High Country Press

September 13, 2019. On September 6, 2019, High Country Council of Governments held its annual awards banquet to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions by elected officials, local government employees, and advisory committee members. High Country Council of Governments (HCCOG) is a planning and development agency serving local governments in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties. Award winners were selected by elected and appointed officials from the seven-county region. HCCOG Planning & Development Director, Phil Trew, presented the first award. / Read more…

September 13, 2019. Get ready to tee off on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 1:30 p.m. at Hound Ears Club for Hospitality House’s annual Frank and Kay Golf Classic. This signature event honors the legacy of philanthropy and leadership that former Appalachian State University Chancellor Frank Borkowski and his multi-talented wife Kay have bestowed upon the High Country since their arrival in 1993. “Frank and Kay have been an integral part of the mission and vision of Hospitality House,” stated Hospitality House director of development Todd Carter. “The organization was only nine years old when they arrived in Boone. This year, as we celebrate our thirty-fifth year, we continue to be blessed by their support; that’s twenty-six years and counting for the Borkowski’s.”   / Read more…

September 12, 2019. The NCDOT Board of Transportation Officially approved the 10-year State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) from 2020-2029. The board made the approval official last Thursday. A total of 1,319 highway projects, 86 aviation projects, 234 bike and pedestrian projects, six ferry projects, 23 public transit projects, and 50 rail projects were either amended or added to the 10-year plan throughout North Carolina. “The department’s 10-year transportation plan is updated every two years. Projects scheduled in the first six years of the plan are considered committed and are not re-evaluated when a new plan is developed. Projects in the final four years of each plan are prioritized again based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents,” the NCDOT said in a press release.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 12, 2019. A late summer heatwave has hit the High Country with temperatures that reached the mid-80s on Wednesday, including a new record high of 85 degrees in Boone. The record beat the old record of 83 degrees that was set on September 11, 1931, according to data provided by Ray’s Weather Center. Thursday’s record could also be in jeopardy of falling. The current record of 84 degrees was also set in 1931. High temperatures will be in the mid-80s once again throughout the area. After today, the heat will drop back into the 70s for the rest of the week, however, the rain chances also increase after today with a greater risk of showers and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday. Sunday and Monday appear to be nicer with highs in the mid-70s and only a slight risk of precipitation. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

Sept. 12, 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…

September 12, 2019. The annual Avery County Agriculture and Horticulture Fair was held September 4-7 at the Heritage Park property on Vale Road in Newland. The event’s director, B.J. Beuttell described it as a smash success, mainly a result of having approximately double the people attending compared to last year’s. Beutell said a total of 7,080 went through the Fair gates for its four days this year. Between 3,000-4,000 attended the 2018 Fair, which ran five days. “I believe everyone involved with the Fair is pleased about how everything went off this year,” Beuttell declared. “Fortunately, there was beautiful weather each day of the Fair and our attendance was among the best we’ve ever had. And it was the very best we’ve had in probably the last 20 years, With all considerations, the Fair was a great success.” By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 12, 2019 Letters to the Editor. BY REP. RAY RUSSELL / Dear Editor, House Republican Leaders intentionally deceived House Democrats, the press, and the public about a session held at 8:30 am, September 11, 2019, and rammed a vote on the State Budget through the House. At the end of a non-voting session Tuesday night, the House Rules Committee Chairman David Lewis, who presided over the session, told Minority Leader Darren Jackson that no votes would be taken in the 8:30 am session Wednesday. The Minority Leader communicated this information to House Democrats via email. Also, Rep. Lewis texted reporters that there would be no votes in the 8:30 am session Wednesday. (Copies of the text have circulated widely in news reports and social media.) I presume the purpose was to keep reporters from being on the floor to cover what would happen. To add context, the House has scheduled scores of “No Vote Sessions” since January. This is normal operating procedure to dispense with parliamentary procedures that do not require the presence of members. Read more…

September 11, 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

September 11, 2019. Acrylic painting, photography, graphite drawing, and mixed media works on paper are a few of the many creative works that Lees-McRae College Communication Arts and Design faculty will feature during this year’s faculty exhibition. Free and open to the community, the exhibition will be available for viewing in the King-Shivell Gallery in the Cannon Student Center from Thursday, Sept. 12 until Monday, Oct. 7. The event will kick off with an opening reception from 12:30–2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. Communication Arts and Design faculty and artists featured during the event include associate professor and program coordinator Melissa Ball-Martin, professor Michael Joslin, assistant professor Angelia Wilson and King-Shivell Gallery Director Michael Iauch. / Read more…

September 11, 2019. Come dance to the music of The Collective at the 4th Annual Oz Ball Saturday, September 14th from 6-8pm at the Buckeye Recreation Center on Beech Mountain. Dress as your favorite character from the Wizard of Oz, or come as you are! The Collective, a local rock-and-roll band famous for their danceable tunes, will perform music throughout the event. Dave Calvert of The Collective also owns Carolina Barbecue, which will be catering the event with delicious North Carolina BBQ. The Oz Ball is held every year as a supplementary event during the Autumn of Oz events held at the Land of Oz in Beech Mountain. The Oz Ball is a completely separate event from the other Oz events in Beech Mountain; one does not have to attend any other Oz-related event to attend the Oz Ball. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

September 11, 2019. The Blowing Rock Music Festival is back this year to welcome a variety of talent to the event stages at The Blowing Rock Attraction at 432 Rock Road, Blowing Rock, NC on Saturday, September 14. The Blowing Rock Music Festival presents an impressive lineup at a unique venue where attendees can enjoy intimate concert spaces and amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Headline entertainers for the 2019 Blowing Rock Music Festival include The Harris Brothers, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers, Shelby Rae Moore Band, Soul Benefactor, Jeff Little Trio, Wayne Henderson, The Neighbors, Charlie Carpenter, Cecil Palmer and Gloria Coffey, Mitch and Masten, and more. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

September 11, 2019. The Avery County Airport Authority has been honored by the Avery County Commissioners. As part of Avery’s “Celebrate County Government,” originated by County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr., the Airport Authority members were recognized at a Board of Commissioners meeting last week. The Airport Authority directs operations for the Avery County Airport at Morrison Field, which encompasses approximately 70 acres and is located on Brushy Creek Road, one-fourth mile off U.S. Highway 19-E in the Ingalls Community. The Airport Authority members are appointed by the Avery County Commission. Each member is known to possess high volumes of expertise about the many intricacies of airport procedures in general and Avery’s Airport in particular. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 11, 2019. The long history of horse sports in Blowing Rock will take a giant leap forward at 2:00 PM on September 21, 2019 when the Broyhill Preserve plays host to the third annual James Fisher International Grand Prix. Twenty-five horses and riders from the US and six foreign countries will tackle a challenging course of obstacles in pursuit of $50,000 in prize money. In the 96 years of competitive riding in Blowing Rock, this is the largest purse ever offered. This year’s Grand Prix will feature 25 riders competing in the event representing various countries from across the globe; world cup riders from Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and Germany were handpicked as competitors for this year’s Grand Prix due to their qualities of character and reputations for being respectable horsemen. Riders can bring as many horses as they wish, but can only ride one horse in the competition. Scoring is simple. The rail is up, the rail is down, and the clock determines the winner. / Read more…

September 11, 2019. In August, Appalachian State University welcomed 19,280 students — the largest and most diverse class in university history. Preliminary numbers from the fall 2019 census data and the Office of Admissions as of Sept. 5 also show a continuing trend of strong retention rates for the fall 2019 semester. Appalachian enrolls 5,831 rural students — more than 300 students above the University of North Carolina System strategic plan benchmark for this year — and 4,977 first-generation undergraduate students, which is 28% of the total undergraduate population. A record 17.4% of the total population is racially/ethnically diverse. Appalachian has increased its total underrepresented student population by 47% since 2014. “These numbers are an impressive testament to the collective efforts of our exemplary faculty and staff,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “Together, we are continually strengthening the culture of diversity and inclusion at Appalachian.” / Read more…

September 11, 2019. September 2 is an auspicious date for Grandfather Mountain. Sixty-seven years ago, it marked the opening of the world-famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. In 2019, it saw the nonprofit nature park break ground on its most ambitious project since — the Conservation Campus. Here, guests will experience the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, featuring all new state-of-the-art museum exhibits (designed by PGAV Destinations of St. Louis, Missouri), as well as outdoor learning spaces, an amphitheater and a botanical garden. “We’re working to share the wonders of Grandfather Mountain in ways that are broader and deeper than ever before,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature park. By Frank Ruggiero / Read more…

September 11, 2019. The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is making a difference for women and girls in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties.  $170,000 worth of difference! Since the organization’s inception, the Women’s Fund has given away over $1.5 million to local non-profits as part of their annual grants cycle.  The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge believes that all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives.  We recognize our role as a leader in this community by working to achieve these principles through our grantmaking. We are pleased to award $170,000 to these agencies that will create positive change for women and girls in the High Country: / Read more…

September 11, 2019. The High Country Counties of Ashe, Avery and Watauga are among those areas in the state known for producing quality apples. Said to be good for your teeth, stomach, skin and complexion, your nerves, your smile and overall good health, the old adage of “one a day” may just help to keep the doctor away. Without a doubt America’s favorite fruit, the apple is one of the most versatile food items available today. Experts estimate anywhere between 5,000 to 20,000 varieties exist – with Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome, and Stayman among the most popular, especially here in the mountains. A bit of trivia rests in ancient Greek folklore that tossing an apple to a girl was a proposal of marriage; catching it was acceptance. Whether you toss, catch or just enjoy the fresh crisp autumn favorite as a mid-day snack, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding them falling off the trees around these parts. They seem to be in abundance, even if a little early this year, so get them while you can. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

September 10, 2019. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / 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.

What’s Happening This Week at Lost Province Brewing

Wilkes County Fair Happening September 10-14

28th Annual Overmountain Victory Celebration is September 12-14

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Information Session Scheduled for September 12

Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees to Meet September 13

Grandfather Mountain hosts Girl Scout Day September 14

High Country Watermedia Society to Meet September 14

Back By Popular Demand: Apple Hill Farm Agritourism Workshop

Money Streams Workshop September 21-22

Watauga Habitat For Humanity Hosting Two Upcoming Events

Crafting Your Way Through Grief Begins October 24

Magic Science Van: An Early Release Traveling Science Enrichment Opportunity October 24 – 25

Evans Named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week

Western Youth Network Receives $25,000 Award

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

September 10, 2019. August is proving to be a peak time to buy a home in the High Country, according to the latest monthly real estate report by the High Country Association of Realtors. Local Realtors sold more homes last month than all but one other month in the past 14 years; August of last year. The activity occurred as interest rates continued to fall and new inventory was added. Local Realtors sold 279 homes worth $91.78 million in August, according to the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It records all Realtor activity in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. It was the busiest month since last August when 295 homes sold for $86.41 million. That month remains the high water mark for sales in the region dating back to at least 2005. The median price last month was $240,000, two percent higher than during August 2018 ($235,050). / Read more…

September 10, 2019. It could not have been a much more perfect, sunny day in the High Country for the Town of Boone to honor former town manager Greg Young and current public works director Rick Miller. The recently completed water intake on the New River in the Brownwood community was named for Young while the updated water treatment plant was named in honor of Miller. “Originally designed and placed into service in the 1980s, the Town of Boone had two water intakes permitted with a combined capacity of three million gallons per day and an existing water treatment facility that could treat up to three million gallons per day. Boone’s need for an additional raw water supply was identified in a 2004 water system hydraulic analysis. Subsequently, 27 different source locations were evaluated all the way from the Watauga Lake to the Yadkin Valley, but this site was located as the most suitable and able to meet Boone’s 50-year water projection needs,” said current town manager John Ward.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 10, 2019. Norman Wirzba, professor of theology, ecology, and agrarian studies at Duke Divinity School and author of many books, will be speaking at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church at 1218 Main Street Blowing Rock, NC on Sunday, September 15 and Monday, September 16. Wirzba will be covering various topics during a Q & A with the audience at 9:30 a.m. on September 15, with an 11:00 a.m. Worship Service following the proceedings. 5:00 p.m. on September 15, Wirzba will give a lecture entitled “Discovering Sabbath/Discovering Life”. On Monday, September 16, Wirzba will give a lecture at 9:30 a.m. entitled “The Spirituality of Eating”. Childcare will be provided for attendees with small children. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

September 10, 2019. Visitors are familiar with Grandfather Mountain’s resident animals, including black bears, bald eagles, cougars, river otters and elk. But what do they do after dark? Guests can find out Saturday, Sept. 21, at Grandfather Mountain’s annual Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight, a nighttime event that features fun and spooky stories told by firelight, along with rare after-dark tours. From 6 to 9:30 p.m., guests young and old can enjoy hot chocolate and warm apple cider by the glow of a bonfire. The event is BYOS (Bring Your Own S’mores), but the park will provide marshmallow roasting sticks, cider, hot chocolate and seating. From there, guests will join Grandfather staff members on a nocturnal trek to the top of the mountain (via shuttle) and the environmental wildlife habitats. / Read more…

September 10, 2019. Lees-McRae College and the Town of Banner Elk invite the High Country community to the second annual Family Picnic and Concert on Thursday, Sept. 19. Starting at 5 p.m. in Tate-Evans Park in Banner Elk, the evening will feature live entertainment, food and beverage vendors, inflatable games for all ages, and interactive novelties. Admission is free, but attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to Feeding Avery Families. Free parking will be available at the Historic Banner Elk Elementary School and Banner Elk Town Hall parking lots. The evening’s musical performances will feature Boone-based songwriter and musician Shay Martin Lovette and Southwest Virginia-based band If Birds Could Fly. / Read more…

September 10, 2019. The Blue Ridge ArtSpace, a community arts hub filled with four galleries, classrooms, and a Gift Shop, is the home of the Watauga County Arts Council. During the month of September, the Main Gallery will feature an eclectic collection of works of art from the group called Studio 12. Co-founded in January 2011 by Anne Welch and Judy Prevost, Studio 12 members meet monthly at the Caldwell Arts Council to critique each other’s work and to encourage an exchange of ideas for becoming better and more prolific painters. Periodic field trips to museums and other points of artistic interest contribute to the artists’ awareness of new ideas, materials and techniques. The group’s 13-member roster includes seasoned artists who have enjoyed former careers in teaching, nursing, journalism, marketing, the military and other fields. They have been brought together by a common desire to increase their productivity and to fine-tune their individual levels of expertise as painters. Members work in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, pastel and mixed media and represent a wide range of subject matter and styles. / Read more…

September 10, 2019. Carolina in the Fall Music & Food Festival, presented by Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express, announces a diverse and exciting lineup of food trucks and beverage vendors for the two-day event slated for September 20-21 in Wilkesboro. Food trucks competing in the festival’s Food Truck Championship include PorterHouse Burger Truck, Wingz On Wheelz, Bleu Barn Bistro, The Hillbilly Philly and Kalman’s Bon Apetit. The grand prize winner will receive $500.00 and a championship trophy and truck sticker. Additionally, the trucks will be competing for the Best Themed Truck trophy. “We have a great variety of food trucks for the competition this year” says Championship Director Caitlen Wurdeman. “Everyone should find a few favorites to enjoy during the festival.” / Read more…

September 10, 2019. F.A.R.M. Cafe welcomes Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business Graduate Programs as September’s Buy Boone Lunch sponsor. Wednesday, September 11, students and staff will be on-site volunteering and serving a delicious lunch prepared for our Real.Good.Community. Associate Dean, Dr. Sandra Vannoy, shares “F.A.R.M. Cafe’s mission to feed all regardless of means resonates with Graduate Programs in the Walker College of Business.  We not only believe strongly as a team in addressing hunger needs in the surrounding area, we want to impart to our students the importance of giving back to one’s local community.  We volunteer annually as a team at the F.A.R.M. Cafe, and look forward to participating in our first Buy Boone Lunch.” / Read more…

Sept. 10, 2019 Here are some fan shots from Saturday’s 56-41 victory over UNC Charlotte.  With a White Out crowd of 29,182, it was a beautiful day to be an App fan. App State has a bye week this Saturday and then will travel to Chapel Hill on the 21st to take on UNC.  Photos by Debbie Carter. / Read more…

Sept. 10, 2019 Back in 2017, the big-screen version of Stephen King’s “It” became the biggest horror movie of all time with a domestic gross of over $327 million. The film probably would have gotten a sequel based on its box office alone, but it helped that King’s book takes places in two different time periods, making a follow-up practically a necessity. So now we have “It: Chapter Two,” a film that has some big floppy clown shoes to fill. The horror movie certainly isn’t afraid to deliver in quantity, with a 170-minute runtime. I think the logic is that you can afford to spend more time with the film because it’s so scary that you won’t be able to sleep after it’s over. I barely made it through the film without falling asleep. By Bob Garver. / Read more…

September 9, 2019. For the second time, Blowing Rock has been chosen as the starting Host Town for the Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Ride. More than 1,000 cyclists from 40 states and three foreign countries will gather in Blowing Rock on Saturday, September 28, 2019 to begin the weeklong, 483-mile, recreational trek along the state’s scenic back roads from the “mountains to the coast.” “We’re excited to begin the ride again in Blowing Rock. We were able to start the Mountains to Coast ride in Blowing Rock back in 2009 and have really wanted to come back. This year, schedules worked out and our participants could not be happier. Blowing Rock has a great reputation for hospitality and riders from across the country are looking forward to being there. With everything within walking distance, our participants can easily explore what the town has to offer. We’ve got a great leadership team made up of local officials and cyclists; that’s exactly what it takes to make this event a success,” said Chip Hofler, Cycle North Carolina Director. / Read more…

September 9, 2019. The campus and local community celebrated Appalachian State University’s 120-year legacy of educational leadership with the second annual Founders Day celebration Sept. 5. The day included dedication of the Lillie Shull Dougherty statue, the ringing of the Founders Bell, a panel discussion with past leaders, and research by faculty, staff and students. “What began as Watauga Academy in the late 1800s has flourished into Appalachian State University — the premier, public undergraduate university in North Carolina,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said at the afternoon Founders Day Ceremony in Founders Plaza. The principles set forth by our founders have guided us to be the forward-thinking university we are today. Examining our past reminds us of our resiliency and our commitment to increasing access to education for all.” Founders Day honors the first day of classes at Watauga Academy in 1899 and recognizes founders B.B. and D.D. Dougherty, who were brothers, and Lillie Shull Dougherty, wife of D.D. Dougherty. By Linda Coutant / Read more…

September 9, 2019. On September 13, 6 P.M., at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis, the Community Care Clinic will host their second annual Barn Raising event. The event parallels CCC’s overall mission: helping the community, with the theme of neighbors helping neighbors. CCC provides free healthcare to low-income members of the community, aiming to address the critical health needs of people who can’t afford insurance. Having started off in the back of a station wagon in 2005, CCC has since grown to over a hundred medical and non-medical volunteers, providing high-quality healthcare to those who need it thanks to donations and volunteers in the community, as well as events such as this one. This year’s Barn Raising will echo that of last year’s, with a silent auction followed by a reception with live music, dinner, and refreshments. By Adam Estabrook / Read more…

September 5, 2019. It was the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It was fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was perhaps anything but what the general college football enthusiast and prognosticators would have expected from Saturday’s Appalachian State -Charlotte game at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. Appalachian State began and ended the first half in impressive fashion to help key its 56-41 victory. And Running Back Darrynton Evans answered each big second-half play from the 49ers to keep heavily-favored Mountaineers from suffering an upset. In a White Out game that drew 29,182 fans, Evans rushed for a career-high 234 yards and totaled four touchdowns, including an 87-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and a 68-yard touchdown run after Charlotte had sliced its deficit to 42-34 midway through the fourth quarter. By Tim Gardner. Photography by David C. Mayo / Read more…

September 6, 2019. Lees-McRae College in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) will now offer guaranteed acceptance to all BRCC graduates as part of a recently signed articulation agreement between the two institutions. Called the Promise Program, the articulation agreement will enable eligible students from BRCC’s campus to complete their four-year degree at Lees-McRae. President Lee King and Laura B. Leatherwood, president of BRCC, signed the agreement on the campus of Lees-McRae on Thursday, Sept. 5 in the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons. Lees-McRae Vice President for Enrollment Management Erin Healey said, “Opportunity happens when people put their minds together to create positive change. We are working to remove barriers and are dedicated to making education accessible to our communities.” / Read more…

September 6, 2019. The fourth annual Fall Community Dinner and Dance Celebration will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 13 in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom located in the Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State University. Tickets are $25 for adults, who must be 18 years or older, and $10 for App State college students. Student ID is required at the door for student attendees. Dinner will be catered by the Daniel Boone Inn and served in a buffet-style setup. Purchase of a ticket includes two drinks of either beer or wine as well. Dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. and dancing will last from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Lucky Strikes will be performing live music during the event and pre-recorded music is on hand for attendees to keep on dancing after the concert has concluded. The Appalachian State University television channel will be present to film the events’ proceedings. By Joe Johnson / Read more…