Martinsburg High School

Martinsburg High School Assistant Principal Trent Sherman was named acting principal of the school because Principal Regina Phillips is on medical leave, Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Manny P. Arvon said Wednesday. “She asked for medical leave (Tuesday) and I granted it,” Arvon said. Sherman will take a leading role among the school's four assistant principals, Arvon said. Arvon said he did not know how long Phillips would be on medical leave and declined to elaborate on the reason for her leave.

Students and staff at Martinsburg High School were evacuated Wednesday from the building due to a bomb threat received over the telephone, Berkeley County Schools spokeswoman Leah Daniel said. The building was checked and subsequently cleared by authorities and students were allowed to return to the building about an hour later, Daniel said. Martinsburg Police Department said in a news release that members of the city's police and fire departments, along with the West Virginia State Police Bomb Division, responded to the school at 701 S. Queen St., about 12:45 p.m. The main office of the school received the threat from a male caller, but the threat was determined to be unfounded, police said.

Monday was the start of Trent Sherman's first full year as Martinsburg High School principal, but he is a well-known figure throughout the school. Sherman, 37, was an assistant principal for the last four years at Martinsburg High and before that taught history and coached football there. Born and raised in Hardy County, W.Va., Sherman got an undergraduate degree in history from West Virginia's Glenville State College and was planning to attend law school. Instead, he came to Martinsburg High School and worked as an assistant football coach.

More than 600 teddy bears are bound for Newtown, Conn., thanks to a quickly launched project at Martinsburg High School to give the grief-stricken community “a big Bear-Hug” for Christmas. High school theater teacher David Ryan said he announced the project Saturday at the school thespian group's public performance of “A Seussified Christmas Carol.” A handwritten note was attached to each bear Thursday afternoon by students who helped pack them into more than 50 boxes, according Ryan.

charlestown@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A veteran Berkeley County teacher known for her use of a "learning style inventory" to determine the best way to educate students was named Berkeley County's Teacher of the Year on Monday night at Martinsburg High School. Robin Truax, a Martinsburg High School teacher who has been teaching in Berkeley County Schools for 22 years, was among five finalists for the award. Truax received the award from Superintendent of Schools Manny Arvon, who praised Truax for her ability to encourage students not only to learn, but to enjoy school.

Fourth-graders from Orchard View Intermediate School in Martinsburg, W.Va., sing a song at Snow Biz, a musical salute to winter Tuesday at Martinsburg High School.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Berkeley County Schools honored its 26 retirees Monday with a reception at Martinsburg High School. Members of the Berkeley County Board of Education and Superintendent Manny Arvon were among those on hand to recognize the retirees. Those honored included: Mary Burkhart, guidance counselor at Musselman Middle School; Judith Cline,math teacher at Musselman Middle School; Terry Demien, teacher at Mill Creek Intermediate School; Charlene Gwinn, teacher at North Middle School; Jerry Horner, teacher at Musselman High School.

Mark McCoy, left, chairman of the music department at Shepherd University and Wind Ensemble conductor, leads the group through a rehearsal Monday on campus. The ensemble is readying for its April 24 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. McCoy said the group was selected to perform at the famed venue because of its recording of James Barnes "Symphony #3. " The Wind Ensemble will perform locally on April 20 at 3:15 p.m. at the campus' Frank Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and at 7 p.m. at Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, W.Va.

W.Va. student honored for passing exams CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Martinsburg High School senior William Gerken was been honored for passing three or more Advanced Placement exams. Many West Virginia high schools offer AP programs to better prepare students for college courses. All state colleges and universities allow students receiving passing AP test scores to receive college credit. Gerken was one of 25 students honored Nov. 17 by Gov. Cecil Underwood for passing AP exams.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. ? A Berkeley County Circuit judge has granted Martinsburg High School a preliminary injunction in its appeal against the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, overturning the SSAC's ruling that Martinsburg must forfeit its first two football victories this season. The injunction, granted Tuesday afternoon by Circuit Judge Gina Groh, temporarily restores the Bulldogs' victories over Morgantown, W.Va., and Potomac Falls, Va., and would give the team an 8-0 record.

Thumbs up to Hagerstown Community College student Jeremiah Sater of Waynesboro, Pa., whose first short story, “Planet 239,” recently was published in the online literary magazine The WiFiles. Sater began writing short stories at the age of 8 and hopes to publish a collection of short stories and a novel within the next 10 years. Thumbs up to the participants in the Operation God Bless America benefit motorcycle ride, which traveled 45 miles from Greencastle, Pa., to Martinsburg, W.Va., to raise money for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Brown Bachtell, 94, of Hagerstown, died Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Ravenwood Lutheran Village, Hagerstown. She was the wife of the late James Ira Bachtell, her husband of 66 years, who died Nov. 22, 2008. Born June 15, 1918, in Martinsburg, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Amos Franklin Sr. and Estella Bernice Dunham Brown. She was a graduate of Martinsburg High School. Mrs. Bachtell was a member of Mount Vernon United Church of Christ, Keedysville; and was past Matron of the former Olive Branch No. 34, Order of the Eastern Star, Keedysville, now Hagerstown Chapter No. 89. Surviving is her son, James B. Bachtell and wife, Joan, of Hagerstown; as well as stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Gerald Eugene Ingram Sr. passed to his heavenly home May 17, 2013, at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Gerald, also known as Roney, was born in Dargan, Md., on July 25, 1923, to the late Dola Ingram. He lived in Martinsburg for most of his life and was raised by his grandmother, Laura Ingram. He graduated from Martinsburg High School, Class of 1941. Gerald was a veteran of World War II with the 179th infantry regiment, Thunderbird Division, serving in the Mediterranean Theater of Operation in Africa and Italy.

Martinsburg High School graduates, their families and faculty were forced to evacuate the Butcher Center at Shepherd University Tuesday night when the second of two fire alarms went off moments before the commencement ceremony was to begin. Campus police investigated the incident, along with members of the Shepherdstown Fire Department. An unofficial report circulating among faculty members indicated that one or more pranksters were involved. “All we know is that two alarms were activated on the lower floor,” said fire department Lt. Zachary Morgan.

Mayor supports renewal of police excess levy To the editor: The City of Martinsburg special election is Saturday, May 11. On behalf of the City of Martinsburg, I would encourage all registered voters in the city to vote “for” the renewal of the Police Excess Levy. The current levy expires June 30, 2014. City residents have shown their support for the police excess levy for 23 years. The police excess levy was originally approved in 1990. As stated, the police excess levy is a “renewal” and would be for five fiscal years, beginning July 1, 2014.

Lillian Virginia Evans, 89, died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Homewood of Williamsport in Williamsport, Md. Born Aug. 14, 1923, in Martinsburg, W.Va., she was the daughter of Arlie B. Hutzler and Lillian Nesmith Hutzler. She was a 1942 graduate of Martinsburg High School. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where she served on the altar guild. She was a member of the Gateway Garden Club and the Junior Civic League. Ginny was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.

Strike Out Cancer Night rescheduled again MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Martinsburg High School baseball team will host the seventh annual Strike Out Cancer Night on Monday at P.O. Faulkner Park in Martinsburg. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:45 p.m. followed by the Bulldog varsity baseball team taking on the opposing Washington High School Patriots at 7 p.m. There will be cancer donation and information booths throughout the ballpark as well as a memorial and survivor wall.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 special education students in addition to parents, school officials, and businesses at the Berkeley County Schools Work Exploration Program Recognition Reception, Sallie Askin described how much it has grown since it first went into action in 2007 with just 12 students at Martinsburg High School and two businesses. “We moved on to three high schools in 2008, and we have progressed from two businesses to 89 businesses,” said Askin, the program's co-ordinator.

Katherine Lee Hawk, 75, of Cody, Wyo., passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at her home. She was born Sept. 27, 1937, in Martinsburg, W.Va. Kitty, as she liked to be called, was the daughter of the late Harry S. Grant Sr. and Abbie Tabler Grant. Kitty graduated from Martinsburg High School with the class of 1955. While a student at Shepherd University, she was voted homecoming queen in 1957. She earned her bachelor's degree in teaching, and taught at Hedgesville Elementary, then later at Marlowe Elementary, to finish out her 19-year career.

After throat cancer took his voice box, it took David Briles three years to learn how to speak a complete sentence by burping continuously. The 59-year-old Charleston, W.Va., native never regained much of his ability to laugh again, but was determined not to use a device known as an electrolarynx in order to talk. “I didn't want to sound like a robot,” Briles said Thursday after speaking to Martinsburg High School students about the dangers of tobacco use and how it changed his life.