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Appalachian State University’s Fifth and Former Chancellor, Frank Borkowski, Dies at 88

January 22, 2025 Francis T. Borkowski, who served as Appalachian State University’s Chancellor from 1993-2003, died Sunday, January 19, at his home in Valle Crucis following a period of declining health. Better known as Frank, Borkowski was a man of great insight with varied talents, skills and interests. He will long be remembered as an innovative leader who, in one short decade, led ASU through one of its most advanced growth spurts in the school’s history. According to his obituary, compliments of Austin and Barnes Funeral Service, Borkowski’s move from the University of South Florida to ASU offered him “an opportunity to take the reins of an ascendant college while relocating closer to family in the Carolinas.”  By Sherrie Norris `

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Funeral Service Set for Beloved Sports Icon, Jack Groce

January 22, 2025 A celebration of life to honor the memory of beloved coach, Jack Groce, who died Friday, January 17, at the age of 95, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, January 24, at Boone United Methodist Church. While everyone deserves to be honored at their time of death, as well as in life, it is perhaps the passing of those who have gone the extra mile — and have had a significant impact on many others —that  hits a small community the hardest. Such is the case with the death of the “Coach,” a man whose name was recognized by countless people, whether they knew him or not. A Friday night football game in a local high school stadium could’ve been the closest many people through the years ever came to Groce. But for those who walked the halls of Appalachian High School and  later, Watauga High School, played sports on the fields, and especially the one bearing his name, or learned some of life’s greatest lessons under his leadership —  both off and on the field — the death of Jack Groce has left a huge hole. By Sherrie Norris `

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Looking at the Real Estate Numbers for 2024

January 22, 2025  2024 saw 2176 closed single family sales in the High Country Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. Of those 2176 sales, 1873 were in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, the area we look at most closely when analyzing High Country Real Estate. Of those 2176, 442 were condos or townhomes and 1431 were single family detached. List prices ranged from a minimum of $24,900 to a maximum of $29,750,000 with an average List Price of $664,306 and a median List Price of $489,900.  Sold prices went from a minimum of $37,500 to a maximum of $15,850,000 with an average Sold Price of $630,210 and a median Sold Price of $469,000. By Bill Aceto, REALTOR, Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, LLC

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Southern Appalachian Historical Association Announces Theatre Director for “Horn in the West”® 2025 Season – Boone Native Clarinda Ross

January 22, 2025. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA) is thrilled to announce plans for the 2025 season of “Horn in the West”®.  As repairs by the Town of Boone will be underway at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, this year’s performance will be held in the mini-amphitheater area located at Hickory Ridge History Museum, fondly known as “Hickory Ridge Homestead”. HORN will be celebrating our heritage with a return to our historical roots as a fully community-based production, using a local cast.  The drama will run for 4 weeks, 3 nights a week, and will be staged in and amongest the cabins for an immersive audience experience. Clarinda Ross is a celebrated professional actor, director, and playwright whose deep local ties and national accolades make her a perfect fit to helm this community-driven performance.

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Turchin Center Announces Fizzy First Friday Celebration February 7, from 5-8pm

January 22, 2025. The staff at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts invites the community to Fizzy First Friday on Friday, February 7, from 5-8pm. This exciting evening of art, community, and celebration is free and open to all. Brave the winter weather and come inside where it’s cozy! Cultural Resources. “We’re thrilled to celebrate these remarkable exhibitions and to offer our community an inspiring and fun evening of art and connection.” Don’t miss this opportunity to explore contemporary art, engage with artists, and celebrate the creative spirit that makes our community thrive. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Registration is Open for Girls on the Run of the High Country for Spring Season Starting Feb. 10

January 21, 2025. Registration is now open for Girls on the Run (GOTR) of the High Country — a program for girls in third through fifth grades to develop social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate life experiences. Registration is also open for the GOTR Heart & Sole middle school program for girls in sixth through eighth grades. Each program is made possible through Appalachian State University’s Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness. The GOTR spring season will begin the week of Feb. 10. Over the course of 10 weeks, the programs combine physical activity, social-emotional learning and community impact projects. Through dynamic lessons, team-building and fun running games, girls build confidence and important life skills.

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Regional Homeless Point-in-Time Count is January 29 for Annual Documentation of the Extent of Homelessness in the High Country

January 21, 2025. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, marks the annual homeless Point-in-Time Count. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, coordinated by the Northwest N.C. Continuum of Care (CoC), is the annual documentation of the extent of homelessness in the High Country region, which includes Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties. The information from the PIT Count provides valuable insight into the extent of homelessness in the region and informs support service providers on the priorities to prevent and end homelessness. Point-in-Time data is important as it provides an approximate scope of homelessness in the seven-county region and helps eligible agencies in the Northwest N.C. CoC apply for funding to work towards ending homelessness.

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Movie Review: “Wolf Man” AND “One of Them Days” Now Playing at Boone Regal

January 20, 2025 Since two new releases made about $11 million each at the domestic box office this past weekend, and since I don’t have much to say about either movie, I’ve decided to throw them both a quick review.  “Wolf Man” January horror movies are a special breed. The studio knows they can’t compete with blockbusters in the summer or better horror at Halloween, so they dump them in January hoping that the lack of competition will lead to a minor hit. This year’s offering is “Wolf Man,” a film whose trailer was so spiritedly derided that the film was practically declared a bomb before it even opened. “One of Them Days” follows two roommates and best friends, Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA), as they struggle to raise an emergency $1,500 to avoid eviction. Dreux is the responsible one, on the verge of a big promotion at work. Alyssa is the irresponsible one that trusted her no-good boyfriend (Joshua David Neal) with their rent money in the first place. Together they’ll get into some increasingly crazy and desperate adventures involving predatory loans, blood donation, abandoned sneakers, and more.

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Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Coming to Boone; Discount Store Expected to Open in Late June

January 17, 2025. Since the late December closing of the Big Lots discount store at New Market Center in Boone, speculation has run rampant related to the store’s successor. Social media posts — and perhaps wishful thinking — have predicted everything from Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Sam’s Club, Target and several others as possible replacements. In recent days, the conjectures were put to rest as the banner for Ollie’s Bargain Outlet was raised at the vacant shopping center site near Lowe’s Foods. High Country Press confirmed the news with Ollie’s corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa. on Thursday, at which time we learned that the Boone store is scheduled to open in late June of this year. By Sherrie Norris `

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Second in a Series: The History of Springhaven Inn in Blowing Rock 1888 – 1906

January 16, 2025. This is the second in a series of articles covering the long, rich history of the Springhaven Inn, built in 1888 in Blowing Rock, NC. As these articles show, this property has historic significance to Blowing Rock. The Springhaven Inn is located on S. Main Street and 116 Globe Road, Blowing Rock, NC and it is for sale. A group of town residents and the Blowing Rock Historical Society, BRAHM, and Preserve Mecklenburg, Inc. (PMI) are working to save the structure. There are only a few properties left in the downtown area that are as old as Springhaven Inn. We are actively looking for a buyer or buyers for the property who are willing to keep the outside structure of the historic inn. Otherwise, it is in jeopardy of being torn down. By Dr. Dan Morrill and Catherine Perry `

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22nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Announces Finalists; Exhibition Opens Feb. 7

January 16, 2025. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) is excited to announce the finalists for this year’s upcoming 22nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) exhibition. With over 500 images submitted by 76 artists, jurors selected 47 photographs to embody the theme “Making Kin: Belonging & Longing in Appalachia”. The 22nd AMPC exhibition will open Friday, February 7, 2025 with a public reception that evening. People’s Choice voting will take place in-person in the gallery, and the winner will be announced at the private Awards Reception on March 22.

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Tractor Supply Company is Hosting a Pet Treat Tasting Event in Boone on Jan. 18 – 10am to 3pm

January 16, 2025. Tractor Supply Company is hosting a pet treat tasting event here in Boone. Planned for Jan 18, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., this event will give pets the chance to sample a variety of pet treats available at Tractor Supply Company. “At Tractor Supply, we believe in giving your pets a choice,” said Samantha Lemons, manager of the Boone Tractor Supply store. “From our exclusive 4health® brand to a multitude of other high-quality products, we carry a wide variety of pet food and treat options to ensure your four-legged friends stay nourished and satisfied all year long. We hope you will join us on Jan 18, 2025 to let your pet find its treat of choice.”

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Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Next Meeting is Tuesday January 28th

January 16, 2025. The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its first monthly meeting on Tuesday January 28th at Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Road, Boone. Bring your lunch and drink for the meeting which starts at noon. Should Watauga County schools change to remote learning due to the weather, the meeting will be canceled. 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.

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H.C. Moretz, All-American Hero and Watauga County’s Last WWII Veteran, Dies at 100

January 15, 2025. If ever there was a patriot who loved God, country, family and his fellow man, it was Watauga County native Herbert Cleveland Moretz, Jr. Known simply as H. C. by those who knew him best, Moretz died just two months short of his 101st birthday, proving the “dash” between one’s birth and death dates (March 14, 1924 —January 9, 2025)  holds great significance; the space of time was one he never squandered. Not only was Moretz a patriot in every sense of the word, he was also Watauga County’s last known survivor of World War II.. By Sherrie Norris `

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: It’s Never Too Late for Healthier Choices


January 15, 2025 We usually start out the new year with healthy food choice columns, but the cold weather dishes prevailed this time around. After all, January is National Soup Month, and the first couple of weeks of the month have been reminiscent of “old-timey” winters which reminds us of comfort foods.  But, the treadmills and stationary bikes are still running for those who are making the effort to focus on fitness and improved eating habits. Even if we’ve found ourselves pedaling backward instead of forward, it’s never too late to start over. I write these words with Greek yogurt sprinkled with walnuts in front of me, alongside a cup of hot ginger tea sweetened with stevia. I ran across a recent article indicating that 90 percent of Americans are aware that heart disease is linked to high blood cholesterol levels and eating high-fat diets. However, what we do with that knowledge is another thing, to which most of us can attest. Let’s take time to review a few tips that could help us make healthier choices in the days ahead and help pave the way to a happier, healthier heart: By Sherrie Norris

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Police Department is Now Accepting Applications for Spring Session of the Citizens Police Academy

January 15, 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! The Boone Police Department is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 session of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA). Class meetings are held at the Boone Police Department each Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The CPA will begin on March 6th, 2025, and will conclude on April 24th, 2025, with a graduation from the program.

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2024 — App State’s 125th Year Was Marked by Resilience, Progress and Opportunity

January 15, 2025. With the close of 2024, Appalachian State University reflects on a year of remarkable growth and achievements — one defined by Mountaineer resilience, innovation and versatility. Milestones from the university’s 125th anniversary year include new pathways to expand education access, record support for research funding, the continued improvement of campus facilities and recovery from Hurricane Helene — a historic natural disaster. The university remained committed to its founding mission of expanding access to higher education, developing new pathways for students to receive a high-quality App State education that paves the way for higher wages and greater opportunities.

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Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is Pleased to Announce the Winners of the 2024 Watauga County Business of the Year Awards

January 15, 2025. The winners will be formally recognized Thursday, January 16, 2025, during the 9th Annual High Country Economic Kickoff Luncheon, presented by Highstreet Insurance & Financial Partners. We are excited to share that Thursday’s event is officially sold out. Business of the Year nominations were submitted by Chamber and community members with winners selected by the Chamber’s Business Development committee. The Chamber received over 90 nominations for High Country businesses.

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Winkler Hosts Blowing Rock Community Listening Session at the Green Park Inn

January 15, 2025. John Winkler, joined by two business partners, an engineer and an architect, held a listening session at the Green Park Inn on January 9. Winkler’s attorney Chelsea Garrett facilitated the conversation. Winkler intended the event as an opportunity to review construction and renovation plans along with the rezoning process that is required to update and add to the current Green Park Inn. He reminded attendees several times that no decisions would be made that evening since the event was not an official town event. Winkler initially expected to meet with 20-30 community members in the front lobby of the Green Park. As five o’clock drew near, more people arrived and the gathering was eventually moved to the Chestnut Grill dining area to accommodate over 100 attendees. By Sam Garrett `

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Exciting Addition to 2025 Blowing Rock WinterFest: WinterFest After Dark!

January 14, 2025. Blowing Rock WinterFest, held this year from January 23rd-26th 2025, is bringing even more reasons to step out of hibernation and celebrate! For the first time, this annual celebration of the season will feature an After Dark experience with live music, and stores open late adding a lively new twist to the lineup of activities. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 24th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, and prepare to embark on a memorable evening in the heart of Blowing Rock. This exciting addition invites participants to visit local establishments and enjoy live music from local artists along the way.

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Seven New Acts Join the Lineup for FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27), With More to Come

January 14, 2025. FLOYD, VA — Writing that “FloydFest has set a standard for thriving independent music festivals by annually bringing a devoted crowd back to a scenic site in southwest Virginia for a carefully curated, eclectic lineup of roots music,” Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine once-again named FloydFest ‘Best Music Festival’ in its ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025’ earlier this month. “It’s a big deal to us to win this award again, especially in a region rich in world-class events and creatives,” said Sam Calhoun, FloydFest co-owner and chief operating officer. “Congrats to all of the honorees, and a special shoutout to the myriad Floyd-based businesses who also took home top honors, including Floyd Country Store, Red Rooster, Chateau Morrisette, Hotel Floyd and Buffalo Mountain Ziplines.”

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Wine & Dine on the Rails Returns to the N.C. Transportation Museum

January 14, 2025. SPENCER, N.C. — The North Carolina Transportation Museum is pleased to announce its annual Wine & Dine on the Rails train ride event. Join us for an evening of elegance and romance Feb. 14-16. This special event features a cocktail hour before boarding for a leisurely train ride around our 60-acre historic site, and a three-course meal served aboard the train. Each individual passenger will receive three drink tickets to be redeemed from our selection of wine and beer in either the cocktail area or on the train.  Additional drinks can also be purchased for an additional cost.

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2025 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) Gets Rolling for Their 19th Season

January 14, 2025. The Monday night SMARL races are back. After a brutal start to the race season last Monday night where the weather was off the charts with wind, snow and low visibility that ultimately knock the timing system out, the racers were back on Sugar Mountain for a perfect weather night and the first week of timing scores. This is the 19th season of Sugar Mountain Adult Race League (SMARL) that started back in 2006. The local ski shop Ski Country Sports teamed up with Sugar Mountain Resort to bring a racing opportunity to local adults on a Monday night. All levels of skiing and snowboarding abilities are welcome.

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