High Country Press

August 19, 2019. A crowd of at least 300 people filled the parking lot at Twigs for the first P.B. Scott’s Roundup to be featured on the grounds of where the iconic building used to stand in Blowing Rock. Two bands that used to frequent the stage at P.B. Scotts in the 1970s, Sidewinder and Nantucket, played some of their greatest hits and took a lot of people back to their younger years to remember when the music was everything. “We had a lot of last-minute people because the weather was so good. We had no problems and no complaints,” said event organizer Jean Travers. “The people loved it, the bands loved it, and everything was great. It was so cool to see people with their original P.B. Scott’s memorabilia.” Travers said that plans are already in the works for next year’s event, and similar to this year, the bands featured will continue to be those that played at the original P.B. Scotts. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 19, 2019. Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music will present Boone’s own, The Burnett Sisters Band, in concert on Tuesday, August 27th as a part of its special 2019 Matinee Series! The show takes place at 2:00pm at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue in Boone! As with all JSMHM matinees, this is a non-ticketed, “Pay as You Exit Concert” – if you enjoy the show, we ask for a $10 donation on your way out! Ranging from ages 12 to 22, The Burnett Sisters Band consists of four siblings who create a unique blend of music in the folk, old-time, and bluegrass traditions. / Read more…

August 19, 2019. On August 29th, the High Country Writers Association will be featuring political aide and writer, David Ramseur, author of Melting the Ice Curtain: The Extraordinary Story of Citizen Diplomacy on the Russia-Alaska Frontier, as well as decades of reporting on Russian-Alaskan cultural intertwining. Ramseur serves as the Chairman for the Anchorage World Affairs Council, and beginning in 1986, worked as press secretary, communications director, chief of staff, and foreign policy advisor to Alaskan Governors Steve Cowper and Tony Knowles, as well as the Mayor of Anchorage Mark Begich. / Read more…

August 19, 2019. The Valle Crucis Community Park will hold its annual auction on Saturday, August 24 at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis. Among the items to be auctioned are hand-crafted furniture, paintings, stained glass, gift certificates for local businesses, and much more. A featured item at this year’s auction is a six-day resort stay in Belize. Attendees can purchase breakfast and preview auction items beginning at 8:30 am, with live bidding starting at 9:30. There will also be a number of silent auction items available. / Read more…

August 19, 2019. With the NFL season less than three weeks away, many signed but undrafted free agents are looking to solidify their spot on the 53-man roster before the NFL’s deadline at August 31, including those such as Chicago Bears defensive back Clifton Duck. Like most undrafted rookies tend to experience, securing this position is a challenging uphill process from the very beginning, and the Bears have already had a pretty deeply filled roster on the defensive side before Duck was even on the team. Yet Duck has a clear shot at making the official roster and not having to resort to practice squad contracts or eventually even signing with another team because of some good work in training camp and making plays in preseason games. By Colby Gable / Read more…

August 19, 2019. Appalachian State University officially opened its newest parking facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Wednesday. “Today, I am elated to officially open this long-awaited, safety-focused parking deck, which provides 477 much-needed, well-lit parking spaces,” Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “The opening of this facility is another tremendous milestone as we build infrastructure that supports and elevates Appalachian’s educational mission.” Appalachian partnered with RISE: A Real Estate Co. (RISE) on this project, and the company’s senior vice president, Jeremy Doss, spoke during the ceremony. “As the first phase of the 2,200-bed west campus housing transformation, the on-time delivery of this highly efficient parking structure serves as a key component in allowing for the multiphase build-out to be completed by fall 2022,” Doss said. / Read more…

August 19, 2019. Appalachian State Athletics is excited to announce plans to honor Hall of Fame football coach Jerry Moore with a plaza and statue in his name outside the Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility that is currently under construction. The 2019 season marks the 30th anniversary of Moore’s arrival at App State. A 2014 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, he led the Mountaineers to a 215-87 record, 10 Southern Conference championships and three FCS national championships in his 24 seasons. Moore will be recognized during football alumni reunion festivities on Aug. 31 before the Mountaineers’ season-opening game against East Tennessee State (3:30 p.m. kickoff). He will also be a featured guest at the 2019 App State Athletics Hall of Fame breakfast. He was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame in 2015. / Read more…

August 19, 2019. There’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day — while supporting a local park —than participating in the upcoming TubeFest at Green Valley Community Park. It all happens on Saturday, August 24, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the pastoral community park on the New River, just a short drive from Boone. Hundreds of folks, young and old alike, are expected to converge upon the picturesque site for the annual fundraising event that grows in popularity each year. For just $10, patrons can float down the historic New River for an hour, relaxing and having a blast in tubes, making memories with family and friends to last a lifetime. Tubes and a shuttle ride are included in the cost. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

August 16, 2019. The 34th annual Community Foundation Days are officially underway in Blowing Rock with events happening from now through Friday, August 30 all in an effort to support the Blowing Rock Community Foundation. The events officially started on Friday with bridge Game Day and will continue on Saturday with the Golf Scramble at the Blowing Rock Country Club. The golf event registration is already full. Plenty of events coming up still have registration space, including the wildly popular Groovy Nights parties on Sunday, August 25, Tuesday, August 27 and Friday, August 30. Registration for Groovy Nights is $35. Tennis, croquet, and pickleball are all set for next Saturday, August 24. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 16, 2019. Former NASCAR driver and current television analyst for NASCAR on NBC, Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as his wife Amy and daughter Isla, were able to escape with just a few bumps and bruises after Earnhardt Jr.’s plane crashed off the runway in Elizabethton. Earnhardt and his family were flying into Elizabethton Municipal Airport in preparation for this weekend’s races at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Earnhardt family, their dog and two pilots were on board the plane when it crashed around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. They were all able to run away from the plane as it turned into a fiery pile of wreckage. The former driver was taken to Johnson City Medical Center and released later in the evening after being treated for minor cuts and abrasions. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 15, 2019. On Saturday, August 17 the Watauga Public Library will be sponsoring an event led by Dr. Robert Billinger Jr. about Nazi POW’s that were held in North Carolina from 1942-1946. Billinger Jr., is a Professor Emeritus of History at Wingate University where he taught for over 35 years. Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he completed his graduate degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was also was a Fulbright Graduate Scholar to Vienna, Austria. He is the author of several books on Nazi Prisoners of War in America during the mid-twentieth century, such as Hitler’s Soldiers in the Sunshine State: German POWs, published by the University of Florida Press, as well as Nazi POWs in the Tar Heel State published in 2008. The lecture is also made possible by the North Carolina Humanities Council, whom Billinger is still a featured author for. By Colby Gable / Read more…

August 15, 2019. Boone resident Danny Dunn, 67, of 3935 Hardin Road, died late Wednesday evening at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Dunn, the former owner of Wilkesboro Raceway Park, took off in his personal plane from a runway on his property on Hardin Road. According to eyewitness reports, the plane had taken off approximately 100 yards from the crash site about 20 minutes prior to the crash. Witnesses also reported that the plane had circled several times then went down. The plane caught fire once it made an impact, however, Dunn was able to crawl away from the scene of the crash. Dunn was carried out and transported to a landing zone at Mt. Pleasant School in Wilkes County before being airlifted to Baptist Hospital. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 15, 2019. The preeminent progressive rock band known as moe., will be taking to the High Country at Beech Mountain Resort on Aug. 24, 2019. Presented by Midwood Entertainment, the band’s career has spanned over the course of 30 years while they have put out more than 20 albums. The resort is oftentimes recognized for its outdoor ski slopes in the winter as well as other outdoor recreational activities in the winter, such as tubing and roller skating. However, live music has become a welcome addition to their expansion. The quintet of moe. consists of Al Schnier and Chuck Garvey on guitars and vocals, Rob Derhak on bass and vocals, Jim Loughlin on percussion and vibes, and Vinnie Amico on drums. By Gianna Holiday / Read more…

August 15, 2019. The third annual James H. Fisher International Grand Prix is changing its event location for this year’s competition; the L.M. Tate Show Grounds in the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve of Blowing Rock was chosen as the new location for the charity-focused Grand Prix, which will occur on September 21 at 2:00 p.m. The past two Grand Prix events were held in Marshall, NC near Asheville. The Grand Prix is being moved to Blowing Rock this year because of the uniqueness and charm of the community, the deep tradition of horse sports ingrained in the region, the large amount of support for local charities shown by community members, and the availability of the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve as a historic facility perfectly suited to host the Grand Prix event. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

August 15, 2019. Boone native ​Willa Finck will be performing with her folk-art band, Copper Hill, in the Bishop Johnson Hall at the Valle Crucis Conference Center on August 18th at 4:00​ ​pm. Copper Hill is making an overdue stop in Boone to promote their recently released debut album “Once Around the Sun.” About the album, a reviewer for the Rochester (NY) CITY Newspaper wrote, “Once Around the Sun” is an odyssey of upbeat, whirling reels and fruitful ballads with melancholic, modal twists.” / Read more…

August 15, 2019. Appalachian State University’s performing arts series, “The Schaefer Center Presents…” kicks off its 2019-20 season with a high-energy concert by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB) on Friday, Sept. 27 at 8pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The show is being held in conjunction with ASU’s annual Family Weekend, which offers three days of an array of special events for students and their families. Tickets to Preservation Hall Jazz Band go on sale August 19th at 9am at the Schaefer Center Box Office or online at theschaefercenter.org. For more information, visit theschaefercenter.org or call 828-262-4046. / Read more…

Aug. 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…

August 15, 2019. Predicting the 2019 season for App State quarterback Zac Thomas is in some part heavily reliant on the theoretical, as this year arrives with an abundance of small but vital details in the variation of the team’s anatomy itself. As Head Coach Drinkwitz mentioned more than once on media day, this season, in particular, holds a reverence for identity-creating, the curation of a “DNA” among the team to form a unification of sorts which allows them to understand strengths, weaknesses, and newly incorporated schematics in a somewhat equally new systemic design. This comes about with the arrival of Drinkwitz from NC State, where he served as the school’s Offensive Coordinator and led then quarterback Ryan Finley to be an NFL caliber quarterback, one which the Cincinnati Bengals traded up for in the 2019 draft. Yet it is the “newness” of the exterior, in this case, the coaching staff, which makes both the upside and the downside, admittedly, more into that of the abstract than the easily definable. However, there is one way I would argue we can find to think about how Thomas can fit into the unfamiliar, by examining statistics from last year, especially noteworthy being that of the QBR. By Colby Gable / Read more…

August 14, 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

August 14, 2019. Ensemble Stage in Banner Elk, N.C. will be beginning its production schedule of Cybele May’s suspense-drama “The Redeemer” on Friday, August 16th at 7:30 p.m. with a sold out opening night. Performances will be held in the Hahn Auditorium at the Banner Elk Cultural Arts Center, 185 Azalea Circle. Gary Smith, Artistic Director of Ensemble Stage, is proud to present this rendition of Cybele May’s “The Redeemer” to the local community and emphasized the unique sensibilities that make the production so interesting. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

August 14, 2019. The historic town of Valle Crucis is soon to be home to a brand new school. The location of that school, however, has raised the eyebrows of several residents and town visitors over the proposed location on the Hodges property that the Watauga County Schools currently has under contract. The property is located within roughly a quarter of a mile of the current Valle Crucis School, but according to Lyle Schoenfeldt, the former owner and operator of Mast Farm Inn, the property is within 100 feet of the inn and is within similar flood plain constraints as the current school that has had to deal with its own fair share of flooding over the years. Lyle and his wife owned the inn from 1996 until 2006. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 14, 2019. Monday will be a busy day in the High Country with the fall semester getting underway at Appalachian State University and the 2019-20 school years beginning for Watauga County Schools. This weekend will be move-in weekend for App State first-year students moving into their dorms across campus and for the rest of the student body moving into their rental apartments and houses. If you are planning on traveling in and around Boone this weekend, be sure to allow some extra time and be courteous to others on the road, whether it be other drivers, pedestrians or cyclists. It does appear that this weekend and Monday will be gorgeous weather days for college students to settle into their new housing arrangements and for public school students to enjoy one last summer weekend. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 14, 2019. A Benefit Concert for Yellow Mountain Enterprises featuring famous Singing Impressionist Conner Lorre will be held Saturday, August 17th at 7:00 pm in the Hayes Auditorium at Lees McRae College (191 Main Street West) in Banner Elk. Lorre is a world class singing impressionist who travels nationwide captivating audiences with his critically acclaimed Variety of Legends and Neil Diamond Tribute shows. He has performed at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, where he received standing ovations. Lorre features stunningly accurate voice impressions of the most legendary singers of our time: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Frankie Valli, John Denver, Barry Manilow, Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Michael Buble, and, his specialty, Neil Diamond. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

August 14, 2019. On Wednesday, August 14 at 8:57 a.m., Watauga County Communications received a 911 call of a downed aircraft on Hardin Road in Watauga County. Deep Gap Fire Dept., Watauga Medics, Watauga Rescue Squad, NC Highway Patrol, Watauga Emergency Management and Watauga County Sheriff’s Office responded. According to witnesses, the aircraft had taken off from a private airstrip located at 3935 Hardin Road approximately 100 yards from the crash site about 20 minutes prior to the crash. Witnesses also report that the plane had circled several times then went down. The plane caught fire upon impact and the pilot, identified as Danny Dunn, 67, of 3935 Hardin Road had crawled free of the wreckage and was located some distance away. Dunn was airlifted to Baptist Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The NC Highway Patrol is securing the scene and it will be turned over to the FAA upon their arrival.  / Read more…

August 14, 2019. This Friday, August 16, at 5:00pm the Town of Boone is gearing up for a pair of soulful acts performing at the Jones House as a part of the Summer Concert Series. Returning favorites, the Shelby Rae Moore Band and Fwuit will take over the Jones House porch for the evening to perform a playlist of crowd-pleasing covers and originals. Opening the show of Friday will be the Shelby Rae Moore Band, performing a mix of country, rock, and rhythm and blues standards. Closing out the evening’s concert will be Asheville-based band Fwuit. / Read more…

August 14, 2019. The Town of Newland’s Board of Aldermen has approved a site plan for new homes on Vale Road and selling police department body cameras to the Village of Sugar Mountain, it was announced at the Board’s August regular monthly meeting. Board of Aldermen (Town Council) members Kenny Caraway, Christie Hughes, Lauren Turbyfill, and Jamey Johnson attended, while Alderman Dave Calvert was absent. Other town officials present at the meeting included: Mayor Valerie Jaynes; Town Administrator Keith Hoilman; Finance Officer Lise Meinhardt; and Town Clerk and Board of Aldermen secretary Tammy Gardner. Town Attorney Joe Seegers was absent. Rick Snyder, President of Snyder Surveying in Butler, TN presented the Board of Aldermen with layouts for five stick-built homes. Alderman Johnson made a motion to approve the site plan pending it’s within the guidelines of the Town’s ordinances. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). By Tim Gardner / Read more…

August 14, 2019. For 27 years, the Avery County Agricultural and Horticultural Fair has been a mainstay among the North Carolina High Country’s most popular celebrations and festivities. It is a family-oriented event known for the preservation of the mountain heritage that has long been a way of life for people Avery County and throughout the entire High Country. Focused on the education and enjoyment of our children, the fair also reminds us all of how agriculture and horticulture have played a major part in our communities throughout generations. Thanks to the cooperation of Avery County and the community members who volunteer to operate it, this year’s fair runs from Wednesday, September 4 through Saturday, September 7. It will be the second consecutive year that it will be hosted out of the Heritage Park property since the completion of the county’s new agriculture building on the site. Heritage Park is located at 661 Vale Road in Newland, which is approximately one-half mile behind the Ingles Markets Grocery Store. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

August 14, 2019. Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden & Gallery is having an August Open House this Saturday the 17th and everyone’s invited. Join Sculptor Bill Brown for Coffee & Sweets during a casual studio talk starting at 10:30. Bill will share his explorations and inspirations for his work, and will even turn on the “Big Hammer” as he talks about some of the physical process of creating. Brown’s steel sculptures are created with a variety of techniques but his use of heavy forging skills to manipulate the materials are something that his work is known for. One of the tools he uses to shape the materials includes a five ton air hammer that he uses for forging heavy steel materials.  Brown develops a rich tactile surface in much of his work that challenges many expectations for metal sculpture.  The work on exhibit includes large scale and mid size outdoor pieces as well as smaller interior works. Brown’s sculpture will be on display throughout the open lawn and garden, as well as in the gallery and works in progress in the studio as well.  / Read more…

August 14, 2019. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland. / Read more…

August 14, 2019. The Watauga County Board of Elections will hold an educational seminar about voter photo identification requirements at 2 p.m. Monday, August 19 at the Watauga County Administration Building in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 814 West King Street, Boone, NC 28607 and a second seminar at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 27 in the Belk Library Lecture Hall (Room 114),  located at 218 College Street,  Boone, NC 28608. The seminars are free and open to the public. Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls.  / Read more…

August 14, 2019. There’s nothing quite like a fresh, juicy peach on a hot summer day — one of the best things about this time of year, whether coming to the High Country from downstate, Georgia or South Carolina. Delicious as a snack or in a dessert, the round, fuzzy fruit is best when fairly firm without a speck of green; it is better to choose a peach with a yellow, velvety covering for the ultimate taste. There are so many ways to prepare peaches, whether in jellies and jams, combined with other fruit for a cool, refreshing salad or thrown together in a quick cobbler. Any way you slice it, a peach is sure to bring you pleasure! By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

August 9, 2019. The first annual Sculpture Walk at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock was a resounding success this past weekend with over 2000 people attending the events held from August 9 to August 11. Chetola Resort’s lakeside setting provided the perfect outdoor venue for the Sculpture Walk; 60 sculptors from around the country, even from as far as Puerto Rico, gathered at Chetola Resort this past weekend to showcase their sculptures around Chetola Lake. The sculptures were on display throughout the weekend and Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler, distinguished juror and retired CEO and Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, chose several winners out of the competitors displaying their artworks to receive cash prizes. Sculptors were present at the event to answer questions about their artwork and all proceeds from the event benefited the sculptors. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

August 13, 2019. Around 200 pre-sale tickets have been purchased for this Sunday’s inaugural P.B. Scott’s Roundup in the parking lot of Twigs in Blowing Rock, the location where the famous P.B. Scott’s building used to be. “Ray’s Weather has really hooked us up for this weekend,” laughed Jean Travers, who is one of many former P.B. Scott’s fans that decided to organize this event. “It’s going to be beautiful this weekend!” Two bands that played at the original P.B. Scott’s location will be back to play some of their favorite tunes. Sidewinder will get the afternoon started before Nantucket takes the stage as the headlining act. Parking for the event will be in part of the Twigs lot as well as the ABC Store, United Community Bank, Keith’s Exxon and the empty lot that used to be the Scotchman gas station on Valley Boulevard. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

August 13, 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…

August 13, 2019. In a respite from these troubled times, the choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church presents “Keep Watch: Seeking Kindness in Today’s World” on Saturday, August 17th, at 5:30 pm in the nave of the church. Patterned on the familiar Lessons and Carols of the Advent season, this free concert will feature readings and music that focus on the themes of loss, social justice, love, and kindness. The music includes Carissimi’s Plorate filii Israel (Weep, children of Israel), Barber’s Sure on this Shining Night, Gjeilo’s Ubi caritas (Where Charity and Love are), and Carly Simon’s uplifting anthem Let the River Run / Read more…