High Country Press

Boone United Methodist Church Hosting Annual Bazaar Sept. 20-21

September 18, 2024 The annual Fall Bazaar at Boone United Methodist Church in Boone is just hours away and is an event you don’t want to miss. “Not just another rummage sale,” the bazaar draws thousands of folks from miles around each year and always has a long line waiting for the doors to open to the church’s family life center. This year, the fun begins on Friday, Sept, 20, (7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and continues on Saturday, Sept. 21 (7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.) After months of planning and preparation, the serious countdown began earlier this week with the church family moving items from storage, arranging, pricing and taking care of last-minute prep for another great fundraiser. By Sherrie Norris

Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Falling for Seasonal Favorites

September 18, 2024 . Fall has begun to make its grand entrance. The leaves are beginning to change color at a fast pace, it seems, the temps are cooler and there’s still much to do before we move the lawn furniture in for its winter nap and clear away all evidence of summer. The grill stays on the porch at my house year-round, so if the power goes out in the middle of January, we can still savor a hot meal. Hope that doesn’t happen, but we’ll be ready, just in case. Let’s not jump too far ahead — it will be here soon enough. There are many fall favorites to enjoy, in the meantime, so let’s explore a few ideas to start the transition. Happy Fall, ya’ll! There’s good food and fun ahead By Sherrie Norris

New York Times Bestselling Author, Leigh Ann Henion, Returns to Boone Spotlight for New Book Launch On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m

September 18, 2024 If you’ve been in the High Country for any amount of time, the name Leigh Ann Henion must surely ring a bell. For several years, her byline was a familiar attraction, drawing readers to her well-written and captivating stories through her association with Mountain Times Publications. Fast-forward a few years through amazing life and career developments for this young woman who still calls the area “home,” and who reached for the stars and literally made it to the top as a New York Times bestselling author. And she’ll be in the Boone spotlight once again during a whirlwind tour to promote her newest book. On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m., Henion will be greeting friends, new and old, at Booneshine Brewing Company, while celebrating the release of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark. By Sherrie Norris

September 18, 2024 This fall, the streets of Downtown Boone will come alive with music, art, food, and festivities! The Watauga Arts Council, in partnership with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is proud to present the 4th Annual Buskers Fest and the brand-new Boonetoberfest on October 4th and 5th, 2024, for a Boone Fall Fest weekend. Mark your calendars for a weekend packed with vibrant entertainment, local talent, and fun for the whole family. On Friday, October 4th, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the streets of Boone will be filled with artists and performers for Buskers Fest—a unique celebration of the arts where local musicians, magicians, dancers, and visual artists showcase their creativity in unexpected places. From fire dancers to live painting, there’s something to delight everyone!

September 18, 2024 Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has partnered with SKIDATA to offer an RFID chip-based, digital ticket system. Come this winter season, a personalized, reloadable RFID card will offer various onsite (via ticket agents or kiosks) and online lift/slope ticket purchasing options. In addition, the new SKIDATA ticket system will modernize the tubing and ice-skating purchasing experience by offering online sales only. The Northridge slope which meanders from the Mountain’s 5,300’ summit to the famed Gunther’s Way slope or to the subtle Switchback slope has doubled in width and been outfitted with new LED lights. “Giving skiers and riders more space and brighter night session runs always makes for a more pleasurable experience,” excitedly explains Resort owner, Gunther Jochl.

Absentee Ballots to Go Out to Military and Overseas Voters on Sept. 20, All Other Voters Who Requested Them on Sept. 24

September 18, 2024 All 100 county boards of elections must send absentee ballots to eligible military and overseas citizens who requested them for the 2024 general election on Friday, September 20, under a new schedule released by the State Board of Elections. The Board also set September 24 as the date to start sending absentee ballots to other voters who have requested ballots by mail, including those who use the Visually Impaired Portal (VIP) to request and return their ballots. This schedule ensures that North Carolina will meet the federal law requirement to distribute ballots to voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) by the 45th day before the election – September 21.

September 18, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Jorgann Bullard Rogers /Sue Sweeting is the epitome of a “public servant”. The citizens of Watauga County can be assured that their needs and interests will be seriously addressed by this dedicated and experienced candidate who desires to serve you as a Watauga County Commissioner. As her neighbor and friend, I have witnessed Sue’s constant determination to reach out to assist others meet their needs and reach their goals. She is involved in numerous community projects, serves on countless committees, and participates in many activities on a regular basis.

September 18, 2024 As the comment period on the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Old-Growth Amendment comes to a close on Friday, environmental groups from across North Carolina held a virtual press conference on Tuesday to bring attention to the issue and encourage the public to press the Forest Service for stronger protections for North Carolina’s old-growth forests. Due to decades of logging, very few of the state’s old-growth forests remain. These rare forests provide crucial habitat for endangered species and absorb more planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than younger trees. Yet, they continue to be at risk from logging. Based on a new analysis from the Southern Environmental Law Center and several conservation groups, including MountainTrue, environmental groups say that the Biden Administration’s proposed amendment fails to adequately protect old growth.

September 18, 2024 Five first-year Mountaineer students — all graduates of Watauga High School — have been named recipients of Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) Scholarship for the 2024–25 academic year. Established in 1988, the scholarship provides funding to Watauga County students pursuing higher education at App State and is a key part of App State’s founding mission to increase access to higher education.

Watauga County Board of Elections to Conduct Pre-Election Testing of Voting Machines

September 18, 2024 The Watauga County Board of Elections will be conducting the pre-election testing of all voting machines starting on September 19, 2024. The testing process is open for public observation; due to limited space we ask that you schedule an appointment. Please call the office at ((828)265-8061 to reserve a time to observe the pre-election testing. County boards of elections are required by state election law to conduct a pre-election test, also known as Logic and Accuracy (L&A), of all voting systems to be used in each election.

State Employees Can Use Their Balance of Community Service Leave to Serve as Nonpartisan Poll Workers for Upcoming Election

September 18, 2024 State employees can use their balance of Community Service Leave — up to three days (24 hours) of paid time off — to volunteer with their County Board of Elections as nonpartisan poll workers during this fall’s election, the Office of State Human Resources announced today. “State employees are the backbone of North Carolina and we’re so grateful that they always step up to help when we need them,” said OSHR Director Barbara Gibson. “We hope the ability to use Community Service Leave for nonpartisan poll work encourages more state employees to serve with their local Board of Elections this year.”

September 17, 2024 After nearly a year of talking, planning and gathering support for a much-needed chapter in Watauga County’s history and heritage, a group of visionaries came together to celebrate a major milestone on Saturday, Sept. 14. Honoring their past, with a mission to preserve and protect it all for future generations, this group of about 30 people, along with families and friends, publicly proclaimed on Saturday that they are moving ahead with plans to establish a heritage museum for Watauga County. Chaired by Diane Cornett-Deal, the Watauga County Heritage Museum committee, officially recognized on Saturday as charter members, is comprised of citizens representing longtime families from every corner of the county, and all with a passion for preserving local history. By Sherrie Norris

September 17, 2024 Appalachian State University’s High Country Humanities — with support from North Carolina Humanities — will present “Folk Music as an Expression of Culture: Talks with Acoustic Demonstrations” on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 2:45–4 p.m. at Valle Crucis Community Park’s Herrick Pavilion and Stage, located at 2892 Broadstone Road in Banner Elk. The event is free and open to the public. Join App State Hayes School of Music faculty members for folk music demonstrations, and listen and learn to identify the defining characteristics of folk genres. Dr. Laurie Semmes will speak about the bandura, the national instrument of Ukraine, and Mark Freed will present on Appalachian folk music. Following these presentations, Dr. Jacob Kopcienski will lead an audience question-and-answer session.

Local Ballot Includes Five County, Four Judicial, One State Senate, One State House Seats and Two Referendums

September 17, 2024 The 2024 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. According to the State Board of Elections, any voter in line at a polling place to vote after 7:30 p.m. may still vote.In addition to National and North Carolina statewide elections, Avery County voters can cast ballots in three county elections, including for three County Commission seats, Register of Deeds, and Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor, as well as in six district elections, including for four Judicial seats, one State Senate seat, one State House seat, and one Town of Newland Referendum, the latter of which only registered voters who live within the town’s limits may vote. By Tim Gardner

September 17, 2024 The twelfth annual Wayne Benfield Memorial Benefit will be held Saturday, September 21 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Crossnore First Baptist Church Family Center, located at 220 East Crossnore Drive (just a half mile off U.S. Highway 221) in the Crossnore Township of Avery County. Everyone is welcome to attend.As in the previous Memorial Benefits, it will support an Avery County community member or members in need. There is no set cost to attend, but donations will be accepted at the door that covers music, food and drink, and fellowship with others, of which all are offered at the Memorial Benefit. Proceeds generated at this year’s Memorial Benefit will be given to cancer patient Haley Carroll, to pay toward her massive medical bills. Carroll is battling triple-negative breast cancer, and with her diagnosis came extremely high bills due to her many medical appointments and related expenses. By Tim Gardner

September 17, 2024. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.

September 16, 2024 RALEIGH, N.C. (September 16, 2024) – New rules adopted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have shifted the timing of the western zone black-powder and gun seasons, and increased antlerless hunting opportunities in many western zone counties.The new black-powder season will begin on Saturday, November 16, and end Friday, November 29. Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 28 and 29, 2024) are designated as Youth Days in the western zone.

September 16, 2024 Spencer, N.C. – With the holidays quickly approaching, the N.C. Transportation Museum is celebrating the return of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Spencer, N.C.! This immersive family-oriented experience hosted nearly 1.6 million riders at 54 locations in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia in 2023. Popular dates and times are expected to fill quickly, but seats are now available for departures beginning November 8 and continuing on select dates through Dec. 23.

September 16, 2024 RALEIGH, N.C. (September 16, 2024) – After 34 years of service to the state of North Carolina, Cameron Ingram, executive director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), has announced his retirement effective December 31, 2024. Ingram has served as NCWRC executive director since August 2020.

September 16, 2024 The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will implement Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations on 34 trout waters beginning Oct. 1.Under Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations, no trout may be harvested or possessed from identified waters between Oct. 1 and one half-hour after sunset on June 6, 2025. No natural bait may be possessed, and anglers can fish only with artificial lures with one single hook. An artificial lure is defined as a fishing lure that neither contains nor has been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell.

September 16, 2024 App State Football’s third straight win against East Carolina required a first-half rally and plenty of fourth-quarter resolve. Traveling for their first FBS-vs.-FBS matchup against the Pirates in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, after a 2021 win in Charlotte and 2023 victory in Boone, the Mountaineers prevailed 21-19 on Saturday despite falling behind 16-0 in the opening 10 minutes with a big crowd of 46,117 on hand for the in-state showdown. Joey Aguilar threw for a career-high 424 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yard, go-ahead score to Makai Jackson late in the third quarter. Jackson finished with 86 yards, compared to 129 on seven catches from Kaedin Robinson and 108 on five receptions from Christan Horn.

September 16, 2024 “Speak No Evil” is a remake of a 2022 Danish movie with a famously vile twist. I went into this film expecting it to have the same twist. That’s not to say that I expected it to have the same “ending,” exactly, as I knew the film might deviate from the source material once it reached a certain point. But there could be no question that it was indeed winding its way to that point. It was no surprise that what came after that point was horror movie shlock, but I was surprised by how captivated I was by what led up to that point.

September 16, 2024 Letters to the Editor. By Billie Rogers /Sue Sweeting, a long-time friend and acquaintance, approached me when she discovered I was involved in a Deep Gap community organization, and she knew she had resources that would benefit a project we are working on. Sue has been politically involved for many years and knows where to go to find the answers you need – places I am not familiar with, but they can be a great help to us. Several emails and discussions evolved to relay her knowledge and networking skills to us. We are grateful for all of them.

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Next Monthly Meeting in on September 25

September 16, 2024 The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its next monthly meeting on Wednesday September 25th at The Dan’l Boone Inn, 130 Hardin Street, Boone, NC. Lunch at 11:30 AM for $14, with meeting to follow at noon. 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. The WCRWC usually meets the last Wednesday of the month. See us on Facebook and learn more.

September 13, 2024 The annual Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum is scheduled for Monday, September 16 from 5:00-9:30 PM and will be broadcast live from the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone. The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce. This event is free and open to the public. In order to maintain decorum, political literature and signage will be not be allowed in the room. For those unable to attend in person, this event will be broadcast live, in its entirety, on YouTube, WATA (1450 AM / 96.5 FM), and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce website. Archives of each segment of the forum will be made available on Boone Area Chamber of Commerce platforms following the event.

+ More Articles

Boone United Methodist Church Hosting Annual Bazaar Sept. 20-21

Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Falling for Seasonal Favorites

New York Times Bestselling Author, Leigh Ann Henion, Returns to Boone Spotlight for New Book Launch On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m

Join Us for the Boone Fall Fest Weekend: Buskers Fest and Boonetoberfest! Oct. 4 and 5

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort Partners with SKIDATA, Widens Northridge, Adds Additional Snowmaking Machines, and Purchases a New Fleet of Snow Groomers

Absentee Ballots to Go Out to Military and Overseas Voters on Sept. 20, All Other Voters Who Requested Them on Sept. 24

Letters: Dedicated Public Servant

Environmental Groups Request Stronger Federal Action to Save North Carolina’s Oldest Forests

5 Watauga High Graduates Awarded App State’s New River Light and Power Scholarship

Watauga County Board of Elections to Conduct Pre-Election Testing of Voting Machines

State Employees Can Use Their Balance of Community Service Leave to Serve as Nonpartisan Poll Workers for Upcoming Election

Celebrating and Preserving Local Heritage: Watauga County Heritage Museum One Step Closer to Reality

App State’s High Country Humanities Presents ‘Folk Music as an Expression of Culture’

Local Ballot Includes Five County, Four Judicial, One State Senate, One State House Seats and Two Referendums

Wayne Benfield Memorial Benefit to be held Saturday, September 21 at Crossnore First Baptist Church Family Center in Avery County

Watauga, Avery Obituaries – September 17, 2024

Changes in Effect for 2024-25 Deer Hunting Season in Western NC

Do You Believe? THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Returns to the N.C. Transportation Museum!

NCWRC Executive Director Ingram to Retire After 34 Years of Service

Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Open Oct. 1

Inspired Rally Gives App State Dramatic Road Win at ECU 21-19

Movie Review: “Speak No Evil” Now Playing at Boone Regal

LETTERS: Sue supports local communities and all families. When you can be ANYTHING, choose to be KIND

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Next Monthly Meeting in on September 25

2024 Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum Hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce is Monday, September 16 from 5:00-9:30 PM at Appalachian Theatre