By Hannah Heishman
The Moorefield Town Council approved annexation of approximately 6 acres at their meeting Tuesday, May 19.
The acreage constitutes the Town’s recent land purchase and includes open space between the Park’s fenced eastern boundary and the railroad tracks and land along the Park’s northern boundary.
The Council also approved hiring several youth for summer employment, two for the Park and one for the Streets Department. Park Manager Juwana Bridger Titus 11 other youth have applied, but have not yet been interviewed.
One of the hired youth participated in the program last year.
Council members hired Kaylin Jenkins to be the pool manager this summer.
Jeb Wagner approached the Council as one of two local students competing in Skills USA’s Quiz Bowl in Atlanta the first week of June.
Wagner will miss graduation in order to participate in the Jeopardy!-like competition.
He said 28 South Branch Career and Technical Center students are attending, from Hardy, Grant and Pendleton Counties, and they need more money for everyone to attend.
The Council approved a $2000 donation.
Steven Pendleton gave the Council an update on the Humane Society of Hardy County’s use of Town funds and an overview of planned projects. The bulk of the money the HSHC has received has gone towards spaying and neutering feral cats.
Pendleton said 375 were spayed or neutered in 2025, all individuals. This year, he said they’re focusing efforts on feral cat colonies in places like Misty Terrace, Adams Street, and Williams Street. Colonies are groups consisting of at least 10 cats.
He said the Humane Society has standing appointments at South Branch Animal Hospital for every Monday and Tuesday through July.
The group plans a meeting in June for those in Town interested in helping.
“We’ll provide the traps and the training,” Pendleton said.
The plan is Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR), which is a way to minimize the number of kittens born. It also helps control rabies, as the vaccine is often given during the surgery. After surgery, the cats return to their colony, often with one ear slightly docked, which marks it as spayed/neutered.
There will be more information soon regarding the June meeting.
Stephen Riggleman, Moorefield Police Chief, said the department made three felony arrests and nine misdemeanor arrests in April. They issued 28 traffic citations and 65 traffic warnings. Officers conducted five crash investigations in April.
They completed 68 hours of training.
Riggleman said the department has eight officers trained to work with ICE; they apprehend four individuals in April.
One MPD officer completed the WV State Police Academy in Charleston; another was hired and began training.
Riggleman also weighed in on the Council’s ongoing noise ordinance discussion, complete with numbers.
He pointed out the Town does have noise restrictions from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The fines for offenses are low, only $25 and $50, and he acknowledged those could increase.
He said that in 2024, the department responded to 2,077 calls for service; 16 were noise complaints.
In 2025, the department responded to 2,015 calls for service; 18 were noise complaints.
From January through April 22, 2026, MPD officers responded to 562 calls for service; only two were noise complaints.
Since the April 21 Town Council meeting, there were four additional noise complaints bringing the total as of Tuesday to six. One of those resulted in a citation issued.
The noise complaint discussion will continue as council members review other municipalities’ regulations.
Council member Luke Kesner volunteered at the May 5 meeting to prepare a draft regulation for the council to critique, as a starting point.
Also from May 5, which was a very short meeting, the UV lights at the water plant are back on line after being down for maintenance.
Wanda Gerard, who attended the meeting to support Community Education and Outreach Service (CEOS), said the organization is trying to build membership. Former members, including those who may recognize the organization by its former name, the Homemakers, and new members are all welcome.
Meetings are second Mondays monthly at 7 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church fellowship hall in Moorefield.
If you have questions, please contact Gerard at 443-742-2593.
The Moorefield Council meets again June 2 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The public is encouraged to attend, or watch the live stream on the Town’s Facebook page. The live stream stays up for viewing for approximately 30 days.
