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Community Calendar

Communities September 17, 2026

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Community Calendar is reserved for nonprofit, civic organizations. Unless otherwise noted, events listed should be considered free and open to the public. Entries appear in chronological order as space allows. GRAND FEATURE PARADE SEATS: Forest Festival Grand Feature Parade seats will be available at the Otterbein United Methodist Church at 1100 South Davis Avenue in Elkins. The seats are for the Oct. 3 parade and are on sale. Parade seats may be reserved by calling the church office at 304-636-0569, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All seats must be ...

Committee receives updates on tax collections

Local News September 17, 2026

CHARLESTON – Members of the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Finance were updated Tuesday on the latest regarding general revenue fund tax collections and federal Rural Health Transformation grants on the last day of interim meetings. Department of Revenue Cabinet ...

Landmark conservation deal protects 38,000 WV acres

Local News September 17, 2026

CHARLESTON — Thirty-eight thousand acres of West Virginia forestland will remain permanently protected under what the West Virginia Land Trust is calling the largest private conservation project in state history. The Land Trust has finalized five conservation easements covering land in Monroe, Summers and Fayette counties, with additional acreage in Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. The easements keep the land under forest cover forever, require sustainable timber management, and protect 81 miles of streams and rivers, while leaving open the possibility of expanded public recreation ...

New Pastor's Perspective

Local News September 17, 2026

ELKINS - If the Rev. Father Babu Joseph Elamturuthil, the new pastor of St. Brendan and St. Patrick Catholic churches, were going to write the word serve, it would likely be in all capital letters or underlined, or maybe both. That’s because that one word is the essence of how he lives the ...

Steelers' chaplain to speak at WVWC

Local News September 16, 2026

BUCKHANNON — West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will host Kent Chevalier, chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers and author of “Do It Afraid” on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. Born and raised in the Pittsburgh region, Chevalier dedicated ...

Upshur County grand jury indicts 26

Local News September 16, 2026

BUCKHANNON – A total of 26 individuals were named in indictments by an Upshur County grand jury this week, on charges including malicious assault, strangulation and incest. Gary Matthew Gundersen, 43, of Buckhannon, was indicted for soliciting a minor via computer; two counts of use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor; failure to provide notice of change to required sex offender registration information, lifetime registrant; and sexual assault in the third degree, all felonies. Lee Auston Godbey, 29, of Summersville, was indicted on two counts of distribution and ...