Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for May 9, 2025

West Virginia Wesleyan closed the season with grit at the 2026 GMAC/MEC Swimming Championships in Canton, finishing ninth on the men’s side (255 points) and 10th for the women.

Buckhannon-Upshur held steady at No. 8 in this week’s WVSACA Class AAAA boys’ basketball poll, earning 52 points after a 3-1 week. The Bucs beat Elkins, Grafton and Parkersburg, with their lone loss coming to Class AA No. 3 Bluefield at a neutral site.

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.