April 30, 2013.The Town of Boone hosts an Unified Development Ordinance Revisions Workshop on Tuesday, May 7, at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road with the Boone Town Council and and Boone Area Planning Commission.
BY JESSE WOOD
April 30, 2013. North Carolina’s economy depends on people like John Cooper. John has led the Mast General Store system for more than three decades and continues to open new stores in the region. John has opened nine locations throughout Western North Carolina and into Tennessee and South Carolina, and he’s planning to open a new location in Winston-Salem in the near future.
April 30, 2013. Today, the downtown coordinator for Boone, emailed a letter drafted by the board of the DBDA to merchants, employees, property owners and residents, warning them that the proposed budget recently outlined at the DBDA’s spring retreat may need to be revised.
BY JESSE WOOD
April 30, 2013. Courtesy of the Blowing Rock Police Department, here is the weekly “Brief Sheet,” compiled by Capt. Aaron Miller on Tuesday, April 29. larceny of rebar and other metal was reported on April 22. The metal products that were to be used on the 321 construction project were taken from various locations along the highway project. Blowing Rock Police are investigating the incident.
April 30, 2013. Tickets for all An Appalachian Summer Festival events go on sale Wednesday, May 1, at 9 a.m. From theater and art to ballet, music, films and more, this year’s An Appalachian Summer Festival has a stellar lineup that should please everyone.
BY JESSE WOOD
April 30, 2013.Sam Ratchford of Vidalia won the battle between chefs in the High Country. Tonight, he faces the top competitive dining chef of Asheville – Adam Hayes of The Red Stag Grill – during the Fire on the Rock finale.
BY JESSE WOOD
Apr. 30, 2013. Letters to the Editor. CRAIG DUDLEY / Dear Editor, We’re told America is now a battlefield. A battlefield isn’t somewhere people can enjoy any freedom except for temporary times when government says we’re allowed, briefly. We just need more laws. We need access to everything about everyone. Our anti-terrorist laws didn’t stop one “terrorist” as they continue to save us with more anti-terrorist laws.
April 29, 2013. Update: The High Country and, in particular, the surrounding agricultural community experienced a huge loss yesterday with the passing of Charles Church, the 67-year-old farmer of Valle Crucis.
He passed away Sunday at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
In the local farming community, Church was not only a leading innovator in the fields, but he was also a kind man and a mentor to many farmers in the area.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Jessica Kennedy
Apr. 29, 2013. Letters to the Editor. BY MIDDLE FORK GREENWAY TASK FORCE / Dear Editor, We want to thank the more than 100 exuberant well-wishers who helped us dedicate the first section of the Middle Fork Greenway on April 18. First, huge thanks to Chris and Cathy Robbins, of Tweetsie RR, for building this beautiful 2,337’ section of what can, through the alchemy of easements, permitting, and funds, become a 6.5-mile hiking and biking trail along the headwaters of New River, linking the sidewalks of Blowing Rock, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and the Boone Greenway.
Apr. 29, 2013. Letters to the Editor. BY DR. GREG ADAMS / Dear Editor, Governor McCrory recently announced plans to privatize our state’s Medicaid system, turning the system over to out-of-state companies. We oppose this idea and strongly recommend that the governor and legislature look to build on the strengths of our current Medicaid program and improve on what is already working.
April 29, 2013. F.A.R.M. Café celebrates its first anniversary with live music, fresh food and an awesome atmosphere on Saturday, May 4, from 12 to 4 p.m. The anniversary meal includes beef tenderloin donated by Earth Fare and other delicious dishes.
BY JESSE WOOD
April 29, 2013. WThe BFA Senior Studio Exhibition: Spring 2013 runs May through June 1 at Appalachian State University.
April 26, 2013. Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson ordered a special meeting to take place on Wednesday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. in the Boone Town Council Chambers. The purpose of the closed session meeting, according to a notice posted on the Town of Boone’s website, is for council members to receive legal advice concerning the “handling or settlement of threatened judicial or administrative actions by the Watauga County Commission Chairman against the Town.”
BY JESSE WOOD
April 29, 2013. Seniors Nakisa Asefnia of Raleigh, Lauren Brigman of Marshall and Laura Levine of Raleigh have received the Ronny L. Brooks Leadership Award, which recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through the leadership that they provide to Appalachian State University students, programs, and/or organizations.
April 29, 2013. MerleFest, presented by Lowe’s, has come to a close for another year. Early estimates show that, from its start on Thursday, April 25, to its close on Sunday, April 28, aggregate participation over the festival’s four days exceeded 76,000 participants.
April 29, 2013. The “Kitten Season” has begun, according to staff at Avery County Humane Society. “Recently, we have had dozens of calls from people wanting to drop off unwanted kittens,” said Charlene Calhoun, shelter manager. “Yes, the kittens are cute, but having so many of them means that people often overlook the older cats,” Calhoun added. Often, an older and calmer cat is a better fit than a rambunctious kitten, according to Calhoun.
April 29, 2013. The 11th Annual Adult Services Expo will be held on Friday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boone Mall. This event is held under the Auspices of the Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County. The purpose of this expo is to help educate the community on available services, to identify and address needed unavailable services as well as to develop a networking system for citizens and agencies in the community.
April 29, 2013. For the eighth year in a row, the annual P.B. Scott’s Reunion Party will keep alive the memory of the once famous music hall in Blowing Rock.
BY MADISON V. FISLER
April 29, 2013. It’s the final two days to take the Feinstein Challenge and join Hospitality House in their bid to end hunger in the High Country. Hospitality House has partnered with the Feinstein Foundation, who will divide $1 million among hunger-fighting organizations across America, to fight hunger in the High Country.
April 29, 2013. Punter/place kicker Sam Martin was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 32nd pick of the fifth round (165th overall) and defensive back Demetrius McCray was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fourth pick of the seventh round (210th overall).
April 29, 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.
COMPILED BY AMANDA GILES
April 29, 2013. The Elkland Art Center will host its 3rd annual “Trash N’ Fashion” fundraiser during first Friday Art Crawl on May 3 at the High Country Press building in downtown Boone. This year, 12 designers from Appalachian State University as well as community designers who have dubbed themselves “The Garbage Collective” will strut their stuff on the runway
BY MADISON V. FISLER
April 30, 2013. The 20th annual Taste of the High Country takes place tonight from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Harvest House on Boone Heights Drive. The annual event benefits the Watauga County Habitat for Humanity and features food from many of the High Country’s popular local restaurants.
BY JESSE WOOD
April 27, 2013. During the early evening hours of Tuesday April 23, Narcotics Investigators with the Boone Police Department and the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office ended a large-scale drug investigation.
April 27, 2013. Above is Del McCoury and the Preservation Jazz Hall Band performing at MerleFest on Friday night. Click inside for more photos and the remaining lineup. Photo by Ken Ketchie