Upshur County Courthouse
The Upshur County Courthouse / File photo by Katie Kuba

Courthouse, other county facilities to reopen Monday, Oct. 26

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission voted Thursday to reopen the courthouse Monday Oct. 26 in accordance with its regular COVID-19 operations.

The commission made the decision during the Oct. 22 county commission meeting, after having most county facilities closed to due to high COVID-19 case numbers. Commissioner Kristie Tenney said facilities should reopen because case numbers were down.

“Currently, with the numbers and percentage being where they are and we are coming up on the end of the month, I think it would be nice if we could open back up,” Tenney said. “Since it’s the end of the month, it would be nice if the tax office and the assessor’s office was open.”

Tenney did ask if Upshur County Clerk Carol Smith wanted to keep her office on an appointment-only basis due to early voting, but Smith said she would rather her office reopen as well.

Early voting started Oct. 21 and goes through Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Upshur County Courthouse located at 40 West Main Street. Office hours for early voting are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Commissioners voted Oct. 5 to approve a new policy that would limit the courthouse and other county properties to essential business only when the WVDE school map shows Upshur County as red. The school map refers to the West Virginia Department of Education’s School Alert System: Saturday Education Map that is released for the week at 5 p.m. each Saturday, but county administrator Carrie Wallace said the county was green during the Oct. 22 meeting, so they doubted it would be red on Saturday.

“I can tell you if for some reason we’re red on the school map, then I’d say they’re going to have another meeting,” Wallace said. “What they voted on today was that the courthouse would reopen on Monday, and we’re green, so it would be pretty difficult to go all the way back to red at this point.”

The commissioners reiterated people should try to conduct any business that can be accomplished over the phone or online. Tenney made the motion to reopen county facilities Monday and commissioner Sam Nolte seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Free COVID-19 testing will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 in the Buckhannon-Upshur High School parking lot.

Here’s a handy list of numbers:

  • For emergencies: Dial 911
  • Assessor: 304-472-4650
  • Circuit Clerk: 304-472-2370
  • Circuit Court: 304-472-5556 / 304-472-0195
  • Commission: 304-472-0535
  • County Clerk: 304-472-1068
  • E911 Communications Center: 304-472-9550
  • Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 304-472-4983
  • Family Court: 304-472-1065 / 304-269-0432
  • Floodplain/Building Permits: 304-472-1673
  • Magistrate Clerk: 304-472-2053
  • Sheriff’s Department: 304-472-1182
  • Tax Office/Fire Fee: 304-472-1180

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Upshur County Courthouse

County approves $11.5-million-dollar budget, which includes several earmarked ARPA-funded projects

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission’s budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year saw increases in the regional jail bill and increases to PEIA premiums, but commissioners were still able to provide 3 percent raises across elected officials’ departments. Upshur County […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Softball Lady Bucs roll Preston in three innings, 20-3

KINGWOOD – After getting just one hit and shutout in their opener against Lincoln on Monday, the Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs had no offensive shortage against the Preston Knights in a 20-3 demolition Wednesday evening in Kingwood in Big 10 Conference […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Lady Buc netters tumble to regional foes Wheeling Park and University

BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team squared off against a pair of regional powerhouses on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday at the West Virginia Wesleyan courts, they lost a 6-1 decision to Wheeling Park then on Tuesday on […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Tennis Bucs drop regional outings to Wheeling Park and University

BUCKHANNON – Playing in one of the toughest regions in the state isn’t going to do Buckhannon-Upshur head tennis coach Jason Rock and his young Buccaneer any favors this year, and he and his squad had to face two of […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Baseball Bucs run past Preston in 16-6 victory

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur baseball Buccaneers 10-runned their second opponent in as many days to start the season after downing the Preston Knights by a 16-6 score in five innings of action Tuesday evening at William E. Phillips Memorial Field. […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

WVU researchers working to get people with hip pain moving

Although it’s well known that regular exercise can reduce musculoskeletal pain, some chronic pain sufferers avoid it hoping to minimize their symptoms. One West Virginia University researcher aims to change this behavior in people experiencing