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High Country Real Estate 

March 16, 2023 Spring springs next week and the clocks sprang forward this past Sunday. Did you change the battery or batteries in your smoke detector or smoke detectors? If not, stop reading, go grab a ladder and some batteries and change them. You back? OK. Good. A lot of real estate columns and blogs will give you tips and tricks and advice on the best improvements to make to your home to “add value” to your investment. Likely, this column will too, eventually. By Bill Aceto

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Court Case Against Avery County Man on Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction Charges Continued Until July 17

March 15, 2023 The State of North Carolina‘s court case against Thomas Dewey Taylor, Jr. on charges of three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon of mass destruction has been continued until July 17, 2023. The 44-year old Taylor, Jr., whose last known home address is 316 Snowshoe Loop, Newland, had a court hearing on March 13, 2023 in Avery County Superior Court. By Tim Gardner

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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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Conversation with Avery County Register of Deeds Renee Dellinger

March 6, 2023 Known for her bubbly personality, down-to-earth demeanor and the high principles of Christian living she exemplifies, Renee Dellinger is also noted by her colleagues, Avery citizens and many others for her expertise and being a quintessential fit as the county’s Register of Deeds as well as one of the region’s longest-tenured public servants. By Tim Gardner

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Avery County Man Pleads Not Guilty to Bomb Planting Charges at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Offices

March 6, 2023 An Avery County man who served as a former office manager for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has pleaded not guilty to trying to plant a bomb at the Highland Games offices. Thomas Dewey Taylor Jr., age 44, appeared in federal court in Asheville on Wednesday, March 1.  Taylor has been charged with attempting to damage and destroy with an explosive device, possessing a destructive device not registered to him and making a destructive device. By Tim Gardner

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Avery Board of Education and Commissioners Hold Joint Meeting to Discuss School System Funding

February 27, 2023 The Avery County Boards of Education and Commissioners held a joint public meeting on February 21 at the Board of Education Central Office, (775 Cranberry Street) in Newland. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss updates of the federal and local budgets, Avery County High School construction and walk throughs at each public school in the county by both governing bodies. By Tim Gardner

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Jay Smith of Avery County Schools to be Inducted into State Athletic Directors Hall of Fame

February 20, 2023 The North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) has announced its 29th Hall of Fame (2023) class, and Avery County Schools Athletic Director Jay Smith has been chosen for induction. Smith is one five athletic directors who will be added to the Hall this year. The others include Neil Blankenship of Swain County, Michael Gainey of Rocky Mount, Troy Lindsay of Fayetteville and Jim Taylor of Shelby. By Tim Gardner

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Avery County Man Indicted for Attempting to Plant a Bomb at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Office

February 13, 2023 An Avery County man accused of trying to plant a bomb at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games office in Linville two years ago will appear before a federal judge on various charges in March. A federal grand jury indicted 44-year-old Thomas Dewey Taylor, Jr. on February 8, and he’s been ordered to appear before a judge in Asheville on March 1. Dewey, who used to work at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, is accused of trying to use the bomb against his former employer, possessing a firearm not registered to him and making a bomb in September 2021. By Tim Gardner

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Erin Grindstaff English Named Avery Register of Deeds Upon Current Register’s Retirement

February 13, 2023 Erin Grindstaff English has been named to succeed Renee Dellinger as Avery County Register of Deeds by the Avery County Republican (GOP) Executive Committee upon the pending retirement of current Register of Deeds Renee Dellinger. The Executive Committee met February 9 and unanimously approved English for the post.  Her appointment will be effective when Dellinger retires at the end of the work day on March 31.  English’s first work day as Register of Deeds will be April 3. By Tim Gardner

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Avery Commissioners Appoint Tax Admin. and Adopt Community Development Block Grant Program Service Agreements

February 7, 2023 The Avery Board of Commissioners appointed a new Tax Administrator and approved two service agreements through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to highlight its February 6 regular monthly meeting. Commissioners–Chairwoman Martha Hicks, Vice-Chairman Tim Phillips, Wood Hall (Woodie) Young, Jr. and Robert Burleson–were present.  Commissioner Dennis Aldridge was absent from the meeting due to being in Raleigh attending government meetings there. By Tim Gardner

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A Conversation with Avery County Tax Administrator Andrea Turbyfill

February 2, 2023 Those who know Andrea Turbyfill best and others who come in contact with her often stress how impressed they are with her sincerity, kindness and the Christian manner in which she presents herself.  And as Avery County Tax Administrator, Turbyfill is held in high esteem by the citizens she serves as well as her administrative superiors and colleagues for her professionalism, fairness and expertise in the various job duties she holds. By Tim Gardner

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Avery County Officials Set Qualification Guidelines for Architectural Firms Interested in Designing New Parks & Recreation Complex

February 2, 2023 The County of Avery is currently accepting statements of qualifications from architectural firms interested in contracting with the County for architectural services related to the design and planning of a new Parks & Recreation complex. Avery Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Martha Hicks said the commissioners are “supportive of a new Parks & Recreation complex and will proceed with one as the county can, and can afford to.” By Tim Gardner

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Avery Community Yoga: Community is Where the Heart is

January 31, 2023 With ringing in the new year, there is a lot of focus on resolutions – especially when it comes to wellness and its eight dimensions: financial, vocational, intellectual, social, environmental, spiritual, emotional, and physical. And there is a locally owned Avery County yoga studio that believes in the holistic and multidimensional approach to wellness and strives to provide an inclusive safe space for people of all ages. By Harley Nefe

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Feeding Avery Families to Open New Operations Center as Anticipation Abounds for A Most Productive Year in 2023 After Last Year’s Success Detailed

January 29, 2023 Feeding Avery Families (FAF), Inc. is a non-profit Christian-based organization in Avery County dedicated to eliminating hunger by any means possible, including monetary donations, volunteerism and food donations. And this most worthwhile and needed ministry will be moving into a new headquarters in late winter or early spring this year. A definite opening date has not been set.  By Tim Gardner

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School Superintendent Honors Avery Board of Education Members

January 25, 2023 School Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman honoring board members for School Board Appreciation month and discussion of proper protocol about filling a current vacancy on the board were the primary topics during the regular monthly meeting of the Avery County Board of Education on Tuesday, January 10. By Tim Gardner

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Avery Commissioners Hold Workshop to Discuss Many Current and Future Business Topics

January 20, 2023 The Avery County Board of Commissioners discussed a multitude of topics during a workshop session on January 11. All Commissioners-Chairwoman Martha Hicks, Vice-Chairman Tim Phillips, Dennis Aldridge, Wood Hall (Woodie) Young, Jr. and Robert Burleson were present. County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr. said the board members did not vote on any issues, but they reached a consensus on several—most notably hiring an animal cruelty officer and a developing a new county recreation center

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Avery County School System Receives Most Favorable Audit

January 10, 2023 Shannon Dennison, accountant at the Anderson Smith & Wike Company, recently presented the Avery County Board of Education with its 2021-2022 audit report of the school system. She told board members John Greene, Randy Singleton, Pat Edwards, Kathey Aldridge and Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman that school system received a clean audit, which is the best or most favorable rating that can be given.  By Tim Gardner

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Avery County Commissioners Approve Operational Consulting Contract, Various Budget Amendments and Honor Long-time Employee

January 5, 2023 AThe Avery Board of Commissioners approved a contract with a consulting service for its general and emergency operations plans, approved five budget amendments and honored a veteran communications department employee to highlight its January 3 meeting. The commissioners held their monthly meeting then instead of their usual first Monday of each month due to the New Year’s Holiday being observed in federal, state and county offices on January 2 since New Year’s Day (January 1) was on a Sunday this year. By Tim Gardner

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