BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission was challenged to participate in an upcoming polar plunge.

Alisa Lively attended Thursday’s commission meeting to talk about the Upshur County Special Olympics and their upcoming events.

“As you may know, the Upshur County Special Olympics is very important to me and a passion of mine,” Lively said. “We have about 50 athletes in the county who are active in 11 sports, and we practice year-round. We have great partnerships with the college and different facilities that allow us to use their facilities to practice.”

Athletes range from eight years old and up, and the organization has reached out to the Upshur County Board of Education to recruit new members.

“We’re currently practicing for cheerleading, basketball individual skills and basketball team,” Lively said. “Wesleyan is actually hosting a regional competition on Feb. 12. It’s always fun to see them engage with the college athletes, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be serving as referees and scorekeepers.”

Lively said the purpose of her visit was to discuss an upcoming fundraiser for uniforms, supplies and travel.

“We are joining Wheeling, Ripley, Hurricane and Morgantown to offer the first polar plunge in Buckhannon,” Lively said. “Tasha [Carrico] wanted to challenge Commissioner Tenney, Bush or Nolte, or maybe County Administrator Tabatha or Cindy, to represent the county and take the plunge that day.”

Lively said Mayor Robbie Skinner and Wesleyan’s interim president Dr. James Moore have both agreed to participate in the event on Feb. 11.

Buckhannon’s Polar Plunge gets underway at the Riverwalk boat ramp with registration at 12:30 p.m.; a costume contest at 1:30 p.m.; and the plunge at 2 p.m. with awards for fundraising and costumes to follow.

Every participant must raise at least $50 to plunge (participants receive a T-shirt); at the $200 level, plungers earn a tumbler and a T-shirt; $250 gets participants a fleece, a tumbler and a T-shirt; and anyone who raises $500 earns a gift certificate for dinner, plus a fleece, tumbler and T-shirt.

Commissioner Doug Bush said he would take the plunge if his fellow commissioners joined him.

In other Upshur County Commission news:

• The commission approved an electronic application submission to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Spay Neuter Assistance Program on behalf of the Lewis Upshur Animal Control Facility.
• The commission approved and signed the Homeland Security Grant Contract Agreement, Resolution, Certifications and Standard Conditions and Assurances. The grant award is in the sum of $66,571 to be used for the purchase of SWAT equipment during the grant period of September 1, 2022, through August 31, 2025.
• The commission approved the purchase and installation of a new AS400 system from Software Systems Incorporated in the amount of $52,472, including a 3-year hardware warranty and software maintenance agreement.
• The commission approved and signed the Web Service Sales Agreement – Revize Superior Web Design and Content Management.
• The commission approved and adopted the 2023 Standard Mileage Rates- Effective Jan. 1, 2023.
• The commission approved the employment of Debra A. Hull as Deputy County Clerk effective Jan. 1, 2023.