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Boone Pride Parade and Festival Grows to Over 1,000 Strong

July 1, 2025 June has been Pride month in North Carolina for many years, dating back to the “Our Day Out” march in Asheville back in 1981. It became an official month to focus on and proclaim LGBTQ+ rights in 2018 when then-Governor Roy Cooper officially declared it. Although the LGBTQ+ community in Boone and the High Country has fought and celebrated their rights for years, the first Boone Pride Parade started in 2022.  According to Todd Carter, a Boone Town Councilman and local LGBTQ+ activist and organizer, “That first year in 2022, there were 300 marchers and a small rally at the Jones House; to [now] have anywhere from 1,000-1,200 people attend the parade and/or the festival just shows how much Pride needs to be celebrated.” By Sam Garrett

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Medical Arts Pharmacy Relocates to New Lenoir Location, Welcomes Foothills Pharmacy Patients 

July 1, 2025 Medical Arts Pharmacy is proud to announce its relocation to a new, modern facility at 202 Harper Ave Ste, Lenoir, NC 28645. This move marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to serving the Lenoir community with personalized, high-quality pharmaceutical care. As part of this transition, we are also thrilled to welcome all patients and customers of Foothills Pharmacy. We understand the importance of continuity in care and are dedicated to making this transition seamless and reassuring for every individual and family we serve.

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Tickets for “Grandfather Presents: Conor Knighton” Are On Sale Now for Oct. 2 Event

July 1, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced that tickets for the final presentation of the Grandfather Presents 2025 speaker series are on sale now. “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Conor Knighton will close out the 2025 series on Oct. 2, 2025. The Wilson Center for Nature Discovery’s Classroom in the Clouds will host the event. Guests will experience a “night at the museum” atmosphere, the speaker presentation and a book-signing/ “meet-and-greet” with Knighton.

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Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren Appointed Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at App State

July 1, 2025 Dr. Christine Ogilvie Hendren has been appointed vice chancellor of research and innovation at Appalachian State University, announced Chancellor Heather Norris on Friday, June 27. The appointment is effective July 1. “As we embrace the many opportunities ahead with our new R2 status, Dr. Hendren will continue to lead the advancement of the university’s research and creative activities strategy,” said Norris. “She will also head the strategic innovation functions that include external relations and commercialization for the university’s research and creative activities enterprise.”

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New Parking Regulations Start Today in Downtown Boone

July 1, 2025 All on-street parking and multi-hour lots will be $1.50 an hour, excluding 2 banks of FREE 30-minutes parking spaces near the King Street/North Depot intersection and the Watauga County Courthouse. 9 on-street parking spaces near the First Baptist Church on King Street and 6 on-street parking spaces on Burrell Street will be reserved for Downtown Boone employees through a new pilot program. Downtown Boone employees may purchase a sticker for $10 to park at these spaces. Meters are set to a discounted rate of 20 cents an hour. Differing from regular on-street parking, these meters are programmed for up to 9 hours of use. This program is a first-come, first-served program, and purchasing a sticker does not guarantee a parking space; however, purchasing a sticker allows employees to park in a designated space. Employees who would like to participate must bring the following to the Town of Boone Parking Department (located in the basement of Boone Town Hall at 567 West King Street):

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON WHETHER THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF BLOWING ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD APPROVE A PROPOSED INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT TO FINANCE COSTS OF A TOWN CAPITAL PROJECT

June 30, 2025 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of a public hearing to be held at 6:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard on July 8, 2025 in the Council Chambers, Blowing Rock Town Hall, 1036 Main Street, Blowing Rock, North Carolina for the purpose of considering whether the Town Council for the Town of Blowing Rock Town, North Carolina (the “Town”) should approve a proposed installment financing agreement and certain related documents pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 160A-20, as amended, for the purpose of providing funds in an amount not to exceed $2,250,000 for the accomplishment of the Project hereinafter described.

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This Weekend, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) Issued These Two Statements

June 30, 2025 SUNDAY – “It has been a blessing to go on a journey from living in a trailer park and making minimum wage as a young man to having the honor of serving as U.S. Senator for North Carolina. “I am proud of my career in public service, including hard-fought victories like passing historic tax reform as North Carolina Speaker, and working in the Senate to help pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and confirm three conservative Supreme Court justices and counting. ////// SATURDAY – “I will always do what is in the best interest of North Carolina, even when that puts me at odds with my own party. When Senate leaders of my party presented this bill, I did what every American should expect from their U.S. Senator: I worked to gather the facts and comprehensively analyze what the impact would be on the people I swore an oath to represent.

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Movie Review: “F1: The Movie” Now Playing at Boone Regal

June 30, 2025 “F1: The Movie” takes viewers inside the exciting world of Formula One auto-racing. The director is Joseph Kosinski, best known for taking “Top Gun: Maverick” to the top of the yearly box office three years ago. Between that movie’s jets and this movie’s cars, it seems the man’s specialty is directing movies about things that go “whoosh.” And yes, this movie is best enjoyed in premium-format theaters (for me it was a Dolby) that can really give the audience a good taste of the whooshing. That is to say I got maximum enjoyment out of the whooshing cars and very little enjoyment out of everything else. 

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Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show is Now on Live365.com

June 27 2025 Host Ronnie Moretz and the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show are moving from terrestrial radio to a streaming platform with a reach to over 80 million listeners. Live365.com will stream the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show each Sunday from 8–10 p.m. beginning July 6, 2025. “I have been on radio for over 17 years,” said Moretz. “This will give me the opportunity to continue to share my love for bluegrass with people in the High Country and will have the added benefit of sharing bluegrass with people from around the world.” By Sam Garrett

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BREMCO Annual Meeting: Reports Presented, Director Election Results Announced

June 27 2025 Business reports and director election results were announced at the Annual Meeting of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation held at the cooperative’s corporate office in Lenoir on Thursday, June 26. The meeting was available for members to participate by attending in person at the corporate office or members could view the live meeting online at Blue Ridge Energy’s YouTube channel. A recording of the meeting will be available soon at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

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NC House Approves $700 Million in Additional Helene Disaster Relief

June 26 2025 Raleigh, NC — Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives approved a proposal to invest an additional $700 million to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts across Western North Carolina. This latest round of funding builds upon more than $1.4 billion already allocated for disaster relief, bringing the total to over $2.1 billion.

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Gen X Hitmakers Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb Celebrate Their 30-Year-Old Landmark Albums in Boone Concert Friday, July 11

June 26 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, presents Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, two unmistakable voices of the ’90s, for a special evening marking the 30th anniversaries of their breakthrough albums — Osborne’s Relish and Loeb’s Tails — Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Revisit the songs that shaped a generation, alongside new music and career-spanning fan favorites. Both Relish and Tails were landmark albums that transcended genres, blending folk, pop, and rock with deeply personal storytelling. Osborne’s “One of Us” and Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” became defining anthems of the era, and their impact continues to resonate with longtime fans and new audiences alike. Tickets are $25-$55, with discounts for App State faculty/staff and local residents

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The King Street Farmers’ Market Will be Hosting Appalachian Day Tuesday, July 1

June 26 2025 Ready to taste some cornbread, listen to some Old-time music, and dance on the lawn? Appalachian Day at the King Street market will be the first special event of the King Street Market season, and you won’t want to miss it. Calling all cornbread enthusiasts and secret-recipe holders to enter into the Cornbread Competition. Drop off your cornbread before or during the market for all market attendees to taste! The winning recipe will receive a Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture canvas tote bag and bumper sticker, and honorable mention will be awarded, too.

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Wilkes Community College Small Business Center Now Accepting Applications for The Retail Academy for September 9 through October 27

June 26 2025 Wilkesboro, NC – The Wilkes Community College Small Business Center is now accepting applications for The Retail Academy—a brand new program created to address the complexities and sometimes daunting nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The Retail Academy will serve existing or prospective retail business owners in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties. It is an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp and will run from September 9 through October 27 on Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm at the Wilkes Community College – Kendrick/Church Hall. Applications are open now and will be accepted through August 15

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State Board Unanimously Approves Plan to Collect Missing Identification Numbers for Certain Voters

June 25 2025 Raleigh, N.C. — The State Board of Elections on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to attempt to collect missing identification numbers for voters lacking them on the state’s voter rolls. The goal of the three-part plan is to obtain driver’s license numbers (DL#) or the last four digits of Social Security numbers (SSN4) for registered North Carolina voters who lack either number in their voter records. This, state election officials believe, will bring the state into compliance with a recent N.C. Court of Appeals order, and ultimately resolve outstanding lawsuits regarding these registrations

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Town of Boone Awarded a $850,000 Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce for the Howard Street Project

June 24, 2025 The Town of Boone has been awarded an $850,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to help fund the completion of the Howard Street Project, the largest downtown Boone street revitalization effort in modern history. This grant will specifically support the underground relocation of electrical utilities along the eastern side of Howard Street, from Appalachian Street to Depot Street. In April 2025, the Town applied for the Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant (RDEDG) program and was officially awarded the grant in late June.

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Record-Setting $13 Million Linville Ridge Estate Presents the Pinnacle of Mountain Luxury 

June 24, 2025 A landmark estate in North Carolina’s High Country, 600 Stonehedge Court, has entered the market, offered at $12,995,000. The residence is the highest-priced active listing within Linville Ridge, Avery County, and the entire High Country MLS. The extraordinary property is marketed exclusively by Natalie Earnhardt and Josh Aldridge of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Linville Ridge Sales Team. Commanding more than 29 pristine acres atop Linville Ridge, one of the most exclusive gated communities on the East Coast, this exceptional estate is a masterstroke of design. The home was originally commissioned by Raymond L. Lutgert, the founder of Linville Ridge and The Lutgert Companies.

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LETTER: Call to Action to Help with Some Advocacy Around Hurricane Helene Relief

June 23, 2025 Letters to the Editor. By Robin Morgan / I have some potentially exciting news to share, along with a call to action for those of you willing to help with some advocacy around Hurricane Helene relief. We have a few sources that have shared that the NC Senate is starting to draft their version of a Hurricane Helene Aid package, influenced by the approved House Bill 1012. This is a SIGNIFICANT development, as this was previously going to be lumped into the passage of a State Budget, which has several negotiating hurdles to pass before it sees traction and could take a long while to see the light of day, if at all.

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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Expands Efforts to Enhance Tourism Economy

June 23, 2025 The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has secured a three-year, $750,000 grant from the Dogwood Health Trust to support regional strategies to advance tourism and related economic development. The grant activities will benefit workers and businesses in numerous gateway communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway in  North Carolina. The Dogwood Health Trust grant will help implement economic development strategies outlined in the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan, created with the input of hundreds of community leaders in the counties that neighbor the national park.

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Boone Pride Parade and Festival Happening June 28; Parade Steps Off at 12 Noon with the Festival to Follow from 1 pm – 6pm

June 23, 2025 Boone Pride returns to downtown Boone on Saturday June 28 for a Pride Parade and Festival. What started in 2022 as a small march on the sidewalks of King Street and a rally at The Jones House, has grown to include a parade down King Street and a half-day festival with vendors, live music, drag performances and food trucks. “I remember that first year scrambling to pull something, anything together in just two weeks,” states Boone Pride co-founder and Boone town council member Todd Carter. “It is important to me that the Town of Boone recognize and celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month so that every single person who lives, works, plays, and visits our beautiful town knows that they are welcome here.”

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LETTER: Do We Have to Have Homelessness?

June 23, 2025 Letters to the Editor. By Maryrose Carroll / Few of us are old enough to remember the heartbreak of the Great Depression, with its gaunt families living in cars, roaming in search of work, but we have seen the photos. I hope the Great Depression is not returning. But we are entering a dangerous progression. More people than ever are experiencing homelessness for the first time. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of individuals entering emergency shelters for the first time increased by more than 23 percent.

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Movie Review: “28 Days Later” Now Playing at Boone Regal

June 23, 2025 It has been 23 years (not 28, somewhat frustratingly) since British audiences were first introduced to the mind-and-body-ravaging Rage virus in “28 Days Later.” The virus turned everyone it affected into zombies, known as The Infected, obsessed not so much with feeding as with turning more people into zombies. The film’s heroes had a hard time evading The Infected, and then just when it looked like they were safe, they had to deal with the degenerate humans that had appointed themselves to power after the collapse of civilization. The Infected were still at large five years later in “28 Weeks Later” and humanity was more monstrous than ever. Nothing interesting must have happened 28 months later from the events of that film, because the series skipped right over it. Instead, it jumps to 28 years later, when older children and even adults have never known a world not affected by The Infected. 

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Green Park Inn Project Sparks Interest, Debate

June 23, 2025 The Green Park Inn construction is well underway, with site work begun, golf wing demolition completed and most of the property’s contents donated to local and regional charities to help families affected by Hurricane Helene. Many people have shared information and misinformation on social media and through traditional media over the last few weeks. We met separately with the property’s new ownership group, Blowing Rock mayor, town officials and members of town council in attempt to put to rest speculation, rumors and ignorance. Though our goal was to gain clarity, some information from town officials was inconsistent. By Sam Garrett

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