General

Weyerhaeuser has released a community survey to gather ideas on how to invest $1 million in Upshur County through its THRIVE program. Company representatives are seeking broad community input on projects that will benefit the area for years to come.

Organizers say the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash will focus on affordable or free family activities in 2026, adding Lego building contests and donated Lego play areas alongside professional barbecue competition and live music.

Buckhannon’s mountain biking community is expanding with more trails, weekly group rides, youth teams and events aimed at bringing girls and new riders into the sport. Volunteers and local groups are building momentum through the Upshur County Trails system.

Farm Credit of the Virginias awarded $43,000 in grants to postsecondary institutions across Virginia and West Virginia to bolster hands-on training and prepare students for careers in agriculture, forestry and related industries.

Mountain Rail West Virginia will launch the Belington Winter Special on Jan. 18, 2026, offering a 90-minute scenic ride through the Tygart River Gorge on four select Sundays.

WVU’s annual Pumpkin Drop returns Oct. 31 as hundreds of students and more than 300 K-12 teams attempt to protect pumpkins during an 11-story fall. The event raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Morgantown and features STEM demonstrations and prizes.

Appalachian Impact will open a new downtown location on East Main Street next year, adding a children’s museum and interactive learning spaces for ages 0–10. The move aims to expand programs, deepen community partnerships and offer more accessible services.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission will hold virtual and in-person hearings on Hope Gas Inc.’s proposed $79.6 million (41%) rate increase. Public comment is Nov. 3; register by Oct. 31 to speak virtually or attend in person at PSC headquarters in Charleston.

The West Virginia EMS for Children Program held its second annual pediatric symposium Oct. 5-8, 2025, at Summit Bechtel Reserve, offering hands-on simulations, more than 30 classes and special programming to strengthen pediatric emergency care statewide.

The Local School Improvement Council of Tennerton Elementary urges leaders to halt a proposed consolidation that would merge two of the county’s largest elementary schools, citing safety, traffic and capacity concerns and questioning the project’s cost-effectiveness.