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SMARL Was Back Out on the Slopes on Monday after Missing Last Week’s Weather Delayed Race

February 4, 2026 After missing last week’s race do to the brutal weather conditions, SMARL was back out on the slopes this pass Monday for their 4th race of the season. Out on the slopes it was cold just like it’s suppose to be this time of year said Matt Leonard. “Good course, good snow and we probably had a 75% turnout for this one,” said Leonard. “Good fast course which is the way most of us like it!” It has been announced that the series will be extended a week to make up for the missed January 26th race making the final awards night race fall on February 16th. Team Sugar leads the series by 2 points with Ski Country Sports close behind. On the snowboard side The Lodge is out there all by itself with 65 points.

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MOVIE: Send Help

By Bob Garver             Did you know that getting stranded on a deserted island has a way of shaking up social hierarchies? I suppose that was a big part of the plot for recent Best Picture Oscar nominee “Triangle of Sadness.” As well as the literary classic “Lord of the Flies.” And it’s represented on television in everything from “Survivor” to “Lost” to “Gilligan’s Island.” And it was at the center of a play I did in high school called “The Admirable Crichton,” where I played a rich snob who gets taken down several pegs. Director Sam Raimi is hoping you’ve somehow avoided all of these precursors, plus others I’m sure I’m forgetting, because only then can you find originality in “Send Help.”             Rachel McAdams stars as Linda Liddle, a doormat of an employee in the strategy and planning department of a financial consulting firm. She does great work, but she doesn’t have the best social skills, and her bro-y male colleagues take her work for granted while overlooking her as a person. This is especially true of her boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), who gives a college buddy a promotion over her and is ready to boot her from …

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“Mercy”

January 18, 2026 Boone, NC – January 18, 2026 -The whole thing is ridiculous. It’s so ridiculous, in fact, that it warrants being seen by people who like ridiculous movies.

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2026 WinterFest Cancelled due to Extreme Icy Conditions

Provided by: Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Blowing Rock, NC – Due to the extreme icy conditions, the weekend forecast and the winter storm warning the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce has decided to cancel WinterFest 2026. The Cancelled events are: – Polar Plunge – Rotary Chili Challenge – Speckled Trout Beer Garden – Cocoa and Hayrides The Chamber made the decision based on a philosophy of “safety first” for participants and guests. The ice sculptures will be placed on Friday and available to stroll, view, and snap a few selfies! The Live Ice Sculpture Demo will take place from 12-4 on Saturday at Memorial Park.  Ticket holders are being notified by the Chamber.

LETTER: Boone at a Crossroads: growth without the infrastructure to survive it?

Written by: Ryan Abrams, Boone Boone presents itself as a town that is growing, modernizing, and adapting. New apartment buildings rise near campus and along key corridors. Student-oriented developments expand upward and outward. Parking decks, large institutional buildings, and dense multifamily projects continue to reshape the landscape. On the surface, this looks like prosperity and momentum. But beneath that visible growth lies a much older, quieter system — stormwater drains, culverts, creeks, and sewer infrastructure that were never designed to handle what is now being built above them. There are efforts underway. The Town of Boone has not ignored infrastructure entirely. A town-wide stormwater inventory has been funded to locate and assess existing drainage assets, though flooding remains a known recurring problem due to Boone’s terrain and stormwater patterns. (Stormwater infrastructure page, Town of Boone). The Howard Street downtown project includes replacement of water and sewer lines and the addition of new stormwater piping. Targeted creek restoration projects aim to stabilize eroding channels and reduce localized flooding. Routine maintenance continues on an aging water and wastewater system. These actions matter. They demonstrate awareness of the problem and provide incremental relief in specific locations. But the uncomfortable truth is that these …

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10 Tips to Prepare for The Severe Winter Storm This Weekend

Written by: Sam Garrett BOONE, N.C. — As winter storms are arriving across the mountains of North Carolina. We will receive a mix of heavy snow, ice, high winds and rapidly changing conditions. The Governor has declared a state of emergency. Emergency managers urge everyone to prepare early and avoid unnecessary travel starting Friday, January 22 through the weekend. Below is a quick checklist of how to prepare for the weekend. 1. Monitor forecasts closely.Weather can change quickly in the High Country. Check updates from the National Weather Service, Ray’s Weather, WATA FM 96.5, High Country Press along with social media for the latest weather conditions. Pay attention to winter storm watches and warnings, which signal increasing or decreasing risk. 2. Stock up before the storm hits.Grocery stores can empty fast when snow is in the forecast. Have at least three days of food and water for everyone in your household. Choose items that don’t include cooking in case the power goes out. 3. Prepare for power outages.Heavy snow and ice often bring down trees and power lines. Keep flashlights, extra batteries, blankets and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio on hand. If you rely on medical equipment that needs electricity, …

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Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Showcases New Exhibitions at “Fizzy First Friday” on February 6

Boone, NC – The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts will host an evening of ARTtalks, a juried photography competition, hands-on artmaking, and community engagement during Fizzy First Friday on Friday, February 6 from 4-8pm. The event features the opening of new exhibitions, artist conversations, refreshments and desserts, and music by a DJ, all in celebration of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC). Schedule of Events: 4-8pm: Fizzy First Friday Celebration, all galleries open 4-5pm: ARTTalk with Artist John Shorb (Dieu Donné, NYC) 5-6:30pm: AMPC ARTtalk and Awards Reception 5-7:30pm: Drop-In Artmaking in Moskowitz Gallery 7-8pm: DJ Set with Ty Murray/DJ Soularia All events are FREE and open to the public. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided with a cash bar. Exhibitions and Activities Overview: 23rd Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition and Exhibition This year’s theme, “I Know Why the Mockingbird Sings,” was chosen by juror Ty Murray, artivist and Director of Art & Communications at The Bottom, a nonprofit cultural organization in Knoxville, TN. Murray describes the inspiration behind the theme: “Joy is at the heart of my creative practice. My gears were turning for a theme that could convey the freedom that joy embodies—like the feeling of an …

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Movie Review: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Written by: Bob Garver             Audiences largely left last June’s zombie threequel “28 Years Later” thinking the same thing, “That was a good movie, but what the heck was up with that ending?” They were referring to the last-minute saving of young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) from a hoard of Infected by a gang of blonde-wigged, tracksuit-wearing ruffians led by long-missing earlier character Jimmy (Jack O’Connell). The tone of the sequence was one of stylized action, which clashed with the more ominous, meditative horror (short of the obvious Infected attacks) of the rest of the movie. Now, a mere seven months later, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” provides answers as to exactly what the heck was up with that ending.             It turns out that the gang, known as The Fingers (because together they form a mighty fist), while they like to take out the Infected, aren’t much kinder to uninfected humans. They’re a cult of serial killers, all stripped of their original names and now called Jimmy, who serve a Satanic deity known as Old Nick. O’Connell’s leader, now going by the name Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, agrees to take in Spike if he can kill a Jimmy …

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Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Announce Monthly Meeting

The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its next monthly meeting on Wednesday January 28 at the Watauga County  Department of Social Services, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone. Meeting begins at noon, with attendees advised to bring a drink and brown-bag lunch. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in the High Country are welcome to attend and are invited to join. Call 828/832-6864 for more information. Should Watauga County Public Schools close or have remote learning, the meeting is cancelled. If schools are on delayed opening, we will proceed as scheduled.  The WCRWC usually meets the last Wednesday of the month. See us on Facebook and learn more.

Watauga County Board of Elections Successfully Completes Logic and Accuracy Testing for Voting Equipment

Provided by: Watauga County Board of Elections Boone, NC — The Watauga County Board of Elections has successfully completed Logic and Accuracy (L&A) testing for all voting equipment to be used in the upcoming election. This testing confirms that the voting systems accurately record and tabulate votes as intended.Logic and Accuracy testing is a public process required by North Carolina election law and conducted prior to each election using teams of bi-partisan election workers. During testing, election staff run predetermined test ballots through each voting device to ensure that votes for every contest and candidate are correctly counted and reported.The testing was conducted under the supervision of Watauga County Board of Elections staff in accordance with procedures established by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. No discrepancies were identified, however coding for one election day precinct had an issue which is being addressed. “The successful completion of Logic and Accuracy testing is a critical step in ensuring secure, accurate, and transparent elections in Watauga County,” said Matt Snyder, Director “Voters can be confident that our voting systems are functioning properly and that every vote will be counted accurately.”All voting equipment will remain securely stored until it is deployed for …

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Governor Stein declares a State of Emergency in advance of upcoming storm.

January 22, 2026 Boone, NC – January 22, 2026 -“A winter storm is approaching, and now is the time to prepare,” said Governor Stein. “Please get ready. Get everything you need in advance of the storm and have a plan in case your power goes out. I encourage all North Carolinians to stay home and off the roads this weekend unless absolutely necessary so first responders can do their jobs safely and effectively.”

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Week 3 for the SMARL Monday Night Ski Races It Was Cold, But the Turnout Was Great!

Three weeks down, three weeks to go for the SMARL 20th anniversary’s racing season. It was cold Monday night and the race course was a little more turnery than usual and pretty challenging, which made for some slower times. Matt Leonard said “It was cold for sure!” Team Sugar still leads the skiing division by two points over Ski Country Sports. The Lodge is dominating the snowboard division. Andrew Jochl had the fastest skiing time this week at 31.56 seconds with Matt Leonard close behind with 31.78. Erich Schmidinger was fastest for the snowboards at 37.83. Next Monday night should be an interesting race with the weekend forecast of a major snowstorm.

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SMARL’s Week Two Results Are In From Monday Night’s Race, Great Weather, Fast Times!

January 14, 2026. Week two of SMARL’s 20th Anniversary race series is in the books with Team Sugar leading the pack in the skiing division and The Lodge on top in the snowboard division. Matt Leonard said Monday night ‘s weather was just right with the race course in great shape for some fast racing. “We had a great turnout, even better than last week,” said Leonard. “The snow was really good and the course was a little straighter that made for some really fast times.”

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Filmmaker Jon Glassberg Returns to Boone for Screening of “Girl Climber” on Jan’ 31 as Fundraiser for Howard Knob Boulders

January 14, 2026. Join Blue Ridge Conservancy at the Appalachian Theatre on January 31 for a screening of “Girl Climber,” and a panel including filmmaker Jon Glassberg and BRC’s Eric Hiegl. In the exhilarating film, director Jon Glassberg, who lived and climbed in Boone in the early 2000s, chronicles professional climber Emily Harrington’s pursuit of a 24-hour ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan. Proceeds from the evening benefit BRC’s purchase of Howard Knob for public access for hiking and climbing. After 30 years of effort, the Conservancy was able to buy the property in December of 2025, with plans to reopen the land to the public in the near future for climbing, hiking, and recreation.

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Crossnore’s Center for Trauma Resilient Communities Launches Initiative in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties to Strengthen Nonprofit Leadership and Post-Helene Resilience

January 13, 2026 Boone, NC – January 13, 2026 -Nonprofit leaders in the High Country are currently facing an unprecedented secondary trauma crisis—managing their own losses while leading organizations through a regional emergency. In rural communities like the High Country, nonprofits often serve as the primary public infrastructure supporting vulnerable individuals and families, particularly in matters of safety and wellness. As a result, these leaders are carrying not only personal and organizational strain, but also the weight of sustaining one of the few systems of care available to their communities during a time of profound need. 

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Attorney General Jackson and NCDHHS Secretary Sangvai Issue Statement on Potential Child Care Funding Freeze

January 12, 2025 Boone, NC – January 12, 2025 -“If fraud is discovered here, we will pursue it aggressively and make sure those responsible face consequences,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “That’s what our fraud prosecutors do every day. When people steal taxpayer money, they’re stealing from kids and families. We have zero tolerance for it, and we’ll use every tool we have to stop it. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been a reliable partner in past efforts to uncover and stop fraud, and that partnership has helped us save taxpayers millions of dollars.” 

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