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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…

May 21, 2013. The Park Rangers at Elk Knob State Park are kicking off the summer with a month full of summer fun for the month of June. Check out these great activities, good for the whole family! Read more…

May 21, 2013. The High Country Crime Stoppers board met recently in Banner Elk N.C. Five cash rewards were given to callers in Watauga and Avery County who gave information that led to the arrest of individuals wanted on outstanding criminal charges, recovery of illegal drugs or assisting officers to make arrests on crimes under investigation. Read more…

May 21, 2013. As twisters ripped apart communities near Oklahoma City, Samaritan’s Purse immediately began mobilizing disaster relief experts and resources to send to the area. The North Carolina-based Christian relief organization will be providing emergency assistance as well as cleaning and repairing damaged homes. Read more…

May 20, 2013. Rock Dimensions in downtown Boone will once again be hosting their kids summer camps to introduce children to the world of rock climbing. Since 2005, Rock Dimensions has offered these camps to resident and visiting children to help them get outside and have a good time. Read more…
BY MADISON FISLER

May 20, 2013. Photographer Lonnie Webster captured images from the Fifth Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Convention that took place on Saturday at the Continuing Education Auditorium on the Campus of Mitchell Community College in Statesville. Read more… Photo by Lonnie Webster

May 20, 2013. The pre-kindergarten program of the Watauga County Schools will serve four classes with a total of 72 children in the 2013-14 school year, down from five classrooms with 90 spaces available at the start of the current school year. Read more…

May 20, 2013. According to the festival’s website, Music on the Mountaintop has cancelled its 2013 festival, which was slated to take place in late August at the Grandfather Campground. However the website post added, “We’ll be back in 2014!” Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 20, 2013. Four former all-America student-athletes have been selected for induction into the Appalachian State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Appalachian State’s Former Athletes Association announced on Friday. All five honorees will be recognized during Appalachian athletics’ annual Hall of Fame Induction breakfast on Sept. 7 at Plemmons Student Union. Read more…

May 20, 2013. On May 15, officers with the Avery County Sheriff’s Office and the Newland Police Department responded to the Elk Park area to assist officers with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office in stopping a stolen vehicle traveling into Avery County from Roan Mountain. Read more…

May 20, 2013. On May 16 at approximately 11:30 p.m., officers with the Avery County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on Cow Camp Rd involving a man on a local woman’s porch asking her to call 911. Deputies arrived on scene accompanied by an officer from the Newland Police Department. Read more…

May 20, 2013. The U.S. Forest Service today reminded visitors to practice safety when visiting the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie or Croatan national forests this Memorial Day weekend. Read more…

May 20, 2013. Carlton Gallery hosts its Spring Group Exhibition on Saturday, May 25th, 2-5 p.m. New art by the standing gallery artists whose work ranges from traditional to contemporary in paintings, glass, wood, sculpture, clay, fiber and fine jewelry transforms the gallery for its Spring Celebration and 31st Anniversary. Read more…

May 20, 2013. is commonly accepted that of the original “Star Trek” movie series, 1982’s “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” is about ten times better than 1979’s “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. Applying the same logic to J.J. Abrams’s reboot of the franchise, “Star Trek Into Darkness” should be ten times better than 2009’s “Star Trek”. Read more…
BY BOB GARVER

May 20, 2013. At next Tuesday’s Watauga County Board of Commissioners meeting, a public hearing is scheduled to hear citizens’ comments regarding the potential abolishment of the local Department of Social Services board. The public hearing starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 17, 2013. Roger Troy McGuire of Todd passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 13, at the age of 47. Along with being an accomplished carpenter, Troy was also an excellent banjo player, instrumental in starting the ever-popular Friday night music jams at the Todd General Store. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 17, 2013. Across the state and nationwide, all eyes are on the Powerball jackpot. The jackpot increased on Friday, eclipsing the record $587.5 million annuity for the game set in November. Saturday’s jackpot is now estimated at $600 million if taken as an annuity or $376.9 million if taken as a lump sum. Read more…

May 17, 2013. The Watauga County Board of Education will hold a retreat session from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on June 14 in room 124A of the College of Education Building on the campus of Appalachian State University. The purpose of the retreat is for the Board of Education to receive and discuss information on current issues and programs in the Watauga County Schools. Read more…

May 17, 2013. Indian pharmaceutical maker Ranbaxy will pay $500 million to North Carolina, other states and the federal government for selling generic drugs that didn’t meet quality standards, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today. Read more…

May 17, 2013. Grandfather Home for Children hosts its opening celebration of its Centennial Celebration on Saturday, May 18, at the Hayes Campus in Banner Elk from noon to 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and includes kid crafts, petting zoo, food vendors, live music and free strawberry sundaes. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 17, 2013. Several days ago, The Associated Press reported that the Internal Revenue Service acknowledged that it targeted conservative political groups using key words such as “Tea Party” to see if those groups violated their tax-exempt status. Here’s how your U.S. Representatives responded to IRS’ admission. Foxx hasn’t released a statement on the matter. Read more…
COMPILED BY JESSE WOOD

May 17, 2013. Thomas Henry Pusey of Sugar Grove picked the wrong guy to steal from a few mornings ago. On Tuesday, Keith Bell was driving home from a doctor’s appointment where he had just had shoulder surgery when he pulled into his driveway in the Brown’s Farm area to find his trailer hooked up to Pusey’s SUV. Read more…
BY JESSE WOOD

May 17, 2013. 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…
BY MADISON FISLER

May 17, 2013. The workshop, which is sponsored by Heifer International and Blue Ridge Seeds of Change, will be led by Anthony Flaccavento a farmer and consultant from Abingdon Virginia. Flaccavento has 25 years of hands on experience in sustainable community development, along with a BS degree in Agriculture and Environmental Science and a Master’s degree in Economic and Social Development. Read more…

May 17, 2013. The Watauga Humane Society will hold its third annual Perennial and Herb Sale on Saturday, May 18, from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM in the parking lot of Precision Printing, 1302 Blowing Rock Road, in Boone. Prices will be $.50-$5.00, and all plants come from well-established gardens. 100% of proceeds will benefit the shelter’s spay-neuter program. Read more…