High Country Press

January 23, 2019 Todd Carter, the Director of Development at the Hospitality House in Boone, has been named the 2019 Big Wig of the Year. National Big Wig Day is a fun cause dedicated to raising money for charities and non-profit establishments that bring about a positive impact on people’s lives. Carter was informed last week that he would be the 2019 Big Wig of the Year, which will be celebrated with National Big Wig Day this Friday, January 25. His award came in on Tuesday. “This is a hard time of year after the holidays, suicide rates go up. What a better way to put on a wig and be silly and support your favorite non-profit,” Carter said on Wednesday afternoon. This is the first year that the organization, based out of Los Angeles, has selected a regional non-profit to recognize. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 23, 2019. 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

January 23, 2019 The Youth Services Department of Watauga County Public Library is pleased to announce a new project, coordinated with local reading specialist Laurie Gill. Watauga Library has recently been awarded a $3,000 Youth Literacy grant from Dollar General Stores. The grant will fund the purchase of special (“carefully-calibrated”) little books designed for beginning and primary-grade readers, which can be checked out for reading practice at home. These books, which come in small sets, are easy for novice readers to handle (with a little help), and also interesting and enjoyable for young children. The aim is to give area children free access to the little books that can gently ease their way to success in school. / Read more…

January 23, 2019. Life Care Centers of Banner Elk, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, is welcoming a new executive director, Lynn Kilpatrick. “Lynn has been an integral part of our leadership team in several Life Care centers over five years,” said Jennifer Solomon, regional vice president for the Appalachian Region. “Her experience in long-term care and devotion for the residents and associates that she serves makes her the best choice to lead the team at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.” Kilpatrick is no stranger to the Life Care family. In the five years she has been with the company, Banner Elk is one of the many facilities she has served in. She began as a traveling interim executive director and became licensed in four states while facilities searched for permanent executive directors. / Read more…

January 23, 2019. Blowing Rock’s WinterFest is finally upon us. Tomorrow kicks off WinterFest with Shop Til You Drop, BrrrrAHM, Doodlebug Club at BRAHM, and WinterFeast before activities pick up for the weekend on Friday starting with a Pancake Breakfast at Sunny Rock. At the 2019 edition of Blowing Rock WinterFest, on Thursday, January 24 through Sunday, January 27, everyone is invited to enjoy more friendly competition at the Rotary Charity Chili Cook-off, the Silent Auction & Raffle, the WinterPaws Dog Show, and the newest event: the K-9 Keg Pull. But that’s not all WinterFest has to offer. There will be great food, shopping and more throughout Blowing Rock this year! Print out this schedule of events and put it in your pocket or purse to know just where to go to see all Blowing Rock has to offer this WinterFest! By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

January 23, 2019 If you want a great summer job, love to sing, dance and act, or have theater tech skills, mark Saturday, January 26th or February 2nd, on your calendar. That’s the dates when local auditions and interviews for employment will be conducted for the 2019 season at Tweetsie Railroad’s Wild West Adventure theme park. Tweetsie’s Entertainment Department will be scouting for musical theater performers, as well as audio/video staff. Singers, technicians, actors, cloggers and dancers are all welcome to these auditions, including those with stage combat and equestrian skills. Applicants should apply online (www.tweetsie.com/employment/application/) or pick an up application at the Ticket Office. Registration will be on-site. Actors, singers/dancers and technicians will register between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. Applicants must be 16 years or older to audition.
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January 23, 2019 Caleb Tolley is a dog lover. And he has taken his passion for man’s best friend to the zenith by competing several of his dogs in numerous talent shows on national and regional levels the past seven years at such places as Houston, TX, Columbus, OH and Raleigh and Hickory, NC. And in February, the 18-year old resident of the Kalmia community in the far Southern part of Avery County will take his Longhaired Dachshund, Devon, to compete in the most prestigious show of them all—the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at famed Madison Square Garden and Piers 92/94 in New York City, New York before thousands and millions more watching on television. Ever the adventuresome sort, Tolley considers competing his dogs in shows as an intriguing and irresistible challenge as he goes through the laborious steps of prepping, training and traveling with them. He has competed many breeds of dogs in shows from Dachshunds to Mastiffs and even a small Pomeranian. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 23, 2019 Jessica Farley serves as the Public Information Officer for the Toe River Health District, which encompasses health departments in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Her primary responsibility is to chronicle and disseminate information about the health district and its services to media on local, state, regional and even national levels as well as residents of the three counties and all others who request it. Farley is a true professional — well-organized and thorough at handling details while performing her job with the Health District, which strives to protect and improve the health of the citizens of the three counties while maintaining an over-all healthy environment. Continue reading for an interview exchange between this reporter (my questions) and Farley (her answers) about the health district and the many, all-important services it offers to Avery Countians as well as Mitchell and Yancey county residents. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 22, 2019. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

January 22, 2019 North Carolina State Senator Deanna Ballard accepted the 2018 NC Beer Legislator of the Year Award given by the NC Craft Brewers’ Guild at Lost Province Brewing Co. located in Boone on Monday night. Sen. Ballard is the state senator from District 45 who received the award for her outstanding support regarding issues related to the craft brewing community in North Carolina. Each year, the NC Craft Brewers’ Guild works to recognize those who have helped the NC craft brewing industry the most with their legislative efforts. Sen. Deanna Ballard was chosen as the 2018 recipient of the Legislator of the Year Award due to her exceptional efforts dedicated to furthering the NC brewing industry’s success. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

January 22, 2019 Hemp production will now be full speed ahead after the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from the federal controlled substance list. The bill, better known as the 2018 Farm Bill, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in December of last year. Hemp plants, which share common traits of marijuana plants, can now be grown legally in the United States with proper permits and as long as the THC levels in the plant are under a certain amount. “The laws in North Carolina and federal changes in the 2018 Farm Bill are very strict on the THC levels being less than 0.3 percent of the biomass. That’s what the Department of Agriculture will be testing permitted growers for and growers are expected to abide by that in their attempt to source these plants,” said Richard Boylan, an Extension Agent at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office in Boone. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 22, 2019 Boone alumni band “Downtown Abby and the Echoes” gave a show at Beech Mountain this past Saturday as part of the Beech Mountain Resort Winter Music Series. The band, who is fronted by App State grads Bailey Faulkner and Abby Bryant is now based out of Charlotte, but got their start in Boone late in 2016 when both were attending App State. “We started with a group of friends and started playing around Boone at house parties and some of the bars, and from there we started to make it our full time endeavor”, says Bryant. At the end of summer 2018 they made their move to Charlotte. / Read more…

January 22, 2019. The late Steve Gabriel, who coached Appalachian State’s wrestling program to a 90-24-2 record from 1965-74 after competing in both football and wrestling as an App State student from 1948-52, has been announced as a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s 2019 induction class. Gabriel, Ernie Barnes, Willie Bradshaw, Eddie Bridges, Rod Broadway, Gene Corrigan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dee Kantner, Davis Love III, Paul Miller, Neill McGeachy and Thell Overman will be enshrined during the 56th annual induction banquet on May 3 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Ticket information for the banquet is available at ncsportshalloffame.org or 919-845-3455. “The achievements of this year’s class of inductees enrich North Carolina’s remarkable sports heritage, and the individuals have certainly earned the honor of joining the 351 men and women who have been previously enshrined,” said Nora Lynn Finch, president of the Hall. “This is our 56th class, and we look forward to celebrating this special time in our state’s sports history.” The N.C. Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1963. A permanent exhibit is located on the third floor of the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh and features significant objects and memorabilia donated by inductees. / Read more…

January 22, 2019. The second race of the 2019 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) took place Monday night at Sugar Mountain Resort on Big Birch slope. SMARL takes place on six Mondays in January and February and is now in its 14th year as an after-work, “beer league” for local skiers and snowboarders in the High Country. SMARL is sponsored by Sugar Mountain Resort and Ski Country Sports. Skiers and snowboarders braved the cold temperatures that bottomed out at around 11 degrees for the racing action Monday night.  After this second race Team Sugar and Ski Country A are tied for first place in the ski division and Scooch Legs leads Edge of the World by one point for first in the snowboard category. Austin Oliver had the fastest time down the slope on skis in 19.72 seconds and Austin Burr had the fastest snowboarding time of 25.37 seconds.  / Read more…

January 22, 2019 After an exceptionally snowy November and December brought a historic number of snow days to the High Country, Watauga County Schools is looking ahead and planning for how makeup days will be utilized going forward into the final — and typically most severe — weeks of winter. While the approach of February brings us closer to spring, the last few weeks of winter are typically responsible for the majority of Watauga County Schools’ snow days. Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott said with 11 days missed already, and a reasonable expectation that more inclement weather will occur before summer, the school system is looking ahead and planning for how makeup days will be utilized going forward. / Read more…

January 21, 2019 The fourth annual High Country K9 Keg Pull has joined WinterFest for the 2019 season. The K9 Keg Pull includes an extended course for the dogs raising money for dogs. The race starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, and lasts until approximately 4 p.m., depending on how many competitors attend. K9s will be paired with appropriate sized empty kegs, and owners will walk/run beside them on the course at Blowing Rock’s American Legion Parking Lot. The course is approximately 100 feet downhill. This event also features food trucks, a beer garden and a photo booth. Prizes will be awarded within each size category. The event is open for dogs spectating with their owners as well. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

January 21, 2019 The “Super Blood Wolf Moon” total lunar eclipse lived up to its billing on Sunday night with some breathtaking photos of the last total lunar eclipse until 2021. Sky gazers across North America and South America had the best view for this eclipse. People in Europe and the western parts of Africa also had decent views as everyone kept their eyes in the sky. Local photographer Todd Bush shared some of his best shots with the High Country Press and detailed his experience getting the photos. “I set up on the east side of our house on the deck and I used my body to block the wind as much as I could. I’d go out every 15 minutes or so and take some shots,” Bush said. “I left the camera out there and I was blown away that the battery held u for the two or three hours that it was out there.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 21, 2019 Legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock is set to perform at The Schaefer Center on February 13. He is considered a true icon of modern music by many. Hancock was born in Chicago in 1940 and quickly became a child piano prodigy, performing a Mozart piano concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 11. His love for music only grew from there, as he began playing jazz in high school, influenced by Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. Hancock then double-majored in music and electrical engineering at Grinnell College before being discovered by Donald Byrd in 1960. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

Jan. 21, 2019  Director M. Night Shyamalan is known for his twist endings, and 2017’s “Split” ended on a doozie. It turned out that the movie, which featured an antagonist named Kevin (James McAvoy) with 24 distinct personalities, one of which was a kill-happy Beast, took place in the same world as 2000’s “Unbreakable,” wherein David Dunn (Bruce Willis) discovered he was a superhero destined to one day battle supervillain Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), a mass murderer with a brittle bone disorder that earned him the nickname “Mr. Glass.” Now the highly-anticipated crossover film has arrived, and while nobody excepts it to be a spectacle on par with the Marvel or DC superhero movies, is it too much to ask that it not be so super-dull? The film opens with David foiling a pair of petty thugs, and immediately something seems off. Not only do the two boneheads talk about posting a video of their crime online in dialogue that sounds like it was written by somebody who has just now heard of the concept of posting videos online, but they get their comeuppance in an unsatisfying way off-screen. By Bob Garver / Read more…

January 21, 2019 It was a bone-chilling start to the week on Monday morning with temperatures all across the High Country in single digits and most areas with temperatures below zero. Sugar Mountain recorded the coldest temperature of the night, according to Ray’s Weather Center. The temperature at the mountain fell to -8 degrees. At Grandfather Mountain, the weather station at the Mile High Swinging Bridge showed -7 degrees at 7 a.m. this morning. The wind chill dropped all the way to -39 degrees at 5 a.m. with the highest wind gust recorded at 77.6 MPH at 3 a.m. Beech Mountain dropped to -6.4 degrees on Monday morning, Snake Mountain bottomed out at -6.3 degrees and Newland’s low dropped to 0. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 21, 2019 NC Representative Ray Russell (D-Ashe/Watauga) is excited about serving the 93rd District in the 2019 Session that begins January 30. He has been busy setting up the legislative office in Raleigh, meeting with local leaders, and working with other legislators to “hit the ground running” when the session begins. In addition to the work in Raleigh, Rep. Russell is committed to being available to citizens of the district. He is working with local media outlets and setting up social media accounts to provide “News from Raleigh” in a timely manner. And he wants to hear regularly from the residents via social media and town hall meetings. / Read more…

January 18, 2019 Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s show featuring Ralph Stanley II and The Clinch Mountain Boys at the Ashe Civic Center. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys are celebrating their Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart that was released on Stanley Family Records last year. Even into 2018, the band is still regularly appearing on that coveted Top 15 chart. This self-titled album was the first release for the group since Ralph II took over the Clinch Mountain Boys band name in 2016 per the wishes of his late father Dr. Ralph Stanley. The band includes Clinch Mountain Boy John Rigsby on fiddle, mandolin and vocals; Alex Leach on banjo and vocals; Randall Hibbitts on the upright bass and vocals; and Ralph Stanley II on the guitar and lead vocals. This band configuration brings a lot of talent, energy and humor to the stage as they perform old-time favorites, bluegrass hits and new original material. / Read more…

January 18, 2019. Janet Faye Marsh Zeller, age 70 of Glendale Springs died Monday, January 14, 2019 at Watauga Medical Center. Janet Marsh founded the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in 1984.  She served as Executive Director for 28 years.  Janet’s accomplishments are more impressive because she has turned disadvantage to advantage.  Blind from a congenital disorder since her late 20’s, she credits her visionary approach to community leadership to her loss of eyesight. Under Janet’s leadership, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has continued to grow in size and scope, with new issues, new communities, and new methods.  Today the organization spans six states, employs seven community organizers. BREDL won the NC Governor’s Award as Air Conservationist of the year for precedent-setting campaigns to reduce toxic air pollution.  BREDL has collaborated with grassroots organizations in Great Britain, Japan, Russia and throughout the United States. / Read more…

January 18, 2019 As the workweek comes to an end on Friday, the weekend weather is shaping up to be damp and cold, according to the latest forecast from Ray’s Weather Center. Saturday, temperatures will not be near as cold as in the coming days, however a steady rain in the afternoon with heavier rain arriving in the evening will be the main story. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s. Temperatures start dropping Saturday night and into Sunday morning with rain turning into snow showers on Sunday morning. The high temperature will likely be in the mid to upper 20s. On Sunday night, low temperatures are expected to be in the single digits in Boone with even lower temperatures possible at higher elevations. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 18, 2019. A blast of cold air and some snow in the High Country on Thursday has set up the area ski resorts with some good conditions and good snowmaking weather for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. “Everything is fantastic, we’ve got a huge base and 100 percent of our terrain is open so we’re definitely looking forward to the weekend,” said Drew Stanley, the Marketing Director for Appalachian Ski Mountain. “It looks like some cold weather coming in Sunday so we’ll be making snow as temperatures permit. Conditions should be mid peak season this weekend.” All of the terrain parks at App Ski Mountain are open as well. “We’ll have a variety of features out there, we try to put something out for all ability levels especially on these busier weekends,” Stanley said.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 18, 2019 It has been said before that the New River Water Intake Project is nearing the finish line. At least for now, it appears that contractors are almost done with the work that has taken over two months longer than anticipated to complete. The original contracted completion date was November 7, 2018. As of Friday, the project is now 70 days beyond completion date. “The contractor has indicated that they are shooting for within the next 30 days, dependent on weather and are working on punch list items,” said John Ward, the Town Manger of Boone, on Friday morning. The latest update provided by the Town of Boone on Thursday said that the project has received a certificate of compliance for all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing work done at the water treatment plant. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 17, 2019 Junior Adams, who was hired by Appalachian State University as an offensive assistant on January 6, has resigned his position with the Mountaineers to become the new wide receivers coach at the University of Washington. Adams has long-standing ties with the state of Washington. He coached wide receivers at Boise State University from 2014-2016 under head coach Bryan Harsin after Chris Petersen left Boise State as its head coach to take Washington’s head post. Adams had become an assistant at Appalachian State to new Mountaineer head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who also was an assistant coach under Harsin at Boise State in 2014 and 2015.  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Blowing Rock Town Council Retreat is January 20-22

High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast is January 24

Boone Town Council Special Meeting Dates

Boone Planning Commission Meeting Will Be January 28

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club to Meet January 30

Caldwell and Contiguous Counties High School Students Invited to Compete in Shakespeare Monologue Competition

Grandfather Mountain Offers Free Admission to Federal Employees Affected by Shutdown

Tillis Co-Sponsors Constitutional Amendment Imposing Term Limits on Members of Congress

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 17, 2019. The creation of the Daniel Boone Parkway appears to be back on the table in Watauga County. The project was added in the most recent NCDOT State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the 2020-2029 10-year plan. This is one of 17 highway projects added in Division 11 the covers Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. “Adding 17 projects to this program shows how much growth our area has, and will continue to experience, and how we will help address transportation needs,” said Mike Pettyjohn, NCDOT Division 11 Engineer. “Every citizen in one of the eight counties in Division 11 will benefit from at least one, and probably several, of the projects we have planned.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 17, 2019 Influenza (flu) is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Jennifer Greene, Health Director and CEO of AppHealthCare advised that “the flu season has begun and local public health is monitoring the data.” “We have begun to see a significant increase in flu within the past week,” said Dr. Danielle Mahaffey, Chief Physician Executive for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS). “Prior to last week 1 to 2 cases per week was the norm. However, from Friday (December 21) to Wednesday (December 26) eighteen (18) cases had been identified. Seventeen (17) of those cases were influenza A.” / Read more…

January 17, 2019 The public release of a positive annual audit highlighted the Newland Board of Aldermen meeting January 8. Aldermen (Town Council members)– Kenny Caraway, Lauren Turbyfill,  Dave Calvert and Jamey Johnson were present.  Alderman Greg Seiz was absent. Other town officials present included:  Mayor Valerie Jaynes; Town Administrator Keith Hoilman; Finance Director Lisa Meinhardt; Town Attorney Joe Seegers; and Town Clerk and Board of Aldermen secretary Tammy Gardner. It was the first meeting for Alderman Dave Calvert after he was reappointed to the Board on December 4, 2018 by a 3-2 vote. Calvert will fill the remainder of the two-year term of former Board member Joleta Wise who was killed in a vehicle accident on May 31, 2018. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

Jan. 17, 2019. 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…

January 16, 2019. 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

January 16, 2019. As the government shutdown continues on into yet another week with no end in sight, many of the national parks are suffering. With either no staff or very limited staff on hand, parks all across the country are dealing with trash piles, broken bathrooms and areas being destroyed by illegal off-road driving. Here in the High Country, the Blue Ridge Parkway has been able to avoid situations like that for the most part. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway chapters are hoping to be able to bring out more volunteers and build interest in the what the group does while being prepared to help clean up areas as needed when the shutdown ends. Ken and Julie Carpenter are the co-chairs of the High Country Chapter of the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ken said that the National Park Service has asked that the organization avoid going out to clear debris or clean up trash on the parkway until the shutdown is over. “Since everybody is on furlough, they’re nervous about people going out and doing a lot of work so they’re asking us to stand down as well,” Ken said. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 16, 2019 For the past two years, couples have danced until they couldn’t dance anymore at the Sweetheart Soiree Valentine’s Dance. The first annual Sweetheart Soiree took place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the American Legion. The event was a huge success with dancers and help from the Blowing Rock School, Girl Scout Troop, Watauga High School Student Council, Watauga Community Band, and donations of food and flowers from many local businesses.Blowing Rock’s Sweetheart Soiree is back for its third year. The free dance will feature an afternoon full of music, food, and fun! All members of the community are welcome to attend. The Sweetheart Soiree will be on Saturday, February 16, from 3-6 p.m. at the American Legion in Blowing Rock. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…