High Country Press

Jan. 23, 2020 In preparation for “Bad Boys for Life,” I watched the previous two “Bad Boys” films from 1995 and 2003. This research coincided with the “Jeopardy!” Greatest of All Time tournament, which featured especially hard clues designed to challenge the brainiac players. It was an interesting balance of opposite ends of the IQ spectrum. When “Jeopardy!” had my brain short-circuiting, I turned on “Bad Boys” to cool it down. When “Bad Boys” had my brain flatlining, I turned on “Jeopardy!” to bring it back to life. By the end of the week two things were clear: that I should never get within 500 feet of the “Jeopardy!” set, and that the “Bad Boys” franchise was just as explosive and dumb as I expected from pre-“Transformers” Michael Bay. The new film isn’t directed by Bay, but new helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are clearly following his blueprint very closely, for better or worse. By Bob Garver. / Read more…

January 23, 2020. The Watauga County Public Library is in its tenth year of offering tax assistance for the 2020 filing season. The library program began in 2011 with Rao Aluri as the Site Coordinator; Matthew Upton, a graduate student in Accounting at Appalachian State University, will be the new Coordinator and Josh Rouse the Assistant Coordinator. The (VITA) Volunteer for Tax Assistance program provides free income tax preparation and electronic filing for eligible low to moderate-income Watauga County residents which would be those who made $56,000 or less in 2019. The program operates in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service and receives financial support from the Friends of the Library and the IRS. Volunteers are trained to be certified tax preparers through the IRS. Most of the volunteers come from the Accounting Department at Appalachian State University. / Read more…

January 23, 2020. The Schaefer Center Presents series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, is proud to welcome acclaimed dance company A.I.M (Abraham in Motion) — which draws with equal authority from ballet and hip-hop — on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The program features two of the New York-based company’s crowd-pleasing pieces — a duet excerpt from the emotional and intimate “Dearest Home” and the percussive, urgent “Drive” — as well as two recent premieres — the hoops-influenced “Big Rings” and the groundbreaking “Solo Olos.” / Read more…

Jan. 23, 2020. A look at the recent deed transfers in Watauga County. The information comes courtesy of the Watauga County Register of Deeds. / Read more…

Jan. 23, 2020. A crowd gathered inside Boone Fire Station #2 to honor the recent renaming of part of Hunting Hills Lane to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The street is located off of State Farm Road where the new recreation center complex is being constructed. For many in attendance, this was so much more than just changing the name of a street to honor one of the most compassionate and loving individuals of the 20th century. It was more about being proud that Boone, the community that many of these people have been a part of for decades, has listened to the African American community and given them something else to be proud of. “I find myself to be nervous today because this is a day, in my dreams growing up in Avery County, I never dreamed that this would come to pass. But God knows better than I do, the hearts of his people,” said Rev. Mike Mathes, the pastor at Boone Mennonite Brethren Church. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

CCC&TI Now Registering for 2020 Job Training, Continuing Education Courses

Open Hearth Cooking Program at the Wilkes Heritage Museum on January 25

Volunteers Needed for the 2020 Raleigh Women’s March on January 25

Caldwell Hospice’s Coffee, Grief and Hope to Be Held January 28

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Will Meet on Wednesday, January 29

Author Thom Young shares his recently published book, Bespoke, on January 29

J.E. Broyhill Civic Center Presents 22nd Traditional Musicians Showcase February 1

Wilkes Community College Offering Amateur Radio Course February 4

Sarah Beth Hopton Presents to High Country Writers February 13

Applications for Golden LEAF Scholarship Due March 1

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 22, 2020. Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell has revealed new details about the officer-involved shooting that took place near West Jefferson last Wednesday. According to the sheriff’s office, at 5:59 p.m. on January 15, Ashe County’s 911 center received information related to a welfare check in the Fleetwood area. As officers arrived on the scene, Landwell Vance McCall, a 50-year-old male from Caldwell County shot at Ashe County Deputies. Multiple shots were fired by the suspect during their initial approach to the camper, pinning the officers in place for a short time. At approximately 7:00 p.m., law enforcement agencies from surrounding counties were requested to bring resources that may be needed throughout the night. “As teams began entering our command post, we prepared evacuations of surrounding homes. Using armored vehicles from neighboring counties, we were able to safely evacuate the homes who surrounded the active shooter,” Howell said.  / Read more…

January 22, 2020. One of the season’s all-time favorite events — and a fun-filled fundraiser at that — is coming up soon as Grace Academy prepares for its annual Chili Cook-Off. It all happens on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 5-8:00 p.m. at Boone United Methodist Church during which a large crowd is once again expected to taste-test dozens of chili recipes provided by some of the area’s greatest cooks. It’s not something you want to miss. With such a variety of chili available, from the traditional to more contemporary recipes that might just become your new favorite, there’s sure to be something available to please every palate. And if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, just imagine dunking in a chunk of Stick Boy Bread or savoring the sweeter type for dessert — along with those mouth-watering and increasingly popular Blue Deer Cookies! And that’s just for starters. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 20, 2020. The Avery County Commissioners have unanimously (5-0) approved architectural firm Boomerang Design of Charlotte, NC to begin the bidding process for the construction of a new community building on the campus of Heritage Park in Newland. Boomerang Design officials Rob Johnson and Pierre Henwood gave the commissioners options for the community building, which will include an exhibit hall and auditorium.  Johnson and Harwood provided the commissioners specific aspects of the construction project, including elevation changes in relation to the placement of sewage lines, air and heating systems, general building plan specifications, storage areas and contingency details for issues including high winds and the ability for equipment to be transported into and out of the facility. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 22, 2020. One of the biggest sporting events of the year, if not the biggest, is just around the corner. Sure, we all know it’s about America’s favorite sport, but really, what would a Super Bowl party be without plenty of food? We’ve got you covered, from pregame appetizers to help welcome your guests, to halftime snacks and so much more to see you through the final touchdown. The planning has already begun, especially, for those who will be spending the evening in front of the big screen at home with family and friends. We don’t want anyone to be left on the sidelines without a winning spread, so let’s make a few good calls before the game begins with this week’s recipes. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 22, 2020. The number of North Carolinians who have died during the current flu season climbed to 33 last week, the N.C. Division of Public Health has reported, Eleven deaths were reported for the week that ended Jan. 11, along with one death from previous weeks. Of those deaths, seven were those ages 65 and older, four were ages 50 to 64 and one was ages 25 to 49. There were 3,911 flu-like cases reported in N.C. last week, down from 4,843 during the week that ended Jan. 4 and 4,884 during the week that ended Dec. 28. According to Vicki Stevens, Director of Marketing at the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, based in Boone, treated 33 patients with the flu at the Watauga Medical Center in Boone and Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville since Oct. 1, 2019. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 22, 2020. The first Blowing Rock WinterFest was presented in 1998, created to bring celebration to a sleepy season. More than two decades later, the festival continues with a refresh of past events and a reprise of the newest ones. At the 2020 edition of Blowing Rock WinterFest on Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26, everyone is again encouraged: don’t hibernate; celebrate! The newest events include the K9 Keg Pull and the Snow Making Demonstration, which both debuted in 2019. The first K9 Keg Pull was an instant hit, and this year’s event will be relocated to a venue with greater crowd capacity to accommodate anticipated attendance. Exciting and whimsical, the family-friendly event will be set up along Park Avenue on Saturday, January 25. The street will be closed to traffic for the Pull. You can register your pup to compete! The Snow Making Demonstration returns on Saturday as well, hosted by Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte, in Memorial Park on Main Street. He will explain the science of snow with the assistance of a simple snow-making rig. Plus, he’s always happy to answer questions about weather, so stop by to watch the snow and say hello!  / Read more…

January 21, 2020. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

January 21, 2020. In talking to music teacher Erin Ellington, you really get a sense of how the students of Parkway elementary have grown into fine cast members, stagehands, vocalists, and dancers. Since they began rehearsing in October of 2019 the students and families of Parkway school have been working hard to make their performance of The Lion King Jr. the best it can be. On January 24, 2020 at 6pm and January 25 at 1pm at Watauga High School, they’ll be presenting the fruits of their long labor. Of Parkway’s 600-odd students, over 100 from Kindergarten through 8th grade make up the cast of this week’s performance. Besides these cast members, Ellington says the support of families have been instrumental in the success of the production: “The families, friends, and parents of our school and folks that are in the production have really just offered their help. By Tzar Wilkerson / Read more…

January 21, 2020. The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina recently closed on 17 acres of bog land in the Jonas Ridge community, which is located in both Avery and Burke counties. The bog land borders the Pisgah Loop Scenic Highway. Southern Appalachian mountain bogs are rare and contain vulnerable ecosystems. At the highest elevations in Burke County, Jonas Ridge Bog is habitat to unique species of plants, animals and insects. The bog is also home to cranberries, a species typically associated with New England, and, in North Carolina, it is a threatened species as defined by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.By Tim Gardner / Read more…

Jan. 21, 2020. It was worth the wait even with a two-week delay in the start of the 15th annual Sugar Mountain Adult Race League. SMARL races finally began on January 20 after a delay following some unseasonably warm temperatures that did not allow for optimal ski race conditions at Sugar Mountain Resort. Each year, the after-work “beer league” for local skiers and snowboarders in the High Country lets racers compete for six weeks for some great prizes and bragging rights at the end of the season. After some much-needed cold weather and brief snowfall, the league got off to a great start last night. “You can’t imagine how much snow Sugar put down in the last couple of days. They went from not very good conditions to having every snow gun on and making snow. The skiing was good and everybody had a pretty good night,” said Bill Leonard, owner of Ski Country Sports, who co-sponsors the racing league along with Sugar Mountain Resort. “Ski Country Sports is excited about doing this, we have a great time doing it. We have two teams in it and we have a lot of our staff members that like to go out there and participate. It’s a good team-building exercise as well as having a good time out there skiing.” / Read more…

January 21, 2020. Bill Hutchins is a respected figure in local academic circles for his time as a Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State, for his long list of international awards and honors (Elizabethan Society and Manuscript Society at Yale, C.A.S.A Fellowship at the American University in Cairo, First Prize for Fiction, 1987 and 1991, Crucible), and particularly for his acclaimed translations of Arabic texts. Hutchins’ most recent translation project, Mohammed Hasan Alwan’s A Small Death, is a novel that has made waves in the Arab literary community. A spiritual coming-of-age story of one of Islam’s greatest mystics, the novel won the tenth International Prize for Arabic Fiction and has never been translated into English. By Tzar Wilkerson / Read more…

January 21, 2020. With plans underway to release their third studio album, Western Centuries is kicking off the New Year with a South-Eastern United States tour and will be making a stop at Boone’s very own Boone Saloon on January 22nd. When did country music start to sound the same? The first generation of country artists borrowed from everything around them: Appalachian stringband music, Texas fiddle traditions, cowboy songs, Delta blues. In an era of unprecedented access to our musical pasts, shouldn’t country music be even more diverse than it was in its infancy? Honky-tonk supergroup Western Centuries, back with a new album in 2018, surely understands this. They aren’t bound by any dictum to write songs in a modern country, or even a retro country style; instead they’re taking their own personal influences as three very different songwriters and fusing it into a sound that moves beyond the constraints of country. By Emma Shirlin / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Until recently, when radiation oncology patients entered the long hallway at Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center to receive their treatments, they were greeted with a long blank wall, no windows or decoration and dim lighting. The radiation therapy team expressed a need for something to brighten and beautify the journey for patients. They brought their idea to the Cancer Resource Alliance (CRA) Art Committee, and the Wings of Hope project was born. The group chose origami butterflies as a way to create a vibrant wall of color, bringing beauty to the area. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, transformation and hope. The Art Committee created opportunities for patients to make origami butterflies. Mary Morgan, a member of the Art Committee, took on the task of making pre-folded butterflies so that it would be easy for many to participate, and she also helped patients and caregivers make their own butterflies. Each person was encouraged to personalize their butterfly in some way—with words of hope, their name or name of a loved one, and/or date of completion of treatment. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Horn in the West, Boone’s summer outdoor drama, is preparing for its 69th season by holding local auditions for actors, singers, dancers, and technicians.  The auditions will be held on February 1st at the First Baptist Church of Boone, located downtown on the corner of King Street and College Street. Horn in the West, produced by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA), brings to life the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The local community is encouraged to audition no matter the level of experience or ability. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. The schedule is set for the 2020 Spring Indoor Concert Series at the Jones House, held in the intimate 40-seat Mazie Jones Gallery. With a power-packed lineup that includes Cajun musicians, old time string instrumentalists, a local country-blues extraordinaire, a bluegrass legend, and even a singer-songwriter NASCAR superstar, there’s sure to be something for everyone. “We are excited about this concert series at the Jones House. We have really tried to bring a broad array of musical genres and styles here to the High Country,” stated Town of Boone Cultural Resources Coordinator Brandon Holder. The series kicks off on February 5 at 7:30 PM with a band all the way from Lafayette, Louisiana, Blake Miller and the Old-Fashioned Aces. This talented trio will bring a traditional, but fresh, Cajun sound, playing classic tunes featuring guitar, fiddle, and accordion. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Mabel United Methodist Church will host its 23rd annual Unity Service at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend the program that will feature representatives of different faiths offering prayers for peace. The Junaluska Gospel Choir will be singing for your musical enjoyment. Following the service, the good cooks at Mabel Methodist will be serving desserts and coffee. For more information on the unity service, call 828-297-3568. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Wind chills settled in below zero and most of the area saw some snow on the ground overnight and this morning as residents woke up to temperatures in the teens and single digits. Temperatures began to drop throughout the day on Sunday and eventually into single digits across the High Country. Low temperatures reached five degrees on Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain, eight degrees on Linville Ridge and 12 degrees in Banner Elk and Seven Devils. The coldest area in Watauga County was Snake Mountain where the lowest temperature recorded was seven degrees. Temps dropped to 12 degrees in Blowing Rock, 13 degrees in Zionville and 15 degrees in downtown Boone. Early morning commuters also woke up to snow falling and sticking to the roads. Schools were already closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Commuters in Avery County had a decent amount of snow on the roads that caused some havoc for travelers.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Koen Maynard, a four-year-old from Boone who loves Ghostbusters and his meemaw, continuously approached his parents over the past two years to tell them that he wanted to be Santa Claus. At first, the Maynards thought Koen’s desire to be Santa Claus was a cute gesture that was soon forgotten; after Koen kept returning to say he wanted to be like Santa, his parents thought there might be something more to Koen’s statements. “Koen said he wanted to spread Christmas cheer because of the movie Klaus he had watched several times in the season,” said Koen’s father, Barry Maynard, “Koen wanted to be like the mailman who teamed up with a guy named Klaus to make the feuding town a team again.” By Joe Johnson / Read more…

January 20, 2019. On Thursday, January 30th, 2020, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) will present two musical heritage documentaries made by talented filmmaker and Appalachian State graduate, Rebecca Jones. Jones is a documentary filmmaker and musician from Denton, North Carolina. She plays the banjo, guitar and pedal steel guitar. An Appalachian alumna, Jones earned a BS in Communication and an MA in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. She has worked on films such as “After Coal, A Mighty Fine Memory: Stories and Tunes from the Fiddler of Banjo Branch”, and “Herb Key: Nurturing American Heritage.” Her latest project was working as an apprentice editor on the 8-part documentary series titled “Country Music, a film by Ken Burns.” The event will showcase two of Jones’ films: “Glenn Bolick Saw Mill Man” and “Herb Key: Nurturing American Heritage.” / Read more…

January 17, 2020. Area business owners and community supporters gathered on Thursday morning at Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock for the fourth annual High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast that featured the latest economic news for the High Country. Dr. Harry Davis, Dean of the North Carolina School of Banking and Finance Professor at Appalachian State University, was the keynote speaker and took a look at the economic success, shortcomings and future for the country, North Carolina and Watauga County. Overall, Davis says the national economy is in its 11th year of growth and the sense is that there are no signs of a recession in the near future. At the state and local levels, the economy is also running strong.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 17, 2020. Students at Lees-McRae took matters into their own hands this week bringing relief to those affected by Australian wildfires. On Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Thursday, Jan. 16, 25 students lead by Director of Library Services Jess Bellemer sewed 21 pouches for baby marsupials. Held in the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons Makerspace—a dedicated space where students can design, craft, sew, podcast, and more—Bellemer guided students of all skill levels through the process. “The goal of the makerspace is to connect students with making skills that they’ll take with them beyond their Lees-McRae experience,” Bellemer said. “The pouch making workshops showed them how they can use a skill such as sewing to support victims in a terrible crisis on the other side of the world. I think learning to sew and making usable materials for animals in need really clicked with the students.” / Read more…

January 16, 2020. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Boone will have a little extra meaning this year with the dedication of the newly renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Street. On August 15, the Boone Town Council unanimously approved the renaming the front portion of Hunting Hills Lane, from State Farm Road to the bridge, after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What a better time to hold a dedication ceremony than on January 20 when the country pauses to reflect on Dr. King and his many accomplishments. According to the town of Boone, the location of where the street will be renamed is near the county’s new recreation center, a playground and ball fields and will be used to serve as a reminder of the impact of Dr. King’s legacy around the world. The dedication ceremony will be taking place at 4 p.m. at Boone Fire Station #2 located at 1075 State Farm Road. The ceremony will feature light refreshments and music from the Boone Mennonite Bretheren Church Choir. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 16, 2019. A record-breaking season marked by firsts ends with more history — Top 25 rankings in both major polls for App State Football.The Mountaineers (13-1) are No. 18 in the final Amway Coaches Poll of the 2019 college football season and No. 19 in the final AP Top 25. They finished with the best record among the nation’s Group of Five conference teams — and tied for the third-best record nationally — while winning a fourth straight Sun Belt Conference title and improving their bowl record to 5-0. After totaling the 26th-most voting points in the final AP poll of the 2018 season, App State becomes the first Sun Belt team to conclude a season in the Top 25, and it has claimed the top spot among FBS teams from North Carolina for the second straight year. The Mountaineers’ first-ever appearances in the season-ending Top 25 polls double as their highest FBS rankings and the highest final rankings by a North Carolina team since UNC closed the 2015 season at No. 15 in both polls.  / Read more…

January 16, 2020. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce announced its winners of the 2019 Business of the Year Awards during the 4th Annual High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast Thursday morning at Meadowbrook Inn. The awards were sponsored by the Watauga County Economic Development Commission and Skyline National Bank. Nominations were submitted by Chamber and community members and winners were selected by the Chamber’s Business Development committee. Businesses were awarded based on criteria that includes staying power, growth in sales and/or workforce, innovative products and services, strong response to adversity, contributions to community-oriented projects, and use of local resources in business operations. / Read more…

January 15, 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

January 16, 2020. A standoff between a suspect and numerous local law enforcement agencies ended during the early hours of Thursday morning with the death of the unnamed suspect. “At approximately 6:00 pm on January 15, our 911 center received information related to a welfare check in the Fleetwood area. Just before arriving on scene, Ashe County Deputies were shot at multiple times. Phone calls and communication from the suspect indicated he wanted to cause harm to any law enforcement individual,” said Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell in a statement. After approximately eight hours the situation ended with a deceased male suspect located at the scene. All officers, first responders and support personnel were unharmed even though law enforcement was fired upon multiple times during the incident. / Read more…

Jan. 16, 2020. A look at the recent deed transfers in Watauga County. The information comes courtesy of the Watauga County Register of Deeds. Compiled by Debbie Carter / Read more…

January 15, 2020. The last couple of weeks have been hard on the ski slopes in the High Country with unseasonably warm weather and pockets of heavy rainfall. With more than four inches of rain falling at Appalachian Ski Mtn. on Saturday, Brad Moretz made the difficult decision to close for a couple of days just before a big change in the weather happens on Thursday. “We had an unusual weather situation where we got over four inches of rain Saturday night. It’s been since December 20 since we have had significant snowmaking. We’ve had a couple of times where we had a few hours for part of a night but we have gotten along fantastic without snowmaking and rain falling, but there is a limit to how much of that you can take without having a little winter weather,” said Moretz, who is the co-owner of Appalachian Ski Mtn. “We’re going to be excited to get things looking like mid-winter again. These are pretty ideal conditions coming up so it will look like normal again in a big hurry.” Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain are also looking forward to the changing weather this week as temperatures will drop throughout the day on Thursday into the 20s. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 15, 2020 Legislators returned to Raleigh on Tuesday, Jan. 14, for a continuation of the 2019 session. Two pieces of legislation were voted on in the House. And with that, the session ended. The adjournment motion sends state legislators home until April 28. I voted “No” on the adjournment motion because our job is far from finished. We should have been working on compromise solutions for teacher, faculty, and staff pay, funding for universities and community colleges, funding for school and infrastructure construction, and making healthcare more available and affordable. Instead Legislative leadership held a press conference, refused to work with Gov. Cooper on a compromise, and proverbially “took their ball and went home.”  / Read more…