What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

What’s Happening This Week at Lost Province Brewing

Appalachian State Board of Trustees to Meet September 20-21

Notice of Special Meeting of the Watauga Public Facilities Corporation

The Steel Wheels to Play in Wilkesboro on September 22

Watauga County Singing Convention is September 22

Grandfather Mountain Girl Scout Day Rescheduled for September 22

Public Hearing and Planning Commission to Meet September 24

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club to Meet September 26

Final Senior Softball Tournament of the Season is Friday, September 28

Craft Enrichment Program Classes Underway For This Fall

Watauga County Arts Council yART Supply Sale Happening September 29

Watauga County Republican Party Hosting Reverse Raffle on October 5

Third Annual Community Fall Dance is October 6

Blowing Rock Youth Organization Receives Grant From Killington World Cup Committee

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

September 18, 2018 Perhaps an accurate way to term Storm Florence’s impact in Avery County would be that it was minimal, but that it could have been a lot worse. Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier said Avery dodged a “major bullet for the most part” as Florence brought steady and consistent, but not heavy downpours to the county, causing relatively minor problems. According to reports from the National Weather Service, Avery County received between 4 ½ to 5 inches of rain from Saturday until Monday afternoon. Barrier heaped praise on the county’s emergency services outlets for their efforts during Hurricane Florence, saying it was a “total team in its most powerful sense.”  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 18, 2018. The local housing market was sizzling in August, as Realtor® sales were the highest recorded in the High Country area in at least 13 years. Rising mortgage rates didn’t deter buyers. Neither did prices, with the average closing price the highest in eight years. There were 292 homes worth $85.8 million sold in August, as recorded by the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It tracks Realtor® sales in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties. That was by far the most homes sold in the four-county area since at least 2005. The next highest monthly total was 244, recorded in October 2016. Since 2005, there have been 12 months when MLS sales surpassed 210 homes. Two of those occurred this year (August and July). Three others occurred in 2017 (August, September and October). / Read more…

September 17, 2018. On September 7, High Country Council of Governments held its annual awards banquet to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions by elected officials, local government employees, and advisory committee members. High Country Council of Governments (HCCOG) is a planning and development agency serving local governments in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties. Award winners were selected by elected and appointed officials from the seven-county region. HCCOG Executive Director, Julie Wiggins, presented the first five awards. / Read more…

September 17, 2018. Things could have certainly been much worse in the High Country. Some precipitation forecasts had parts of the mountain counties receiving upwards of 10-15 inches of rain. Thankfully for a lot of low-lying areas and people living near rivers and streams, rainfall measurements fell well short of that overall. However, flooding was still a problem, particularly in Ashe County where every low water bridge in the county was still underwater Monday morning, that according to Ashe County Emergency Management. The NCDOT will be in charge of reopening those bridges when possible. “We will inspect them for damage and reopen as soon as we can after the water recedes,” said Charles C. Reinhardt, the Division 11 Maintenance Engineer. Late Sunday night, Ashe County Emergency Management issued a statement about a potential dam breach at the Headwaters Dam in the Creston community. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 17, 2018. An area of U.S. Highway 221 between West Jefferson and Deep Gap is currently closed after large chunks of asphalt broke apart after the remnants of Hurricane Florence rolled through the area Sunday night. “It is looking like it will take until Wednesday before repairs are complete,” said Charles C. Reinhardt, Division 11 Maintenance Engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The portion of road that is closed is near the intersection of Mulatto Mountain Road and is roughly seven miles from downtown West Jefferson. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 17, 2018 Watauga, Ashe and Avery County Schools all cancelled school on Monday, September 17 after what was left of Hurricane Florence drifted through the area over the weekend. Watauga County Schools closed for students, teachers and all 10-month employees on Monday. It will be an Annual Leave Day.  All 11 and 12-month employees had the option to report on a two-hour delay to ensure safe travels to work. Ashe County Schools are closed Monday as well. It will be an optional teacher workday for 10-month employees. The writing workshop for grades 6-8 has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 20 at the same time and place. Avery County Schools closed for students and staff and there will be on after school activities for the day.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 16, 2018 All classes and academic obligations are canceled Monday, Sept. 17, and Tuesday, Sept. 18. Confidence is growing for the Boone area to experience significant potential impact from Hurricane Florence, and the safety of students, faculty and staff traveling to campus is paramount. Appalachian State University has been encouraging its students, faculty and staff to prepare for Florence since Tuesday, Sept. 11, and given specific safety tips they could take ahead of the hurricane, which was expected to make landfall in North Carolina Friday.  On Tuesday, Sept. 11, a decision was made to cancel classes Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14, to allow students who live in areas likely to be severely impacted by Hurricane Florence to prepare accordingly. On Friday, Sept. 14, the decision was made to cancel classes Monday, Sept. 17, and Tuesday, Sept. 18, with confidence growing for the Boone area to experience significant potential impact from Hurricane Florence, in a message stating “the safety of students, faculty and staff traveling to campus is paramount.” / Read more…

September 16, 2018. St. Mary’s of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock lost their 100 year old maple tree last night at around 10:00 p.m. when winds associated with Topical Storm Florence blew the tree over into the front lawn of the church. Although one large branch hit the roof near the bell tower that cause a gutter to come loose, no structural damage has been found. Morning church services proceeded on schedule Sunday morning. The church has been celebrating its centennial this year, and church members have discussed that the tree was probably planted during the time the church was being built. Jim Brooks, a member of the church stated that after viewing the tree this morning, it was pretty evident how rotten the tree core had become. / Read more…

September 14, 2018. Residents in the High Country are beginning to make their final preparations for the upcoming heavy rains and wind that will be hitting the area from what is left of Hurricane Florence. Rainfall totals are estimated to range anywhere from 6-12 inches across areas of the High Country with the eastern parts of the Blue Ridge seeing the highest totals, according to the most recent forecast from Ray’s Weather Center. Precision Printing along Blowing Rock Road in Boone has started stacking sandbags in front of the building in preparation for the possible flooding. Employees at New River Building Supply have been busy selling sandbags as well as generators and gas cans which have all been in high demand over the past couple of days. As of 4 p.m. they still had roughly 100 sandbags left. New River Building Supply is also open on Saturdays until noon for anyone that might need some last-minute supplies. Watauga County Emergency Management announced earlier on Friday that Alliance Bible Fellowship, located at 1035 Highway 105 Bypass in Boone, will be used as a shelter for residents in the county, opening at 5 p.m. on Saturday. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 14, 2018. The North Carolina High Country is likely to get pounded with heavy rain and possibly have various emergency problems caused by Hurricane Florence (Tropical Cyclone) starting Saturday and continuing into Tuesday. And as a result, Avery County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Martha Hicks has issued a State of Emergency for the entire county beginning at 12:00 noon on Saturday. It will remain in effect until all possible dangers from the hurricane end. A provision of the State of Emergency order is that the county may enforce a curfew between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day it remains in effect. Restricted business operations and access to certain areas and buildings may also be implemented in the county according to the State of Emergency declaration. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 14, 2018 Last Friday, the House Select Committee on School Safety hosted a special meeting at Watauga High School to hear the public’s concerns about overall school safety needs in the High Country. The committee is making several stops across the state in different regions to host these events in hopes of finding ways to increase school safety. According to Watauga County Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott, those who spoke at the high school focused their concerns on the need for additional school resource officers and the desire to see support for mental health services for students. There was also appreciation for the $35 million school safety grants from the Department of Public Instruction, but lots of people also would like to see those grants continued and expanded. The House Select Committee on School Safety settled on that amount of money to add to the state’s budget. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 14, 2018. On Friday September 14, 2018, the entire 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway and all associated facilities, with the exception of the Pisgah Inn and Peaks of Otter Lodge, will be closed at 8:00 p.m. in anticipation of high winds and heavy rains due to the remnants of Hurricane Florence. Saturated soils in combination with high winds in these areas increase the risk of rock slide and falling trees and debris. This closure will remain in effect until further notice. Access to Pisgah Inn will be via US-276 only. No access via the Parkway from the north will be available. Access to Peaks of Otter Lodge will be via VA-43 only. No access to Peaks of Otter Lodge via the Parkway from the north will be available. During this closure, all scheduled ranger programs and special events and uses are cancelled. This includes concerts at Humpback Rocks, Roanoke Mountain and Mabry Mill as well as the Overmountain Victory Celebration at the Museum of NC Minerals. / Read more…

September 14, 2018. Hurricane Florence finally made landfall this morning at approximately 7:15 a.m. as a Category 1 storm near Wrightsville Beach according to the National Hurricane Center. Wind and rain battered the North Carolina coastline on Thursday night with storm surge and rising waters already forcing those that stayed to attempt to ride out the storm to seek higher ground or wait to be rescued by swift water rescue teams. According to a social media post by the City of New Bern, there were approximately 150 people waiting to be rescued during the overnight hours. According to the 11 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, some locations along the North Carolina coast have already reported rainfall totals of 14 inches and totals could reach as high as 30 to 40 inches before the storm leaves the area. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 13, 2018. Walkers and runners alike flocked to the High Country last year for the first annual 7K@7D. Sadly, this year’s race has been canceled as a precaution because of the impending weather that Hurricane Florence is expected to bring to the High Country. The race will not be rescheduled for later this year. All proceeds made from current registrations will go towards the Blue Ridge Conservancy, as was planned, but the proceeds will also be split with Hurricane Relief.   By Hailey Blevins / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

National Food System Expert Coming to Boone on September 19

Boone Native Maura Shawn Scanlin to Return with Traditional Music Duo ‘Rakish’ for Workshop and Concert at The Jones House September 22 

Final Senior Softball Tournament of the Season is Friday, September 28

Revolutionary War Days Celebrate Heroic March to Victory 

Third Annual Community Fall Dance is October 6 

Town of Boone’s Jimmy Smith Maranon & Street Party Rescheduled For October 19

Olympic Super-G Medalist, Andrew Weibrecht Joins Sugar Mountain Resort’s Preseason Ski Clinic Coaching Staff

BRAHM is Looking For New Volunteers!

High Country United Way Ready to Help Communities Affected by Hurricane Florence

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

September 13, 2018. The Watauga County Farmers’ Market isn’t letting Hurricane Florence put a damper on this Saturday’s market. According to market manager Michelle Slaton, the market will be open from 8 a.m. until noon as scheduled. “It has certainly been an exciting week for all North Carolinians as we have been watching the weather. I have gotten many calls asking and I am happy to say that the Watauga County Farmer’s Market will be open this Saturday,” Slaton said. “Come out early Saturday and stock up on everything you might need to see you through the rainy days ahead. Thank you to all of our amazing customers for their patronage throughout the season. Hoping everyone stays safe through this weather.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 13, 2018. Hurricane Florence continues to churn near the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina with landfall coming sometime Friday morning, that according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Current predictions have Hurricane Florence making landfall just north of Wilmington as a Category 2 Hurricane. Here in the High Country, rainfall totals are expected to be between 5-8 inches from Saturday night through Tuesday morning in most places with locally higher amounts possible along the Blue Ridge Escarpment according to the latest update on Thursday morning from Ray’s Weather Center. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 13, 2018. The Blowing Rock Music Festival originally scheduled for this Saturday, September 15, has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 7. The pending landfall of Hurricane Florence and the high amounts of rain predicted across the High Country forced the event to be rescheduled, according to Blowing Rock Mayor Charlie Sellers. Sellers, who owns and operates The Blowing Rock Attraction and helps organize this event, said that due to the State of Emergency being in affect across North Carolina, the safety of festival goers and entertainers was the most important thing. “The schedule will remain the same, the entertainers will remain the same and tickets are still on sale for $30 for adults, $10 for children up until the day of the festival,” Sellers said.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 13, 2018. Avery County Finance Officer Nancy Johnson has stepped down from the post. County Manager Phillip Barrier said Johnson gave him her resignation letter last Wednesday, September 5. Barrier added that Johnson’s resignation is effective immediately. The Avery Board of Commissioners went into executive (closed) session during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, September 4, but did not address Johnson’s job status upon returning to open session. Johnson was unavailable for comment. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

September 13, 2018. On Sunday, August 5 at approximately 3 p.m., a deceased male was found in the section of the South Fork of the New River that runs alongside of Brookshire Park. The Boone Police Department immediately began an investigation into the incident. The victim was identified as Tylor Nathaniel Cook, 25, of Boone. Detectives conducted many interviews to learn about Cook and his activities before his death. During this investigation, Detectives learned the following important facts about Mr. Cook and the situation surrounding his disappearance and death: Cook had seriously impaired vision and he usually had someone to help him navigate his surroundings. He often chose to walk to places in Boone, rather than ride the bus. He had not been seen alive since Friday, August 3 at 10:27 a.m. He was not known to be a very good swimmer. He was living at the Hospitality House in Boone. / Read more…

September 13, 2018. A man wanted in numerous bank robbery cases, including Tuesday’s robbery of the United Community Bank in Blowing Rock, was shot and killed Tuesday night at a rest stop on Interstate 75 in Kentucky according to details provided by the Blowing Rock Police Department. Edward J. Reynolds, 57, of Cape Coral, Florida was located by Federal authorities on Tuesday evening around 10:15 p.m. at a rest stop at mile marker 127 on I-75 North in Kentucky. Reynolds was killed in a subsequent shootout with U.S. Marshal’s and other local law enforcement officers, which also left a Kentucky Sheriff’s Deputy seriously wounded. According to the Fort Myers News-Press, the wounded deputy was later identified as Jaime Morales, 27, of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department. He was listed in critical condition at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 13, 2018. Galileo’s in downtown Boone is known for its good food, fun atmosphere, and competitive trivia nights. Now their building will be hosting a new kind of community event on Sunday mornings. Mountainside Community Church is relocating their Sunday worship gathering from Regal Cinema to Galileo’s on September 23rd. Service time will now be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with possible additional services and events to come. Back in March, the new church plant began in the movie theater at New Market Center and has continued to grow and serve the local High Country community. According to Pastor Shannon McCready, one of the main reasons for the move is to eliminate time restrictions so those who visit the church have more time to linger and fellowship after, but also so the church can be more central to the heart of town. / Read more…

September 12, 2018. A man fitting the description of the person who allegedly robbed the United Community Bank in Blowing Rock was killed on Tuesday night. Edward J. Reynolds, 57, was found by the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement officers in Scott County, Kentucky. As the authorities attempted to apprehend Reynolds, shots were fired and Reynolds was killed. The story was first reported by WWSB, the local ABC affiliate in Sarasota, Florida. Scott County, located north of Lexington, is about 350 miles from Blowing Rock. Reynolds has been the suspect of several bank robberies according to media reports, including two robberies of a Fifth Third Bank in Cape Coral, Florida on January 12, 2018 and April 16, 2018, a robbery at a BB&T Bank in Punta Gorda, Florida, and a robbery at the BB&T Bank in Venice, Florida. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 12, 2018 The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, the region’s only Art Deco movie theatre, is in the final phase of its renovation. The theatre’s mission is to create a home for the performing arts, for both national and local artists and a multi-purpose stage for live concerts, plays, films, lectures and community events. An expansive, new community room on the second floor of the building will also be used to host meetings, receptions, and conferences. Facade renovations were completed in 2017 and the theatre is slated to open in the fall of 2019. There is, however, one more special project that needs to be completed. When it opened in 1938, a stunning terrazzo floor in the lobby and dramatic deco carpets welcomed visitors to the Appalachian Theatre. The goal is to bring back that artistry and craftsmanship to this historic theater. / Read more…

September 12, 2018. 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

September 12, 2018. A man with a similar description as the one that robbed the United Community Bank in Boone on Tuesday may have robbed a BB&T Bank in Sarasota, Florida less than two months ago. According to Sarasota County Detectives in the Bradenton Herald, a white male described to be between 40 and 50 years old entered the BB&T Bank at 160 Pointe Loop Drive in Sarasota at about 1:30 p.m. on July 25. The man was wearing a dark colored shirt, jeans and a cowboy hat. He showed a bank employee a handgun and left the scene on foot with an unknown amount of cash. The events sound eerily similar to those described by the Blowing Rock Police Department in Tuesday’s robbery.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 12, 2018. We’ve just enjoyed some of the season’s sweetest corn, right out of the garden of family friends whose generosity shines through this time every year. As I mentioned before, we haven’t planted corn for a couple of years, mainly due to the way the raccoons and deer love to devour and destroy our crop. We’ve tried all the suggested tips to deter them, but none have worked for us. But, thanks to others, we’re not missing out on one of our favorite garden goodies. If the weather forecast is correct, I’m thinking this might be a good time to pick the remainder of your corn — and anything else you have left in your garden — before Hurricane Florence makes her appearance this week. It’s something we all need to take seriously, even here in the mountains, where we could receive damaging winds and rain. Corn is one of the most popular crops in America, and especially here in The High Country. It has played an important role in America’s culinary history and was a mainstay among native Americans. It is the source of many favorite dishes, including corn bread, chowder, fritters, pudding and so much more. It can be used fresh, dried or ground into meal and used in cereal and snack foods. Dried, hulled and treated, it becomes hominy, which can be cooked in stews or ground into a course meal known as grits. (I can’t bear hominy, but I love grits. How does that happen? ) Of course, one of the most popular varieties of corn is popcorn, dried and heated until it puffs into one of America’s favorite snack foods. Corn also provides fuel (ethanol) and important secondary products like corn oil, cornstarch, corn syrup — and a few other liquid products well known around these mountains. Let’s see what we can do with a little corn in the kitchen this week. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

September 11, 2018. All classes and academic obligations are canceled from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, to allow students who live in areas likely to be severely impacted by Hurricane Florence to prepare accordingly. The hurricane forecast for the Boone area is still uncertain, but many App State students live in areas where the forecast is severe. For AppalCART schedules visit www.appalcart.com or the NextBus app. Please use caution during inclement weather, and monitor http://appstatealert.com and university email for any updates. Additional schedule changes could be made over the weekend as the storm progresses. For non-faculty employees, the Adverse Weather Policy is in effect at Condition 1 (Reduced Operations) from 5 p.m. Sept. 12 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 16. As weather conditions develop, please monitor http://appstatealert.com and university email for any updates to employee adverse weather conditions. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Upcoming Events at Heritage Hall Theatre

Boone Clean-Up Day and Litter Sweep Begins September 15

Watauga Amateur Radio Club Hosting Test Session on September 29

Wilkes Community College Hosts 2nd Annual Northwest North Carolina Forklift Rodeo on October 5

National Storytelling Festival to Celebrate 46 Years of World-Renowned Storytelling October 5-7

Test Your Ability to Write a Short Mystery and Support Your Library

Ski or Ride the North Carolina Mountains Anytime, All Winter Long

Blue Ridge Mountain Club Expands Membership Services Leadership Team

Donate to Double Up Food Bucks to Help Local Families, Local Farmers and the Local Economy

Foxx, Scott Praise House Passage of Bipartisan Financial Aid Legislation

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

September 11, 2018. The search for a bank robbery suspect is ongoing after the United Community Bank in Blowing Rock was robbed around 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. No details have been provided by the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office or the Blowing Rock Police Department, however according to a social media post, Appalachian State campus police reports that the suspect is a white male wearing a dark blue shirt, blue jeans and a cowboy hat. The suspect is believed to be armed with a handgun and left the scene on foot in an unknown direction of travel. Police officers are currently searching for the suspect. More details will be provided as they are made available. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 11, 2018. As prediction models for Hurricane Florence come together, the latest update courtesy of Ray’s Weather Center on Tuesday morning has rain and wind from the storm making its impact starting late Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall Thursday night or early Friday morning in an area north of Wilmington. According to the forecast, the Category 4 hurricane is expected to stall over the eastern part of the state, leaving dryer conditions in the High Country through Friday and Saturday before rain finally reaches the mountains heading into early Sunday morning. Rainfall predictions across the state vary, but some forecasts believe some areas in the eastern portion of the state could receive up to two feet of rain between Thursday and Monday, which will lead to devastating inland and coastal flooding.   By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 10, 2018. On the Same Page, Ashe County’s popular literary festival is returning for an 11th year with events starting Monday evening and continuing through Saturday, September 15. According to Jane Lonon, the Executive Director of the Ashe County Arts Council, all featured writers are scheduled to be in attendance and all events are still going on as scheduled at this time despite Hurricane Florence possibly targeting North Carolina with landfall later this week. The festival, sponsored by the Ashe County Arts Council, will have the honor of United States Poet Laureate Tracy Smith as a distinguished guest at the event. She will be here for three days of the festival. Some of the other writers that will be in West Jefferson are Darnell Arnoult, Bryn Chancellor, Abigail DeWitt, Georgann Eubanks, Phillips Lewis, Jim Minick, Tommy Tomlinson and Frank X. Walker.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

September 10, 2018 On Sept. 8, 2018, Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) and Appalachian State University confirmed one case of meningococcemia in an Appalachian State University student who lives off campus. Meningococcemia is a bloodstream infection caused by bacteria that can also cause meningitis. The individual diagnosed with the disease does not have meningitis. The individual diagnosed with the infection is being treated, and actions are in effect to minimize contact with this person, per guidelines established by the State of North Carolina and the Centers for Disease Control. / Read more…

September 10, 2018 Get ready to tee off on October 8, 2018 at Hound Ears Club for Hospitality House’s fourth annual golf tournament – rechristened the Frank and Kay Golf Classic. This signature event, during peak leaf, season will honor the legacy of philanthropy and leadership that Frank and Kay Borkowski have bestowed upon the High Country since their arrival in 1993. “Frank and Kay have been an integral part of the mission and vision of Hospitality House,” stated Hospitality House director of development Todd Carter. “Their passion for helping those less fortunate is unparalleled.” Men’s, women’s and mixed foursomes are invited to the four-person scramble format event that features a hole-in-one contest, putting contest, 13 yard par 3 challenge, prizes, gift bags, cigars, silent auction, on-course snacks and catered hors d’ouevres. / Read more…