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

WAMSB officials kick off regional tour to discuss competition’s impact, raise funds

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Officials with the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) spoke with commissioners in Harrison and Randolph County regarding tourism and economic impacts the 2023 Buckhannon competition will bring to the region.

The visits to the Harrison County and Randolph County Commissions, which also included funding requests, were the first in several planned visits to counties that will be directly impacted by the thousands of visitors expected to attend the competition.

“We anticipate thousands of international visitors in attendance for the championship,” said Randy Sanders, president of the WAMSB 2023 Host Committee. “That number of visitors will have immediate economic impacts in Upshur and surrounding counties.”

When they aren’t competing, attendees and their guests will have the opportunity to visit shops, restaurants and take part in different recreation opportunities across the region.

Sanders added that the event brings the opportunity for long-term tourism and economic development through relationships built with international entities, dignitaries, and others from abroad. To that end, additional meetings were held with the Randolph County Development Authority and Elkins-Randolph Chamber of Commerce and the Harrison County Economic Development Corporation and the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce.

“The meetings that we have held so far have led to great conversations about how we can leverage our resources and connections in West Virginia to not only put on a fantastic event but to create long-term impact across our state,” explained Sanders.

To date, 47 bands from 24 nations have submitted applications to participate. The City of Buckhannon has pledged $100,000. The Harrison County Commission pledged $4,000 in support of the event and the Randolph County Commission is reviewing the request for their budget. Community Bank has pledged a $550 sponsorship.

The WAMSB 2023 World Championship will take place in July 2023. This is only the second time in 26 years it will take place in the U.S. and the first time being hosted on the East Coast, giving the region and state an international spotlight it otherwise would not have.

Share this story:

RECENT Stories

Roscoe H. Bennett

Roscoe H. Bennett, 90, a Navy veteran, retired coal miner, and dedicated family man from Buckhannon, passed away May 16, 2025, survived by his wife, six children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

City of Buckhannon Calendar: May 19-25, 2025

Buckhannon city officials announced upcoming public meetings, schedule changes for waste collection due to Memorial Day, ongoing recycling and yard waste pickups, and opportunities to submit bids for yard reclamation, construction, and paving services.
WVWC Track - Wesleyan Sports

Six Wesleyan track and field performers earn All-Region honors

Six West Virginia Wesleyan student-athletes earned All-Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their standout performances ahead of the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

The only scheduled Upshur County sports events this week are the Buckhannon-Upshur boys and girls track and field teams competing in the West Virginia State Championships in Charleston on Friday and Saturday.

Carlyle, Waggy and boy’s 4×800-meter relay team qualify for state meet

Buckhannon-Upshur’s Rylen Carlyle, Jack Waggy, and the boys’ 4×800-meter relay team qualified for the state track championships following strong performances at the Region I meet in Morgantown.
LUCAS Truck

LUCAS to offer lung cancer screening in Glenville and Buckhannon

LUCAS, a mobile lung cancer screening unit from WVU Medicine and the WVU Cancer Institute, will provide low-dose CT scans in Glenville and Buckhannon in June, offering accessible lung cancer screening to eligible patients.

Spring Sunshine: Warm up with these delightfully playful reads, ready for your next picnic or beach vacation

My Buckhannon recommends two playful romantic comedies — “A Tail as Old as Time” and “The Unhoneymooners” — as perfect, lighthearted reads to enjoy during your next picnic, park visit, or beach getaway.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for May 18, 2025

Sunset Berry Farm swept top honors at the 2025 West Virginia Strawberry Festival, while Buckhannon-Upshur High School wrapped up the school year with a student screen printing workshop led by a WV Wesleyan instructor.

John Joseph Zara

John Joseph Zara, 84, a former resident of Century, WV and retired Braniff International and FedEx employee, passed away peacefully in Texas and will be remembered at a memorial Mass and graveside service in West Virginia.

Buckhannon-Upshur High School’s Coleton Payne receives honorary state FFA degree at state convention

Coleton Payne, FFA advisor at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, received the highest honor from the West Virginia FFA Association for his outstanding service and dedication to agricultural education and student success.

City Council proposes third reading of ordinance to rezone a handful of single-family lots to highway commercial

The Buckhannon City Council will hold the third reading of Ordinance No. 473, proposing the rezoning of several single-family residential lots to highway commercial, at its July 3, 2025 meeting.

Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board Agenda: May 22, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board has released the agenda for its upcoming May 22 meeting.