Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for February 12, 2025

Upshur County’s spelling bee came down to a two-person battle after tough words thinned the field early, with the crowd hanging on every letter. Parker Wood sealed his second straight win by nailing “cadre” after a tense back-and-forth battle with Jenna Nguyen.

WVU Medicine neurologist Tyler Skidmore, a lifelong registered organ donor inspired by his mother’s transplants, never expected to need a kidney himself.

WV DMV’s Mobile ID has topped 30,000 users, offering a state-approved digital driver’s license you can carry on your phone for quick, contact-free scans. With added security and privacy features, it’s accepted at more places.

West Virginia Department of Health named Dr. Carrie Jeffries as Director and Dr. Soumya Prasad as Deputy Director of the Rural Health Transformation Program, starting Feb. 17, 2026.

Bobby Cobb was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for making interstate threats and unlawfully possessing a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Fairmont State is teaming up with Saxbys to open West Virginia’s first fully student-led café in fall 2026, turning daily operations into a high-impact, credit-supported leadership lab.