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

Kump Education Center to host Woodlands Heritage Lecture Series

The Woodlands Heritage Lecture Series at the Kump Education Center will feature four monthly lectures beginning Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the historic Kump House, Elkins. Speakers include, from left to right: Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy, Research Forester, U.S. Forest Service; Robert C. Whetsell, Archeologist, U.S. Forest Service; Eriks Brolis, Director of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives, The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia; and Kris Hennig, Partnership Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service.

ELKINS – The Kump Education Center, Elkins, is hosting a Woodlands Heritage Lecture Series beginning Wednesday, January 17 at 7 p.m. in the historic Kump House. The first lecture, “Where the Bison Once Roamed,” will feature Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy, Research Forester, U.S. Forest Service. The four monthly lectures in the series are supported by a grant from the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area and complement the current Wild, Wonderful Woods interpretive display at the Kump House.

Thomas-Van Gundy’s talk will illustrate the importance of mapping approximately 2,600 km of bison and elk trails in West Virginia using historical records, such as county histories and traveler’s accounts. “These large animals would have directly altered the landscape through their creation of paths and their consumption of vegetation,” Thomas-Van Gundy said.

“The ties between Native Americans and bison are still being explored for West Virginia, especially in the highlands where less is known about Native American resource use,” she explained. “This map of major bison trails is an important resource for telling a more complete story of the history of forests and woodlands of West Virginia.”

The lecture series focuses on the importance of the Appalachian highlands’ forest heritage, from the centuries-old bison trails to how it affects current and future West Virginia preservation and economic initiatives.

Other lectures in the series include: “Nature’s New Deal: Monongahela National Forest and the New Deal” Wednesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. with Robert C. Whetsell, Archeologist, U.S. Forest Service;  “Nature and the Economy in Appalachia” Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. with Eriks Brolis, Director of Economic Development & Strategic Initiatives at The Nature Conservancy of West Virginia; and “From Coal Mine to Forest: The Mower Tract Revival” Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. with Kris Hennig, Partnership Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service.

All the lectures in the series are free and open to the public. Attendees will also be able to explore the historic Kump House and the Wild, Wonderful Woods exhibits. The Kump House is located at 401 Randolph Ave., Elkins (across from Kroger) with parking access in the rear accessible by Seneca Road.

For more information about the KEC, visit kumpeducationcenter.org, the Kump Education Center FB page or email kumpec@gmail.com. The AFNHA grants were made possible by National Heritage Area funding through the National Park Service.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Earl W. Hamilton

Earl W. Hamilton, 91, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, longtime Stow resident and retired Stow Fire Department captain who worked into his 80s and loved outdoor pursuits, died November 4, 2025, and will be remembered by his children, grandchildren and extended family.

Football Bucs struggle to get going in 56-0 playoff loss to Morgantown

Morgantown defeated Buckhannon-Upshur 56-0 in a first-round playoff rout as the Mohigans piled up 435 yards and five first-half touchdowns while the Bucs managed just 81 yards and five first downs.

Wesleyan women open basketball campaign with 70-67 loss to Bloomsburg

West Virginia Wesleyan rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to force a tense finish but fell 70–67 to Bloomsburg after the Huskies sank perfect late free throws in the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge.
WVWC Volleyball

Wesleyan volleyball team sweeps Davis & Elkins; earns top seed in upcoming MEC Tournament

Wesleyan swept Davis & Elkins 3–0 to finish 11–4 in MEC play, secure the conference’s top seed over Charleston, and will host the Mountain East Conference Tournament next week.

West Virginia Wesleyan to host Festival of Lessons and Carols Nov. 30

West Virginia Wesleyan College will hold its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. The free event features musical performances, readings and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

St. Joseph’s Hospital introduces new Da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system

St. Joseph’s Hospital has successfully implemented the Da Vinci 5, Intuitive’s most advanced robotic surgical system, marking a major investment in innovation for the region. The hospital completed its first procedure with the new system on November 13, performed by Dr. Susan Long.

Larry Kemp Riley

Larry Kemp Riley, 50, of Crawford, WV, a hunter and Appalachian Forest Products employee, died Nov. 13, 2025; he is survived by his mother Betty Riley, son Joshua, two sisters, former wife Angela, and extended family.

Carpenter Crunch Time Week 12: Narduzzi said what?

This week, Duane talks about Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, who drew criticism for dismissing the Notre Dame game’s importance. Also, he recaps his weekend high school and college game predictions.

Football Bucs to open playoffs at No. 1 Morgantown

Buckhannon-Upshur (2-8) enters the Class AAAA playoffs as the No. 16 seed and will visit top-seeded Morgantown (9-1) Friday night, their first trip to the playoffs in nine years.