Bonnie Williamson

Jefferson County Community Ministries cut the ribbon on its newest facility in Ranson, W.Va., on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The new complex is part of JCCM's "Neighbor Project." (Stephen Williamson/The Spirit of Jefferson)

It was a sea of classic cars and colors on Saturday in Ranson, from a bright green Cadillac convertible to a red Plymouth Duster and even a ruby-colored shiny Edsel.

It may have been extremely hot on June 13, but crowds were not deterred as hundreds of people flooded the streets of downtown Charles Town for the 9th Annual WV Fest.

Actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd once said, “My whole thing is to entertain, make people laugh and to forget about the real world for awhile.” Forgetting about the real world, laughing it away is an integral part of the Old Opera House’s 26th annual New Voice Play Festival this year, since the four one-act plays featured are all comedies. The festival starts on Friday.

Situated in Rippon, W.Va, is a new small, quaint and personal tavern, the brainchild of resident Jesse Morgan. Morgan also owns the Rippon Brewing Company, which is next to the new tavern. (Stephen Williamson/The Spirit of Jefferson)

Best Line Wins, an exploration of comedy through the lives of Elaine May and Mike Nichols is currently on tap at CATF. (Seth Freeman/Contemporary American Theater Festival)

A single-engine plane lay in pieces after crashing in a field, Thursday, July 23, 2026, near Kearneysville, W.Va. (Stephen Williamson/The Spirit of Jefferson)

Local leaders and members of WVU Medicine broke ground on the hospital system's Jefferson Medical Center expansion project last week. Over 100 attendees were present. (Stephen Williamson/The Spirit of Jefferson)

The Chapel at Rippon Village is a new venue for those seeking a litany of family-related services. (Stephen Williamson/The Spirit of Jefferson)

Storytelling has been around for centuries. It involves a two-way interaction between the storyteller and one or more listeners. The responses of the listeners influence the telling of the story. Stories were fairy tales or legends in years past, but modern storytellers can tell personal true tales, even bits of history.