Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for August 15, 2026
West Virginia Wesleyan was picked ninth in the 2026 Mountain East Conference preseason football poll. Reigning co-champion Frostburg State received eight first-place votes to lead the rankings.
A man and woman were arrested after deputies were shown a video that allegedly depicted a home with unsafe and unsanitary conditions for a child living there.
Stanley Eugene Wilt, 68, of French Creek, passed away at his home on August 8, 2026. A retired West Virginia Department of Highways employee, he cherished music, antiques, WVU sports, and time with his grandchildren.
Cleanup and monitoring continue at the Parkersburg fire site. Agricultural sampling found no contaminants in residential water and only low levels in soil, produce, vegetation and honey, with no results exceeding federal action levels.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $3 million grant to WV VOAD to aid disaster recovery and unmet needs. The funding follows his southern West Virginia tour highlighting water, bridge and other infrastructure challenges.
Jawbone Park and North Buckhannon Riverfront Park will reopen September 4 after extensive cleanup, sanitation and safety checks following July flooding. The reopening restores two key gathering spaces in time for Labor Day weekend.