May 20, 2012. In an email from Watauga County Arts Council Executive Director Cherry Johnson, the arts council is “thrilled” to announce donated gallery and retail space in downtown Boone. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD
May 18, 2012. Motorists can expect slowdowns on U.S. 421 iin Boone starting Monday, May 21, as N.C. Department of Transportation contractor Blythe Development of Charlotte puts down the final layer of pavement and installs permanent pavement markings, weather permitting. Read more…
May 18, 2012. The 2012 Feinstein Challenge has come to a close with Hospitality House surpassing its goal and raising $81,500 in their bid to eradicate hunger in the High Country. A record number of individuals, schools, businesses and churches came together to put Hospitality House over the top in food, funds and pledges. Read more…
May 18, 2012. First grade teacher Katie Matthews of Valle Crucis School has been named Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2012-13. Her selection was announced in a surprise visit to her classroom this morning by several central office personnel and members of her family. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Appalachian State University designated hitter Daniel Kassouf has been selected as one of 35 semifinalists for the 2012 Dick Hoswer Trophy, which is presented to college baseball’s top player by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Includes photo gallery! Every letter of the alphabet was alive at Tweetsie over the past two weeks as the fifth annual Letterland at Tweetsie took place May 9, 10, 16 and 17. Read more…
BY PAUL T. CHOATE
May 17, 2012. The Boone Town Council elected six applicants to the Cultural Resources Board at Thursday’s meeting, but that’s not enough to complete the picture. Read more…
BY REBECCA GITLEN
May 16, 2012.As summer sets in, many families are taking to the road for vacation and various travels. With fiscal responsibility of the utmost importance, s many travelers have taken to the web to locate the cheapest gas in their area of travel. But in these times, even the cheapest gas raises eyebrows and empties pockets. Read more…
BY ETHAN WOODHOUSE
May 15, 2012. Includes photo gallery of Mack Brown and his family. Mack Brown, one of the most well-known figures in the High Country, passed away on Saturday morning. Funeral services were conducted today at the Laurel Springs Baptist Church in Deep Gap. Read more…
BY PAUL T. CHOATE
May 15, 2012. During a public hearing at the Watauga County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, more than 25 people spoke out against the proposed budget for 2012-13. Posing a dominate presence at the hearing were supporters of the Watauga Public Library and Hospitality House.. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD
May 16, 2012. The town of Boone takes on an entirely new identity each summer. With students going home for the summer, graduating or enjoying summer vacation elsewhere, the town’s streets are noticeably emptier. Read more…
BY ETHAN WOODHOUSE
May 16, 2012. At the Watauga County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night and after lengthy discussion and disagreement, the board will hold a public hearing regarding the demolition of the old Watauga High School. The hearing is set for June 5 at 8:00 a.m. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD
May 16, 2012. In the wake of Watauga County Arts Council (WCAC) abruptly vacating the Jones House late Monday night, the Town of Boone is now looking forward and trying to get the newly-formed Cultural Resources Board staffed and functional. Read more…
BY PAUL T. CHOATE
May 17, 2012. Boone Police have charged a Chapel Hill, N.C. man with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and entering, and felony obtain property by false pretense. This was subsequent to an investigation into a break-in in the Blairmont community. Read more…
May 17, 2012. From April 7 to May 1, the Boone Police Department received 7 noise complaints, six of which originated at the Boone Saloon and one at Paolucci’s. Four of the past month’s complaints ended with no action taken by the Boone Police Department. On two of the seven complaints, the decibel-reading machines malfunctioned. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD
May 17, 2012. Since 2002, Valle Crucis Community Park has provided free concerts each Friday evening of the summer through its Music in the Valle concert series. This year, the park will celebrate ten years of Music in the Valle with a kickoff concert on Saturday, May 19. Read more…
May 17, 2012. On Wednesday, May 16, renovation on the Downtown Boone Post Office began. Asheville Global Environmental is now working on removing asbestos and lead-based paint, and in the coming weeks Boone-based Greene Construction will begin work on the building. Read more…
BY PAUL T. CHOATE
May 14, 2012. The Watauga County Board of Commissioners designated May 14 – 19 as “Community Pride Week” with the goal of improving the appearance of Watauga County. Residents will have an opportunity to dispose of many types of waste for no charge. Read more…
BY REBECCA GITLEN
May 17, 2012. The High Country offers a variety of entertainment options for residents and visitors to enjoy during the summer, including a number of musical events put on by local businesses. Regional and national styles of music have traditionally served as a major influence in the economy of Appalachia. Read more…
BY GREG HINCE
May 18, 2012. The High Country Torch Club, an affiliate of Torch Club International, is pleased to announce that Dr. Roland Moy has been awarded the Paxton Prize. The Paxton Prize honors excellence in paper presentations made to the local chapter. Read more…
May 18, 2012. The High Country has so many wonderful events to offer its community and visitors. Check our site every Friday for something new and exciting to look forward to while you’re watching the hour hand crawl to 5 o’clock. Find live music down the street, explore a nearby town’s local secrets or try out a new square dancing class. There’s always something fun to do in the High Country. Read more…
COMPILED BY PAUL T. CHOATE & REBECCA GITLEN
May 18, 2012. The Watauga County Library is hosting their annual Friends of The Library Booksale Thursday through Saturday at the Boone Mall. The High Country Festival of the Book will feature writer’s workshops, a Civil War symposium and over 30 authors. This is the first time the Festival and Book Sale have joined forces, but the focus currently lies with the sale. Read more…
BY ETHAN WOODHOUSE
Photo by Ken Ketchie
May 18, 2012. Mountain Mixers invites experienced area and visiting dancers to join the Mountain Mixers for Western Square & Round Dancing. Dancing from Mainstream to Advance levels feature national and international callers and national round dance cures Don and Linda Hichman. Read more…
May 18, 2012. “It started as an idea,” said Joe Shannon, executive director of Mountain Home Music. “The idea was to showcase local and regional performers. The first obstacle to implementation was obvious: would anyone pay to see someone they’ve never heard of? I knew friends and family might show up, but friends and family wouldn’t be enough to support a concert series. It was a pretty big challenge.” Read more…
May 18, 2012. At this point people pretty much know what they’re getting when they buy a ticket to a Tim Burton movie. The film will star Johnny Depp and Burton’s wife Helena Bonham Carter. The score will be by Danny Elfman. The characters will all be pale. Read more…
BY BOB GARVER
May 18, 2012. Meet up with your veg friends and meet new ones. Share delicious food and great company! The potluck will be held on Thursday, June 7 at the Watauga Public Library, 140 Queen Street in Boone. Arrive between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Please bring a vegan dish (no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or honey) that would serve 6-8, your own place setting, and a copy of your recipe. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Maura Shawn Scanlin of Vilas will perform an end of the year violin recital on Friday, May 25, at 7 p.m. in the Broyhill Music Center, 813 Rivers St. on the campus of Appalachian State University. The recital is free and open to the public with a reception following. Scanlin will perform works by Bach, Paganini, Mozart and Kreisler. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Beech Mountain Resort needs your help! The 2012 Monster Energy Downhill and Dual Slalom Race Series and USA Cycling’s MTB Gravity National Championships are quickly approaching, and Beech Mountain Resort is looking for volunteers to help prepare the racetracks. Sunday May 20th, 2012 will be the first scheduled volunteer trail workday. Read more…
May 18, 2012. The choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church will present choral Evensong on Sunday, May 27, at 5 p.m. in the nave of the church on Main Street in Blowing Rock. Service music will include the “Magnificat and Nunc dimittis” by Walmsley, as well as the Smith “Preces and Responses.” The anthem will be “I Will not Leave You Comfortless” by Everett Titcomb. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Award-winning poet and novelist Alan Shapiro will speak Thursday, June 7, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 421 Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University. Shapiro’s presentation is the first in the annual Summer Author Series sponsored by the library. Read more…
May 18, 2012. Despite spending more than any other nation in the world on health care, only 15 percent of Americans believe we’ve got the world’s best, according to a recent Pew Research Center and Gallup Poll. Read more…
May 18, 2012. CULLOWHEE, N.C. — Thursday’s baseball game between No. 24 Appalachian State and Western Carolina was suspended due to rain and lightning with WCU leading, 5-0, in the top of the seventh inning. Read more…
May 18, 2012. You’re invited! The children of Grandfather Home in Banner Elk would like to invite you to the Circle of Courage lunch and tour on Friday, June 1 from noon until 1:30 p.m. Read more…
May 17, 2012. Deed transfers from around Watauga County published on Thursday every week. See more…
COMPILED BY AMANDA GILES
