High Country Press

July 17, 2019 Letters to the Editor. BY Eric W. Plagg / Dear Rep. Foxx, As one of your constituents and someone whose interests you were elected to serve, I was deeply disappointed to see that you and all but four of your fellow GOP members of the US House voted against House Resolution 489 condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress. As a reminder, this resolution was in response to tweets by President Trump, wherein he said of four House members who are American citizens and women of color, So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe…now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States…how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came[?] Then come back and show us how it is done. Read more…

July 17, 2019. This weekend, An Appalachian Summer Festival has two exciting performances coming up on Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20. At 8 p.m. in the Schaefer Center on July 19, Chris Botti will bring his musical talent to An Appalachian Summer Festival. At 8 p.m. in the Schaefer Center on July 20, Lily Tomlin will be returning to the festival for the 2019 season with her comedy. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

July 17, 2019. Join the “Garden Party” this weekend, July 20 and 21, at Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden & Gallery in Linville Falls. Everyone is invited to explore the sculptures thoughtfully placed throughout the open lawn and garden and in the gallery. Enjoy refreshments as you explore the artwork and learn about the diverse group of artists represented and see the working studio of sculptor Bill Brown. Visitors will see the work of accomplished sculptors working in different mediums and styles, from large scale sculptures in stone and metal for outdoor use to pieces for interiors created in clay, glass, copper and steel. / Read more…

July 17, 2019. In the midafternoon on Friday, July 12, campus community members and alumni visiting for the Frolic weekend gathered to celebrate the legacy of Frankie Ramsey Needham ’55H and unveil the formerly-named Alumni House as the Frankie Ramsey Needham Alumni House in her honor. Having retired just a few weeks prior, Needham’s tenure of 47 years marked the longest-ever service in the history of the institution. After graduating from Avery County High School in 1972, Needham began at Lees-McRae under the guidance of then-president Dr. H.C. Evans Jr. as a secretary within the alumni affairs office. Working her way up the ranks since her start, Needham retired as the Director of Advancement Services. Both Lees-McRae President Lee King and Chairman of the Board of Trustees W. McNair Tornow shared their thoughts on Needham’s retirement and wished her the best. / Read more…

July 17, 2019. Dr. Adam Booker and Sally Booker bring their considerable talents to the Summer Concert Series at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock this Sunday, July 21 at 3 p.m. The Bookers have chosen a varied program for double bass and piano, ranging from well-known compositions by Serge Koussevitsky (Humoresque and Chanson Triste) and Ernst Bloch’s hauntingly beautiful Prayer, to more recent compositions by Andres Martin, Michal Bylina and Adam Booker himself. Dr. Booker teaches double bass in the Hayes School of Music at AppState University. Mrs. Booker holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance and has taught in colleges as well as privately. / Read more…

July 17, 2019. As the filing deadline nears, nineteen candidates have completed the necessary paperwork and paid the $5.00 filing fee to seek municipal government (city, town or village) seats in Avery County as of this morning (July 17). Filing began on Friday, July 5 and ends this Friday, July 19 at Noon. Seats are open for some Mayor and Town Council seats in the following Avery townships: Newland, Banner Elk, Crossnore, Elk Park, Village of Sugar Mountain, Village of Grandfather, Beech Mountain, and Seven Devils. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

July 16, 2019. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

July 16, 2019. Back in Beech Mountain, Fred’s General Mercantile is hosting their Sunday summer concerts at Fred’s Gazebo. Fred’s has been the gathering place for all of Beech Mountain since it opened in 1979, and the legendary store hosts concerts out of the graceful white gazebo next to it. The gazebo has trimming around the top that looks almost like lace, and the musicians begin to play elegant and inspirational music underneath it at 6:30 p.m. Remaining concerts include performances by Amantha Mill, The Mountain Home Bluegrass Boys and Thistle Dew. / Read more…

July 16, 2019. Summer is in full swing at Beech Mountain with round two of the Summer Concert Series happening on Friday night. Galactic will be the featured act with Asheville’s own The Get Right Band opening the show. Gates open at 6 p.m. and tickets are $35 in advance and $45 the day of the show. Children five and under get in free. Talia Freeman, the director of marketing at Beech Mountain Resort, was excited about how the first concert went and thinks this week’s show will be excellent as well. “Our June concert was a huge success. We had a strong crowd and our patrons left happy,” said Freeman. “Galactic is a funk-driven jazz band from New Orleans. I know they will create a fun atmosphere.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 16, 2019. Well known halftime show and television stars The K-9s In Flight Frisbee Dogs are jumping, dashing and flying to Tweetsie Railroad once again to bring their adrenaline pumping performance to the High Country. You may have seen their one-of-a-kind K-9 Sports Show in the NBA, NFL or NCAA Halftime shows or from appearances on ESPN, The Disney Channel, Animal Planet and more. These amazing K-9s have even been featured in Dog Fancy and Dog and Kennel magazines. Now, the K-9s will be bringing their show to Tweetsie for performances July 20-28. These amazing dogs come from all different backgrounds, each star having been rescued or adopted from the streets or a shelter around the country, earning them their “homeless to highflying” title. By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

July 15, 2019. The Town of Boone’s Summer Concert Series at the Jones House gains momentum with another concert on the lawn Friday, July 19, including a trio of highly-anticipated performances by the Everydays, Alexa Rose and Tom Shirley, starting at 5 p.m. The Summer Concerts at the Jones House are free and open to the public. Concerts start at 5 p.m., and they are held rain or shine. / Read more…

July 15, 2019. A recent conditional use permit to convert the former Moody Furniture building to a restaurant/retail space in Blowing Rock was approved by a 4-1 town council vote during their meeting on July 9. Councilmember Virginia Powell voted against the application approval. Bob Lovern, who is the property owner and developer, applied for the permit for the restaurant/retail space and to add a surface parking lot. The property is located at 125 Sunset Drive. According to information provided by Blowing Rock Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, the application included the addition of an elevated patio area and a front porch extension to make it handicap accessible. The application also proposed a garage door on the west side of the building that will serve as access to the patio. New awnings at the entryways were proposed as well. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 15, 2019. The second Annual Honey Harvest Hoedown in Deep Gap is just around the corner and promises to be an event you don’t want to miss. On Saturday, July 27, from 4-7 p.m., the High Country community will come together once again for a fundraising event to help with the ongoing needs of the de la Cruz Farms, located just across from Deep Gap Fire Department. If you enjoy good music, food, fun and fellowship while supporting a good cause, this is the place to be. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

July 15, 2019. Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music is pleased to announce the return of Boone native Jeff Little and his Trio on Saturday, July 20, for a concert at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue in Boone at 7:30 p.m. Little is a bluegrass, blues, honky-tonk, jazz, rock-n-roll piano player. He’s one-of-a-kind, that’s why he’s called “The Piano an of the Blue Ridge.” His son Luke, an outstanding mandolin player, has been joining him on stage for years and has now become a full fledge member of the trio. With two time National Banjo Champion and guitar phenom Steve Lewis adding his hot licks to the mix and now with Luke joining in, well you are in for a musical treat! / Read more…

July 15, 2019. The Wilkes Heritage Museum will host Candlelight Ghost Tours in historic downtown Wilkesboro on Saturday, July 20. Ghost tours are 90 minute walking tours that begin at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The tours are led by costumed guides. Cost is $10 per person. Reservations for Ghost Tours are suggested. Highlights of the tour include the Old Wilkes Jail, Cleveland Cabin and Tory Oak Site. Learn all about the hauntings of Historic Downtown Wilkesboro. / Read more…

July 15, 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…

July 15, 2019. After business hours on July 18, Grandfather Mountain invites guests to tune into a special presentation. The Linville, N.C. based nonprofit nature park is keeping summer moving, highlighting its second speaker of he Grandfather Presents evening lecture series for 2019, Scott Huler. Huler is an award-winning radio personality, audio producer, photographer, videographer and author of seven books. Grandfather Presents Scott Huler runs from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, in the park’s nature museum and auditorium. / Read more…

July 15, 2019. Local real estate activity through the first half of 2019 continued to show signs of a strong sellers’ market, according to the latest sales report from the High Country Association of Realtors®. More than 1,000 homes were sold from January to June by Realtors® active in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. The median sold price for all homes sold continued to rise. Inventory grew. And interest rates fell steadily through the year. According to the New York Times, the Federal Reserve Board is considering a possible interest rate drop in the near future. That would increase affordability for local buyers as a counter to increasing sales prices. In the first half of the year, High Country Realtors® sold 1,091 residential and multi-family homes worth $326.55 million, according to the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It records Realtor® activity in the four-county area. / Read more…

July 15, 2019 “Crawl” is a horror movie with a simple enough premise: Haley (Kaya Scodelario) has to rescue her father (Barry Pepper) from the basement of their Florida home during a hurricane. Obstacles include steadily rising flood waters, the impending threat of a surge of water if a levee breaks, the father’s injury from an alligator attack, and of course the alligators themselves. It’s mostly about the gators, with the hurricane not helping.
This is definitely a “creature feature,” where the villain is an animal or group of animals that wants to chow down on our heroes. The king in the genre is “Jaws,” which like this movie primarily takes place in water. Humans may rule the land, but predatory animals rule the two-thirds of the planet that is covered in water, so who’s really in charge? By Bob Garver. / Read more…

July 12, 2019. With rousing applause and a standing ovation, Lees-McRae Summer Theatre Artistic Director Janet Barton Speer was presented with the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Thursday, July 11 at the opening night of From the Mountaintop: The Edgar Tufts Story, of which she wrote and directed. Lees-McRae President Lee King and Board of Trustees member Barbara Miller Whitton, who presented the award, nominated Speer for the honor. Created in 1963, the award is one of several civilian-focused honors the governor of North Carolina can bestow. On several occasions, the award has been regarded as the highest-ranking civilian honor achievable even though—legally—that designation is given to the North Carolina Award. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to “persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact on…North Carolina,” according to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society website. / Read more…

July 12, 2019. Despite record rainfall amounts throughout last fall and this spring, the 477-space parking deck in the Kidd Brewer Stadium lot is expected to be open and ready for the first day of class and the first home football game of the season. Matt Dull, Appalachian State University’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, shared a construction update on July 8 about the parking deck and student-housing construction happening on the east side of campus. The parking deck is expected to be completed in mid-August. Classes at App State will begin on August 19. According to the university, the new parking deck will still add approximately 250 add parking spots on the east side of campus, despite taking away some of the pavement parking spots in the Stadium Lot. The most recent update said that construction crews are going to start working on the elevator installation. “All the materials needed for that are on site, so they’re installing that elevator over the next three to four weeks or so,” Dull said. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 12, 2019. Twenty-five years, 867 runners, five miles long, one mile high. The Bear returned to Grandfather Mountain for its 25th year, opening the 64th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in a foot race that pits runners against the steep switchbacks of Grandfather Mountain, climbing 1,568 feet in five miles from the town of Linville to the iconic mountaintop. “It was a perfect day for running,” race director Jim Deni said, “and this is a popular race.” So popular, in fact, that registration reached its cap in only six minutes. One of those who helped was Johnny Crain, 27, of ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, N.C., who came in first overall with a time of 30:58.7 — 40.3 seconds shy of his previous attempt in 2017, in which he set a historic course record. “My fitness is not quite where it was two years ago,” Crain said. “I’m coming back from a little injury — plantar fasciitis, and I’ve been off and on running for about nine months now. Two days ago, one of my coaches was like, ‘Come on, why not use this as one of your first efforts back?’” / Read more…

July 12, 2019. As of Friday morning, July 12, eight candidates have filed for municipal township governing seats in Avery County. Filing began on Friday, July 5 for statewide municipal (city and town) elections. Seats are open for some Mayor and Town Council seats in the following Avery townships: Newland, Banner Elk, Crossnore, Elk Park, Village of Sugar Mountain, Village of Grandfather, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils. Candidates who have filed in Avery County include: incumbent Ray Allen Bolick for Banner Elk Town Council; incumbents Jesse Smith and Jane Milanovich for Crossnore Town Council; incumbents Bob Donovan for Mayor and Richard C. Norman for Town Council in the Village of Grandfather; Elaine McKinney Crane for Elk Park Town Council; Lewis (Van) Lecka for Town Council and Gunter Jochl for Mayor in the Village of Sugar Mountain. Jochl is an incumbent, but not as Mayor. He is currently a member of the Village’s Town Council. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

July 11, 2019. Appalachian State Athletics will celebrate the beginning of the 2019-20 athletic calendar with Fan Fest, presented by Wake Forest Baptist Health, on Aug. 10 at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The event allows fans to meet the App State football team and all other fall sports squads. Fans will also have an allotted time to collect autographs from their favorite student-athletes and coaches. In 2018, fall squads achieved many milestones while proudly sporting Black and Gold. Along with the football team winning the first Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, women’s cross country captured its second Sun Belt championship and the volleyball team secured its first Sun Belt East Division title. / Read more…

July 11, 2019. Appalachian State University baseball head coach Kermit Smith has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2023 season, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Wednesday. The extension was approved by Appalachian State Chancellor Sheri Everts and the Appalachian State Board of Trustees. In 2019, Smith completed his third season as head coach of the Mountaineers, who set a program record with 13 victories in Sun Belt Conference play and won 22 games overall despite having three in-state nonconference road or neutral site games canceled. App State started 11-9 in league play and was a half-game out of first place in the Sun Belt’s East Division before finishing 13-16 and earning its first Sun Belt Championship tournament appearance. / Read more…

July 11, 2019. Two more incumbents and two challengers have added their names to the candidate pool for the upcoming municipal elections in Watauga County this November. Beech Mountain Town Council incumbent Wendel Sauer officially filed for re-election on Wednesday. Kelly Melang also filed her paperwork on Wednesday seeking a spot on the Beech Mountain Town Council. That brings the current total up to four so far in Beech Mountain, joining Jimmie Accardi and incumbent Renee Castiglione. Carl Marquardt is the final incumbent on the town council that has not filed for re-election. Seven Devils had two people file to run for office, including incumbent Larry Fontaine. Wayne Bonomo also filed for a set on the Seven Devils Town Council. Incumbents Kay Ehlinger and David Ehmig have not filed for re-election. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 11, 2019. Scotland returns to Grandfather Mountain Thursday through Sunday for the 64th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Boasting bagpipes, Scottish athletics, Highland melodies, Celtic cuisine, crafts aplenty and tons of tartans, the Games hearken back to the rich cultural traditions of Scotland in a setting not so different from mountains and glens some 3,600 miles away. Today’s schedule of events includes the border collie sheepherding demonstrations, Celtic entertainment, the running of “The Bear” uphill foot race and the opening ceremonies. “The Bear” pits approximately 700 runners against the steep switchbacks of Grandfather Mountain in a five-mile run that climbs 1,568 feet from the town of Linville to the mountain summit. It’s followed Saturday by another test of extreme endurance as the Grandfather Mountain Marathon winds from Appalachian State University in Boone to the site of the Games in Linville. / Read more…

July 11, 2019. Get to know the scrappy, brave, and courageous youngsters of New York in Lees-McRae Summer Theatre’s performance of Newsies starting July 30. The final main-stage performance in the Lees-McRae Summer Theatre season lineup is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy, and leader of the band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair condition and fight for what is right. Directed by Janet Barton Speer, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein, and based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, Newsies, set in 1899, is filled with extraordinary dancing, acting, and music that will appeal to musical lovers everywhere. / Read more…

July 10, 2019. Booneshine Brewing Company co-owner Tim Herdklotz has been hard at work to get “East Boone” on the map. The restaurant and taste room officially opened in its new location at 465 Industrial Park Drive just off of Highway 421 near the Greenway Trail and Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. The brewery had moved to the facility a year ago, but the tasting room remained in its previous location at Basil’s until this past weekend when Booneshine celebrated with a soft opening in their new East Boone home. “The East Boone neighborhood connections have been awesome,” Herdklotz said on Tuesday. Not only has Booneshine Brewing Company embraced their new location, but they have also worked with businesses in the same area to help with the new restaurant. Tim says that Charleston Forge made the barstools and several of the high top tables, Hardin Creek Timber Frame constructed the wood framing at the entrance and Carroll Leather Goods made the leather seat tops. Goodnight Brothers Ham, another local business in the East Boone area, provides the ham for one of the appetizers on the menu. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

July 10, 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

July 10, 2019 Letters to the Editor. BY Rep. Ray Russell / Dear Editor, On Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper released his compromise state budget proposal. It includes healthcare coverage for nearly 500,000 working poor North Carolinians, a larger increase in teacher and state employee pay, more funding for school construction, additional spending for clean air and water, and restored funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This offer from Gov. Cooper is an investment in our people and our future. We must devote resources to education, healthcare, and protecting the environment. The proposal keeps the corporate and franchise taxes at their current low rate, and retains the General Assembly (GA) plan to increase the standard deduction on state taxes to help working families. The Governor’s plan includes $700 million for the Rainy Day Fund and $110 million for hurricane relief. Read more…

July 10, 2019. The Town of Seven Devils has been filling their Summer with lots of exciting activities and events for locals and visitors alike. Seven Devils Town Clerk, Hillary Gropp, spoke about some of the town’s upcoming attractions, “The Town of Seven Devils is full of seasonal residents/tourists right now and have plenty of activities to enjoy! On Friday night, July 12th, we do have our ‘Music By The Lake’. It’s our second music series of the summer. It’ll be the Jeff Little Trio down at the Resort Club from 6 to 8 pm. There’ll be plenty of signs within the town limits that’ll help direct you to Devil’s Lake Drive, where the club is located. These Summer events are planned by the town’s Parks & Recreation Committee, and the resort is hosting the event for the town. The concert is free and open to the public. Just bring lawn chairs or blanket to sit on; the concert will happen rain or shine!” These “Music By the Lake” shows are perfect for visitors who want to enjoy a relaxed evening show. By Tzar Wilkerson / Read more…

July 10, 2019. An Appalachian Summer Festival is showcasing an exciting lineup of the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming this month. Celebrate the enjoyment and education found in all forms of art with the upcoming scheduled events. There are four upcoming events in the next week that you can’t miss, plus exhibitions at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. There truly is something for everyone at An Appalachian Summer Festival. / Read more…

July 10, 2019. Filing began on Friday, July 5 for statewide municipal (city and town) elections. Four have filed as of this morning (July 10) for offices in Avery County. Seats are open for some Mayor and Town Council seats in the following townships: Newland, Banner Elk, Crossnore, Elk Park, Village of Sugar Mountain, Village of Grandfather, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils. Candidates who have filed include incumbents Jesse Smith, Crossnore Town Council and Bob Donovan, Village of Grandfather Mayor. Incumbent Village of Sugar Mountain Town Council member Gunter Jochl has filed for the Village’s Mayor’s post. Additionally, Elaine McKinney Crane has filed for Elk Park Town Council. Filing ends on Friday, July 19, at 12:00 Noon and must be done in person at the Board of Election Office. Filing for any municipal office costs $5.00. On Monday, October 7, Absentee Voting by Mail Begins for General Election and Friday, October 11 at 5:00 p.m. is the voting registration deadline. One stop early voting begins October 16 and ends November 2.   By Tim Gardner / Read more…

July 10, 2019. The Town of Newland Board of Aldermen (Town Council) addressed various topics during its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday night, including news of possible changes to its existing personnel policies and the repaving of various sections in the Town. All Board of Aldermen members–Kenny Caraway, Dave Calvert, Lauren Turbyfill, Jamey Johnson and Christie Hughes – were present. Other town officials attending the meeting included: Mayor Valerie Jaynes; Town Administrator Keith Hoilman; Finance Officer Lise Meinhardt; Town Attorney Joe Seegers; and Town Clerk and Board of Aldermen secretary Tammy Gardner. During his Town Administrator’s and Water Works report, Hoilman said that Todd Burleson of Burleson Paving, Inc. in the Roaring Creek Community will soon start paving parts and spots of various roads, streets and parking lots in the Town that need to be resurfaced. By Tim Gardner / Read more…