High Country Press

November 19, 2018. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, Jamie Laval, is coming to the High Country this Saturday, November 24th for Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music’s 25th Anniversary Celtic Christmas Concert. The show takes place at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue in Boone, beginning at 7:30pm. Laval’s Celtic Christmas Show captures the beauty and atmosphere of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, and Iceland during the holidays. An entertaining and thought-provoking family holiday experience, the show weaves a tapestry of music, dance, poetry, and stories that hearken back to the ancient Celtic celebrations associated with the Winter Solstice and Christmas. Laval will be joined by top regional Celtic performers: Megan McConnell, vocal; Rosalind Buda, wind instruments and poetry reading; and Eryn Jones Fuson on Celtic Harp. / Read more…

November 19, 2018. Ensemble Stage will be hosting a staged radio play of It’s a Wonderful Life on Saturday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 25 in the Hahn Auditorium (185 Azalea Cir SE, Banner Elk). The Saturday performance beings at 7 p.m. while the Sunday performance beings at 2 p.m. The play is based on the 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life, which follows the perspective of George Bailey. Bailey is a characteristically generous man who devoted his life to better the lives of those around him; however, through this sacrifice, many of his dreams were relinquished. Bailey contemplates losing his life until his guardian angel, Clarence, visits him and shows him what life would be like without him. The play will follow a 1940’s style of broadcast radio, allowing the audience to experience authenticity within the performance. Radio plays incorporate a sense of nostalgia, utilizing sound effects to convey different environments and transitions. By Kelyn Wilhoit / Read more…

November 19, 2018. Two High Country teams took care of business in their respective first round playoff games on Friday night. 3AA West top seed Watauga overpowered 16th-seeded Ashbrook, 49-0, and 2AA West fourth seed Ashe County had no problem with Salisbury, beating the Hornets 49-14. Watauga built a 21-0 halftime lead and blew the game wide open in the third quarter, piling on three more touchdowns and adding one final score in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers tallied 445 yards of total offense with 378 of those yards coming on the ground. Quarterback Anderson Castle completed 2-of-4 passes for 67 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The junior QB also carried the ball nine times for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Castle’s touchdown pass went to Grant Oliver on a 26-yard score. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 19, 2018 Here are some fan shots from Saturday’s 45-17 victory over Georgia State. The Mountaineers are now 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. Appalachian will host Troy this Saturday with a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game on the line.  Photos by Debbie Carter. / Read more…

November 19, 2018. It has been a banner season for High Country Soccer Association. With the 2018 North Carolina Youth Soccer Association (NCYSA) fall season wrapped up, HCSA finished with three teams that earned first place in their respected divisions. The U11 Girls finished with a 9-1 league record earning the top spot in their division. The squad found the net an impressive 49 times while only surrendering 3 goals. The U14 Gold Boys went through the fall season undefeated. Through 9 league games, the squad scored 48 times while giving up just 10 goals. Their showing not only clinched first place, but also earned a promotion to 1st division for the spring season. The highlight of the fall season belongs to the U18 Girls team. Already competing in 1st division, the team clinchedfirst place in their final league season game in dramatic fashion by tying the second place team, Wesley Chapel-Weddington Athletic Association. Their successfulseason not only was the first HCSA team to solely claim the top spot in 1stdivision, but it also awarded them a #1 seed in the west bracket of the NCYSA Kepner President’s State Cup. The team swept all three opening matches to advance to the Finals where they fell to eventual champions Fayetteville Soccer Club. / Read more…

November 19, 2018 Avery County is getting Broadband Internet Service for many parts of its 247-square mile radius and many of its 17,797 residents with ongoing efforts to obtain the service for all parts and residents of the county. An agreement was made September 7 between the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and North Carolina Wireless of Hickory that the latter will perform work pursuant to Broadband Internet Service being installed. Contractual obligations and related work on the installation process have been ongoing since. Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr. informed the Avery Board of Commissioners about a Broadband Internet Service Grant being awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to the Avery Chamber of Commerce at the Board’s February 2018 meeting. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

November 18, 2018 On November 16, 2018 at approximately 5:16, Blowing Rock Police Officers responded, along with Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue and Watauga Medics, to a report of a fall on Greenhill Road in Blowing Rock. Upon arrival an elderly white male was found deceased off the embankment. The victim has been identified as Milton J. Hayes from Bessemer City North Carolina. Mr. Hayes was reported missing to the Gaston County Police on November 15th at 9:00 am. A preliminary investigation, by the Medial Examiner at the scene, indicate that Mr. Hayes may have died 10 to 12 hours before being discovered by a resident in the area. The cause and circumstances of Mr. Hayes death is currently under investigation. / Read more…

November 18, 2018 Appalachian State posted a 45-17 victory against Sun Belt Conference foe Georgia State Saturday in Boone’s Kidd Brewer Stadium to set up a winner-take-all regular season finale with East Division leader Troy next weekend, and again at home. If the Mountaineers (8-2 over-all, 6-1 conference) beat Troy to win the division via the head-to-head tiebreaker, they would host the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game on Dec. 1. “We just had a business-like approach, and it’s a great win,” Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield said. “It puts us in position for next week against Troy, whoever wins is playing for the conference championship at their home field. You couldn’t have asked for anything better at this point in the season.” By Tim Gardner / Read more…

November 16, 2018. Appalachian Ski Mountain is all set to officially open for the 2018-19 ski season on Saturday morning, joining Sugar Mountain who decided to open on November 11. Appalachian will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow and the first 100 guests at the ticket window will receive a free ski ticket. With the cold weather and wintry precipitation that rolled through the High Country this week, conditions for snowmaking have been very good and the current plan, according to Appalachian Ski Mountain, is to have six or eight slopes open this weekend. Appalachian will be open on a regular schedule, which means Midnight Blast Nights will also be in effect from opening day forward. / Read more…

November 16, 2018. The Downtown Boone Development Association has a Façade Incentive Grant program that has been in place for many years and has helped improve several downtown buildings. This year the DBDA has received and approved two grants, one for Ransom Pub and another for the Horton Hotel. Ransom was recently given their grant money and when completed the Horton Hotel will receive theirs as well. In April of 2018, Wine to Water applied for a Façade Grant for Ransom Pub and it was approved at the May Downtown Boone Development Association meeting. In September, they received $5000 for the renovations they completed. The Façade Improvement Grant program is a part of the Design Component of the Main Street Four Point Economic Development Implementation plan. These façade grants are an important part of the design plan because they help retain the charm and history of downtown Boone. Ransom has done a beautiful job with the outside of the building as well as the inside. / Read more…

November 16, 2018. December 15 is the final day to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. If you are not sure if you are covered or would like to know if there might be a better plan that fits you, High Country Community Health is more than happy to help out. Alex Noriega, the Open Enrollment Coordinator with High Country Community Health, is taking appointments for the next month to help people navigate the health insurance marketplace. “Anyone that enrolled last year should contact us and see if there’s something different or more affordable they can buy,” said Noriega. “In general, I have seen people find cheaper plans this year. Most of the plans have lower deductibles and lower max expenses out of pocket.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

Nov. 16, 2018 I am of the boring opinion that the 1966 animated holiday classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is a work of genius and the 2000 live-action take on the same story is an ugly, mean-spirited abomination. Is it any surprise that the new animated film “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” falls somewhere in between? I suppose it might be a mild surprise that it’s not as bad as the 2000 version, given the painful, obnoxious ad campaign for the film (The Grinch threw a sarcastic compliment at “The Emoji Movie,” ha… ha?). But Illumination Animation films are rarely as bad as their Minion-filled ad campaigns, and this film itself doesn’t do much to tarnish The Grinch’s legacy. And the little tarnishing it does do, it makes up for with a few welcome additions. By Bob Garver. / Read more…

Nov. 16, 2018. A look at the recent deed transfers in Watauga County. The information comes courtesy of the Watauga County Register of Deeds. Compiled by Debbie Carter / Read more…

November 16, 2018 Letters to the Editor. BY KAREN CARTER / Dear Editor, Well, the decisions of the past are coming back to haunt Boone town residents and their civic and business organizations.   The decision to allow transient college students to vote in local elections and even run for local offices had some serious repercussions for longtime townspeople as well as rural communities.  Also, local people soon realized that college officials and professors would be vying to run the town, and also, try to influence the entire county, if not run the county, too. Read more…

November 16, 2018. High Country residents woke up to a little snow on the ground and some more cleaning up to do after blustery winds continued through the night bringing down tree limbs and scattering more debris. Several roads had moisture freeze again over night, forcing schools to cancel after initially expecting to operate on a two-hour delay. In Boone, the highest wind gust recorded so far reached 42 MPH at 12:59 a.m. Friday morning. Wind gusts have measured in at 33 MPH in Linville, 26 MPH in Valle Crucis and 19 MPH in Blowing Rock. Windy conditions will continue across the High Country throughout most of the day, although not nearly as strong as overnight Thursday and early Friday morning. Temperatures will remain cold on Friday with high temperatures in the area expecting to stay in the upper 30s or maybe reaching 40 degrees. A wind advisory remains in effect until noon on Friday. / Read more…

November 16, 2018. Blue Ridge Energy crews and over 100 additional line and tree technicians continue battling outages from overnight winds coupled with Thursday’s ice storm that have left nearly 4,000 members without power this morning. Currently without power at 5:30 am Friday are: 2,094 in Ashe County; 1,136 in Alleghany County; 587 in Watauga County; 73 in Wilkes County; and one Alexander County. Overnight winds coupled with Thursday’s ice storm left widespread damage, impacting thousands of Blue Ridge Energy members.  / Read more…

November 16, 2018 WATAUGA SCHOOLS STATEMENT: Due to additional overnight snowfall and a number of snow and ice covered roads across our county as well as power outages and downed trees, there will be no school for students on Friday, November 16th.  It will be an Optional Teacher Workday.  Teachers and staff may report on a two hour delay to ensure safe travels to work. AVERY SCHOOLS STATEMENT: Overnight, Avery County received a fair amount of snow that has covered most roads. Even the main roads are dangerous in spots. This combined with temperatures well into the low twenties has created dangerous travel conditions this morning. Forecasts suggest the weather will improve after lunch today but not early enough to allow our buses to safely run this morning. Due to this, the Avery County Schools will be closed with an optional teacher workday today, Friday, November 16th. Staff members are to report on a regular schedule if safe to do so. Thank you for your patience and understanding.  / Read more…

November 15, 2018. The Watauga Pioneers received the top overall seed in the 3AA West Region, setting up a first round matchup with #16 Ashbrook this Friday night. The Pioneers head into playoff action with an 11-0 overall record and finished a perfect 7-0 in the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference. Offensively, the Pioneers have been tough to stop for any team they have faced so far. Watauga has averaged 350 rushing yards per game and has scored 51 rushing touchdowns in 11 games. Junior Bryce Satterfield led Watauga in rushing during the regular season with 163 carries for 1,090 yards and 14 touchdowns. Fellow junior Jaiden Bond always seemed to find a big play on the ground. He finished with 12 rushing touchdowns and 1,074 yards on just 67 carries, averaging over 16 yards per carry. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 15, 2018 The New River Water Intake Project that was supposed to be completed by November 7 still has some work to be done to reach its completion. At the October 18 meeting of the Boone Town Council, W.K. Dickson & Co, Inc., the engineering company for the water intake project, received authorization for up to three months beyond the original completion date to finish up the project. According to the agreement, Harper Corporation, the contractor for the project, will be working at least 60 hours per week through the end of the project to complete everything in the additional three-month extension. The agreement states that the “Not to Exceed” (NTE) cost for the remaining services will be $137,600 to be paid by the Town of Boone. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 15, 2018. At the November meeting of the Watauga County Board of Education, the board had five special recognitions for students and faculty. The recognitions included Watauga Education Foundation grant winners, district-wide spelling bee winner Sam Nystrom, Watauga High School Spanish teacher Carmen Scoggins, GEAR UP students and school board member Jason Cornett.  / Read more…

November 15, 2018. The first winter storm of the season has certainly taken its toll on several trees and power lines throughout the High Country. According to an update provided by Blue Ridge Energy on their Facebook page around 3 p.m., crews are attempting to restore power to over 6,000 residents in Blowing Rock and Aho who just recently lost power. The post also says that Blue Ridge Energy has requested an additional 100 line technicians and workers from sister cooperatives and contractors to assist 75 Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and personnel. Things are not much better in Ashe County as the number of people without power has climbed throughout the day, even as the bulk of the precipitation is leaving the area. The Blue Ridge Energy outage map currently shows 3,882 members in Ashe County without power. 1,403 members in Alleghany County are without power and 78 members in Wilkes County are currently without power as of 3:30 p.m.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 15, 2018. Come share the excitement at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market this Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon at Daniel Boone Park, Horn in the West parking lot in Boone. From market manager Michelle Slaton: “There are just two more Saturdays in November. What a wonderful season it has been. And with Saturday promising to be the sunniest and nicest day of the week it is the perfect time to come out and do some early holiday shopping and talk to our vendors about how to order from them through the Winter months. It’s been a wonderful season and we appreciate all our amazing customers and their continued patronage. We need to give a big thank you to Hatchet Coffee for generously donating coffee for sale during the four November market days. All proceeds from coffee sales will benefit the Blue Ridge Conservancy, a local, nonprofit land trust dedicated to conserving land and water resources in Northwestern North Carolina, who will be joining us throughout the month. Come by for a cup of coffee and hear about the good work that these folks are doing right here in our back yard!”  / Read more…

November 15, 2018. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

November 15, 2018. In 1988 the term “The Year of The Perfect Christmas Tree” originated in Avery County and became nationally famous. Thirty years later in 2018, the same term has become nationally famous in a different manner, yet in another of the most momentous happenings in the county’s 107-year history. Avery County is the backdrop of the highly-popular “The Year of The Perfect Christmas Tree” children’s book written by local native, the late Gloria Houston. The book is a heart-touching story about a little girl and her mother carrying on in preparation for Christmas while her father is away at war. Since its publication in 1988, the book has become a holiday classic, reaching number one on the New York Times best-seller list with some 3.5 million copies in print. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

November 15, 2018. May 2019 could easily be an eye-opening, life-changing month for hundreds of individuals in the High Country, if Denise Presnell has her way. And, anyone who knows Denise Presnell knows it can happen. The innovative school counselor who heads up the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative is growing more excited by the day as she and her team plan the upcoming State of the Child, State of the Community Event. Slated for Saturday, May 4, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Watauga High School, the conference is expanding its size, strength and focus with expected attendance between 500-600 people and double the breakout sessions from last year. Holding the event on a Saturday in a larger, more conducive classroom setting, Presnell said, will allow for more participants, as well as presenters, and will make it more convenient for childcare workers and educators to attend, as well as parents, many of whom will not have to hire substitutes or miss a day’s work to come. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

November 15, 2018. Appalachian State University women’s basketball (0-2) seeks its first win of the season on Thursday in the home opener against UNCG at 6:30 p.m. in the Holmes Center. App is coming off a tough two-game weekend, as it faced a pair of WNIT opponents from 2017-18 in UAB and Georgia Tech. Following a setback to the Blazers in the season opener, the Black and Gold gave GT fits despite a  71-53 defeat. Appalachian at one point took a 33-32 lead late in the second half and later tied up the game in the third period, 42-42. But the Yellow Jackets turned App State turnovers into transition points to pull away for the win. Pre Stanley and Tierra Wilson led the team in scoring with 13 points. Wilson posted an efficient 4-of-6 shooting from the floor with three trifectas. Bayley Plummer collected a game-high 15 rebounds, which was the ninth time in her career she posted at least 15 off the glass.  / Read more…

November 15, 2018. Temperatures hovered around the freezing mark across the High Country Thursday morning causing widespread icing. Public schools are closed and many businesses are announcing a delay in their opening times today. Ray’s Weather Center is reporting that freezing temperatures could last through the morning hours. The National Weather Service says that slippery road conditions are possible, especially on bridges and secondary roads. And tree damage and power outages are possible. The Blue Ridge Energy Electric Outage Map is showing some power outages across the High Country, more so in Ashe county. / Read more…

November 15, 2018 Due to widespread icing and poor road conditions in the district, Watauga County Schools will be closed for students, teachers and all 10 month employees on Thursday, November 15th.  It will be an Annual Leave Day and this day will be made up later in the school year.  All 11 and 12 month employees may report on a two hour delay to ensure safe travels to work. The Holiday/ Snowday Program at Hardin Park will NOT open today..   / Read more…

November 14, 2018. Tent sales have become a bit of a tradition for the Mast General Store. This time around, the sale has expanded to the National Guard Armory in Boone, located at 274 Hunting Hills Lane. “Basically the reason we decided to do it at the armory is because it’s a little colder now than when we typically have our tent sales so we want everyone to be comfortable and want to have a large area to display our goods in,” said Sheri Moretz, spokesperson for Mast General Store. “The armory presents us with the opportunity to have a wide open space to let things spread out, kind of like a tent sale that has been moved inside.” Employees from the Boone and Valle Crucis locations will staff the sale and there will be areas to try on clothes and make sure you get the right fit with your purchases. Many items will be discounted by as much as 50 and 75 percent off of retail prices on brands that include Lulu-B, Honeyme, Merrell, Sperry, Dansko and many others. Both summer and winter apparel will be available at these discounted prices. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 14, 2018. It’s that time of the year where we all reflect on the things we are thankful for. What most consider basic human needs—a roof over our heads, a warm bed to sleep and at least three meals a day—are things many others consider a luxury. In 2017, John Mena, Owner and Master Stylist at Haircut 101 in Boone, started a “Lunch Money for Kids” raffle, offering salon services as the prize to raise money that the children would normally go without. We were able to raise $2,000 last year, and we are hoping to beat that this year! Please join us for our second annual “Lunch Money for Kids” raffle.  / Read more…

November 14, 2018. “Get Lit” is a group of local writers seeking to promote literature and the craft of writing in and around Boone. Through planned community and pop-up events, Get Lit seeks to engage readers, writers and all who love story and language in fostering and developing a thriving literary community. The first event, “PUB-lish,” will be held at the Boone Saloon on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Eight writers and poets will read from their work (about seven minutes per reading) and be available for conversation after. Skip and Kelly, the owners of Boone Saloon, have been promoting literary events since they opened their establishment in 2004, and in 2012 hosted a standing-room-only evening with The Moth, emceed by internationally acclaimed author, Neil Gaiman. / Read more…

November 14, 2018. Looking to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your neighborhood? Want to keep an eye on criminal activity in your area? Take a look at these recent incident and arrest reports from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Boone Police Department. Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

November 14, 2018 In preparation for the impending winter storm, Avery County Schools are dismissing early on Wednesday. Avery County Schools will dismiss today at 2 p.m. with Newland Elementary dismissing at 1:30 p.m. “Our goal is to get students and staff home safely before the incoming wintry weather arrives,” said a statement released on the Avery County Schools Facebook page.   / Read more…

November 14, 2018. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties through Thursday afternoon as the first winter storm rolls through the area on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. A wintry mix is expected to begin late this afternoon and this evening. The biggest threat from this storm will be the sleet and ice potential. According to the National Weather Service, sleet accumulations could reach as much as two inches and ice accumulations reaching a half-inch. There may be some snow mixing in with this storm, however ice will be the biggest factor overnight. Wind speeds will also pick up with this storm. Wind gusts between 20-35 MPH could bring down trees and power lines that may be covered in ice. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 14, 2018. Appalachian State looks to avoid a major upset and inch closer to playing for the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division Championship this Saturday, November 17, when the Mountaineers host Georgia State. Kickoff in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) battle is set for 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) in Boone’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPN-Plus and via radio airways on the following affiliates: 97.3 FM (North Wilkesboro) – FLAGSHIP; 96.5 FM/1450 AM (Boone); 1270 AM (Gastonia/Charlotte); 1150 AM (Rock Hill, SC/Charlotte); 101.5 FM/600 AM (Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point); 107.7 FM/1450 AM (Hendersonville); and 1350 AM (Asheville). With home games left against Georgia State (2-8 over-all, 1-5 conference) and Troy (8-2 over-all, 6-0-conference) to close the regular season, Appalachian State (7-2 over-all, 5-1 conference) needs victories over both to clinch the East Division title and earn the right to host the first Sun Belt Championship Game on Dec. 1. If Troy beats Texas State this week and then defeats Appalachian State, Troy wins the East outright as the Trojans would have the division’s only final unblemished record. By Tim Gardner / Read more…