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

Duane Sikarskie named VIP at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Skip Gjolberg, President, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Sister Francesca Lowis, Vice President of Mission Integration, present Duane Sikarskie with the VIP award.
Skip Gjolberg, President, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Sister Francesca Lowis, Vice President of Mission Integration, present Duane Sikarskie with the VIP award.

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – St. Joseph’s Hospital recently honored Duane Sikarskie with the Valued Inspired Person Award (VIP) for the hospital. Duane is the Director of Physical Therapy and inspires his patients daily to make progress in their rehabilitation.

His co-workers say that he is a profoundly caring person with a positive attitude that is infectious and joyous. He takes a real interest and concern in his patients regaining their physical abilities and delivers excellent physical therapy. Duane goes above and beyond, truly listening to his patients and seeing them as valuable people. He provides support to them as they strive for improvement, while also conferring dignity to each patient. It is clear that his patients really matter to him. He is a fantastic part of the healing ministry of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

St. Joseph’s Hospital honors staff members with the Valued Inspired Person Award (VIP) on a bimonthly basis. The VIP Award is given to those who demonstrate the Christ values of the hospital: Compassion, Hospitality, Reverence, Interdependence, Stewardship, and Trust. 

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Local Rotary club expands soft-plastics recycling drop-off sites in Upshur County

The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur has added more drop-off locations for its soft-plastics recycling project, keeping thousands of pounds out of local landfills. The effort helps fund balers and inclusive playground equipment made from recycled materials.

WVWC Center for Community Engagement & Leadership Development to host Community Labs on fundraising, marketing

WVWC’s Center for Community Engagement & Leadership Development is hosting free Community Labs to help local nonprofits, mission-driven groups, and businesses strengthen fundraising and marketing.

Upshur County Board of Education Agenda: January 20, 2026

The Upshur County Board of Education will hold a meeting January 20, 2026, and this notice outlines the agenda for that session.

Upshur County Convention & Visitors Bureau seeking executive director

Upshur County Convention & Visitors Bureau is hiring an executive director to lead tourism development, marketing and community engagement.

Basketball ‘Cats have no answers for UC’s offense in 100-58 setback

Charleston rolled to a 100–58 Mountain East Conference win over West Virginia Wesleyan, led by Matthew Shelton’s 20 points and strong depth as the Bobcats fell to 0–14.

Wesleyan women drop game at the buzzer to Charleston, 53-51

West Virginia Wesleyan fell 53-51 to Charleston after a final-second layup, despite Sydney Baird’s 14 points and Kilah Dandridge’s 12 points and five assists in a tightly contested Mountain East Conference game.

Tucker and Pingley record double-doubles as B-U secures first win of the year with a 58-43 victory over Robert C. Byrd

Madelyn Tucker and Emma Pingley each posted double-doubles as Buckhannon-Upshur earned its first win, defeating Robert C. Byrd 58-43 behind Tucker’s 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Election Update: The latest local candidate filings as of January 14

Candidate filings are underway for the May 12, 2026, Primary Election, with early entries for county commission, school board and city recorder. The filing deadline is Jan. 31, 2026.

Winter weather advisory issued for Upshur County as snow moves in

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Upshur County from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 1 p.m. Thursday as a fast-moving system could bring 2–4 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph.