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Five deputies in Upshur County were promoted during a recent commission meeting at the courthouse. Sheriff Mike Coffman praised their professionalism and said the office will be fully staffed by the end of October.
Engineers say Buckhannon’s 1960s water plant is past its prime. A feasibility study concluded that building a new facility near the current site will be cheaper in the long run than repeated retrofits.
The City of Buckhannon Water Board recently met with the local PSDs to update them on the upcoming rate hike needed to pay for a new water plant, saying the increased cost for water would apply equally to city customers and the PSDs.
Upshur County marked an official Mountaineer Mile trail at Upshur County Recreation Park in Tennerton, part of a statewide effort encouraging West Virginians to walk at least one mile daily and build healthier habits.
Buckhannon officials are explaining a three-step water rate increase set to begin Jan. 1, 2026, to help finance a new treatment plant. City leaders say only the water portion of combined utility bills will rise; the hike is needed to fund the $47 million project.
Upshur County Schools has applied for a nearly $19 million project to expand and modernize Buckhannon Academy Elementary, potentially accommodating Tennerton Elementary students if that school closes.
Buckhannon Patrolman Cole Bender received the Buckhannon Police Department’s Life-Saving Award after locating and rescuing a missing 2-year-old autistic toddler on July 21. His quick thinking and foot patrol efforts helped avert a dangerous outcome as darkness fell.
A West Virginia Department of Education official told the Upshur County Board of Education the state may begin incrementally returning control to the county board in February 2026 if academic progress and cleanup of prior findings continue to improve.
Maria Potter became the first woman in the Buckhannon Fire Department’s history to be promoted to lieutenant after a competitive civil service process. She was pinned by her husband, volunteer firefighter Brian Potter.
Buckhannon City Council approved a Water Revenue Bond Anticipation Note of up to $6 million and named Ohio Valley Bank as the city’s bank of record to finance design, land acquisition and pre-construction for a future water treatment plant.
Buckhannon City Council voted to rescind a previous motion that would have required zoning applications for nearly all property modifications. Council opted to table the proposal for further review.
