October 21, 2020 Students in grades four up through high school seniors are back in the classroom this week as part of Watauga County’s 3×2 Flex Plan returning students to something a little closer to a normal school week. Initially, students in kindergarten through third grade started back to school during the first full week of October. Now, the additional grades are back in school buildings. “We are so glad to be able to welcome the rest of our students back to in-person learning. There’s definitely a lot of energy and positivity among our staff and teachers,” said Garrett Price, the Director of Communications for Watauga County Schools. “It’s been great to see how seriously everyone in our school communities has been taking the appropriate safety precautions that have allowed us to return to schools.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 21, 2020. 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

October 21, 2020 Following five days of in-person early voting and additional absentee ballots being processed, a total of 13,207 voters have already cast their ballots in Watauga County for the 2020 Election coming up in less than two weeks. Early voting totals sit at 9,672 ballots as of the end of the day Tuesday and the number of absentee mail-in ballots is currently 3,535. There have been 2,580 votes placed at the early voting location at Appalachian State’s student union. A total of 2,295 votes have been placed at the county administration building. Deep Gap has had a solid turnout of early voting as well with 1,710 votes counted. Blowing Rock has seen 1,176 ballots cast, Western Watauga has had 1,238 votes cast and Foscoe has had 673 early voters. Unaffiliated voters have cast 4,944 ballots, just ahead of Democratic voters who have cast 4,825 ballots. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 21, 2020. Halloween is just a few days away and will be here before we know it. Many regular festivities have been cancelled, moved to outdoor areas or significantly down-sized. There will also likely be less door-to-door/trick-or-treating options this year, so we need to do all we can to make our homes a fun place for the kids. A few easy ideas are listed below to insure that the entire family can participate in preparation, and of course, the main event — whatever that might look like for 2020. Make it happen and keep it safe. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 20, 2020  Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center (HPCRC), located at 6993 Hickory Nut Gap Road in Banner Elk, has big plans for Fall 2021! HPCRC, in partnership with Banner Elk Presbyterian Church, is in the process of visioning and implementing a new nature preschool program. The nature preschool program will offer local families an affordable, quality outdoor early education and childcare option for children ages 2-5. This program, however, would not be possible without the generous contributions from the High Country Charitable Foundation (Banner Elk, NC), the Mooneyhan Family Foundation (Johnson City, TN), and the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk. / Read more…

October 20, 2020 Here is the breakdown of early voting totals through 4 days from the Watauga County Board of Elections that was released Tuesday morning. The county total now stands at 7926.  In the 2018 election period, a total of 5381 were cast through the first four days. Here are the totals from early voting sites across Watauga County.  / Read more…

October 20, 2020  On Monday the Watauga County Republican Party filed two campaign finance violation complaints with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Federal Elections Commission.  The violations were filed against groups “WEW-West End Women” and “Friends Who Believe In Decency.”  These groups have been distributing campaign literature without having registered as a Political Action Committee (PAC) as required by State and Federal Law. / Read more…

October 19, 2020  Ray Russell, founder and president of RaysWeather.com, released his annual Fearless Winter Forecast and is expecting slightly warmer temperatures than average and about 20 percent less snowfall than average. “While we will have snow and cold periods, it will be difficult to lock in cold for long periods of time,” Russell said in his forecast summary. The highest elevations of the High Country at Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain are predicted to receive 70 inches of snowfall. Banner Elk is predicted to have 34 inches of snow while Boone comes in at 29 inches. Jefferson and West Jefferson are predicted to have around 18 inches of snow and Sparta is predicted to have 16 inches of snow. Looking at last year’s forecast, it was one of the lowest snowfall seasons on record for several locations, according to Russell. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 19, 2020 Residents in Watauga County are having no problem finding their way to the one-stop early voting locations in the county. A total of 5,990 voters have already cast their ballot for the 2020 Election. The early voting location on Appalachian State’s campus had 1,634 votes tallied in the first three days of early voting. At the county administration building, 1,363 votes have been counted. Deep Gap has had 1,128 early voters while the Western Watauga Community Center has had 748, Blowing Rock has had 680 and Foscoe has had 437. Throughout the state, over one million votes between absentee mail-in voting and early voting have already been cast. With more than two weeks until Election Day, more than 14 percent of registered voters in North Carolina have already cast ballots. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 16, 2020 Director of Watauga County Board of Elections Matt Snyder said over 5,000 people voted by Absentee by Mail or through the One Stop Early Voting sites on the first day of early voting, which was Thursday, Oct. 15. “It went great,” Snyder said. “We are so pleased with the turnout we had. Every site we had was busy. Everybody had a line in the morning. But after that initial rush has subsided, it was still steady at all of our sites. And most of our sites did at least what they had done in the past and some of the rural sites were well beyond what they have ever done in a day.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 16, 2020 For the first time in the last two weeks, the active COVID-19 cases in Watauga County have dropped over a seven-day period. On October 9, AppHealthCare was reporting 377 active cases in Watauga County. That has dropped significantly down to 167 active cases, a 44 percent drop in seven days compared to the data released today. The total number of positive cases in Watauga County now sits at 1,628. Ashe County has 51 active cases going and an overall total of 407 cases. Alleghany County has just eight active cases and a total of 258 cases since testing began in March. The number of people being actively monitored in Watauga County is still at a high number with 333 individuals, a slight drop from last Friday’s total of 375. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 16, 2020  Even with an unknown economic future and a worldwide pandemic finding its way to the High Country, the High Country Charitable Foundation was still able to find a way to award over $550,000 to several organizations across Avery County. “During the 2020 pandemic, the standard safety nets for needy people and animals are weakened and often fail. This is where the HCCF stepped up to the plate and hit a home run,” said Jim Swinkola, who is one of many proud contributors to the foundation. “In the midst of economic uncertainty and concerns for personal safety, the HCCF gathered and distributed over $550,000 to the established nonprofits in Avery County dedicated to helping those in need. Their clients, both human and animal, had their needs better met thanks to the fiscal kindness of the HCCF.”  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 16, 2020  The Sugar Mountain Public Golf Course was voted as the No. 2 Short Course in the USA by Golf Advisor readers. Golf Advisor is a publication for golfers at all levels to find honest recommendations from peers and to offer feedback of their own about any golf course they play, anywhere, anytime. Golf Advisor’s definition of a short course is any course that is less than a par 70 or 6,000 yards. Everything from par-3 courses to regulation-length 9-hole courses to 18-hole executive courses were eligible in the rating as long as they are publicly accessible. Short golf courses are often used to introduce new golfers to the game or to allow experienced golfers some practice space. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 16, 2020  As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to increase throughout the High Country, community members may be concerned whether the local healthcare system, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, has adequate resources and if it can handle the rise in cases. “We’ve been seeing cases for a while, but of course it has picked up considerably (recently), and I know there’s an appropriate worry in the community about having acute care capacity,” said Lisa Kaufmann, MD, who is Appalachian Regional Healthcare System’s Medical Director of the hospital medicine group. The hospital medicine group cares for all nonsurgical adult patients that are in the hospital.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 16, 2020  As the High Country saw some steady, but gentle rain and no appreciable wind in the beginning of the week from remnants of Hurricane Delta, it still took down some leaves. Appalachian State University Biology professor Howard Neufeld, who is better known as the “Fall Color Guy” on Facebook, has been one source keeping the public informed about fall leaf colors. In a post he published on Oct. 10, Neufeld said throughout last weekend, colors were near peak and it was “quite spectacular compared to years past!” He further wrote, “Had it not rained, (Oct. 10 and 11) would have been one of the two best weekends this season to view the leaves.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 16, 2020  In early March, Dr. Jessica Funk closed her Chapel Hill-based dental practice and like most others, was stuck at home. After two weeks of being in the house, she felt the need to do something productive. About this time, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, recommended wearing face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus so she began sewing some custom stylish accessories. “After sewing a dozen or so masks, people were asking to buy them from me, states Dr. Funk.” I have been sewing and crafting since I was a teenager and this pandemic gave me the free time to do something that I have always wanted to do; create an Etsy site to sell crafts and donate the proceeds to charity.” Dr. Funk launched her Etsy site, Stitches by Mrs. Funk, on April 12 proclaiming fun, funky and fashionable face masks for the whole family. Soon after, longtime friends Keith Neaves and Russell Normand began selling the face masks in their store, Blowing Rock staple Neaco, to benefit High Country charities. / Read more…

October 16, 2020 This week, the USDA further extended funding and flexibility that will allow Watauga County Schools to serve free meals to all children in the county regardless of income or school enrollment for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Meal distribution will continue to operate in the same way the district served meals over the summer, but each school in the county will be open as a meal distribution site. Each school in Watauga will serve lunch and a packed breakfast for the next day from 1-1:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Wednesday’s meal pickup will be curbside only at Watauga High School. There will be no meal service on November 3.  According to the USDA, the program will be funded through June 2021.  / Read more…

October 16, 2020  High Country Press reporter Tim Gardner recently conducted an interview with Melissa Bracey, Director of Communications & Compliance for the Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare), which serves Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties. The interview is solely about the Coronavirus, an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). The COVID-19 outbreak was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As of October 16, 2020, more than 38,900,000 (38.9 million) cases of COVID‑19 have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 1,900,000 deaths; approximately 27 million people have recovered from the disease. The pandemic continues to rage around the world, including in the North Carolina High Country. Gardner’s interview questions and Bracey’s answers about what specific measures AppHealthCare has underway to help combat the disease and stop its spread as well as related topics follows.  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

October 15, 2020  Our October/November 2020 High Country Magazine is officially back from the printers and available in many locations around Watauga and Avery County. This magazine issue celebrates a change of seasons which includes a story on Farm-City, which due to COVID-19 was forced to cancel its banquet this year. However, the story gives everyone a look back at some history of agriculture in the High County. Another story inside for your reading pleasure includes an in-depth look at one of the oldest African American communities in western North Carolina, Junaluska. / Read more…

October 15, 2020 The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Boone Development Association have partnered to form the Downtown Advocacy Committee to support new and existing Boone area businesses.  David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Lane Moody, Downtown Development Coordinator for the Town of Boone will lead the newly instated committee. The Downtown Advocacy Committee will work to create a mechanism of lasting support for Downtown Boone businesses by listening to concerns, gaining input from stakeholder groups, and providing recommendations based on acquired knowledge   / Read more…

October 15, 2020  The One Stop Early Voting Period for Watauga County began today, Oct. 15, and will continue through Oct. 31. Below are photos by Steve Frank that capture the line for early voting in front of the Watauga County Administration Building early this morning, where there was an approximate 30 minute wait. / Read more…

October 15, 2020  Governor Roy Cooper announced on Thursday that applications are now being accepted for the N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program, which will assist eligible low- and- moderate-income renters experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The new program seeks to promote housing stability during the ongoing pandemic by providing rent and utility assistance to prevent evictions and utility disconnections. “The spread of coronavirus has affected every aspect of our lives. Many have lost jobs, had work hours cut back or had to care for someone who has become ill with COVID-19,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “By creating this program to help with rent and utility bills, we can keep people in their homes where they will be safest during this pandemic.”  / Read more…

October 15, 2020  High Country Crime Stoppers and Boone Police seek the public’s assistance in solving the following crime: On Monday, 10/12/2020, Officers with the Boone Police Department met with a citizen in reference to a larceny of a political sign. The victim stated that a Donald Trump banner/sign, which was located at 2875 NC Hwy 105, was stolen. The banner/sign was approximately 40′ x 8′ and was fixed to the side of a trailer. The banner/sign was stolen sometime between 5:00 pm on Sunday 10/11 and 9:00 am on Monday 10/12. The victim is offering a $1,000 reward in addition to any rewards paid by Crime Stoppers.  / Read more…

October 15, 2020 A new survey of N.C. residents by the Elon University Poll has found that 60 percent are “extremely worried” or “very worried” about the spread of COVID-19 among students, teachers and caregivers with the anticipated return to the classroom for students across the state. A third of residents say students should return to the classroom only after a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 has been developed, with about three out of four saying that the decision by most schools to rely on remote learning this year was a good one. Opinions across the state about President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic have become more polarized since this summer, with 43 percent giving the president an “F” for his response and 35 percent giving him an “A” or a “B.” Opinions about how N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has responded to the pandemic are more varied, with “B” and “C” the most popular grades.   / Read more…

October 14, 2020. 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

October 14, 2020  A new business startup created by an Appalachian State alumnus hopes to boost technology careers and help start businesses right here in the High Country. Robert Huddleston, a member of Appalachian State’s graduating class of 2000, moved back to Boone about two and a half years ago and brought along with him his own IT consulting company, Avoda Group, from Raleigh. “We moved it here because we wanted to see if we could chase App State students and bring them on board, train them up in Cloud Technology and get them in our consulting group,” Huddleston explained. Not long after this came the idea of Boone Underground, a 4,000-square-foot facility on State Farm Road with modern technological upgrades to offer clients meeting spaces, high-speed internet, private desks, and numerous valuable resources to develop business plans and ideas.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 14, 2020  Located at 744 W. King St, the Watauga County Democratic Party Headquarters is open to the public. It is a place where individuals can pick up campaign signage, get information about voting and discuss politics. The headquarters is located a block east of the Watauga County Courthouse on the same side of the street. It’s across from the Ransom Pub & Event Venue and above Elevated Piercing. There are Democratic Party candidate signs out front by the walkway along with a sign with arrows that reads “Watauga County Democratic Party” to show the way to the stairs. The hours of operation are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. The Watauga County Democratic Party Headquarters wants the public to know that they are welcome to stop by. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 14, 2020  Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the arrest of a suspect in connection with a domestic-related shooting in the Laurel Springs area of Ashe County. At approximately 1:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call from Ashe Memorial Hospital requesting assistance with a possible gunshot wound victim in their Emergency Department. Sgt. Chris Green and Deputy Scott Milam, both of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Ashe Memorial Hospital wherein they met with the adult victim. The victim advised the deputies that they had driven themselves to the hospital after having been shot by the suspect during an argument at their home in the Peak Creek Community. The suspect who is identified as James Ethan Dunnagan was subsequently detained without incident by deputies. Dunnagan was transported to the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed by Special Victims Detective Jennifer DeSpain and charged. / Read more…

October 14, 2020 The last few weeks have brought a significant rise in positive COVID-19 cases across much of the High County with 16 percent of the tests conducted last week returning positive results for the coronavirus and the death count increasing to 15. Glenbridge Health and Rehab has experienced 11 of the 15 deaths and a total of 45 positive cases among residents and 15 positive cases among staff members. Currently, just one resident has an active case. “We have the ability to house 23 beds for COVID-19 patients, that would be our maximum,” said Rob Hudspeth, Senior Vice President of System Advancement at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. Hospital stays were not that common during the spring and summer months. May had zero hospitalizations from COVID-19. June and July saw on average of just two to five COVID-19 hospitalizations each day. Those numbers have been increasing to their highest levels over the past two weeks. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 14, 2020 As the One Stop Early Voting Period for Watauga County begins on Thursday, Oct. 15 and continues through Oct. 31, Curbside Voting will also be available during the regular voting hours at all One Stop Early Voting sites in addition to on Election Day, which is Nov. 3. Director of Watauga County Board of Elections Matt Snyder said voting sites will have spaces designated for Curbside Voting with signage that explains what allows a person to use the service. “It is open to those who due to age or disability cannot enter the voting place,” Snyder said. Another reason for people to be eligible includes being high-risk for contracting COVID-19. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 14, 2020 The voter registration deadline for the next month’s (Nov. 3) presidential election has ended. However, registered voters may still choose to mail in absentee votes, with one-stop voting beginning October 15.  By Tim Gardner / Read more…

October 14, 2020 North Carolina’s 17-day, in-person early voting period begins Thursday, October 15, and ends Saturday, October 31. The State Board of Elections offers the following 10 tips for early voters:   / Read more…

October 14, 2020. Fall and all its traditional festivities “usually” add a bit of excitement to our cool, colorful mountains. We “usually” are in the midst of a fun football and tailgating season here in the High Country. There are “usually” countless fall festivals and Halloween parties on every corner — and then we barely catch our breath before preparations begin for Thanksgiving. We all agree that very little is ordinary this year. It saddens many of us for various reasons, but by now, we’ve learned to adapt and have learned to make the most of a very trying situation. While we might not be able to gather in traditional settings, we can still make the season count with those in our close circles. Let’s try to carry on the best we can and enjoy our lovely autumn in the hills. Kids (big and little!) are still kids and we all need to have a little fun. For this week and next, we will share some of the more traditional fall/Halloween treats we can all enjoy during this very unique season of life in which we find ourselves. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 13, 2020 Appalachian State University has passed the halfway point of the fall semester, as the last day of classes is Nov. 24 before Thanksgiving Break. App State has been one of the largest UNC system universities to still hold in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. University personnel sent out COVID-19 updates on Oct. 11 discussing how operations have been going. In the announcement, App State personnel said Academic Affairs has been working with each student individually who has requested to move to all-remote instruction. Currently, 20% of courses are being taught face-to-face, 32% are being taught hybrid and 48% are being taught all-remote. Another update is that University Housing is offering the choice to opt out of housing contracts to all residential students who are moving back to their permanent residences. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 13, 2020 Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reminds Medicare beneficiaries to compare and evaluate their current plans and make necessary changes during the annual Open Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2020. Medicare plans and prices change. It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of the Open Enrollment Period by contacting local Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors to save money, improve coverage or both. The Open Enrollment Period begins Oct. 15 and runs for eight weeks to give consumers enough time to review and make changes to their Medicare coverage. Changes must be made by Dec. 7, 2020 to guarantee coverage will begin without interruption Jan. 1, 2021.   / Read more…