Mayor Robbie Skinner administers the oath of office to Buckhannon City Council's newest member, Shelia Lewis-Sines Wednesday morning in council chambers.

Sines sworn in as seventh Buckhannon City Council member

BUCKHANNON – Mayor Robbie Skinner swore in Shelia Lewis-Sines as a member of Buckhannon City Council Wednesday.

Sines was selected to fill the vacated seat of Mary Albaugh during the Aug. 19 city council meeting.

“We have a special occasion today. It is more of a fun time to be mayor, instead of handling all of the complaints and problems of our city, we get to bring somebody new on to be a part of our organization,” Skinner said at the Aug. 25 swearing-in ceremony. “Shelia Lewis-Sines will be sworn in today as our brand new city council member, and we’re excited to have her.”

“Shelia was the next highest vote-receiver from the previous 2020 election, only missing the seat by six votes, so she’s deserving of the seat and she’s ready to serve,” the mayor added.

Skinner said the job isn’t easy, but everyone on the city council wants to do what is best for the community.

“She and I have already had several conversations about what this job entails and what’s going to be coming at her, from folks calling and saying my street needs fixed, my waterline needs fixed, this tree needs to come down and the dog won’t stop barking, so congratulations,” Skinner said. “We’re all up here together. We do this because we love this community, and we want to do what’s best for this community and when we come in here, we put all of our personal biases and things aside and we have to do what’s right for all the people that live here and work here and contribute to this community.”

Mayor Robbie Skinner and councilwoman Shelia Lewis-Sines pose for a photo in front of the City of Buckhannon seal.

Sines said she looks forward to working with everyone at the city and appreciated the support she has received.

“I just want to thank you guys so much for coming and supporting me in this. It’s going to be a journey and I would appreciate everybody working with me,” Sines said. “I truly love this city, and I think everybody that’s here today knows that. And all I want is what’s best for it — and I’m going to try my best to support the city in every way possible, and I’m ready to do so.”

Sines said she does not have any immediate, specific goals, but she wants to represent the people of Buckhannon in the best way she can.

“The only thing that I want to accomplish is doing the will of the people — that’s it, just serving Buckhannon and being the voice for the people who asked me to serve them,” she said. “I have no agendas, no goals — just what’s best for Buckhannon. My father asked me in years past — he’s gone now and it makes me a little sad to say that he was one of my biggest supporters for this — and I’ve been asked by several people to run, so I finally just said, I think it’s time.”

Sines’s appointed position on the council will last through May 2022 when Albaugh’s term would have expired, but she can then run in the city election for a regular four-year term if she chooses.

Wednesday’s swearing-in will enable Sines to participate in city council’s next bimonthly meeting, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 in council chambers of city hall.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Buckhannon man held on $100,000 bail after being arrested on multiple drug charges

BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested Saturday after several illegal substances were allegedly found in his residence. Bryan Shaw, 41, of Buckhannon, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with […]

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!

Buckhannon City Council approves $6.5 million-dollar budget prioritizing public safety, infrastructure

BUCKHANNON – City council passed the largest budget in Buckhannon’s history Tuesday, with the two largest allocations once again earmarked for public safety operations and infrastructure maintenance, respectively. At its March 14 meeting – rescheduled from March 16 due to […]

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!

Police arrest man they say was the driver in 2022 pursuit that ended in a wreck with two people ejected

BUCKHANNON – A Rock Cave man was arrested for allegedly fleeing from police officers in a vehicle, injuring himself and a passenger. Elijah Carpenter, 27, of Rock Cave was arrested Thursday for fleeing from an officer and fleeing or attempting […]

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 get one-hit by Lincoln’s Haller in season debut

TENNERTON – For their season opener, the Buckhannon-Upshur softball Lady Bucs ran into one of the top pitchers in the state in Lincoln’s Delaney Haller. Haller was the Big 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year last season and was captain […]

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 ‘Cats get home doubleheader split with ABU

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team split with the Alderson Broaddus Battlers Monday, winning 7-2 in the first game and losing 7-0 in the second game. The bats were alive in Game

Inexperienced tennis Bucs fall in first two outings of 2023 season

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur tennis Buccaneers dropped their first two outings of the year last week. They opened their season at home last Thursday with a 7-0 setback to Robert C. Byrd and then went to Bridgeport Saturday and dropped […]

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 open season with win over Robert C. Byrd and narrow loss to John Marshall

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team is off to a 1-1 start to the season and was just an eyelash away from being a perfect 2-0. The Lady Bucs hosted Robert C. Byrd last Thursday and won a […]

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

Working in service: WVU research reaches all of West Virginia

Breakthroughs and research expertise nurtured at West Virginia University extend far beyond its labs, experimental sites and classrooms. In fact, WVU research efforts are unique compared to most universities, according to Vice President for Research Fred King. “While

Fairmont State University selects 2023 Presidential Scholarship winners

Three incoming Fairmont State University freshmen have been selected as the recipients of Fairmont State’s premier academic scholarship, the Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship. Sophie Stuart from Jefferson High School (Charles town, W.VA), Hailey Jordan

WVDEP hosting students on World Water Day

CHARLESTON, WV – In an effort to enrich students’ understanding of the importance of clean water, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is hosting a water education event for area grade schools on