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May 23, 2013. Expect some unseasonably cool weather in the 30s during the next couple days. “I’ve said it a thousand times, wise gardeners around here hold off until Memorial Day,” noted RaysWeather.com in a forecast of the weekend. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 23, 2013. Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation from the four methamphetamine labs that were located during a traffic stop on April 18, 2013 in which the driver, Ian Clement Corneck, was arrested. Corneck was charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Meth Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Vehicle CS (F), 6 counts of Exceeding the Pseudo Limits, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Read more…

May 23, 2013. Nearly two months into the five-month inspection period for the proposed business park property off of N.C. 194, one of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners has already decided not to follow through with the purchase. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 23, 2013. Have you heard that the Watauga County Arts Council (WCAC) moved to a new space? The Blue Ridge ArtSpace is scheduled to hold its Grand Opening on Saturday, June 8th and volunteers have been working to prepare the building to become the exciting cultural focal point of the entire county. Read more…

May 23, 2013.This year’s series features a mix of award-winning acts, such as Heart, Sheryl Crow and contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns. Staged on the South Terrace of Biltmore House, the concert series will feature its own award-worthy views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. All shows will start at 8 p.m. Read more…

May 23, 2013. Locally, a few bars feature live music this weekend. Murphy’s Restaurant & Pub features rock band Woody Wood and the Ends Friday, May 24, and WAVE LYNX, of the psychedelic funky rock genre, plays Saturday, May 25. Read more…
BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI

May 23, 2013. A look at the weekly deed transfers from around Watauga County, compiled and published every week. The information comes courtesy of the Watauga County Register of Deeds. See more…
COMPILED BY AMANDA GILES

May 23, 2013. Elizabeth Hudson, editor-in-chief of Our State magazine, will speak Thursday, June 6, at ASU’s Belk Library and Information Commons as part of the library’s summer author series. Her presentation begins at 3:30 p.m. in Room 421. An informal reception will follow. Read more…

May 23, 2013. The Wilkes Heritage Museum is pleased to announce the Sixth Annual Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony at the Stone Center for Performing Arts on Saturday, June 8, 2013. Read more…

May 23, 2013. A celebration of Appalachian music and cultural heritage, the Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove will take place July 12 and 13, 2013 on the grounds of the Historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, N.C., featuring world-renowned recording artists. MusicFest has had a close association with Deep Gap native Doc Watson since its inception in 1997. The much admired flat-picking guitarist performed at the inaugural MusicFest and headlined many times in following years. Read more…

May 23, 2013. With summer quickly approaching, ASU Recreation, Watauga County Swim Complex and Robbin’s Pool in Blowing Rock offer residents in the High Country safe swim lessons. University Recreation (UREC) of ASU is offering a Red Cross Learn to Swim Program for High Country residents. It targets three categories of beginning swimmers. Read more…
BY MARIEL GAMBINO

May 23, 2013. Insert Mike Tyson joke here: At bar closing time in the early hours of Friday, May 17, the man intervened to stop an altercation between a boyfriend and girlfriend near Char Restaurant and Bar and ended up with a portion of his ear bitten off. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 22, 2013. On May 21, Mark Lyle Hoke, 41, and Connie Ann Proffitt, 49, both of Boone, were arrested by US Marshals and local Police in Council Bluffs, Iowa on outstanding warrants for Manufacturing Methamphetamine in Watauga County. In October 2012, Detectives from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit received information that Mark Hoke was manufacturing methamphetamine in and around Watauga County and began an investigation. Read more…

May 22, 2013. The alluring rose-lavender blooms decorating Grandfather’s slopes indicate the beginning of another wonderful summer on the mountain. The color returns to the Mountain this coming June and it does so in a most breathtaking way. Read more…

May 22, 2013. ast weekend, the Friends of the Library held their annual Book Sale at the Boone Mall on Blowing Rock Road to raise money for the Watauga County Library. The event was successful, and book lovers showed their support regardless of the rainy weather. Read more…
BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI

May 22, 2013. Lane closures will not take place in the U.S. 321 widening project work zone through Blowing Rock from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 24, until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, due to the Memorial Day holiday. Read more…

May 22, 2013. On Tuesday, June 11 from 3 to 6 p.m., the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual business showcase, Concierge 101, at Tanger Outlet Shopping Center. This event presents the chance for local businesses to showcase their services and goods by setting up a booth at Tanger Shoppes. Read more…
BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI

May 22, 2013. As is the norm during each budget season, supporters for area nonprofits spoke passionately during the public hearing on the upcoming budget at the Watauga County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night. Many of the 30 people who signed up for public comment on the budget spoke fervently for the work nonprofits do. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 22, 2013. Expectations were high in 2007 as work began for the high-end Village at Grandfather subdivision off North Carolina Highway 105. The home sites — nestled in the 3700-foot elevation Linville Valley between Grandfather Golf & Country Club and Village of Sugar Mountain — provided a spectacular setting high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read more…

May 22, 2013. Letters to the Editor. BY DAVID GROSS / Dear Editor, As a client of DSS, I am now terribly concerned that as a result of Tuesday nights commission vote, that we are going to see the Watauga County DSS budget decimated by Commissioner Miller, and his right-wing repugnut co-horts. Read more…

May 22, 2013. The Boone Bike Rally is back! On May 31 and June 1, the summer Boone Bike Rally will take place at the High Country Fairgrounds. Read more…
BY MADISON FISLER

May 22, 2013. BRAHM will kick off the sale of various items such as excess holiday decorations, office supplies and more at 10 a.m. on the loading dock of the museum. Read more…
BY MARIEL GAMBINO

May 22, 2013. After listening to public comments from social workers in opposition, the Republican members of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution and voted to abolish and takeover the current county Department of Social Services board and reappoint the five previous members of the DSS board to an advisory board. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 22, 2013. Letters to the Editor. BY WILLIAM M. HUTCHINS / Dear Commissioners, Thank you for hearing me and thank you for the $10,000 grant for the Green Valley Community Park last year. Speaking only for myself, I do not understand the rationale for allocating in the new budget $15,000 for the Valle Crucis Community Park and $4,000 for the Green Valley Community Park. Both parks serve all the citizens of Watauga County and both are run by 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt non-profits with a board of directors. Read more…

May 21, 2013. Two arrests were made this past weekend for felony larceny. Kristie Dawn McCrain, 40, of Hickory and Rodney Maurice Lutz, 48, of Hickory were charged with felony larceny. The arrest occurred on May 18 after officers were notified that two suspects had left the Coach Store at Tanger Outlets with merchandise that they had not paid for. Read more…

May 21, 2013. In the coming weeks, the Boone Town Council will take a hard look at expenditures and revenues for the upcoming budget year. As Boone Town Council Member Andy Ball said on Tuesday, “We have to identify $2 million in cuts.” Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 21, 2013. he Town of Boone will be replacing the remaining Bradford Pear trees along King Street within the next couple of weeks. These trees were planted in the late 1980s as a downtown project and have provided valuable environmental and aesthetic benefits for the downtown area. Sadly, over the past four to five years, the trees have experienced a decline in health due to the built urban environment. Read more…

May 21, 2013. The Taste of Avery tickets are selling quickly and they are anticipating another sold out event. The final list of participating businesses will be released on Wednesday. Read more…

May 21, 2013. NROG is a nonprofit farmers coop which has been in existence since 2000. Currently there are over 55 farms providing produce, eggs, cheese and meat to the cooperative. The participating farms are located in Ashe, Watauga, Grayson County Virginia, Wilkes, Allegheny, Burke and Yancey. Read more…

May 21, 2013. Appalachian State University will hold a Memorial Day ceremony May 27 at 7:30 a.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial on the west side of the Dougherty Administration Building. The ceremony will honor those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The public is invited to attend. Read more…

May 21, 2013. Watauga County Board of Commissioners holds a public hearing at its Tuesday meeting regarding the county’s proposed 2013-14 fiscal year budget. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 21, 2013. The Watauga Community Band (WCB) holds its annual Memorial Day Concert this Sunday, May 26, at 3:00 p.m. The free concert will be performed in Rosen Hall in the Hayes School of Music on the campus of ASU. Read more…
BY MARIEL GAMBINO

May 21, 2013. This weekend marks the fifth annual Banner Elk Herb Festival, which will be held at the historic Banner Elk School yard. The festival, taking place Saturday to Monday, May 25 to 27, is free to attend, and offers something for all ages, from a “kids zone” to live music. Read more…
BY ERIKA GIOVANETTI

May 21, 2013. In April, Nielsen released the 2013 Restaurant Growth Index. Boone ranks in the top five, and local independent restaurant owners don’t necessarily agree. Rising from 37 in 2012, Boone came in at number four this year in the RGI. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 21, 2013. The WNC Shriners are returning to Blowing Rock May 31 through June 2, bringing their Summer Ceremonial and attendant parade to the town for the fourth time in five years. The colorful and traditional Shriners Parade will take place along Main Street starting at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, providing residents and visitors a musical and visual treat. Read more…