News

Hope Scholarships nearly double locally, statewide

Local News September 18, 2026

ELKINS – Hope Scholarship participation in Upshur and Randolph counties has roughly doubled over last year, mirroring the trend across the state after a new rule was introduced this year allowing all K-12 resident students to participate. Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Tim Derico has announced that the county's Hope Scholarship participation rose from 146 students last year to 273 this year, nearly doubling. On Sept. 2, Randolph County Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Lambert gave the Board of Education an update on the county's Hope Scholarship numbers. “Hope ...

Community Calendar

Communities September 18, 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 ...

Power plant emissions rules repeal raises questions

Local News September 17, 2026

CHARLESTON – West Virginia’s political leaders were quick to praise a move by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back Biden-era rules limiting emissions by electric power plants in the state and across the nation, though advocates for clean air warned about the health ...

BOE to distribute funds from closed schools

Local News September 17, 2026

ELKINS - The Randolph County Board of Education learned Tuesday night how the leftover funds from the two county schools which were closed this year will be spent. During Tuesday night's BOE meeting, Randolph County Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Lambert broke down for the BOE which schools will be receiving money from the leftover funds from Harman K-12 School and North Elementary School, which were both permanently closed after the 2025-26 school year. Each Randolph County public school has a General Fund account, which includes money received from donations, carnivals and other ...

Harman arson case will move forward to grand jury

Local News September 17, 2026

ELKINS — A grand jury will hear the case involving a Randolph County man accused of setting an illegal fire as an “offering to God." Emanuel Arthur Huffman, 36, is charged with one count of arson - setting fire on lands, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional ...

Lawmakers push to protect aging coal plants

Local News September 17, 2026

CHARLESTON – Lawmakers, state regulators and utilities are trying to ensure West Virginia’s aging coal-fired power plants continue to provide base-load energy into the regional energy grid. The Joint Committee on Energy and Public Works heard from officials with the Office of Energy, the ...