Coronavirus

Randolph Co. Schools to begin B.O.A.T. routes

ELKINS — Randolph County Schools will begin new Bus Operator Assistance Team, or B.O.A.T., routes next week, designed to help students and parents send in schoolwork or communicate with the schools during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The B.O.A.T. routes will allow “parents/students may place a message or schoolwork in a sealed envelope and hand it to the driver,” an RCS press release states. “Be sure that the name of the desired recipient is on the outside of the envelope.” “If a parent/student has a need or concern of any kind, please write that on a piece of paper ...

Randolph child COVID-19 cases rising

ELKINS — Local and state officials are pleading with the public to be extra cautious this week as positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise and death numbers are still climbing in West Virginia. As of Monday afternoon, there were 132 positive active cases in Randolph County, a jump from the 98 that were reported at this time last week. Statewide there were 13,678 active cases. State officials report there have been 28 coronavirus-related deaths since Friday. “We have had more positive cases reported in children the past week than in all the months before,” Bonnie Woodrum, the ...

West Virginia conducts more than 1 million COVID-19 tests

CHARLESTON — West Virginia continues to post significant COVID-19 testing numbers, with more than 40,000 test results reported over the weekend and more than 1 million tests since the pandemic first started. According to data from the Department of Health and Human Resources, the total ...

French Creek Elementary staff member tests positive

BUCKHANNON — The following press statement from Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Sara Stankus was released Friday evening: “Families, Students, Staff of Upshur County Schools: “Upshur County Schools and the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department received confirmation that a staff member at French Creek Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19. The Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department has been working closely with Upshur County Schools and identified persons who have had close contact with them including students, staff, family members and friends. Those that ...

Free Testing Offered at Fire Department

State prepares for possible vaccine distribution

CHARLESTON — With West Virginia’s COVID-19 cases at record highs, Gov. Jim Justice said the announcement that a vaccine could be available for limited distribution in December was much-needed news. Speaking during his Friday coronavirus briefing, Justice said the state is prepared to distribute vaccines when they come available. Until then, Justice encouraged West Virginians to keep doing the things required to limit the spread of the virus. “As soon as this vaccine is available, we will be absolutely distributing it in West Virginia,” Justice said. “Until that vaccine is ...