Justice announces methanol plant • Page A5 The Inter Mountain $1 www.TheInterMountain.com Vol. CXXVIII, No. LXXXI RECOGNITION HELPING HAND EHS graduate to be entered Rotary Club donates time to into Hall of Fame. Page A2 volunteer. Page A3 Elkins, West Virginia Serving central West Virginia since 1892 Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 Randolph, Upshur move down to gold By Edgar Kelley Randolph-Elkins Health Staff Writer Department. A week ago there were 68 confirmed ELKINS — Both Ran- cases in Randolph and that dolph and Upshur counties number grew to 80 by last moved down from orange Wednesday, before falling to gold designations Mon- to 69 on Saturday. day on the state Depart- In Upshur County, there ment of Health & Human were 59 active cases on Resources COVID-19 Monday, down signifi- County Alert System col- cantly from the 83 cases or-coded map. reported in the county Both counties were on Friday, according to listed as orange on the up- the Upshur-Buckhannon dated West Virginia De- Health Department. The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley partment of Education’s As of Monday, there Kris Warner, state director of USDA Rural Development in West Virginia, above right, presents Citynet President color-coded COVID-19 were 71 active cases in and CEO Jim Martin with a certificate marking a $7.6 million broadband reconnect grant Monday in the Randolph map Saturday, meaning Randolph County, with two County Commission Chambers. both county school systems of those people being hos- will operate through remote pitalized, according to the learning this week. Randolph-Elkins Health As of Monday, there Department. A week ago were 71 active cases in there were 68 confirmed Randolph County, with two cases in Randolph and that Broadband Service of those people being hos- pitalized, according to the See GOLD on Page A7 Funding to bring high-speed internet to rural areas By Edgar Kelley million broadband reconnect grant these projects are going to allow us Staff Writer to Citynet,” said Kris Warner, state to do is extend fiber from Philippi to director of USDA Rural Develop- Elkins, and then from Elkins to Mill Upshur Courthouse ELKINS — State officials came ment in West Virginia. “The USDA Creek. to Randolph County Monday to an- is excited about this new partner- “Citynet is going to make a pri- nounce that the United States Depart- ship with Citynet and the vital ser- vate investment to build fiber and closed through Friday ment of Agriculture will invest nearly vice it will provide to rural West the grant will then allow us to build $8 million to provide broadband ser- Virginia.” from Mill Creek to the Pocahontas By Amanda Hayes shur County Courthouse. vice to rural areas of West Virginia CItynet is a privately owned full County border, then from Valley For The Inter-Mountain Weekday hours are 8 a.m. that have little to no service. service telecommunications company Head over to Webster Springs. The to 4 p.m. and Saturdays The $7.6 million broadband recon- that is primarily focused on fiber op- service that we will be providing BUCKHANNON — Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 from nect grant was awarded to Citynet, tics. It currently has three in-state of- along that route is 100 percent fi- The Upshur County Com- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. which will provide new and faster fices in Bridgeport, Morgantown and ber-based and we will be able to mission voted Monday to The second exception internet service to rural Randolph, Charleston, and one in Columbus, offer every resident and business keep the Upshur County is the James W. Curry Li- Barbour, Webster and Doddridge Ohio. 1,000 megabits internet.” Courthouse, annex and brary’s Virtual Learning Pro- counties. Former Beverly resident Jim Mar- Citynet is partnering with Zayo other county owned and gram which was previously The fiber-to-the-premises net- tin, who is the president and CEO Bandwith, which is in the process operated facilities closed to excluded from closure. work will connect 6,054 homes, of Citynet, said he is excited to be of constructing a fiber optic conduit the public through Friday Discussion during Mon- 58 farms, 41 businesses, three fire bringing quality internet access to the system from Columbus, Ohio, to with two exceptions. day’s special meeting, held stations, two post offices and two aforementioned counties. Ashburn, Virginia, and then a direct The courthouse will by teleconference, focused public schools. “The network that is coming route through West Virginia. Elkins be open for early voting on COVID-19 numbers in “I’m very excited to be here today through will be an extension of our will be a major point on that network, which begins Wednesday, the county. for this monumental announcement network ... we currently have fiber officials said. Oct. 21 and continues for rural West Virginia. It’s my in Philippi from our headquarters through Oct. 31 at the Up- See CLOSED on Page A7 honor to be able to announce a $7.6 in Bridgeport,” said Martin. “What See SERVICE on Page A7 Talking Election Details COVID-19 deaths decrease for third time, but active cases climb By Steven Allen Adams fact we didn’t have addi- areas where we’re seeing Staff Reporter tional deaths on Saturday more spread and are able or Sunday, and we have not to identify them,” said Dr. CHARLESTON — been advised of additional Clay Marsh, the state coro- West Virginia experienced deaths as of this morning,” navirus czar. the third straight decrease said Gov. Jim Justice during The number of posi- in deaths attributed to his Monday coronavirus tive cases over the last 14 COVID-19 infections, but briefing. “When it boils days was 3,470, which the number of active cases down to it though, for these was a 34-percent increase in the state broke 5,000 as families being pleased is in positive cases from the of Monday. anything but the case.” previous 14 days. As of According to data from Justice and state health Monday — the most recent the Department of Health officials attributed the de- data available — the state and Human Resources re- crease in deaths to improve- reported 221 new cases in leased Monday, the state ments in hospital outcomes a 24-hour period. Active reported 399 total COVID- for those with serious COVID-19 cases — the 19 deaths. COVID-19 symptoms and number of infected people Sunday was the first new therapeutic treatments in self-quarantine or hospi- day the DHHR reported no available today. They talized — was 5,095 cases deaths since Sept. 5. West also praised the increased as of Monday — an 11-per- Virginia saw a third straight amount of testing, which is cent increase from 4,578 decrease in deaths three helping health officials find active cases seven days ago weeks in a row - a 15-per- asymptomatic spreaders and an 18-percent increase cent decrease just this week. and people with mild symp- from 4,330 active cases 14 There were 41 deaths re- toms, allowing them to be days ago. The Inter-Mountain photo by Brad Johnson ported between Oct. 5 and treated sooner. As of Monday, all 55 West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner talks with Randolph County Clerk Oct. 18 and 48 deaths re- “The number of posi- counties have active cases. Brenda Wiseman Monday afternoon. Warner visited the Randolph County ported between Sept. 21 tive tests are going up even Active cases have increased Courthouse to discuss details with Wiseman in preparation for the Nov. 3 gen- through Oct. 4. more, which suggests to eral election. “I’m pleased with the me that we are targeting in See CASES on Page A7 Good afternoon, TODAY: Sunny INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION 16 PAGES, 1 SECTIONS Obituaries .....................................A5 Sue Classified....................................A14 Opinion .........................................A4 Core HIGH LOW Comics........................................A10 Region ..........................................A8 Community ...................................A3 Sports ...........................................A2 Thank you Financial .......................................A6 State ..............................................A5 On the Go for subscribing. WEATHER 74º 52º Horoscope ....................................B7 Weather ........................................A7 Use this QR code to access up-to-the minute news with your Today’s good news: BCHA expands school-based health care, page A3 mobile phone. 7 48445 03010 6 Page A2 — Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 Sports www.theintermountain.com • The Inter-Mountain USDA investing $1.4 million loan in Barbour County Investment to help renovate Alderson Broaddus University’s Rex Pyles Arena PHILIPPI — The Trump Adminis- ssisting local com- tration on Monday announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) munities through the is investing in a $1.4 million Community Community Facil- Facilities Direct Loan to help repair com- “A munity facilities in rural West Virginia. ities Direct Loans and Grants The loan will be provided to the Alder- program is just one of the many son Broaddus Endowment Corporation to assist with renovating Rex Pyles Arena on ways USDA is able to make a the AB campus. The facility houses class- positive impact in our state.” rooms, offices, a basketball court and a swimming pool and over the past year the four main wood glulam arches that support the roof structure have begun to fail. Kris Warner, “Assisting local communities through West Virginia State Director, the Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants program is just one of the many USDA Rural ways USDA is able to make a positive im- Development. pact in our state,” said Kris Warner, West Virginia State Director, USDA Rural De- construct, and/or improve essential community velopment. “Under the leadership of Presi- facilities; purchase equipment; and pay related dent Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, project expenses.