Morgan County

Sharon Leona Divelbiss, 73, of Hagerstown, Md., and formerly of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born Oct. 29, 1938 in Berkeley Springs, she was the daughter of Edna J. Fields Fox of Hagerstown and the late Nova T. Fox. She was a homemaker. She was of the Christian faith. She loved her family, her cats and all animals. Survivors include, besides her mother, daughter, Linda Twigg of Hagerstown; daughter, Sherrie Trinchera of Warfordsburg, Pa.; son, Paul Divelbiss Jr. of Clear Spring, Md.; son, Rick Divelbiss of Hagerstown; son, Johnny Divelbiss and his wife, Patti, of Mercersburg, Pa.; her loving grandchildren, Heather, Erica, Amber, Andrea, Ryan and Cara; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Houk and her husband, Ric, of Manassas, Va., and their children, Jeff and Wendi; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Morgan County man has been ordered to serve at least 21 years in prison for the death of his pregnant girlfriend, according to Morgan County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dan James. James T. Zell Jr., 24, of Tri Lake Park, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of concealment of a deceased body. He was sentenced Monday by Senior Status Circuit Judge Andrew N. Frye Jr. to serve consecutive prison terms of 40 years, 20 years, and one to five years, James said.

Calvern Elwood "C.E. " Clark, 94, of Hedgesville, W.Va., died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, at his home while under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle. Born Jan. 17, 1918, in the Spruce Pine Hollow section of Morgan County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Ernest Willard and Virgie Viola Michael Clark. He was a member of Victory Tabernacle in Hedgesville. He attended Mount Trimble School and Bath District High School. Mr. Clark served with the U.S. Army during World War II and worked with both Victor Products and Gichner, in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Charles Emmerson Bowles, 71, of Hedgesville, W.Va., died Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, at Berkeley Springs Rehab and Nursing Home. The family will receive friends Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg, W.Va. The service will be Monday at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Morgan County, W.Va.

Thomas Clifton Shockey, 87, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died Monday, July 9, 2012, at Winchester Medical Center. He was the son of the late James Walter Shockey Sr. and Margaret Leary Shockey. He was born in Morgan County on July 8, 1925. He was retired from U.S. Silica, Quality Control Laboratory. He was a graduate of West Virginia University and attended Potomac State College. He was a member of Trinity-Asbury United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II; and a member of Alderton Dawson American Legion Post 60 and DeFord Masonic Lodge No. 88 A.F. & A.M. Scottish Rite of Free Masonry 32 of Martinsburg.

Police are investigating whether the death of a 66-year-old Jefferson County man was related to a Friday night storm that left much of the region without power. The man was found by a neighbor Sunday afternoon in his Blue Ridge Acres home, which was at least 95 degrees inside, according to Sgt. R.L. Fletcher of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. An autopsy will be conducted by the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine if the man's death was heat-related, said Fletcher, who declined to release the victim's name.

The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle recognized its members for their outstanding service to the community on Thursday morning at its annual meeting. United Way campaign volunteers raised close to $1.5 million in 2011, said Paul Espinosa, the incoming chairman of the agency's board of directors. Vicki Shean, director of resource development and marketing, said about $194,000 was raised by the three “high givers” of business members in the Eastern Panhandle. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Slots raised $100,255; City National Bank raised $47,695; and Bank of Charles Town raised $46,287.

A Morgan County, W.Va., house was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. Berkeley Springs Fire Chief Todd Ruppenthal said when the first crews arrived at 39 Suba Drive, they found three-quarters of the roof and about half of the house on fire. Propane tanks were exploding, and shotgun shells inside the house were discharging. About 30 firefighters from seven departments started to attack the blaze from outside the single-story house. They used tanker trucks to haul water from a hydrant at Dawson's Home Center about two miles away.

Kay M. Clark Litten, 73, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., passed away Saturday, June 9, 2012, at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center in Winchester, Va. Born Feb. 26, 1939, in Morgan County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late James W. Clark and Viola Fredman Clark. She was a masseuse at Berkeley Springs State Park, retiring with 25 years of service. She was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church. She was married Nov. 21, 1953, to Carl L. "Red" Litten, who preceded her in death on Aug. 31, 2005.

Authorities are assessing the health of 29 animals seized last week from a southern Morgan County property near the Virginia line, Morgan County Animal Control Officer Jason Pearce said Thursday. The 21 dogs, two goats, three rats, a pot-bellied pig, cat and miniature horse were seized after authorities investigated a complaint about the welfare of the animals, Pearce said. No charges have been filed, Pearce said. The animals, whose conditions vary, are being kept at the county's facility along W.Va.