November 30, 2023 An Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House will be held at the Avery County Historical Museum on Saturday, December 2 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. The museum is located in the old Avery County Jail building at 1829 Schultz Circle, next to the Avery County Court House, in Newland. By Tim Gardner
November 22, 2023 The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) and Dogwood Health Trust are partnering to launch the WNC Community Enhancement Program that will award grants to charitable organizations and eligible public agencies to fund projects in downtowns or commercial corridors that enhance appearance, infrastructure, and/or the pedestrian experience. By Tim Gardner
November 20, 2023 Beech Mountain, NC – Senator Ralph Hise and Representative Dudley Greene were honored at a reception given by the Beech Mountain Town Council. Both legislators received a Proclamation of Appreciation from the Town Council for their work, along with Representative Ray Pickett, to provide $14 million dollars for a drought mitigation project for the town in North Carolina’s recently passed budget.
November 10, 2023 The Avery County Board of Commissioners had a heavy agenda during their regular monthly meeting November 6. The adoption of resolutions in support of Veterans Day and declaring certain real property surplus and authorizing its sale, in particular, the Avery CARES Building, and approving the termination of a lease agreement with Freedom Life Ministrieswere its among its primary topics. By Tim Gardner
November 9, 2023 Like the rest of the North Carolina High Country and many other areas statewide, Avery County is coping with a lack of much-needed rainfall and drought conditions. As a result, the county’s Fire Marshal has issued a local burning ban. It became effective as of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7 and will remain so until an adequate amount of rainfall is received in the county to alleviate its present drought conditions, according to Avery County Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Paul Buchanan. By Tim Gardner
November 9, 2023 Avery’s Board of Commissioners have tabled deliberations about having a reentry house in the county due to issues with finding a suitable location for such a facility and opposition from its citizens for having one. The commissioners held a public hearing and two public roundtable discussion meetings to solicit citizen input about the Community Development Block Grant Program Revitalization Grant for an Avery County Reentry Housing Facility.They voted to change the location of the proposed facility from 240 Prison Camp Road (Old Avery Prison Camp site) in the Three Mile Community to county owned property on a 14-acre site in the 1400 block of Elk Park Highway, near the county’s (Three-Lane) Waste Station. By Tim Gardner
November 1, 2023 In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day federal holiday on November 11 that honors those among our nation’s greatest assets—military veterans–, the Veterans Service Office of Avery County announces plans to illuminate the county courthouse green from Monday, November 6 through Sunday, November 12 as a part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to support military veterans for the purpose of raising awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state, and federal level to assist them and their families. By Tim Gardner
October 31, 2023 Nine students from Cranberry Middle School in Avery County, 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 the age of 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. 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.
October 30, 2023 Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley said two of his deputies—Thomas Guinn and Scott Bray– had a unique encounter on October 21 when they responded to an emergency call and found a mama black bear weighing an estimated 250 pounds or more and two of her cubs in a minivan at a home at the Eagles Nest gated community near Banner Elk. By Tim Gardner
October 16, 2023 As the first chill of fall is in the air, hands of volunteers are busy harvesting late summer and autumn crops at the WAMY Community Garden in Avery County. Multi-colored cauliflower, butternut squash, collards, eggplants, purple radishes and juicy heirloom tomatoes — picked and ready for distribution to families in need.
October 4, 2023 Entering into an agreement with the High Country Council of Governments for assistance with an Opioid Funds Planning Grant and Settlement distributions and adoption of a transportation authority grant application resolution with matching local funds highlighted the regular monthly meeting of the Avery County Board of Commissioners October 2. By Tim Gardner
September 27, 2023 Students at Riverside Elementary School, located in the Ingalls Community in the southern section of Avery County, learn from a featured part of its curriculum that is one of the most innovative and needed programs any school could offer. Riverside Elementary School’s mission of increasing food security amongst students, families, and the community at large is achieved through its gardening and outdoor learning program, a volunteer-based activity centered around growing fresh produce and donating it to those in need. By Tim Gardner
September 26, 2023 Newland, NC.—With animal shelters across the nation facing an overcrowding crisis, thousands of highly adoptable pets are waiting for their second chances. Avery Humane Society is proud to partner with BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, for its Fall National “Empty the Shelters.” From Oct. 1 – 15, BISSELL Pet Foundation will sponsor reduced adoption fees of $50 or less at more than 345 shelters in 42 states.
September 19, 2023 In perhaps one of the shortest meetings ever by an Avery County Board Commissioners (thirteen minutes and thirty-four seconds) on September 18, a new Strategic Economic Development Committee was named to highlight action taken on an agenda with only a few itemsCommissioners present for the bi-monthly meeting were: Chairwoman Martha Hicks, Vice-Chairman Tim Phillips, and Dennis Aldridge. Other top Avery officials present were: County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr., Assistant County Manager and Clerk to the Board Cindy Turbyfill, County Finance Officer Caleb Hogan, and County Attorney Michaelle Poore.
September 6, 2023 The Avery County Board of Commissioners had a light agenda during their regular monthly meeting September 5, with approval of the new Summit View Housing Development a highlight. The commissioners usually meet as a Board on a Monday, but the September regular monthly meeting was on Tuesday because the Labor Day holiday is on the first Monday of September. By Tim Gardner
September 5, 2023 Avery County native and Paul Johnson has been selected for a Sports Hall of Fame induction for the second time in the past nine months. After being chosen last January for enshrinement into the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame on December 5 at the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas, Nevada, the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame announced September 1 that Johnson is one of eight to be inducted into its 2024 Class. By Tim Gardner
August 29, 2023 One of the North Carolina High Country’s most anticipated yearly events– the Avery County Agricultural and Horticultural (A&H) Fair will run from Wednesday, September 6 through Saturday, September 9 at Heritage Park (Avery County Fairgrounds), located at 661 Vale Road in Newland. By Tim Gardner
August 25, 2023 On Saturday, September 2, the Avery County Agriculture & Horticulture (A&H) Fair will hold its fifth annual Draft Pull on the Avery Extension Service Fair Grounds, located at Heritage Park, 661 Vale Road in Newland. By Tim Gardner
August 23, 2023 During their bi-monthly meeting August 21, the Avery Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a small tract of land that includes an office complex to house the county’s probation and parole headquarters to highlight various agenda topics. By Tim Gardner
August 17, 2023 A vote to fill a vacancy on the Avery County Board of Education failed during its regular monthly meeting August 15.All Board members were present at the meeting–Chairman John Greene, Vice-Chairwoman Kathey Aldridge, Pat Edwards, and Randy Singleton.There are normally five Board of Education members. But a vacancy has remained on the Board since the resignation of Ruth Shirley in June, 2022. By Tim Gardner
August 16, 2023 An extremely rare tornado has been confirmed to have touched down in Avery County this week by the National Weather Service’s regional headquarters in Greer, South Carolina, and by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Washington, D.C.–based scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce charged with forecasting weather and monitoring atmospheric conditions. By Tim Gardner
August 9, 2023 Approval of a lease agreement between the County of Avery and the State of North Carolina of the property where the county’s Emergency Communications Tower is located and questions and concerns from citizens regarding military veterans, law enforcement officers, and religious literature being distributed in the county’s library highlighted the Avery Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, August 7. By Tim Gardner
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
August 1, 2023 The Avery County Solid Waste Department will offer a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on August 19. The event is for Avery County residents only, who may dispose of items from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in collection areas located behind the Avery Board of Education administrative offices, located at 775 Cranberry Street in Newland. Signs will be posted at the roadsides there indicating the waste collection site, Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr. noted. By Tim Gardner
July 31, 2023 A yard sale to benefit the Community Clothing Closet for students in need who attend Avery County Schools will be held at Banner Elk Elementary School on Saturday, August 5 from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. By Tim Gardner