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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 16, 2025. The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its first monthly meeting on Tuesday January 28th at Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Road, Boone. Bring your lunch and drink for the meeting which starts at noon. Should Watauga County schools change to remote learning due to the weather, the meeting will be canceled. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in the High Country are welcome to attend and are invited to join. Call 828/832-6864 for more information. The WCRWC usually meets the last Wednesday of the month. See us on Facebook and learn more.

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

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

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


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

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

January 15, 2025. Are you interested in learning more about law enforcement to include patrol officer functions, criminal investigations, K9 operations, community policing, or just want to become more familiar with the Boone Police Department in general?  Now is your opportunity! The Boone Police Department is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 session of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA). Class meetings are held at the Boone Police Department each Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The CPA will begin on March 6th, 2025, and will conclude on April 24th, 2025, with a graduation from the program.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Mountainfilm on Tour Returns to Lees-McRae College on Feb. 8 as Part of the High Country Film and Speaker Series

January 14, 2025. Mountainfilm on Tour, a collection of top-of-the-line outdoor adventure films from the annual Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, is returning to Lees-McRae this winter as part of the college’s High Country Adventure Film and Speaker Series. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of the film medium to inspire audiences to create a better world. To achieve this, they collect the most inspiring, culturally rich, and adventurous documentary short films each year to share with a national audience. Mountainfilm on Tour will come to Lees-McRae on Saturday, Feb. 8, and the films will be screened in Hayes Auditorium. The screening will begin at 6 p.m.

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Avery County Young Professionals Distributes $40,000 to Hurricane Recovery Grant Recipients

January 13, 2025 Avery County Young Professionals (ACYP) is proud to announce the success of the Build Back Avery grant program, which distributed $40,000 in its first round to help Avery County residents recover and rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The devastating storm caused widespread damage across Avery County, leaving many families facing significant hardships. Through grassroots efforts and community support, ACYP provided meaningful assistance to 84 applicants, reaching every township in the county.

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Movie Review: “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” Now Playing at Boone Regal

January 13, 2025 It’s an odd choice to do a sequel to the 2018 heist movie “Den of Thieves” in 2025. The first film made less than $50 million at the domestic box office and to my knowledge doesn’t have much of a cult following. I didn’t see that film at the time, but I did see it on Max to prepare for the sequel, and was unimpressed. There was some competent action, but the story and characters were unoriginal and unengaging. I would have given it a C-. For such a bland movie to get a sequel at all seems unlikely, let alone one that goes to theaters and isn’t dumped on streaming or Video on Demand. For all I know, that was the plan and then some studio executive noticed there were no wide releases scheduled for this past weekend, so they just threw in whatever they had. The tactic worked, the film took the #1 spot away from the fourth weekend of “Mufasa,” but this is not a movie that I could see succeeding through any means other than a lack of competition. 

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“Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn” to Open February 15 at BRAHM

January 9, 2025. A new exhibition entitled “Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn” will open at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) on February 15,  2025, and will be on view in the Museum’s Atwell Gallery through August 10, 2025. Sarah Vaughn’s “Considerations” invites visitors to step into a landscape of thousands of carefully crafted glass river rocks. Made using techniques like blowing, flame-working, casting, and laminating, these fragile stones are stacked and arranged to create an immersive installation that explores how we experience and remember the world around us. Each glass rock represents a moment in time—some tied to personal memories, others shaped from reclaimed glass, blending stories of loss and creation.

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Boone Woman Plans Return Trip To Care for Abandoned Children in South Africa

January 8, 2025. For McKenna Gragg, nearly half a year in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2024 was not enough. After an “amazing opportunity” to volunteer in a children’s home, she is planning to return, this time for even longer. “I’m thrilled to share that I will be returning to South Africa in February,” Gragg shared. “I had such an incredible experience there last year, and now the Lord has put it on my heart to go back and serve again for a longer stay. A native and lifelong resident of Boone, Gragg shared that Door of Hope Children’s Mission is a Christian nonprofit organization that has been in operation for 25 years and has saved over 1900 infants from abandonment. The facility houses an average of 50 children at any given time, from newborns to preschool age. By Sherrie Norris `

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Improvement in Numbers from December 2023 to December 2024 is Encouraging

January 8, 2025  December 2024 saw 146 closed single family sales in the High Country Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. Of those 146 sales, 120 were in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, the area we look at most closely when analyzing High Country Real Estate. Of those 120, 22 were condos or townhomes and 98 were single family detached. List prices ranged from a minimum of $59,900 to a maximum of $3,650,000 with an average List Price of $675,409 and a median List Price of $527,000.  Sold prices went from a minimum of $55,001 to a maximum of $3,450,000 with an average Sold Price of $638,791 and a median Sold Price of $502,500. By Todd Rice, REALTOR, Blue Ridge Realty & Investments, LLC

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Sherrie Norris Lovin’ Spoonful Cooking Column: Cozy Up With the Casseroles


January 8, 2025 I know, we need to help promote healthier lifestyles right about now, but it’s cold out there and it’s not as easy for some to get out to the gym or walking trails these days. Some of us are hitting the treadmills at home and trying to get off to a better start in this new year, and we should feel good about that. But, the winter chill, along with the ice and snow, has us thinking about staying warm and cozy while also stretching our food dollars. There’s no better way to get through a winter’s slump than with a big pot of soup, which we featured last week, or with a hearty casserole to feed the family for a day or two. Much like soup, casseroles can make good use of some of our left-overs, like meat, rice, pasta, veggies, etc. And the possibilities are as limited as one’s imagination. So, let’s get those casseroles started and cozy up by the fire with a good book while they’re baking. By Sherrie Norris

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Winkler Requests Rezoning of the Green Park Inn to General Business (CZ-GB), Hosts Information Meeting Thursday at the Inn

January 7, 2025. Steve Irace, the current owner of the Green Park Inn, has been working for months with John Winkler to complete the sale of the historic property to Winkler Properties. After a few more details are solidified, due diligence will be completed and closing will tentatively occur during the first quarter of 2025. A public meeting is being held at the Green Park Inn on January 9, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. The primary topic is Winkler’s request to the Town of Blowing Rock to change the zoning from multi-family to conditional zoning – general business. By Sam Garrett `

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Watauga Economic Development Commission Opens December 2024 Business Snapshot Survey; Submit by January 10th

January 7, 2025. As tracking of real-time conditions for local businesses recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene continues, the Watauga County Economic Development Commission has opened its reporting window for its December 2024 Business Snapshot Report. Businesses are encouraged to fill out survey data by using the link below. The survey is open from Thursday, January 2nd at 12:00PM – Friday, January 10th at 4:30PM. The establishment of these monthly reports provides data on the state of business in Watauga County, with a focus on current concerns, performance toward revenue expectations, and ability to meet staffing needs among its core analysis.

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