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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Watauga Arts Council Adapts Arts Education Model to Expand Access and Flexibility for the Community

January 12, 2026 Boone, NC – January 12, 2026 – “We always look forward to hearing feedback from our community so we know what’s working and where we can improve,” said Krista Holt, Operations Manager at WAC. “In the past, art class planning and marketing happened on a rolling basis. This year, we’re prioritizing early setup and promotion to remove scheduling barriers and invite more people to experience the value of creating.”

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Blue Ridge Conservancy Purchases 74 Acres on Howard Knob

January 12, 2025 Boone, NC – January 12, 2025 -The property was purchased from Monte Green, who bought the land in the 1990s, eventually using one tract for his home and leaving the rest undeveloped. Through his family’s stewardship the property remained in its natural state with the recreational and ecological values intact. After several years of discussion with Green a deal was struck, and BRC sprang into action to ‘Save Howard Knob.’ 

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Boone Police Department Announces Citizens Police Academy

January 12, 2025 Boone, NC – January 12, 2025 –
Are you interested in learning more about law enforcement to include patrol officer functions, criminal investigations, K9 operations, community policing, or just want to become more familiar with the Boone Police Department in general? Now is your opportunity!

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Movie Review: “Primate”

January 12, 2026 Boone, NC – January 12, 2026 -And then the movie did something with Ben that greatly detracted from all that hard work: it made the character unnaturally smart. I’m not talking about the early scenes of the chimp functioning in the household. I’m talking about how, if the character’s homicidal tendencies are driven by rabies, then he’s a crazed, full-steam-ahead killing machine, and I’m afraid of that. But the film gives Ben the presence of mind to taunt his victims and get creative in his attacks, and it’s just not “rabid” behavior. It’s the behavior of a standard movie slasher, and by the end of the movie, I couldn’t see Ben as anything more than that.

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Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Celebrates It’s 20th Anniversary This Year with It’s Kick-Off Race Last Monday Night

January 8, 2026. The 20th anniversary season of the Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) got off to a fabulous start on Monday night with perfect weather and a lot of happy faces as skiers and snowboarders were ready to race into 2026. Some 75 participants representing 11 teams will be racing over six Mondays in the annual series that began on January 6 and will conclude with an award ceremony and festivities on February 9. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years,” says Bill Leonard of Ski County Sports.

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Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Announces 2025 Watauga County Businesses of the Year

January 8, 2026 Boone, NC – January 8, 2026 -“Each of these businesses hold high the value of community partnerships,” said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “While their individual missions and reach are diverse, their commitment to community is their unifying trait, and nothing short of inspiring. All three have relied on the local market to build their workforce, they’ve sought unique ways to partner with local individuals and businesses to support and advance projects, and they each excel in providing a touch of High Country hospitality in how they operate. We are excited to celebrate with these businesses and showcase their successes and positive impacts on our community.”

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Avery County Chamber of Commerce Uplifts a Rebrand: To Connect, Support and Inspire

January 4, 2025 Boone, NC – January 4, 2025 -As part of this innovation engagement the chamber has partnered with Jeanine Hasty of Bramble Media & Marketing, to pursue a refreshed visual identity aligned with this evolving vision—one that reflects the momentum, growth, and commitment to better serving its members, partners, and the Avery County community as a whole.

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“Marty Supreme”

By Bob Garver             Back in 2019, brothers Benny and Josh Safdie delivered one of the best films of the year, and possibly the decade, with “Uncut Gems.” The film was, as I wrote in a review earlier this year, “a 135-minute anxiety attack.” And I mean that in the best possible way – I have enormous amounts of respect for movies and filmmakers that know just how to push my buttons. Now in 2025, the Safdie brothers have graduated to solo projects. Benny didn’t fare too well with “The Smashing Machine” (whose review I quoted earlier), though Dwayne Johnson did earn a surprise Golden Globe nomination for playing MMA fighter Mark Kerr, so maybe there’s some life in that film after all. But Josh has found both commercial and critical success with his new film “Marty Supreme,” and he did it by sticking with what works.             The film follows Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a con artist in1952 New York who happens to be really good at ping pong. He’s able to come in second at the British Open, and a spot at the World Championships in Japan should be his… if he can raise the $1,500 he needs …

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FBI Disrupts Alleged New Year’s Eve Attack

January 4, 2026 Boone, NC – January 4, 2026 -“This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”

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Town of Blowing Rock Seeks Applicants for Various Boards

Are you interested in the future of your community and have extra time to volunteer?  Would you like to serve on one of Blowing Rock’s municipal boards? The Blowing Rock Town Council will soon consider appointments to the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, the Tourism Development Authority, the Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission. Each of these boards has an essential role in preserving and protecting the quality and character of our community.  These vacancies are for those members who live within Town limits.  Planning Board – 4 Vacancies The Planning Board conducts studies and makes recommendations to the Town Council on matters related to the growth and development of the Town. The Planning Board reviews all requests for new subdivisions, all requests for zoning changes, requests for new commercial development, and makes recommendations to the Town Council on whether those requests should be approved, modified, or denied. The Town has established standards for new subdivisions and other new development through the adoption of a Land Use Ordinance. The Planning Board reviews any proposed changes to the Land Use Ordinance and will often initiate such changes to ensure that the regulations are current and provide the proper protection for the Town and its residents. There …

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Renew NC Extends Deadline for Post-Helene Housing Recovery Program to January 31

December 26, 2025 Boone, NC – December 26, 2025 -“It has been a very challenging year for our neighbors in western North Carolina, and we want to give folks every opportunity to apply for housing support,” said Governor Josh Stein. “So, we’re extending the application deadline until the end of January to alleviate stress this holiday season and offer more time for homeowners to get their applications in.”

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Honda’s Bikes to Kids Project Gives HCC Kids Wheels for Christmas

December 26, 2025 Boone, NC – December 26, 2025 -“This is just a Christmas miracle.” said Jesslynn Forsyth, Kinship Navigator for High Country Caregivers. “Honda wanted to team up with us and provide our children with bicycles. That doesn’t happen a lot, so we are very fortunate to have been picked.”

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Governor Stein Announces 80 Grants to Repair Infrastructure in Western North Carolina, Support Local Governments with Ongoing Hurricane Helene Recovery

December 26, 2025 Boone, NC – December 26, 2025 -“Local governments are on the frontlines of Hurricane Helene response and recovery, strengthening their communities and keeping people safe,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These grants will help local governments repair or replace critical infrastructure that they lost, restoring Helene-impacted towns and rebuilding them stronger.”

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

December 26, 2025 Boone, NC – December 26, 2025 -The film once again follows the Sully family: human-turned-Na’vi Jake (Sam Worthington), native wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), impulsive son Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), daughter Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), and adopted human son Spider (Jack Champion). Kiri is the biological daughter of ally Grace Augustine (also Weaver) and Spider is the biological son of villainous human-turned-Na’vi Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), still tasked with removing the threat the Sullys pose to the human colonization of Pandora.

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“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2”

By Bob Garver             From its ridiculous opening scene, there is little denying that “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is one of the stupidest movies of 2025. Its only real competition comes from Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake thinking that its Dwarfs were fit for human eyesight. And it’s not even the fun kind of stupid horror movie. It was never really on the table for this to be a “good” horror movie like “Sinners,” but it could have at least been an interesting flavor of stupid. The potential for such flavor is at least present in the opening scene, but the movie squanders even that prospect fairly quickly.             In the opening scene, set in 1982, morose young Charlotte (Audrey Lynn Marie) eschews every other entertaining aspect of children’s pizza emporium Freddy Fazbear’s to wait for her favorite animatronic character. She turns her attention long enough to notice a boy being abducted (as would later become common at Freddy’s) and tries to alert parents at nearby tables, but none will listen to her. If her warnings had caused a deadly panic, then maybe that could have been a plausible foundation for a horror movie, but no, the movie seriously …

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