High Country Press

December 5, 2020 Going from last to first in any field usually produces a glorified achievement. But not true in the case of Avery County’s battle against coronavirus (COVID-19). Avery was North Carolina’s last of 100 counties to have a confirmed coronavirus case. From the time coronavirus first started in America last winter until mid-May and as cases mounted throughout the state, the High Country county of 17,505 citizens (Source: Wikipedia) had not had a single case. By mid-May, however, this county that borders fellow-North Carolina counties Watauga, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell and Mitchell as well as Carter and Johnson Counties in Tennessee had lost that distinction, as county health officials reported a case. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

December 5, 2020 In a pivotal Sun Belt Conference clash, Louisiana-Lafayette overcame four special teams miscues to beat Appalachian State 24-21 on a cold and rainy Friday night at Boone’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mountaineers’ Chandler Staton missed a 30-yard field goal with 2 seconds left to tie the score and likely send the game into overtime. The Mountaineers are currently 7-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The game also marked Louisiana-Lafayette’s first win against the Mountaineers in nine tries–all while both schools have had membership in the Sun Belt Conference. Appalachian State beat the Ragin’ Cajuns in the last two conference championship games and in the same stadium.  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

December 4, 2020 The annual Sugar Mountain Adult Race League has set their tentative schedule for the 2021 race season with the opener taking place on January 4. The racing league will be in the same format as in years past. Each team will consist of six to eight people and the top four fastest times down the slopes will quality towards each team’s point total. Each skier and snowboarder will get two runs down the slope and their fastest time will be the one that is counted. Points are added up after each night to determine a league champion at the conclusion of the racing season. Bill Leonard, the owner of Ski Country Sports, organizes the league each year at Sugar Mountain Resort. “Right now we are about half full, maybe a little bit more. Usually this time of year it’s pretty much sold out,” Leonard says. “I think a lot of people were waiting to see if it’s going to happen at all and after talking to Gunther (Jochl), we are for sure going to go forward.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 4, 2020 “We are at a critical point in our response efforts, and we don’t want to see a spike in cases that will strain our healthcare system. We have the tools to slow the spread and protect our healthcare capacity. We urge everyone to show your love and wear a face covering, wash your hands and wait 6 feet from others,” stated Jennifer Greene, Health Director, AppHealthCare. For the week of November 22-28 (graphs below), there was a small decrease in active cases and those who are in quarantine. When looking at the trended data, cases have remained steady over the past three weeks. There was an increase in testing for the county the week of November 15-21 which likely represents individuals seeking testing before the Thanksgiving Holiday. / Read more…

December 4, 2020 The Christmas lights at Chetola are up and ready for the public to drive through or walk through to see, one piece of holiday fun that COVID-19 didn’t take away from people in the High Country. Chetola’s Festival of Lights around the resort and lake opened to the public on November 29 and will remain open until January 31. As always, the light show is free and open to the public. “We have almost 30,000 lights this year. New this year is the nativity scene and we also have the dancing lights, which are set to music, those are the two main things this year,” said Tristan Thomas, the social media manager and graphic designer at Chetola Resort. “It has been a tradition that has been going on for a really long time.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 4, 2020 The Appalachian State Mountaineers may not win the Sun Belt Championship for the fifth year in a row, thanks to a tremendous season put together by Coastal Carolina, the Mountaineers are still in the running for yet another bowl game appearance. Appalachian (7-2, 5-1) will host the 24th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (8-1, 6-1) at Kidd-Brewer Stadium with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN with Jason Benetti on the play-by-play call, Andre Ware in the analyst seat and Taylor Davis on the sideline. Appalachian State is 35-10 overall in games that are broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Louisiana has already secured a spot in the Sun Belt Championship game after clinching the west division, however, being able to secure the first win in series history against the Mountaineers is still high on head coach Billy Napier’s list. Appalachian is a perfect 8-0 all-time against Louisiana, including two wins last season. App State won the regular-season showdown in Lafayette, 17-7 on October 9, and followed that up with a 45-38 win at home on December 7 to win a fourth consecutive Sun Belt Championship. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 3, 2020 Raymond Parker Howell, age 87, of Blowing Rock, passed away Tuesday, December 01, 2020 at The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge. Ray was born on June 27, 1933 in Suffolk, Virginia, son of Joseph John Howell and Sallie Maie Parker and brother to Joseph Jarvis Howell. Ray was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army, serving his country during the Allied-occupied Germany era after World War II. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1960 and Master of Commerce from University of Richmond in 1965. As Principal of Howell Associates Architects, he and the team delivered 30 years of services to the High Country with projects ranging from education, commercial, recreational, and residential. He founded Deer Valley Racquet Club in 1986, a family business that, under new ownership, continues to provide year-round recreational opportunities for Watauga County and seasonal residents. / Read more…

December 4, 2020 Renovations at Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital to expand its inpatient behavioral health unit is slightly ahead of schedule. Construction was expected to finish in June 2021, but the project’s contractor is forecasting the project will be complete by May 2021. Carmen Lacey, President of Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital (CMH), anticipates that the new behavioral health beds will be “operational” by September 1, 2021. The project began with an official ground-breaking in 2019. In June 2020, CMH opened eight new medical/surgical patient rooms on the 1st floor, which allowed for the conversion of vacated space on the 2nd floor to expand the behavioral health unit.  “We are excited about being able to meet much-needed behavioral health needs with the expanded facility,” said Lacey. “Increasing the number and availability of inpatient psychiatric treatment beds is desperately needed in our state and across the country.” / Read more…

December 4, 2020 It is with great pride that Blue Ridge Realty & Investments announces one of its co-owners and managing partners, Bill Aceto, has received the honor of being named the High Country Association of REALTORS® 2020 REALTOR® of the Year. This prestigious award is given each year to a member of HCAR® who has provided outstanding service to the real estate profession and the community during the year. Some of the criteria for this award include faithfulness to principles of organized real estate, laws and regulations of HCAR®, and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS®. Additionally,  the selection committee chooses a candidate based on their commitment to civic, service, and charitable activities, along with political action, fraternal, and religious groups. / Read more…

December 4, 2020 Blowing Rock is celebrating December and the Christmas season with various events and activities in the works including a Holiday Stroll and Christmas Cheer Contest. “Blowing Rock has really transformed in the last couple of days into a Christmas wonderland,” said Suzy Barker, who is the Events and Communications Specialist for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. The town will be holding its Holiday Stroll on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4-8 p.m. This event will resemble a town-wide holiday open house, where shops will be open late for holiday shopping with many having special deals just for the season. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 3, 2020 Boone’s Winter Farmers’ Market, facilitated by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, is returning for the 2020-2021 season starting this Saturday, Dec. 5. It will operate from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Saturday in December through April at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, located at 252 Poplar Grove Road in Downtown Boone. This year marks the Boone Winter Farmers’ Market’s fifth season offering retail space to local farmers and producers and providing community members an opportunity to continue accessing  fresh, local foods and products all winter long. Watauga Cooperative Extension Director Jim Hamilton said the Cooperative Extension System helps market and promote the farmers’ market. “We support it because it’s another outlet to support our farmers through the winter season so that customers can have access to locally grown food year round,” Hamilton said. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 3, 2020 As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to climb across most sections of the United States, the same holds true for North Carolina High Counties governed by the Toe River Health District (TRHD). In the most recent statistics obtained for those counties of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey for the past week (Thursday, November 26 running through Wednesday, December 2), there have been 237 new cases in those counties combined. Over-all, there are 270 active coronavirus cases in the counties combined. Avery was the last county among the 100 in the State of North Carolina to have a confirmed coronavirus case. That first case was confirmed on May 18. But in recent weeks Avery has risen to a red alert county for cases as designated by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Resources (NCDHHR).  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

December 3, 2020 The Western Youth Network (WYN) is taking a modern twist on the “old-school” telethon! Mark your calendar and tune in for this family friendly event, fun for all ages. This two-hour virtual event is sure to be a good time; featuring a community talent revue, contests, prizes, an auction and lots of ways to give.  Anyone who purchases an auction item, makes a telethon pledge or donates at any level whatsoever is entered into a drawing to win our exciting grand prize “52 Weeks of Christmas”— a gift from the community for every week of the year including restaurant gift certificates, area attraction passes and many other gifts — an estimated value of $3,000! / Read more…

December 2, 2020. 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

December 2, 2020 It’s a big week in the High Country for winter sports enthusiasts as all three ski resorts and Hawksnest snow tubing are expected to be open with plenty of snow on the slopes. “We’ve got low temperatures and the weather looks good for snowmaking,” said Kim Jochl, Vice-President at Sugar Mountain Resort. “We’re excited to get going and see people outdoors exercising and breathing in the fresh air.” Ice skating, skiing and snowboarding at Sugar Mountain are already open and snow tubing runs are expected to open on Saturday. “It’s so nice out there like a winter wonderland,” said Kaylee Mayberry, the group sales director for Sugar Mountain. Coming up before you know it will be the annual SugarFest celebration happening December 11-13. Appalachian Ski Mtn. will open for the 2020-21 season on Thursday with eight slopes open. Ice skating is open and this weekend will also mark the annual Ski Anniversary weekend. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 2, 2020 In just the last 48 hours, Watauga Medical Center has had three additional hospitalizations for COVID-19, once again driving home the seriousness of the increasing number of hospitalizations in the High Country. “There are 93 patients in Watauga County who actively have COVID and here at Watauga County Medical Center, we have 22 patients who are hospitalized right now,” said Dr. Kevin Wolfe, a pulmonologist and lung specialist at Watauga County Medical Center. According to Rob Hudspeth, Senior Vice President of System Advancement at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, 22 out of 24 COVID-19 beds at the hospital are full. “We are preparing another 10-bed unit, which takes a few days to do,” Hudspeth added. For the most part, the patients currently hospitalized are elderly, but there are still some who are younger as the virus continues to hit all different age groups. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 2, 2020 Gov. Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, gave a COVID-19 update and provided a detailed distribution plan for COVID-19 vaccines during a media briefing on Dec. 1. As of Dec. 1, North Carolina has had 367,395 COVID-19 cases, and 2,033 people are in the hospital across the state. North Carolina saw its first COVID-19 death on March 12 and since then, 5,284 people have died from the virus. “As concerning as the numbers are, I and many other North Carolinians have new found hope in the development of promising vaccines,” Cooper said. “Moderna and Pfizer both have produced vaccines with remarkable early results, better than health experts ever hoped for. What we know so far is this: safe, effective vaccines should be available soon. Our job is to be ready to get them to people as quickly and effectively as possible.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 2, 2020 A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas returns this December 12, 2020-January 4, 2021 with a “very virtual” rendition of the High Country’s newest holiday tradition. Spectacular changes are happening for The Carolina Snowbelles as they present an online show partnering with Arthur Rasco of Journey Light Creative, LLC. The 1-hour production features a brand new digitally engineered routine inspired by the late Busby Berkeley entitled TWILIGHT. Filmed with green screen technology, this icicle wonderland is made possible by the heartfelt imagination of each dancing Snowbelle who transports us into a magical world where ballerinas drop out of the cool snowy sky and urban dancers multiply by the droves. Finally, the routine culminates into dancing kaleidoscopic snowflakes. Tickets on sale at thecarolinasnowbelles.com . Performances can be enjoyed December 12, 2020-January 4, 2021. / Read more…

December 2, 2020. We have now turned to the final page of the 2020 calendar and I would guess there’s no one happier about that than I am. What a year this has been — and one that few would like to repeat. With that said, however, I don’t want the anxiety, pain and instability of the previous nine months to take away from the beauty and holiness of the Christmas season for which many of us anticipate the whole year through. As a Christian, I honor the birth of Jesus Christ and what it represents all the time, but especially during this sacred season that was set aside many years ago for its observance. Regardless of the chaos and uncertainty that surrounds us on many levels, there are a few things that remain clear, especially if we believe in the real reason for the season. Christmas is almost here, and while it might “look” different in some ways, many of us still hold tight to its meaning and the customs we’ve come to know and love, which include cooking and baking for our friends and family. Hopefully, a few ideas that I share here today and in the coming days will help make things seem a little more “normal” than they have been recently. Merry Christmas, my friends. Let’s make it count. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

December 1, 2020. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

December 1, 2020 Residents across the High Country woke up to a winter wonderland this morning as the first flurries of the season fell just in time for the beginning of December. Some higher elevations saw as much as three to five inches of snow, but areas like Boone and Blowing Rock received light snow with accumulations being anywhere from a dusting to around a couple of inches, leading to some slushy and slippery road conditions throughout the area. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, issued a winter weather advisory that remains in effect for Watauga and Avery counties until 4 p.m. today due to the snow. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 1, 2020 Horn in the West Outdoor Drama and Hickory Ridge History Museum are two Watauga County attractions where kids and adults can enjoy an invigorating walk through frontier living and an immersive experience in early American history. Since 1952, Horn in the West has been dramatizing the founding of our nation live on stage in the beautiful Daniel Boone Amphitheater. And for forty years, Hickory Ridge History Museum has been basking in the last vestiges of old mountain culture on the grounds of Daniel Boone Park. Southern Appalachian Historical Association invites High Country friends and repeating visitors to join in supporting these programs and initiatives by becoming an Association member. Membership not only helps preserve our cultural heritage, it helps grow SAHA’s programs for school age children and senior scholars. / Read more…

December 1, 2020 June E. Titus, familiar to many in the area as June Bare, is a retired nurse, writer, poet, banjo enthusiast and artist. Titus made her home in the Beaver Dam community of Western Watauga County from 1991 until 2012 prior to relocating with family to Thomasville, Georgia, where she met her current husband, Ed. Titus’s third and most recent book, “Banjo Man” is aptly described as a gripping and potent fiction, although any of us who have been around these hills for any amount of time may easily identify with and recognize many parallels to our own lives and those of others in our family lineage. The book proves that not everything is always as it seems — but also that there is a chance for redemption and hope for reconciliation in most situations we encounter along life’s road. One question remains, however, after the last page is turned and the book cover is closed: “How do we handle what we have learned, when it’s nothing like we thought it would be?”By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

December 1, 2020 Today is the day. Watauga Habitat for Humanity will be broadcasting its 9th annual Blueprints and Bow Ties event via Facebook Live and YouTube on Giving Tuesday, December 1 at 6 pm. Bidding for the online auction opens at noon on November 17. “As we have all learned during these difficult times, a place to call home is more important than ever,” said Allison Jennings Director of Development at Watauga Habitat. “We know we need to continue raising awareness about the need for safe and affordable housing in Watauga County. The world around us is different this year but we want to continue to help keep our community safe and help stop the spread of COVID-19, while sharing our mission. Though we will miss seeing everyone in person, we are excited to host Blueprints and Bow Ties as an online virtual event,” said Jennings. Watauga Habitat for Humanity is pleased to welcome Lynchburg, Virginia contractor Tom Gerdy as the Keynote Speaker for Blueprints and Bow Ties 2020.  / Read more…

November 30, 2020 COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in most parts of the country, including right here in Watauga County. A hospital spokesperson told the High Country Press on Monday morning that Watauga Medical Center is close to its max capacity in its COVID-19 unit. As of this morning, there were 19 patients in the COVID unit. The unit can currently hold up to 23 patients battling the virus. This information should serve as a caution to those that feel like smaller areas such as Boone are not as susceptible to having spikes in hospitalizations. After having an average of three to four patients being treated for COVID-19, a major spike such as this all the way up to 19 patients can be taxing on nurses, doctors and family members of the sick individuals. As a reminder, anyone that is feeling sick or has been exposed to someone that has COVID-19 needs to stay home.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

November 30, 2020 There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays, than by giving back. Join the Lees-McRae College High Country Chapter, Boone Police Department, and the Hunger and Health Coalition in serving our local community by donating non-perishable food items. The food drive will run from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 11. This is a great way to help a family in need to have a memorable holiday. Donated items include anything with a long shelf life including canned foods, peanut butter, pasta and more. To help supplement food for the holidays, the alumni chapter is asking for items that can help make a holiday dinner. These items can include stuffing, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, packets of gravy, and more. / Read more…

November 29, 2020 Appalachian State routed Troy, 47-10, in Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. Appalachian State scored on all six of its first half drives–four touchdowns and two field goals–enroute to a 24-point halftime cushion (24-10). The Mountaineers (7-2 over-all; 5-1 Sun Belt) then coasted in the second half. But they will not win a fifth (two shares and back-to-back title game wins) consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship this season. Number 16 Coastal Carolina (9-0, 7-0) locked up the East Division title by romping past Texas State, 49-14, to clinch a spot in the league championship game. As a result, for the first time since the conference introduced a championship game before the 2018 season, it will not be played in Boone.  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

November 27, 2020 App State’s home football game against Troy on Saturday will now have a kickoff time of 3:30 p.m. and be shown on ESPN2. Kickoff was previously scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPNU. It’s the sixth nationally televised game of 2020 for the Mountaineers, who have a seventh scheduled next Friday for the Dec. 4 visit from Louisiana. With the continued implementation of Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 169, Phase 3 of North Carolina’s coronavirus restrictions allows for outdoor venues with 10,000 or more seats to operate at seven percent of seating capacity. With the addition of the club and loge seats in the new north end zone facility that debuted earlier this month, this will allow for the welcoming of 2,170 fans to Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday.  / Read more…

November 25, 2020 The characters at the heart of writer/director Miranda July’s “Kajillionaire” are not as interesting as July thinks they are, but they do raise an interesting question: how have these people managed to survive for so long when they are complete idiots? There are parallels between the downtrodden “Kajillionaire” family and the one from Bong Joon-ho’s Best Picture Oscar-winning “Parasite,” but those were smart, resourceful people who were going to capitalize on an opportunity eventually, it was just a matter of when and how. With “Kajillionaire,” it’s hard to believe that a lifetime of proudly doing the bare minimum in life is just now catching up to these characters. But I’m sorry, I just can’t get excited over a movie where the stakes are so low, and that prides itself on those low stakes. Worst case scenario: these people who should have been thrown out on the street years ago get thrown out on the street. Actually, the worst-case scenario is that Old Dolio gets rejected by her parents, but being separated from these losers is probably in her best interest. At a time when two movies about con-artist families are available On Demand, “Kajillionaire” is the inferior choice. By Bob Garver / Read more…

November 25, 2020. By the time you read this column, you’ve likely begun your Thanksgiving meal preparation, or like many of us, you didn’t have an extra minute to spend reading one more recipe before you started cooking the big bird, You may already be contemplating what to do with the leftovers in the days to come, and once those are cleared away, you need a few days to refresh and refuel. Late autumn air in the mountains has been known to become quite nippy as the seasons transition. The forecast for the coming week is no exception. Along with cooler temperatures and a hint of winter comes the craving for warm comfort foods. So, if you’re  looking for a way to take the chill off and heat up from the inside out, you may want to try some of these seasonal treats. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

November 24, 2020 Due to personnel changes in our office, this will be the last scheduled newsletter from Rep. Russell. However, the office will be open until Dec. 31, 2020, with staff available two days a week. Based on what scientists and public health officials were telling us last March, I knew the coming months would bring unprecedented challenges and believed that that Watauga and Ashe County would need a reliable, regular, non-partisan source of information to help deal with these challenges. That’s why this newsletter starting coming–daily at first and eventually twice per week. So many of you have replied and expressed in person how much you appreciated the newsletter. As I reflect on the past 8 months… I remember reporting the first case of Covid-19 in the district, the closing of schools, App State going to all online instruction, the Stay at Home Order, the first death in the district, etc. These have been trying times in every way. / Read more…

November 24, 2020. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

November 24, 2020 The bipartisan State Board of Elections on Tuesday voted to certify nearly all contests in the 2020 general election, including the presidential contest. “Canvass” means the entire process of determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly, culminating in the authentication of the official election results. The State Board canvasses the votes cast in statewide, multicounty, and judicial contests and authenticates the count in every ballot item in the counties by determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly. This certification came after the 100 county boards of elections certified results at the county level and after a series of post-election audits by election officials verified the counts. “Today, we officially recorded the voices of more than 5.5 million North Carolinians in certifying this historic election,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.  / Read more…

November 24, 2020 Governor Roy Cooper on Monday issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect on Wednesday, November 25 and runs through Friday, December 11.  “I have a stark warning for North Carolinians today: We are in danger,” Governor Cooper said. “This is a pivotal moment in our fight against the coronavirus. Our actions now will determine the fate of many.” In addition to extending Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements, the Order tightens the existing statewide mask requirement – making it clear that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The Order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when travelling with people outside of the household.  / Read more…

November 24, 2020 The Avery County Health Department, an entity of the Toe River Health District, has released information that four Coronavirus (CoVID-19) associated deaths occurred in Avery County on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 combined and another on Monday, Monday, November 23. This bring Avery’s total up to 11 deaths due to Coronavirus. Three of these individuals were in his or her 80’s, one was in his or her 90’s and another in his or her 50’s. To protect the privacy of the families of the deceased individuals and due to legal reasons, no further information about the patients will be released. / Read more…