- Hedgesville Man Arrested For Assaulting a Juvenile in Leesburg December 31, 2025LEESBURG, VA — A Hedgesville man has been arrested after police in Leesburg say he assaulted a juvenile at a Leesburg recreation center. Jacob D. Martin, 23, of Hedgesville turned himself into police Tuesday afternoon. He’s been charged with Malicious Wounding stemming from an assault Sunday evening at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center during…[email protected]
- Morgan County Animal Control Officer Rescues Person Out of Trailer Fire December 30, 2025BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A Morgan County Animal Control officer is being credited with pulling a resident out of a burning trailer home yesterday. The fire call came out just before 2:30 Monday regarding house fire with entrapment off Fish Hatchery Road. A Morgan County Animal Control officer happened to be in the area when…[email protected]
- City of Hagerstown Says Rumors About Immigration Mass Detentions in City are False December 30, 2025HAGERSTOWN, MD — Officials in Hagerstown are denying a published report that names the city as a possible site to hold immigration violation detainees. A social media post from Tuesday morning says, “The City of Hagerstown is aware of the article published in the Washington Post over the last week naming Hagerstown as a possible…[email protected]
- Update: Fire at Cacapon State Park Reportedly Under Control December 30, 2025BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A mountain fire at Cacapon State Park that began overnight has been contained as of 10 a.m. WVMetronews Reporter Chris Lawrence says The West Virginia Department of Commerce tells him the cause of the fire was a downed power line. The fire is contained, but “There will still be smoke from the…[email protected]
- Sharpsburg Emergency Responders Talk Flu Season, Patient Triaging for Emergency Care December 29, 2025SHARPSBURG, MD — With flu season ramping up, Sharpsburg Area EMS says they don’t control who gets placed in the hospital for care. They offered an explanation of how patients might be prioritized. “As flu season is in full swing, our local hospitals are experiencing very high patient volumes. We want to help our community…[email protected]
- Five Years Following Arson Death of 167th Firefighter’s Death, Investigators Still Looking For Answers December 29, 2025BERKELEY COUNTY, W. Va. –Saturday marked five years Air National Guard firefighter Logan Young was killed while battling an arson fire. Young and another firemen were battling a barn fire in the 3800 block of Charles Town Road in Berkeley County on December 27, 2020. Investigators believe that a beam in the barn collapsed striking Young…[email protected]
- West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles: Kearneysville Location Closed Today After Vehicle Drove Into Building December 29, 2025KEARNEYSVILLE, W.Va. — The Division of Motor Vehicles Office in Kearneysville is closed today, according to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. On Sunday afternoon, scanner page Eastern Panhandle Working Fires reported a call out to the DMV location after a vehicle ran into the building just after 4 p.m. There were no injuries,…[email protected]