Leviticus 19:33-34
Website's content solely by the creators & content providers. This site is NOT affiliated with nor endorsed by the Town.
Website's content solely by the creators & content providers. This site is NOT affiliated with nor endorsed by the Town.
These Terra Alta area attractions provide a glimpse into the natural beauty and rich Terra Alta history, making it a charming destination for visitors:
These Terra Alta area attractions provide a glimpse into the natural beauty and rich Terra Alta history, making it a charming destination for visitors:
Terra Alta Veterans Memorial
Terra Alta, West Virginia, honors its veterans through several memorials located at 406 E. State Avenue. These include plaques and benches commemorating:
These memoria
Terra Alta Veterans Memorial
Terra Alta, West Virginia, honors its veterans through several memorials located at 406 E. State Avenue. These include plaques and benches commemorating:
These memorials serve as a testament to the service and sacrifice of local veterans.
Climate Change?
Winters can be extremely harsh, but in recent history it's nothing like it was back in the day!
Climate Change?
Winters can be extremely harsh, but in recent history it's nothing like it was back in the day!
Many have summarized the Terra Alta climate as: "It's like living under a damp mushroom."
Revitalization Progress
One definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over-and-over again expecting different results.
Slowly but surely... Recently, a new ice cream parlor, a new pizza shop, significant renovations to the town park and some eyesore properties demolished/cleaned-up. Coming soon... a new (another) dollar store.
Pothole Pro
Revitalization Progress
One definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over-and-over again expecting different results.
Slowly but surely... Recently, a new ice cream parlor, a new pizza shop, significant renovations to the town park and some eyesore properties demolished/cleaned-up. Coming soon... a new (another) dollar store.
Pothole Progress - Terra Alta’s pothole population took a significant hit during the 2025 paving season when Sanders Street, 4th Street, Crane Avenue, and Highland Avenue were resurfaced.
A significant victory. Hallelujah!
A water distribution system and water treatment plant improvement project is currently underway. The project is partly funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law on November 15, 2021, with support from the EPA and the West Virginia Water Development Authority. The total project cost exceeds $4.5 million.
During the spring and early summer of 2024, the town undertook a substantial renovation of the town park. The improvements included grading and drainage upgrades, repaving, and remodeling of the town's community building. Additionally, the park's basketball courts were renovated and some deteriorating structures demolished. The total project cost was reported to be approximately fifty thousand dollars.
A New Beginning?
The 2023 town elections resulted in the incumbent Mayor of the previous two years being defeated and a new reform/revival minded Mayor (Dan Hauger) taking office on July 1, 2023. It was a closer election result than many expected, but we were excited to see if this new reformer Mayor could make a difference. Mayor Hauger c
A New Beginning?
The 2023 town elections resulted in the incumbent Mayor of the previous two years being defeated and a new reform/revival minded Mayor (Dan Hauger) taking office on July 1, 2023. It was a closer election result than many expected, but we were excited to see if this new reformer Mayor could make a difference. Mayor Hauger campaigned on eliminating the "good old boy system" and equal access/treatment to all citizens of the town. He also espoused a "tough love" approach to getting noncompliant residents to clean up and properly maintain their property; we remember him saying in a social media post (paraphrasing), it's a get with the program or get out approach. We wholeheartedly support the new Mayor's efforts to "save" the town and to foster a "rebirth" of Terra Alta. That being said, we are also hopeful that these renewal initiatives are undertaken with FULL transparency and in a democratic (small "d") mindset.
Suggestions for Increased Transparency & Openness
All Government Proceedings OPEN to be the Public
West Virginia Code § 51-3-2 states:
"The sittings of every court of record shall be public, and every citizen may freely attend the same, except in cases where the court shall, for special reasons, order the trial of a cause to be private."
Even though municipal courts are not courts of record, they are still part of the judicial system and are subject to the same principles of openness that apply to other courts in the state. This means that, unless there is a specific legal reason to close a proceeding (such as protecting the privacy of a victim, a minor, or sensitive information), the public has the right to attend municipal court hearings.
The general requirement for public access to court proceedings, including those in municipal courts, aligns with the broader legal principles found in the West Virginia Constitution and the West Virginia Code, which promote open government and transparency in the judicial process.
Terra Alta/East Preston School, located at 1103 East State Avenue in Terra Alta, West Virginia, serves approximately 310 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, aligning with the state average. (U.S. News & World Report)
In terms of academic performance, Terra Alta/East Preston Sc
Terra Alta/East Preston School, located at 1103 East State Avenue in Terra Alta, West Virginia, serves approximately 310 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, aligning with the state average. (U.S. News & World Report)
In terms of academic performance, Terra Alta/East Preston School ranks within the bottom 50% of all public schools in West Virginia. Specifically, it is ranked #243 among elementary schools and #84 among middle schools in the state. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school was ranked 252nd out of 368 West Virginia elementary schools by SchoolDigger.
Regarding proficiency, 31% of students achieved proficiency in math, and 39% in reading, both slightly below the state averages of 32% and 41%, respectively.
The school's student body is predominantly White, comprising 97% of the enrollment, with minority students making up 3%. Additionally, approximately 70% of students are eligible for free lunch, and 15% for reduced-price lunch.
!!! Coming Soon !!!
*EAGLE PRIDE ATHLETICS*
!!! Coming Soon !!!
!!! Coming Soon !!!
BANKING
DENTAL
EMERGENCY
HEALTH CARE
LEGAL
LIBRARY
LODGING
Nice motel located within four-season resort community & golf course 2 mi
BANKING
DENTAL
EMERGENCY
HEALTH CARE
LEGAL
LIBRARY
LODGING
Nice motel located within four-season resort community & golf course 2 mi. northeast of town (via Alpine Lake Road)
Oakland, MD (12 mi. east) has several motel options.
Kingwood, WV (12 mi. west) has several motel/hotel options.
POST OFFICE
Don't Kill the Messenger
Citizens with pitchforks and torches at the ready? Perhaps a more constructive activity is to focus that ire on those who own the eyesores and continue to take no action year after year.
Q&A
Q: You're not even from here—what gives you the right? A: We've owned property, operated a business, and/or resided within t
Don't Kill the Messenger
Citizens with pitchforks and torches at the ready? Perhaps a more constructive activity is to focus that ire on those who own the eyesores and continue to take no action year after year.
Q&A
Q: You're not even from here—what gives you the right? A: We've owned property, operated a business, and/or resided within town limits since the late 1980s and have extended family going back decades before that.
Leviticus 19:33-34
Q: If you don't have anything nice to say, why say anything at all? A: This website is a sincere effort to bring new energy and ideas to Terra Alta. We have said plenty of nice things, but anyone in touch with reality has to agree that, over recent decades, Terra Alta has been allowed to decay. Whether it has rotted from the inside out, the outside in, or both is a subject for debate.
Elon Musk (billionaire & Donald Trump supporter/advocate) says, "free speech is someone you DON'T like allowed to say something you DON'T like".
The Terra Alta Veterans Memorial is a tribute to all who served to protect & defend the U.S. Constitution. The first amendment of which guarantees the free speech rights of ALL citizens.
Terra Alta is rebuilding municipal services after resolving the budget-filing problem that interrupted the town’s property-tax collections. With those revenues again available, the town has appointed Justin Childers as police chief and plans to resume municipal court sessions.
Mayor Josh Dodge said the town is also working on road and drainage improvements near Terra Alta Community Park while reviewing town operations and expenses with an eye toward longer-term financial stability.
Source: Jacob Martin, Staff Writer, WV News, August 20, 2026. “Terra Alta Restores Police Chief and Municipal Judge Positions Following Tax Crisis.”
From a recent social media post from Mayor Dodge:
"I’m proud to share that our budget form has been updated, and we will be able to levy our taxes again beginning July 1, 2026. I confirmed this today in a call with the State Auditor’s Office. We will be holding our budget revision meeting and confirming the 26-27 budget for approval Thursday evening. "
"This outcome would not have been possible without the leadership and support of many. A sincere thank you to Senator Randy Smith for sponsoring the bill, the West Virginia State Senate for its unanimous passage, the House of Delegates for passing it with an overwhelming 92 votes, and the Governor for signing it into law."
"This legislation provides us with a path forward and corrects an outdated law that previously prevented towns from recovering from situations like ours. While they shouldn't happen, there now hope, where there was not."
In June 2025, Terra Alta voters reelected Mayor Dan Hauger, the only candidate on the ballot, with 59 votes. The reelection came despite a developing problem with the town’s Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget. Town officials later confirmed that Terra Alta failed to submit the required budget to the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office, despite multiple warnings and notices, including certified mail. Because the filing deadline passed, the town was unable to levy or collect municipal property taxes for the fiscal year, resulting in a loss of at least $200,000 in expected municipal revenue.
On July 1, 2025, the first day of the new mayoral term, Hauger resigned from office for a second time. The newly elected and seated Town Council then began an official search for an appointed replacement.
At an earlier special meeting, the Terra Alta Town Council had appointed former mayor Monk Tasker as interim mayor following the May 27, 2025 resignation of Mayor Hauger. In that resignation, Hauger wrote, “I have reached my mental and physical breaking point and feel that I am no longer capable of meeting the requirements of holding the position of mayor.”
Tasker was appointed to serve while the council conducted its search for a permanent replacement.
On July 15, 2025, the council appointed Josh Dodge as mayor to serve the remainder of the term. Following his appointment, Dodge said resolving the town’s budget crisis would be his administration’s top priority. His strategy has centered on seeking assistance from the governor’s office in Charleston and from local elected state representatives, with the goal of securing legislative or administrative relief during the 2026 West Virginia regular legislative session.
In an open letter to Governor Patrick Morrisey, Dodge appealed for assistance from the governor, state administrative agencies, and other officials who might help. The mayor emphasized that the town was not seeking charity, but assistance that could help the small community stabilize its finances and remain viable.
After a Dec. 2, 2025 social media post from Mayor Dodge stating that there had been an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter from the governor's office, updates from Town Hall regarding progress slowed to nary a trickle.
As of the publication of this article, five working days remain in the 2026 West Virginia legislative session.
A Facebook group used by the Town of Terra Alta to post municipal updates is currently configured as a “Private” group, meaning that only approved members can view posts and discussions.
According to the group’s description, the page is intended for updates concerning utility issues, Town Hall updates, and closures. The group was created on January 22, 2026, and currently has 214 members.
While anyone can find the group on Facebook, only members can see the content posted within it. If municipal announcements are being made through the group, residents who are not members may have no practical way to view those updates.
Transparency works best when the lights are on!
The good news: a new laundromat has opened at the west end of town.
The bad news: the town has lost its only full-service grocery store, which was also located at the west end.
In late January 2026, the Terra Alta Shop ’n Save Express announced on its social media page that it would close at the end of the month. No reason for the closure was provided.
Residents now must travel to Kingwood or Oakland to reach the nearest full-service grocery store.
As of publication, Town Hall had not commented on the closure.
This morning, May 27, 2025, Terra Alta Mayor Dan Hauger posted a resignation letter on the town’s official social media page. The letter stated:
"I regret to inform you that I have decided to resign from my position as Mayor of Terra Alta, effective immediately. I have reached my mental and physical breaking point and feel that I am no longer capable of meeting the requirements of holding the position of Mayor."
His resignation follows last week's chaos, sparked by an announcement from West Virginia state officials that the town's leadership missed several budget submission deadlines—despite multiple communications and warnings from the state—and may be disqualified from levying or collecting property taxes for the fiscal year spanning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This could result in a loss of over $200,000 in revenue for the town and potentially render it insolvent.
In a letter posted on May 23, 2025, on the Town of Terra Alta’s official social media page, the town’s current Recorder, Mikaela Bernard, announced her immediate resignation. Ms. Bernard apologized to the community for the missed budget submission deadlines, stating:
"I feel I owe everyone in this town a huge apology due to the budget being missed. I did not even know that it was a thing that needed to be completed until I was notified on May 12 while working on election things."
Ms. Bernard’s statement raises an important point: based on her account, town officials may have become aware of the budget submission issue as early as May 12, 2025. However, the first public report regarding the missed deadlines did not appear until a WBOY-TV story aired on May 16, 2025. This suggests the issue may have been known internally for several days before it became public. This raises the question of whether residents would have been informed of the situation without the media report.
Reports from locals about a Bigfoot/Sasquatch-like creature lurking in the wooded hills surrounding the small town of Terra Alta, WV, have been increasing. Several residents plan to install digital trail cameras in strategic locations in an attempt to capture images of the creature. Additionally, strange nighttime screams have reportedly been heard coming from the woods, and several small pets have been reported missing. Stay tuned for further updates.
According to a recent social media post by a former Terra Alta town official, the town may now hold the dubious distinction of being the only municipality in West Virginia history (161 years) to miss the state's mandatory budget filing deadline. As a result, Terra Alta has been disqualified from levying and collecting taxes for the 2025–2026 tax year, leading to a projected revenue loss of over $200,000.
A story on the WBOY TV website states that the town of Terra Alta has grossly missed the state’s filing deadline for submitting its FY 2025–2026 budget, despite multiple communications and prompts—including certified mail—from the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office and the State Tax Department.
As a result, it has been determined that the town will not be able to collect taxes for the July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, fiscal year. These taxes account for approximately 50% to 60% of the town’s operating revenue. In the town’s more than 100-year history, this is the first time the state’s budget filing deadline has been missed.
Mayor Dan Hauger responded to the WBOY story in a post on the town’s official social media page. He described the situation as a major oversight, partly due to a communications breakdown, and stated that, as the head of the town government, he accepts full responsibility for the error.
According to recent posts on the Mayor's social media page, a male pedestrian was struck by what is described as a "plow truck" somewhere along Shaffer St. near the intersection with E. State Ave. The driver did not stop and fled the scene. The victim sustained serious injuries, but is recovering. Again, relying on social media posts, the incident occurred in the late evening of Thursday, Jan. 16, into the early morning of Friday, Jan. 17. Anyone with information regarding the matter is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
According to WDTV News ( Jan. 17, 2025 at 4:11 PM EST ) - The city of Clarksburg, WV plans to use a nearly $400K grant received from West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to tear down abandoned houses. “They (i.e. abandoned houses) are dangerous for fires, especially in the colder months, when homeless possibly inhabit the homes, and build fires to stay warm, they're an eye sore, so they are a nuisance to the neighboring property owners,” “These structures appear to be declining in property value as well as neighboring properties,” said Jason Lane, Clarksburg City Project Director.
According to WDTV News (Jan. 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM EST) - Two nurses have been criminally charged in connection with the death of a Hopemont Hospital patient. The patient was exposed for a lengthy period of time to scalding hot water. He was transported to a burn trauma unit of a regional hospital, but later died as a result of his injuries. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:370,cg:true)
