Alerts
State of Emergency in Elkins
City hall closed to the public. City services remain in operation. No in-person council or committee meetings until further notice. Logins for teleconference meetings will be posted at: www.cityofelkinswv.com/login. Elkins coronavirus info: www.cityofelkinswv.com/home-page/coronavirus-covid-19
Coronavirus Information
For coronavirus information, click here.
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Newsletter
Riverbend Park Closed to the Public Until Further Notice
Elkins W. Va., April 3, 2020: Riverbend Park in Elkins will be closed to the public until further notice, City of Elkins and Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission officials announced today. The reason is the park’s proximity to the city’s wastewater treatment plant amid concerns related to transmission of COVID-19. (more…)
City of Elkins Suspending Pickup of Bulky Solid Waste Items and Unbagged Trash
Special Pickups Paused, Spring Cleanup Postponed Indefinitely
Elkins W. Va., April 4, 2020: To reduce infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Elkins Sanitation Department will no longer accept any items not contained in a tied trash bag. Also, the Elkins Street Department is suspending most special pickups of bulky solid waste items, and the City of Elkins Spring Cleanup event is postponed indefinitely. (more…)
Randolph County Health Department Coronavirus Update: April 2, 2020
As of the morning of April 2, 2020, for Randolph County:
- Number of tests performed to date: 65
- Number of pending tests: 34
- Number of negative tests: 28
- Number of positive tests: 3
- Net new positive cases in last 24 hours: 1 case. This case was associated with travel and the individual has self-quarantined since arriving in Randolph County in a private vehicle, alone. Because the patient arrived from an endemic country and was well informed as was the family/host, strict quarantine as well as use of masks, gloves, and sanitizing of surfaces has been observed. The patient has not been within 6 feet of anyone since arrival.
- Notes on PPE supplies: Small shipments have been arriving from the national stockpile and have been distributed to the hospital and first responders and small amounts to direct care givers – however much more is needed. The state government is seeking more supplies for all who need them.
- Notes on volunteers/donations needed: There are shortages of spray disinfectants, bleach, alcohol, hand sanitizers and, of course, masks, gowns, gloves.
Notes:
- We now have 3 cases in Randolph County. Two are associated with foreign travel; these individuals have been on self-quarantine since reaching WV. For all three cases, all contacts have been identified and are self-quarantined and under daily monitoring.
- I have talked with the rep for Red Cross in Randolph County re blood drives – she’ll get back to us if/when she learns anything.
- Local and county health givers and health departments receive information about positive tests first. Information is sent to the state once the actual lab reports are received and verified. Then, the published state data must be updated – when the updater has opportunity.
Rumors and inaccurate information may cause unfounded reactions or panic. Please consult reliable sources for latest known facts about COVID-19.
Reliable sources include:
- WV DHHR Coronavirus Hotline: 1-800-887-4304
- WV DHHR Coronavirus Webpage: coronavirus.wv.gov
- S. CDC Coronavirus Webpage: www.coronavirus.gov
Health Department: Second Positive Coronavirus Case Confirmed in Randolph County
Date: April 1, 2020
Time: 11:30 a.m.
The Randolph-Elkins Health Department (REHD) reports that a second confirmed case of COVID-19 has been identified in Randolph County. Unlike the first, this case is not associated with travel outside West Virginia or known contact with a positive case. The source of the infection is unknown and suggests community spread.
“The circumstance of this case suggests that there are unidentified cases of infection in our area and that the number of new cases will increase over the next few weeks,” says Bonnie Woodrum, Infectious Disease Specialist at REHD. “It is, therefore, more important than ever that everyone practice social distancing, stay at home as much as possible, especially if sick, wash hands frequently, and don’t touch eyes or mouth.”
Trips for essentials should be made by individuals, not as family outings.
Most deaths caused by COVID-19 have been in the elderly but no one is immune. The first case in Randolph County was a person under 30; the second patient was more than 60. Some infections produce no symptoms but can still be spread to others. Be responsible.
Rumors and inaccurate information may cause unfounded reactions or panic. Please consult reliable sources for latest known facts about COVID-19.
Reliable sources include:
- WV DHHR Coronavirus Hotline: 1-800-887-4304
- WV DHHR Coronavirus Webpage: coronavirus.wv.gov
- S. CDC Coronavirus Webpage: www.coronavirus.gov
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Media contact:
Bonnie Woodrum
P: 304-636-0396
F: 304-637-5902
Email: Bonnie.B.Woodrum@wv.gov
Elkins Annual Audit Returns Eighth Unmodified Opinion in a Row
City Has Received “Clean” Audit Opinions Every Year Since 2012
Elkins W. Va., March 26, 2020: At tonight’s council meeting, Elkins Treasurer Tracy Judy reported that the city’s annual audit resulted in an unmodified opinion. State law requires West Virginia cities to undergo annual audits and publish the results. This audit, of the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, was performed by accountants working for BHM CPA Group, an Ohio-based public accounting firm with offices in Huntington, West Virginia.
The purpose of a municipal audit is to systematically examine the sources and uses of public funds. Auditors evaluate the accuracy of financial records, the effectiveness of systems protecting against fraud and theft, the nature of accounting methods and processes in use at the city, and other aspects of compliance with state law and government accounting standards.
“An audit examines our financial records to confirm they are accurate,” said Judy. “The auditors review our transactions, financial statements, grants, bank statements, and other records for all city funds for the given fiscal year. “
The unmodified opinion the city received is the best result an audit can return. Sometimes also referred to as an “unqualified” or “clean” opinion, an unmodified opinion indicates that auditors have found no misrepresentations of fact or failures to follow appropriate accounting standards. Elkins has received unmodified opinions in each of its annual audits since the fiscal year ending in 2012.
The audit process begins each summer with a letter from the state auditor authorizing cities to begin the process of procuring an audit firm. The city’s Audit Committee then solicits and evaluates proposals from CPA firms interested in providing this service. The evaluation process uses a score sheet published by the state auditor to assign points to the firms that submit proposals. The firm with the highest score is then selected to perform the city’s audit.
“Receiving an unmodified opinion is a good confirmation of our daily practices and confirms to the city and its citizens that those practices are valid,” says Judy. “A good audit opinion is also important when the city is seeking loans or other financing, because lenders use our annual audits to assess risk and calculate interest rates.”
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Elkins Police Chief Statement on Shooting of Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre
Elkins W. Va., March 27, 2020:
EPD Senior Patrolman Daniel T. Sayre
Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett has released a statement about last night’s shooting of Elkins Police Department (EPD) Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre. Officer Sayre is in good condition at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
Statement from Chief Bennett:
Last night at around 7:30 p.m., Elkins Police Department (EPD) officers responded to a call of a male subject walking around with a rifle. The location was the alley connecting First and Second streets, behind the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.
Upon contacting the subject, later identified as Jerry Lee Isner II, EPD officers ordered him to stop and put the rifle on the ground. When Isner did not comply with these commands, officers deployed a taser in an attempt to control him. Isner subsequently opened fire, striking Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre twice. Officers were unable to return fire due to the proximity of bystanders. No law enforcement officers discharged firearms during this incident.
Officers from multiple agencies provided medical attention to Senior Patrolman Sayre on scene until the arrival of Randolph County EMS. Senior Patrolman Sayre is at Ruby Memorial Hospital recovering from his injuries.
I would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this incident: West Virginia State Police, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. ATF, Randolph County EMS, Elkins Fire Department, and HealthNet AeroMedical Services.
I would also like to thank the citizens of Elkins for the outpouring of support for Senior Patrolman Sayre and the Elkins Police Department.
- Chief T.C. Bennett
Elkins Officer Injured in Shooting Incident
Senior Patrolman Daniel T. Sayre
Elkins W. Va., March 26, 2020: An Elkins police officer received non-life-threatening injuries while effecting an arrest tonight around 7:30 p.m. Senior Patrolman Daniel Sayre, age 25 and an Elkins Police Department officer since 2015, was shot and is being transported by helicopter to Morgantown. A suspect is in custody.
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Contact: Sutton Stokes
City of Elkins External Affairs
Phone: 304-636-1414, ext. 1212
Email: sstokes@cityofelkinswv.com
Statement from the Mayor: Governor’s “stay at home” order
From Mayor Broughton:
What is the governor asking us to do?
Everyone, tonight the governor’s “stay at home” order goes into effect. Now, everyone should read the order. There is a lot in it.
But I want to talk about what we are really being asked to do. (more…)
Governor Issues “Stay at Home” Order
March 23, 2020
1515
Today, Governor Justice issued a “stay at home” order commencing at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
Here is the text of the order, including which businesses are considered essential and which are not.
Here is a fact sheet from WV DHHR about the order.
At the right is a brief summary of the order, tweeted by the governor’s office.
City Hall News: March 23-27, 2020
In response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mayor Van Broughton declared a citywide state of emergency last Tuesday, following similar declarations by the president and the governor of West Virginia. The Randolph County Commission declared a countywide state of emergency Thursday. (more…)