All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Buckhannon resident named SJMH Employee of the Month

Amanda Ball
Amanda Ball

Amanda Ball, of the nursing department, has been selected as the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Employee of the Month for January 2019. She came to SJMH in April 2008 in nursing and works on the SJMH Medical/Surgical Unit.

Ball is a graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School. She received an Associate Degree of Nursing from Davis and Elkins College, in Elkins. Before receiving her college degree she received training as a nurses’ aide from Fred Eberle technical school, in Buckhannon. 

Her parents are Randy Chidester and Delories Karickhoff, both of Buckhannon. She and her husband, Michael, have three children – Kaiden, 14, Kayson, 12, and Kynzie, 6. The couple own Triple K Kustoms, in Buckhannon.

Amanda had several nominators for her honor.

One wrote, “Amanda is always offering and willing to help anyone.  She is kind and compassionate to her patients. Her smile and funny personality always make my day better. She is a joy to work with.”

Another nominator wrote, “You can be having the busiest day ever and Amanda ‘always’ has a positive attitude and a smile on her face. It is a pleasure to work with her.”

Amanda’s supervisor related, “Amanda is charge nurse of the department and runs the department efficiently and has the respect of all the physicians. She will take a patient assignment if needed, along with her charge nurse duties. She receives nothing but compliments from patients, co-workers, and physicians.”

The honoree was equally complimentary of SJMH and noted that she truly enjoys everyone with whom she works.

“This is a real family atmosphere. We come together and work well with each other. I couldn’t ask for more,” she said.

With three children, Amanda and her husband spend a lot of time with their children’s extracurricular activities and sporting events. She loves to spend time with her family and especially loves camping in the summer. In the little time left, she helps her husband with his shop. 

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

City of Buckhannon calendar for the week of January 19, 2026

Buckhannon’s week of Jan. 19 includes MLK Day closures (waste collection still on schedule), curbside recycling pickup Tuesday at 6 a.m., and a Consolidated Public Works meeting Thursday with in-person and virtual options.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

This week’s Upshur County sports calendar lists middle and high school basketball, wrestling, and college matchups for Jan. 19–25, highlighted by multiple Buckhannon-Upshur and West Virginia Wesleyan contests.

Basketball ‘Cats gain first win off the year as they beat West Virginia State, 97-91

West Virginia Wesleyan earned its first win of the season, defeating West Virginia State 97-91 behind Jerell Jean-Baptiste’s 32 points, hot three-point shooting, and a 30-of-37 performance from the free-throw line.

Wesleyan women use strong second half to pull away from Yellow Jackets for 86-67 win

Wesleyan erupted for 33 third-quarter points and shot 55.2 percent overall to defeat West Virginia State 86–67, led by Emma Witt’s 31 points, as the Lady Bobcats improved to 8–4 (6–3 MEC).

Buckhannon honors 99-year-old Rosie the Riveter with key to the city

Buckhannon honored 99-year-old Neva Lee Reed Snyder, a WWII Rosie the Riveter who helped keep American aircraft flying, with the city’s highest honor: the key to the city. Unable to attend, family accepted as Mayor Robbie Skinner praised her courage, patriotism and legacy.

This week’s Hank Ellis All-Stars: Olivia Blonn and Xavier Robinette

Olivia Blonn and Xavier Robinette have been named Hank Ellis All-Stars for their outstanding performances in wrestling and basketball.

Upshur County recovers $300,000 in taxes as delinquent property owners beat deadline

Upshur County officials say most delinquent 2024 property tax accounts were paid before the Nov. 1 deadline. Chief Tax Deputy Heather Sparks outlined what was redeemed and how taxpayers can still reclaim property through the State Auditor’s Office.

Westfall reaches 1,000-point milestone as Bucs roll past Wheeling Park, 67-57

Senior Jerin Westfall scored a game-high 34 points, reached the 1,000-point career mark, and hauled in 15 rebounds as Buckhannon-Upshur defeated Wheeling Park 67-57.

Strawberry Festival Queen Kourtney Jones crowned 2026 WV Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen

Wesleyan nursing student and 2025 Strawberry Festival Queen Kourtney Jones was crowned the 2026 West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen on Jan. 10 in Charleston. She’ll serve as the statewide ambassador for fairs and festivals throughout 2026.