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

Police chief, council congratulates VIPS for their dedication to serving community

BUCKHANNON – About half the events the Volunteers in Police Service typically assist the Buckhannon Police Department with were canceled for pandemic-related reasons in 2020, the group’s coordinator said Thursday.

Nonetheless, they remained, as ever, an invaluable asset to the Buckhannon Police Department and community at large, VIPS coordinator Steve Wykoff and Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory said.

Gregory and Wykoff appeared via video conference from the Public Safety Complex at Thursday’s Buckhannon City Council meeting to conduct a recognition and appreciation ceremony for the city’s 15 VIPS members. Dialed into council chambers, Wykoff and Gregory recognized members of the VIPS, which is a volunteer wing of the BPD that typically assists with crowd control, traffic control, administrative tasks and more.

Prior to recognizing VIPS members, Wykoff delivered the 2020 Annual Report, saying 63 events which VIPS members had planned to work were canceled. The organization – which gained three members in 2020 to take its total up to 15 – was able to assist with just 78 events in 2020, compared to the typical 120-130.

“Twenty-seven of the 78 events we attended were public health-related events, such as free testing drive-thrus,” Wykoff reported. “We put in 1,515 hours – which is about half of what we did in 2019, but that’s still a lot of officers [the police department was able] to send to other situations during those times that we were on duty, potentially saving the city on extra overtime that would have had to be paid to those officers.”

Wykoff honored six members who had earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award with a certificate and pin. The distinguished award is based on a threshold of volunteer hours worked and honorees included Wykoff (396.5 hours), Jewel Fisher (143 hours), David Rowan (156 hours), Evelyn Syski (196.5 hours), Vito Syski (213.5) and Andi Cartier (141 hours).

Those six members and other members – including Anita Coleman, Scott Coleman, Linda Coleman, Paul Coleman, Joe Dillon, Allen Nash, Sydney McDonald, Morgan Cox and Brittney Wood – all received certificates of appreciation from the City of Buckhannon.

Gregory said he is continuously grateful for the VIPS members’ service.

“On behalf of myself and every officer in the Buckhannon Police Department, I would like to send a heartfelt thank-you,” the police chief said. “I say this repeatedly, but you all are an invaluable asset, not just to the police department but to the entire community. You truly go above and beyond in everything that you so freely give.”

Buckhannon mayor Robbie Skinner concurred.

“There are many events that our community has in a non-COVID year that we definitely could not successfully pull off without the dedicated members of the VIPS,” Skinner said. “We appreciate everything that they do for us, and I think it’s important every year that we make sure that we pause to make sure we recognize their service here in the community and their assistance to you as the police department, so thank you to everyone who’s involved with the VIPS.”

Read more about the VIPS program and its members here.

In other Buckhannon Police Department-related news, Gregory reported that the city’s newest probationary police officer hire, James Fisher, was invited to begin his 10-week training at the West Virginia State Police Academy Jan. 15, 2021.

Gregory said he was thrilled at the news, having been worried that the new officer might not be able to start training until spring due to a backlog of candidates due to COVID-19.

“This is great news,” the police chief said. “He stays there for 10 weeks – stays in what’s called ‘the bubble’ – and then the training concludes at the beginning of April. Then, he will undergo 12 weeks of field training with the police department.”

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Man faces new charge related to stolen UTV from Barbour County

Travis Medina, 41, of Buckhannon, faces a new charge of receiving or transferring stolen goods after authorities found a UTV reportedly stolen from Barbour County.

River Fest returns in August with free food, live music and paddling for the whole community

River Fest will return August 23 with free food, live music, beginner kayaking, and community activities for all ages, aiming to attract 200 attendees and celebrate the Buckhannon River in memory of its founder, April Keating.

On the City of Buckhannon calendar: June 30 – July 4, 2025

Buckhannon has announced upcoming public meetings, July 4th holiday closures, a community celebration and fireworks, yard waste collection dates, and information on utility payments and city service requests available online.

Buckhannon City Council Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting scheduled for July 3, 2025.

Deloris Y. Jack

Deloris Jack, 91, a homemaker and Lifetime Member of the Upshur County E.M.S., passed away June 28, 2025, leaving behind her son, sister, extended family, and a legacy of community service.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Director of Nursing earns Nurse Executive Board certification

Karla Tucker, Director of Nursing at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, has earned the prestigious Nurse Executive-Board Certified credential, reflecting her leadership and commitment to excellence in nursing practice and patient care.

WVWC’s new director of technical theatre finds passion in set design

Boyd Wolz, an experienced set designer and educator with credits in theatre, film, and television, has been appointed as West Virginia Wesleyan College’s new director of technical theatre.

Upshur County Public Library awarded $20K AARP grant to launch digital literacy classes for older adults

The Upshur County Public Library has received a $20,000 AARP grant to offer free digital literacy classes for adults 50 and older, providing computer skills training both at the library and via a mobile classroom.

Barbara Ann Dawson

Barbara Ann Dawson, 85, a longtime French Creek Elementary reading aide and active church and Eastern Star member, died June 27 at home, survived by her three sons, grandchildren, and many loved ones.