ELKINS — The public hearing and vote on the closure of Pickens K-12 School scheduled for Tuesday evening was canceled approximately 90 minutes before it was slated to take place.
Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly released a statement on social media saying the hearing had been canceled following “new information related to funding, as well as ongoing community effort that may support keeping Pickens open for an additional year.”
Brad Smith,
ELKINS – The public hearing and vote on the closure of Pickens K-12 School scheduled for Tuesday evening was canceled approximately 90 minutes before it was slated to take place.
Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly released a statement on social media saying the hearing had been canceled following “new information related to funding, as well as ongoing community effort that may support keeping Pickens open for an additional year.”
Brad Smith,
ELKINS – A nearly three-hour preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon for the former pastor of the Summit Church resulted in probable cause being found for the felony charge of soliciting a minor via computer.
The charge will now proceed to the grand jury, after Tuesday’s ruling by Randolph County Magistrate Michael Dyer.
Kevin Curtis Jones, 33, appeared in an orange prisoner’s jumpsuit in Randolph County Magistrate Court Tuesday afternoon, represented by attorney James Hawkins Jr.
Jones is also
ELKINS – The closure public hearing for Pickens K-12 School has been canceled for tonight.
The following was posted on the Randolph County Board of Education social media page at about 4 p.m. Tuesday:
“Community Statement: Closure Hearing for Pickens School Canceled
Date: October 14, 2025
“Randolph County Schools has canceled tonight’s scheduled closure hearing for Pickens School. This decision follows new information related to funding as well as ongoing community efforts that may support
ELKINS — Davis & Elkins College has once again statistically proven its commitment to the mission statement of the institution, being ranked in a tie for the top higher education institution in West Virginia in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges guide for Regional Colleges South.
This continues the trend of D&E’s accomplishments established in previous years, where the College also held the highest rank within the division among those from the Mountain State.
D&E
Roger Vandevender, 82, a resident of Kerens, West Virginia, and Debary, Florida, passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, at the Elkins Rehabilitation & Care Center.
He was born Oct. 22, 1942, at Elkins, a son of the late Allen and Nina Rexroad Vandevender.
On Jan. 25, 1964, at Oakland, Maryland, he married Alice Gray Cooper, who survives. Also surviving are brothers, Ralph E. Vandevender of Kerens, Richard Vandevender (Merrill) of Kerens and A. Wayne Vandevender of Montrose; sister, Diane Coberly
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Inter-Mountain’s Community Calendar is reserved for nonprofit, civic organizations. Unless otherwise noted, events listed should be considered free and open to the public. Entries appear in chronological order and as space allows.
YOU SHOULD RUN: Do you want to make a meaningful difference in Randolph County and West Virginia? Do you have ideas to share? If so, join us today at 5 p.m. at the Russell Memorial Public Library, 10038 Seneca Trail, Mill Creek and learn about
Eddie Currence and Marquetta Cade would like to invite you to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of their parents: Reuben Lawrence Currence and Janice Marvella Cutright Currence at Tygart Valley Baptist Church in the fellowship hall from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Cards will be appreciated but gifts are not necessary. Please come and encourage this couple as they celebrate the original wedding date of Oct. 19, 1965.
They were married on Oct 19, 1965 in Oakland, Marlyland. Janice is
ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission has unanimously approved funding requests from a host of different organizations.
Ally’s Hope, Autumn on the Dry Fork, and H.W. Daniels American Legion Post 29 all received funding approved by Commissioners David Kesling, Cris Siler, and Chris See at the most recent RCC meeting.
Ally’s Hope, a non-profit facility that provides recovery services for women, is “something the county has partnered with through the opioid money that we received,” Kesling said.
ELKINS – A West Virginia man faces a felony charge after Elkins and Belington police allegedly found “over one-quarter pound of suspected fentanyl” during a joint narcotics investigation over the weekend.
William Houdini Johnson Jr., 41, is charged with manufacturing or possession with intent to deliver Schedule I or II narcotic or meth, a felony. He is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
The City of Belington announced the joint investigation in
