High Country Press

October 21, 2019. The annual Winter Fearless Forecast from RaysWeather.com was officially posted online Saturday, making way for an anxious crowd of winter enthusiasts to begin the debate on just how much snow will fall in the High Country. Ray Russell’s forecast predicts that Boone will see approximately 33 inches of snow, which is 10 percent less than the average long-term snow total. The forecast also predicts temperatures will be near the seasonal average and that the bulk of the winter precipitation will fall from mid-November to the end of January. Winter is predicted to be milder by late February and into March. As always, Russell advises readers to not put too much stock into long-range forecasts and that this prediction just so happens to be their scientific rationale based on historic trends and current weather models. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 21, 2019. This November, Saloon Studios will be hosting two exhilarating performances in their intimate, 100-seat setting; Barrere & Tackett are performing on November 2 at 6:00 p.m. and Mark Farner’s American Band will be performing on November 9 at 6:00 p.m. Tucked away on 180 acres of Mt. Jefferson, just south of West Jefferson, Saloon Studios is at the heart of a mid 19th-century Old West town replica surrounded by such buildings as a sheriff’s office, undertaker, post office, blacksmith, stables, cantina, and a general store. However, the saloon not just a replica of a western-style saloon; the location also doubles as a live performance stage and recording venue with state-of-the-art recording equipment, technology, and sound engineering in an intimate, 100-seat setting. Rock n’ Roll legends as well as up-and-coming acts are invited to the live stage to showcase their greatest hits; rock n’ roll hall of famers such as Dave Mason of Traffic and Steve Cropper of “STAX” Records, Foghat, Molly Hatchet and more have performed at Saloon Studios. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

October 21, 2019. The Men’s Glee Clubs of AppState and Watauga High School will combine for a program they call “Sing Your Way Home” – the final concert in the Summer Concert Series at St. Mary of the Hills this Sunday, October 27th at 3 pm in the nave of the church.  The program begins with the exuberant Zulu/Xhosa song San’Bonani/Namhla Kudibene, and includes music by Grieg and Mendelssohn, Joseph Martin’s Sing Your Way Home, and John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads. The AppState Men’s Glee Club, under director Dr. Meg Stohlmann, draws its 29 members from most of the colleges at the university and sings both sacred and secular music from all historical periods and styles. The group champions new works, and encourages its members to be active as student conductors, composers, and club leaders. Activities of the Glee Club include performances on campus and across the state of North Carolina. / Read more…

October 21, 2019. Appalachian Regional Library has received funding from the National Libraries of Medicine and locally from the Watauga County Community Foundation, which is administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation, in support of its 2019 Good Neighbor Project. The funding will be used to bring Dana Bowman, author of Bottled: A Mom’s Guide to Early Recovery, to speak in Watauga County. Bowman’s book, Bottled, is a memoir of her life as a young mother and an alcoholic. Multiple copies of the book have been distributed in the community to read, share, and return and there are copies that can be checked out at the library. Bowman will speak at a free event at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, October 29, at the Boone United Methodist Church. A meet and greet with the author will be from 4:30 -5:30 pm A Library Journal review describes her book this way: / Read more…

October 21, 2019. Grandfather Mountain can bear-ly stand the excitement, because Oct. 26 marks the nonprofit nature park’s annual Beary Scary Halloween celebration. This special day features a wide range of activities, including trick-or-treating, spooky arts and crafts, making enrichments for animals and a costume contest. The activities start at 11 a.m. and run to 3:30 p.m. and are included with the price of admission. Plus, kids in costume receive half-priced admission. “Beary Scary is a great way for kids to come up to celebrate Halloween and learn all about bears and other fun creatures,” said Jenny Condron, assistant habitats curator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the park. “This year’s theme is all about native animals and creepy critters that will highlight the environment of the mountain during the autumn season.” / Read more…

Oct. 21, 2019 Here are some fan shots from Saturday’s 52-7 victory over UL Monroe. With a sold out crowd, rain and the cold did not dampen the excitement of the crowd. App State travels to South Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 26 for their next showdown. Photography by Dennis Mills. / Read more…

October 21, 2019. On October 15th, The White House announced the recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Among the recipients this year was Katie Matthews, a first grade teacher at Valle Crucis School, who was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award honors individuals or organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring individuals from groups that are underrepresented in STEM education and workforce. Individuals and organizations in all public and private sectors are eligible including industry, academia, primary and secondary education, military and government, non-profit organizations, and foundations. Nominations are encouraged from all geographical regions in the U.S., its territories or possessions, particularly jurisdictions designated by Congress under NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). By Colby Gable / Read more…

October 21, 2019. If anyone ever thought that the golden years were boring, chances are they’ve never stopped in at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center in Boone. There’s always something happening at the center and there’s rarely a day when there’s not a lot of fun and excitement going on for the young at heart. Regardless of the month of season, Director Billie Luster and her staff and volunteers always have a full slate of activities planned — parties, games, crafts, good food and fellowship – and that’s just the beginning. Now through the end of the year is an especially busy time, Lister tells us, with not only recreation and entertainment available, but also a list of outreach and educational opportunities to keep seniors young in heart, mind, body and spirit.
By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 21, 2019. Merlefest, presented by Window World, will begin accepting applications from vendors and retail merchants for The Shoppes at MerleFest, as well as artisans and craftsmen who wish to be featured in the Heritage Crafts tent, starting November 1, 2019. MerleFest is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans that takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C. MerleFest 2020 will be held April 23-26. Located immediately through the entrance gate, most of the paying public must walk through The Shoppes to get to the main stage and walk back through The Shoppes when exiting. This greatly increases the foot traffic that vendors have visiting their booths. All of The Shoppes are set up on pavement. Those interested in participating in The Shoppes at MerleFest or the Heritage Crafts area may download an application and review the rules and guidelines at www.MerleFest.org/vendors/. MerleFest will accept applications through January 15, 2020. A selection committee reviews all applications and will email acceptance letters to selected vendors in February 2020. / Read more…

October 21, 2019. For a program familiar with making history, these are heady times even for the Appalachian State Mountaineers. On Sunday, the undefeated (6-0) Mountaineers received a No. 21 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and the No. 22 spot in the Amway Coaches poll, eclipsing last week’s No. 24 ranking in both polls as the highest FBS ranking in Sun Belt Conference and school history. App State, which was already the first Sun Belt school to be ranked on multiple occasions, becomes the first school in league history to receive a Top 25 ranking in consecutive weeks. The Sun Belt was established as an FBS conference in 2001. App State joined the league in 2014. App State’s 52-7 win over west division leader ULM on Saturday marked the first win by a Top 25 ranked Sun Belt team and pushed the Mountaineers to bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. Only Marshall has made more consecutive bowl appearances after jumping to the FBS ranks (six), and App State is the only program to win each of its first four bowl games in consecutive seasons. / Read more…

October 20, 2019. The Appalachian State Mountaineers kept their perfect record this season intact with a 52-7 homecoming rout of Louisiana-Monroe in a Sun Belt Conference game played on a cold and rainy autumn afternoon Saturday at Boone’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. A sellout crowd of 27,717 attended the game, which was also viewed by thousands, perhaps millions more on ESPN Plus television. Appalachian State (6-0 over-all; 3-0 conference) had little trouble moving the ball against the Warhawks (3-4 over-all; 2-1 conference), rolling up a whopping 572 yards and 27 first downs By Tim Gardner / Photography by David C. Mayo / Read more…

October 18, 2019. While some of the highest elevations in the High Country have seen a lot of color change already, the peak still seems to be another week away, that is according to the latest fall color update from Howard Neufeld at Appalachian State University’s Department of Biology. Neufeld predicts that this weekend and into next week will be the peak of color for the bulk of the High Country. Fall color change has started its descent from the higher elevations of Grandfather Mountain, past the Linn Cove Viaduct and into the valleys below. While color has peaked in certain areas near the viaduct and on the Blue Ridge Parkway, green can still be seen at lower elevations. That is expected to change very soon. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 18, 2019. Instead of the usual candidate’s forum that is hosted by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the chamber went a different direction this election cycle to allow the four people running for Boone Town Council seats to explain why they are the best fit for the job. This year, audio podcasts were recorded of each candidate answering nine questions. The podcasts, which are available to listen to any time, give people a chance to hear these candidates on their own time instead of having to tune into the radio simulcast or attend the forum at a certain time. “We decided to go the podcast route which allowed candidates to have a little bit more time to speak. I think with the old format they had roughly 10 to 12 minutes worth of actual time to say anything. This time candidates averaged roughly 15 to 16 minutes of time to really get more into their stances on things,” said David Jackson, the President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 18, 2019. In honor of Appalachian State University’s upcoming celebrations, enjoy a snapshot of the university’s homecoming history, which first began in 1934. Spanning more than eight decades, this slideshow features a look at some of Appalachian’s early athletics fields — including College Field and Conrad Stadium — the university’s kazoo band, themed homecoming parade floats and many iterations of the Mountaineers’ mascot, Yosef. A 1940 letter provided by University Archives and Records, housed in Appalachian’s Belk Library and Information Commons, describes the original intent of homecoming: “Most colleges and universities set aside one day each year for the entertainment of their alumni. This is known as ‘homecoming day’, and homecoming it is, for many former students assemble to renew associations with their foster mother and campus brothers and sisters.” By Megan Bruffy / Read more…

October 18, 2019. Hardin Park sixth-grader Clara Lappan correctly spelled “Marathon” and “Autumn” to secure victory in the Watauga County Schools district-wide spelling bee held Oct. 18. Green Valley’s Zeke Walker from Green Valley secured the runner-up spot in the contest. The top-speller in each school was invited to attend the competition held at the WCS central office. This year’s contestants were: Liliana Wyatt of Bethel, Iris Westerman of Blowing Rock, A.J. McAulay of Cove Creek, Zeke Walker of Green Valley, Clara Lappan of Hardin Park, Mark Spaulding of Mabel, Ben Baublitz of Parkway and Grant Painter of Valle Crucis. A single speller from each school secured a stop at the district-wide spelling bee final by winning a competition among fourth through eighth-grade students at her or his school. Meredith Jones, Watauga County Schools Director of Middle Grades Education, said regardless of the competition’s outcome, students had demonstrated hard work and dedication to make an appearance at the district bee. / Read more…

October 18, 2019. Several speakers in support of and in opposition to potential changes to the Valle Crucis Historic District Ordinance had their voices heard on Tuesday evening at the Watauga County Commissioners’ meeting. The proposed changes would add an amendment to the ordinance that would address the construction of schools within the historical district. The ordinance that was first put into place in September of 1990 made no mention of school construction in Valle Crucis. In a previous meeting of the county commissioners on September 17, there was a proposal put forth by the board to amend the ordinance. After hearing so much public input Tuesday night, the discussions have been tabled until the next commissioners’ meeting on November 6. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 18, 2019. Current seniors in 11 Western North Carolina high school districts who meet specific academic requirements and submit an application by Friday, Nov. 1, are guaranteed admission to Appalachian State University through a newly announced program called GEAR UP Guarantee. Appalachian’s GEAR UP Guarantee is a collaboration between the university and the region’s 11 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) school districts to provide a seamless pathway for high school students to enroll at Appalachian. The 11 GEAR UP school districts are Ashe, Alleghany, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Rutherford, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties. By Elisabeth Wall / Read more…

October 18, 2019. Avery County Sheriff’s Department personnel and many other people have been searching all over for Bigfoot for months. Deputies finally found him where you might expect him to be: by himself far out in the woods. Many times if someone calls in a Bigfoot sighting, it would be ignored or perhaps even chucked at. But in this particular case, it has caused jubilation from many. A statue of the Sasquatch Bigfoot was stolen from Mountaineer Landscaping in Linville in August, and ironically it was found at a site less than an hour away. A man the Sheriff’s Department released as being named “Mike” was in a remote area of a nearby woods in the Edgemont Community when he saw Sasquatch. Mike contacted local law enforcement authorities, and they found and confiscated Bigfoot from there. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

October 17, 2019. Appalachian Mountain Brewery and We Can So You Can Foundation are returning to the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre this year to host the third annual Haunted Horn, the High Country’s only immersive haunted experience. This year’s version of Haunted Horn, entitled Haunted Horn: Stalker, will occur on Fridays and Saturdays from October 11 – 26 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Tickets are available online for $10 and at the door for $13. Parking is available for free. We Can So You Can Foundation has put on Haunted Horn events for the past two years; 2017’s event was called Haunted Horn: Curse of Wendigo and 2018’s event was Haunted Horn: The Accused. This year, experience a time warp and go back to the 80s with Haunted Horn: Stalker, based after famous ‘80s era thrillers and slasher flicks, and try to escape the stalker pursuing you and the other participants trying to flee. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

October 17, 2019. Following a nearly week-long search for a suspect involved in an accident that killed a cyclist on October 10, a man has been arrested and his vehicle has been seized. The North Carolina Highway Patrol said on Wednesday that Charles Steward Bean, 55, of Creedmoor has been arrested in connection to a hit-and-run accident on Highway 221 across the Caldwell County line not far from Grandfather Mountain. Bean was arrested at his home in Granville County on a felony hit-and-run charge and is currently being held on a $35,000 bond. Bean’s 2008 Toyota Sienna minivan is believed to be the vehicle that he was driving when he allegedly struck and killed Ignacio Giraldo. Giraldo, 61, was traveling north when a vehicle crossed the center line in a curve and struck him head-on, according to the highway patrol. The man was riding his bicycle along with three others, including his daughter.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 17, 2019. Seven students from Avery High School in Newland, NC recently completed “The Grandfather Challenge” hiking program at Grandfather Mountain in Linville.  “The Grandfather Challenge” program is sponsored by The Jason Project, Inc., which was formed by the parents of Jason Matthew Nipper, who passed away in June of 2014 at age 26. This private foundation was formed to host this unique hiking program, which is designed to build self-confidence in struggling youth, as well as trust and positive rapport with adult mentors. Because of Jason’s abiding love of the outdoors and mountain hiking, James & Cheryl have established  “The Grandfather Challenge,” through which students navigate all of the rigorous hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain.  Although the program includes at-risk kids suffering from mental problems and/or drug addictions, the program also seeks to assist any special kids who are struggling with personal adversities, including family, school, or other personal problems or challenges. / Read more…

October 15, 2019. Fifty years ago the thrill of skiing down the rolling slopes of Sugar Mountain intrigued a group of daring developers. Participating in a sport mostly unfamiliar to the Southern population rapidly took hold and winter fun became a staple for many. Today, the masses flock to Sugar Mountain, not only to feel and see and touch snow, but to enjoy the plethora of activities that only the accumulation of snowflakes can produce. To celebrate Sugar Mountain’s 50 years, a documentary reporting its five decades debuts in mid-December. A new, four passenger, high-speed, detachable chairlift, designed and engineered by Doppelmayr and specifically for beginners, replaces Sugar Mountain Resort’s original, two passenger, fixed-grip Easy Street chairlift built in 1969. The ceremonial ribbon cutting is scheduled for Saturday, December 14 at 10 a.m. The widening of some sections and the addition of another new, high-efficiency and fully automatic snow making machine to the existing fleet on the Easy Street slope are complete. / Read more…

October 17, 2019. With no state or federal elections on the ballot this November, voting totals will not typically be as high as in midterm or presidential election years, however, 21 Watauga County citizens living within town limits of Boone, Blowing Rock, Seven Devils and Beech Mountain made sure to get their votes counted on the first day of early voting on Wednesday. The most votes at the Watauga County Administration Building’s one-stop early voting came from Boone voters with 16 ballots counted for the Boone Town Council race. Three voters made their ballots official in Beech Mountain for the town council race and two votes were counted in Blowing Rock for the town council and mayoral seats. No voters cast their ballots as of yet in Seven Devils.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

Oct. 17, 2019. 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…

October 17, 2019. After completing a two-hour search on October 5th, Watauga Sheriff’s Office was able to locate an 18-month-old toddler who had been missing for several hours and had wandered over 600 yards from her house. Search teams from across the High Country were dispatched including: the Watauga Sheriff’s Office, Watauga County Emergency Management, Boone Fire, Blowing Rock Fire, Foscoe Fire, Watauga Medics, and Watauga Rescue.  Each were sent out by Boone’s Emergency Management team, which helped to coordinate communications between search crews across counties and are responsible for the mapping and management of these emergencies. The two who found the child were Deputy Garrett Norris and Sergeant Chris Bowen both with the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Norris, who is also a paramedic, initiated active warming to further prevent hypothermia prior to handing the child over to Watauga Medics for evaluation. By Colby Gable / Read more…

October 17, 2019. Did you attend or graduate from Avery County High School? Would you like to reconnect with former classmates and friends? Would you like to visit with old friends in other classes? Then the First Annual Avery County High School Reunion is for you! The three schools that consolidated to form ACHS (Newland High, Crossnore High, and Cranberry High) have had annual reunions for many years. Avery County High School has been in existence now for 50 years and there has never been an annual reunion for all classes. Big plans are underway for this first reunion to take place on Saturday, October 26, which is the next day after Avery’s Homecoming Celebration. The reunion will take place in the ACHS Gym and the doors will open for fun and visiting at 1:30 p.m. Danica Goodman, Class of 2000, is spearheading the effort to establish an annual reunion for ACHS. / Read more…

October 17, 2019. The Hunger and Health Coalition located in Boone will host its 5th annual Masquerade Ball on Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue in Boone. Tickets are $30 and going fast. This event always provides a fun-filled evening for a great cause, according to HHC staff. “The past four have been nothing short of incredible as this event helps us raise funds for our programs to help those in need in our community.” Along with entertainment provided by The Appalachian Theatre Ensemble, guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, exciting, colorful costumes, dancing and drinks.. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 17, 2019. Fall and all its festivities have begun to bring a bit of excitement to the High Country. Tailgating is in full swing and in the middle of it all comes Halloween — with Thanksgiving close behind. It all seems to be arriving at an alarming rate this year in a way that I can’t quite grasp or explain. While we don’t need to spend too much time trying to figure it all out, let’s have some fun with a few seasonal specialties as we prepare to move forward into the holiday season.
By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 16, 2019. Early voting for town council and mayoral elections in Watauga County started on Wednesday with a total of 19 candidates running for elected office in Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils. Early voting will continue through November 2 at 1 p.m. and the final day to request an absentee ballot by mail will be October 29. Election Day this year is November 5 with precinct polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. In Blowing Rock, two town council seats and the mayoral seat will be up for election. Mayor Charlie Sellers is running unopposed while town council incumbents Jim Steele and Albert Yount face challenges from David Harwood and Ray Pickett. In Boone, two current town council members, Marshall Ashcraft and Lynn Mason, chose not to seek reelection. Incumbent Loretta Clawson is seeking another term on the council. Virginia Roseman, Nancy LaPlaca and Dustin Hicks have filed to run as newcomers. Three council seats will be up for election between these four candidates. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 16, 2019. 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

October 16, 2019. Mountain music, handmade crafts, barbecue, Brunswick stew, apple cider, apple butter, and peak autumn color all come together in a huge hay field at the heart of Valle Crucis, NC, on Saturday, October 19 at the Valle Country Fair. What started as a little church bazaar in 1978 now welcomes thousands and has raised more than $1 million for local charities over its first 40 years. Always held on the third Saturday in October, the Valle Country Fair takes over the grounds of the Valle Crucis Conference Center on NC Highway 194 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free and ample parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per car. Please note that NO PETS are allowed. The tents of 160 craft exhibitors line wide lanes that meander back and forth across the grounds. Bales of hay are stacked in the intersections of these alleys to offer fairgoers a spot to sit as they ponder which craft booths to visit next. / Read more…

October 16, 2019. For one weekend each fall, the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Banner Elk becomes the woolly worm racing capital. Now in its 42nd year, the Woolly Worm Festival draws cross-country visitors and locals alike for two days of cheering woollybear caterpillars to the finish line. This year’s festival takes place Oct. 19-20. Races are held throughout the day Saturday and Sunday at Historic Banner Elk School in the heart of downtown. The overall winner of Saturday’s races earns a $1,000 grand prize and the honor of predicting the winter weather for North Carolina’s High Country. While Sunday’s races don’t involve forecasting privileges, participants still vie for prestige, along with a $500 prize. “It’s really an all-American small town at its best,” says Mary Jo Brubaker, festival chairperson. “As a society, we go to such extremes to entertain people these days, but the down-home simplicity of this festival is wonderfully refreshing.” / Read more…

October 16, 2019. While Appalachian State’s football team began their 2019 season with some hype around Eli Drinkwitz replacing the now Louisville coach Scott Satterfield, they aren’t the only team this year to begin with a new administration. On Monday this week, Appalachian State’s basketball program kicked off its 100 Year Anniversary and Media Day with introductions and a Q&A from their new head coach, Dustin Kerns. After beginning as a student manager with Clemson, Kearns was an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech beginning in 2002, and then Tennessee University from ’03-’04. Kerns also assisted at Wofford University on two separate stints and was there during the 2014 and ’15 seasons where the school made appearances in the NCAA tournament. On May 23, 2017, Kerns was named head coach of Presbyterian University, where he finished 31-37 including a 20-16 overall record and 9-7 in the Big South Conference last year. By Colby Gable / Read more…

October 16, 2019. We interrupt this performance to bring you a special bulletin: Volcanic disturbances? Jets of blue flames? Red discs swirling? Clear the fields, the Martians have landed. Or have they? Or will they? Ensemble Stage, the professional theatre located in the Historic Banner Elk School, will perform a radio adaptation of HG Wells’ classic novel War of the Worlds. To celebrate Ensemble Stage’s 10th anniversary, Gary Smith, artistic director, has put together an amazing radio show with smooth scene changes, eerie sound effects, and a cast of local ‘celebrities’ that will make you stop, listen, and ponder the possibilities. You will hear the startling report of mysterious creatures moving forward…Oh No, are they at the field, the pond, the mill? Ensemble Stage presents the radio play War of the Worlds October 25 and 26 at the Historic Banner Elk school, Hahn Auditorium. / Read more…

October 15, 2019. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…