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Writers, Young and Old Invited to Wordkeepers at the Ashe County Arts Center August 17

July 23, 2024 Writers, young and old!  Come to Wordkeepers, a gathering of writers in the High Country at the Ashe County Arts Center, 303 School Avenue, West Jefferson, North Carolina, on Saturday, August 17th, at 4:00 in the afternoon.  Refreshments will be provided, and a warm and welcoming audience awaits your own original works.  Readers are asked to keep their selections, from any genre, to under eight minutes, but please join us and share, or at least join us and listen.  If you would like to read, please contact Sandy Lassen at slassen@skybest.com so that she can reserve your slot.  

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Blue Ridge Conservancy Awarded NCDOT Grant for Multimodal Feasibility Study for Northern Peaks State Trail

July 14, 2024 Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) was recently awarded $80,000 by NCDOT for a Multimodal Feasibility Study grant, which will give BRC and its partners of Jefferson, West Jefferson, and Ashe County a plan to connect Paddy Mountain Park to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area via a pedestrian pathway. This pathway will ultimately connect Mt Jefferson to the Northern Peaks State Trail (NPST). Charity Shatley, Jefferson Town Manager, says “The Town of Jefferson is eager to partner with BRC, NCDOT, West Jefferson, Ashe County, and other community partners involved in the NPST feasibility study.”

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AppHealthCare Ashe Health Center Reopening July 15th After Renovation

July 11, 2024 On July 15th, AppHealthCare will reopen the Ashe Health Center after being closed following water damage sustained to the building in December 2022. “We are thrilled to welcome our patients and community back in the Ashe Health Center to continue providing compassionate and high quality health care. We remain committed to treating the whole person and meeting patients where they are. We know the temporary closure of the Ashe Health Center has presented challenges for our community, and we are appreciative of your patience in this process,” stated Jennifer Greene, Health Director/CEO, AppHealthCare.

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New River Conservancy (NRC) and the Center for Appalachian Studies (CAS) Invite You to Water Cycle on Sunday, June 2 in Creston

May 16, 2024 New River Conservancy (NRC) and the Center for Appalachian Studies (CAS) invite you to Water Cycle – a free, family-friendly event on Sunday, June 2 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM  in Creston, NC at Riverview Community Center that will showcase area artists and offer hands-on workshops for the public.  The goal of the event is to amplify the need and increase awareness of the importance of a clean and healthy watershed.   Workshops begin at 3:00 PM  and will feature water monitoring, weaving, poetry, and photography. Performances featuring live music, poetry, and film will start at 6:30  to 8:00 PM.  Performers include Trevor McKenzie and Julie Shepherd Powell, Scot Pope and Brenda Smith, and Annie Woodford. A special screening of the Trash Trout Motion Picture Show will close the show.

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Pertussis Cases Confirmed in Ashe County, All Among Ashe County High School Students

May 10, 2024 AppHealthCare has confirmed four cases of pertussis, all among Ashe County High School students. AppHealthCare and Ashe County Schools are working closely together to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the cases and are communicating directly with them so they can take actions to protect themselves and their families, and to identify the individuals like pregnant women and infants who may be at the highest risk of severe illness. School and health officials report all individuals diagnosed with pertussis are being treated, per guidelines established by the State of North Carolina and the Centers for Disease Control, and are fully cooperating in following isolation instructions to prevent further spread of the illness.

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High Country Seed & Plant Swap this Saturday, at Ashe County Farmers Market Pavilion from 2-5

April 1, 2024 “On Saturday, April 6, 2024, all aspiring and practicing area gardeners are invited to the Ashe County Farmers Market Pavilion in West Jefferson, NC for the High Country Seed & Plant Swap. The event features an afternoon-long open exchange of seeds and plants, with plenty of space to gather, show what you brought, and browse the offerings of others. Beginning at 2:00 PM, gardeners will be able to display their own surplus seeds and view the offerings of others on tables set up in the Farmers Market shelter and (weather permitting) adjacent outdoor areas. The Seed Swap will continue throughout the afternoon and conclude at 5:00 PM. 

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High Country Real Estate: 2023 Stats

January 25, 2024 The final word on 2023. Today we’re looking at the final numbers for 2023 for High Country Real Estate (Allegheny, Ashe, Avery & Watauga counties). All data, as usual, comes from the High Country Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service. There were a total of 2051 residential sales in 2023. That’s an average of 170.9 sales per month. Of course, if you’ve been following Real Estate in the High Country, you know some months it was well into the 200s and some months well below the 170 mark.   By Andrew Plyler, REALTOR

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WYN Festival of Trees raises $112,000 and spreads holiday cheer

December 12, 2023 BOONE — The ninth annual WYN Festival of Trees lit up the High Country beginning in mid-November, with brightly decorated Christmas trees and wreaths displayed in retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, dealerships and businesses across Watauga, Avery and Ashe Counties.   By Jan Todd

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Wire Wrapped: Jessica Russell’s Jewelry Journey

October 20, 2023 There are many arts and craft festivals that take place across the High Country, especially in the summer, and at these events, there are various vendors who are excited to share their creations with others. Anything from drawing, pottery, tie dye, woodwork, jewelry, and more gives consumers lots to explore and appreciate. Ashe County resident Jessica Russell is just one local artist in the area; however, her products are more than just materialistic items – each piece holds a slice of history and a part of her personal story. By Harley Nefe

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The King Bees: Bringing the Blues to the Blue Ridge

August 31, 2023 From Deep South juke joints to international venues to outdoor stages here in the High Country, the King Bees have been belting the blues for 36 — or maybe 37 — years. “I’m no good with dates,” said Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni, lead singer of the renowned band she began with her husband, Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville in the mid-1980s. The two have traveled the world sharing their American roots music, recording and touring in European capitals and across the United States, playing with blues icons, and appearing at New York’s famed Lincoln Center — but they always come back to Ashe County and the mountains they call home. By Jan Todd

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High Country Real Estate: Summer Maintenance and Reminders

August 3, 2023 Summer is for fun! Vacation! Enjoyment! Easy living! Trips to the beach and the river. Go to the park. Take a trip to the zoo. Take the kids on a picnic. Take the grandkids to a parade. Live it up! August is the last full month of summer and the start of school is looming. Frankly, in my world, once Labor Day hits, the rest of the year is a blur. By Hope Harvey, REALTOR

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June 2023 MLS REPORT

July 14, 2023 A recent report from Showing Time said that the U.S. Real Estate Market is facing mixed trends with an overall decline in existing home sales and a rise in home prices in certain regions. That is true with the market here in the High Country as we see sales down 16.2 percent compared to this same time last year.

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Flying Saucers in the High Country

July 3, 2023 Fifteen years ago, the Minford family was vacationing in Florida, looking for an outdoor activity they could enjoy together. There was a disc golf course nearby, and they decided to give it a try. “We had the best time,” said Jeri Minford, mother of three sons. When they returned home to Boone, her husband Rich started talking about designing their own disc golf course on their hundred-acre Christmas tree farm — located on Sugar Mountain off of Highway 181 between Linville and Newland.  By Jan Todd

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Farm Fresh: Organic organization cultivates community and fresh fare from the farm

June 26, 2023 Find women doing outstanding work in their field via Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a female-led organization dedicated to fostering a sustainable and fair food scene in the High Country. To do this, the organization bolsters local producers and creates connections among the community that contribute to knowledge and excitement of eating farm-grown food—ultimately upping the local demand and desire for local fare. By Anna Beth Adcock

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Fun for All Ages at Ashe County Safety Day

May 24, 2023 Jefferson, NC– If you are looking for a fun filled day with family and friends, while learning about safety and interacting with emergency personnel and law enforcement, this is the event for you! The Ashe County Safety Day is an educational event that is free and open to all ages – families included! The event will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 10am to 2pm at the Ashe County High School.

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February 2023 MLS Report:  Brought to you by High Country Association of Realtors

March 9, 2023  In the High Country Real Estate Market four-county area of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties the High Country MLS reports during February 129 Closed Sales of Residential Single Family, Condo/Townhouse properties. Those sales came to a combined total of $61.1 million. The Median Sales Price was $372,250, just over what the National Association of Realtors® reports the median for the nation, at $359,000. Median Days on Market for February shows 68 days. All these numbers are very similar to this same time last year where we saw 166 closed sales with a median sales price of $392,500.00 and 64 median days on market. 

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Watauga gallops past Ashe County, 55-21

September 17, 2022 BOONE, N.C. — Watauga High School Principal Chris Blanton speculated after the Sept. 16 “Homecoming” football game that it was probably the largest crowd at least in the Pioneer grandstands in quite some time. And, by the way, they had a lot to cheer about with Boone’s favorite sons running away with a 55-21 win over regional rival, Ashe County. By David Rogers for HighCountrySports.net

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Blue Ridge Conservancy Receives Important Funding in New State Budget for Ashe Parks

July 13, 2022 On Monday, Governor Cooper signed into law the new state budget. The budget contains exceptional news for the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). Both will now receive $24.2 million annually, essentially doubling their annual appropriation. Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) will receive a $950,000 appropriation for the Middle Fork Greenway (MFG) to develop the Boone Gorge Park, and
$100,000 for the development of Paddy Mountain Park in Ashe County, a cooperative project of BRC, the Town of West Jefferson, and Ashe County.

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Clint Roberts to Perform at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson on Saturday, July 9

July 6, 2022 West Jefferson’s Ashe Civic Center will come to life when singer, songwriter, and musician Clint Roberts takes the stage on Saturday, July 9. Roberts hails from Asheville, and his combination of Folk, Americana, and Roots-rock music will have something for everyone to enjoy. Roberts was born and raised in Brevard and went to school at App State for an extensive time before moving to Asheville. “This is my first show coming back to the App State area. I know it’s Ashe County, but it’s my first time coming back to West Jefferson, and it’s great to come back,” Roberts said. “It’s been a long time since I have come to the High Country of Western North Carolina. I wanted to come back because there’s a sense of home with it being my college town. I spent some time in West Jefferson myself, and I think it’s really beautiful there. I figured it’s about that time to start going back to where a lot of my musical roots came from.” By Harley Nefe

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Ashe Habitat for Humanity Receives $25,000 Donation from Blue Ridge Relay Runner

May 20, 2022. Ashe County Habitat for Humanity received a $25,000 donation from a runner in the Blue Ridge  Relay, which is an annual event that passes through Ashe County every fall. After running parts  of the Relay through the county and meeting Habitat volunteers helping with the race over the  past few years, he began to feel a connection with Ashe County. The donor runner, who wishes to remain anonymous, was impressed with the work of the mostly volunteer-run affiliate and  knows his money will help increase the organization’s impact on the affordable housing  shortage in the county. His donation will help break ground and lay the foundations for the next  two homes in the Hickory Hill community, speeding up Habitat’s ability to build decent,  affordable homes in partnership with hard-working Ashe County families.

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Blue Ridge Conservancy Adds 217 Acres to Pond Mountain Game Land

March 3, 2022 Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) recently transferred 217 acres to Pond Mountain Game Land in Ashe County managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC). The property will create a new public access to the game land bringing the total access points to four. Located on the southern slopes of Pond Mountain with elevations reaching 4,200 feet, this property protects the headwaters of Big Laurel Creek, classified as “Outstanding Resource Waters” and “Trout Waters” by the NC Division of Water Resources. It is located in the Pond Mountain Natural Heritage Area protecting significant natural communities and wildlife habitat.

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Ashe County Man Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl and Marijuana


January 25, 2022. Hunter Joel Radford, 22, of Crumpler was arrested and charged with three counts of trafficking opium or heroin and felony possession of marijuana, according to Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell. On Wednesday, January 19, Ashe County Deputies along with the North Carolina Highway Patrol initiated a stop on a vehicle in Glendale Springs. Officers identified Radford as one of the passengers and during the traffic stop, officers located 40 grams of Fentanyl. Detectives with the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Boone Police Department, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, Mooresville Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security were conducting an investigation on Radford.

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High Country Food Hub Adding Order Pickup Location in West Jefferson


January 4, 2022. High Country residents outside of Boone now have another location where they can pick up food orders placed through the High Country Food Hub. Starting on Wednesday, January 5, residents in Ashe County will be able to get their high-quality, locally-sourced food orders at the Ashe County Public Library in downtown West Jefferson. “Over the last several years, we’ve recognized that more people would love to access fresh, healthy local food, but that it’s just not convenient. The pandemic shed new light on this situation,” said Katie Cavert Ferrell, the Satellite Coordinator for the High Country Food Hub. Ferrell said that orders increased by as much as seven times the normal volume from February through May of 2020. “However, when stay-at-home orders ended, many customers found it hard to make it to the Food Hub’s downtown Boone location. We had significant interest in having more pickup locations outside of Boone, and so the idea of satellite locations hatched,” Ferrell said. “That’s when the Food Hub found support from the Golden LEAF Foundation and the Conservation Fund to purchase a delivery vehicle, hire additional staff and build out an additional walk-in cooler. Ashe County is a natural place for us to expand our delivery operations and will be our fourth satellite location to open since August 2021.”  By Nathan Ham

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