Jan. 23, 2020 In preparation for “Bad Boys for Life,” I watched the previous two “Bad Boys” films from 1995 and 2003. This research coincided with the “Jeopardy!” Greatest of All Time tournament, which featured especially hard clues designed to challenge the brainiac players. It was an interesting balance of opposite ends of the IQ spectrum. When “Jeopardy!” had my brain short-circuiting, I turned on “Bad Boys” to cool it down. When “Bad Boys” had my brain flatlining, I turned on “Jeopardy!” to bring it back to life. By the end of the week two things were clear: that I should never get within 500 feet of the “Jeopardy!” set, and that the “Bad Boys” franchise was just as explosive and dumb as I expected from pre-“Transformers” Michael Bay. The new film isn’t directed by Bay, but new helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are clearly following his blueprint very closely, for better or worse. By Bob Garver. / Read more…

January 23, 2020. The Watauga County Public Library is in its tenth year of offering tax assistance for the 2020 filing season. The library program began in 2011 with Rao Aluri as the Site Coordinator; Matthew Upton, a graduate student in Accounting at Appalachian State University, will be the new Coordinator and Josh Rouse the Assistant Coordinator. The (VITA) Volunteer for Tax Assistance program provides free income tax preparation and electronic filing for eligible low to moderate-income Watauga County residents which would be those who made $56,000 or less in 2019. The program operates in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service and receives financial support from the Friends of the Library and the IRS. Volunteers are trained to be certified tax preparers through the IRS. Most of the volunteers come from the Accounting Department at Appalachian State University. / Read more…

Jan. 23, 2020. A crowd gathered inside Boone Fire Station #2 to honor the recent renaming of part of Hunting Hills Lane to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The street is located off of State Farm Road where the new recreation center complex is being constructed. For many in attendance, this was so much more than just changing the name of a street to honor one of the most compassionate and loving individuals of the 20th century. It was more about being proud that Boone, the community that many of these people have been a part of for decades, has listened to the African American community and given them something else to be proud of. “I find myself to be nervous today because this is a day, in my dreams growing up in Avery County, I never dreamed that this would come to pass. But God knows better than I do, the hearts of his people,” said Rev. Mike Mathes, the pastor at Boone Mennonite Brethren Church. / 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.

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

CCC&TI Now Registering for 2020 Job Training, Continuing Education Courses

Open Hearth Cooking Program at the Wilkes Heritage Museum on January 25

Volunteers Needed for the 2020 Raleigh Women’s March on January 25

Caldwell Hospice’s Coffee, Grief and Hope to Be Held January 28

Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Will Meet on Wednesday, January 29

Author Thom Young shares his recently published book, Bespoke, on January 29

J.E. Broyhill Civic Center Presents 22nd Traditional Musicians Showcase February 1

Wilkes Community College Offering Amateur Radio Course February 4

Sarah Beth Hopton Presents to High Country Writers February 13

Applications for Golden LEAF Scholarship Due March 1

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 22, 2020. Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell has revealed new details about the officer-involved shooting that took place near West Jefferson last Wednesday. According to the sheriff’s office, at 5:59 p.m. on January 15, Ashe County’s 911 center received information related to a welfare check in the Fleetwood area. As officers arrived on the scene, Landwell Vance McCall, a 50-year-old male from Caldwell County shot at Ashe County Deputies. Multiple shots were fired by the suspect during their initial approach to the camper, pinning the officers in place for a short time. At approximately 7:00 p.m., law enforcement agencies from surrounding counties were requested to bring resources that may be needed throughout the night. “As teams began entering our command post, we prepared evacuations of surrounding homes. Using armored vehicles from neighboring counties, we were able to safely evacuate the homes who surrounded the active shooter,” Howell said.  / Read more…

January 20, 2020. The Avery County Commissioners have unanimously (5-0) approved architectural firm Boomerang Design of Charlotte, NC to begin the bidding process for the construction of a new community building on the campus of Heritage Park in Newland. Boomerang Design officials Rob Johnson and Pierre Henwood gave the commissioners options for the community building, which will include an exhibit hall and auditorium.  Johnson and Harwood provided the commissioners specific aspects of the construction project, including elevation changes in relation to the placement of sewage lines, air and heating systems, general building plan specifications, storage areas and contingency details for issues including high winds and the ability for equipment to be transported into and out of the facility. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 22, 2020. One of the biggest sporting events of the year, if not the biggest, is just around the corner. Sure, we all know it’s about America’s favorite sport, but really, what would a Super Bowl party be without plenty of food? We’ve got you covered, from pregame appetizers to help welcome your guests, to halftime snacks and so much more to see you through the final touchdown. The planning has already begun, especially, for those who will be spending the evening in front of the big screen at home with family and friends. We don’t want anyone to be left on the sidelines without a winning spread, so let’s make a few good calls before the game begins with this week’s recipes. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 22, 2020. The number of North Carolinians who have died during the current flu season climbed to 33 last week, the N.C. Division of Public Health has reported, Eleven deaths were reported for the week that ended Jan. 11, along with one death from previous weeks. Of those deaths, seven were those ages 65 and older, four were ages 50 to 64 and one was ages 25 to 49. There were 3,911 flu-like cases reported in N.C. last week, down from 4,843 during the week that ended Jan. 4 and 4,884 during the week that ended Dec. 28. According to Vicki Stevens, Director of Marketing at the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, based in Boone, treated 33 patients with the flu at the Watauga Medical Center in Boone and Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville since Oct. 1, 2019. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

January 21, 2020. The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina recently closed on 17 acres of bog land in the Jonas Ridge community, which is located in both Avery and Burke counties. The bog land borders the Pisgah Loop Scenic Highway. Southern Appalachian mountain bogs are rare and contain vulnerable ecosystems. At the highest elevations in Burke County, Jonas Ridge Bog is habitat to unique species of plants, animals and insects. The bog is also home to cranberries, a species typically associated with New England, and, in North Carolina, it is a threatened species as defined by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.By Tim Gardner / Read more…

Jan. 21, 2020. It was worth the wait even with a two-week delay in the start of the 15th annual Sugar Mountain Adult Race League. SMARL races finally began on January 20 after a delay following some unseasonably warm temperatures that did not allow for optimal ski race conditions at Sugar Mountain Resort. Each year, the after-work “beer league” for local skiers and snowboarders in the High Country lets racers compete for six weeks for some great prizes and bragging rights at the end of the season. After some much-needed cold weather and brief snowfall, the league got off to a great start last night. “You can’t imagine how much snow Sugar put down in the last couple of days. They went from not very good conditions to having every snow gun on and making snow. The skiing was good and everybody had a pretty good night,” said Bill Leonard, owner of Ski Country Sports, who co-sponsors the racing league along with Sugar Mountain Resort. “Ski Country Sports is excited about doing this, we have a great time doing it. We have two teams in it and we have a lot of our staff members that like to go out there and participate. It’s a good team-building exercise as well as having a good time out there skiing.” / Read more…

January 21, 2020. Bill Hutchins is a respected figure in local academic circles for his time as a Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State, for his long list of international awards and honors (Elizabethan Society and Manuscript Society at Yale, C.A.S.A Fellowship at the American University in Cairo, First Prize for Fiction, 1987 and 1991, Crucible), and particularly for his acclaimed translations of Arabic texts. Hutchins’ most recent translation project, Mohammed Hasan Alwan’s A Small Death, is a novel that has made waves in the Arab literary community. A spiritual coming-of-age story of one of Islam’s greatest mystics, the novel won the tenth International Prize for Arabic Fiction and has never been translated into English. By Tzar Wilkerson / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Until recently, when radiation oncology patients entered the long hallway at Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center to receive their treatments, they were greeted with a long blank wall, no windows or decoration and dim lighting. The radiation therapy team expressed a need for something to brighten and beautify the journey for patients. They brought their idea to the Cancer Resource Alliance (CRA) Art Committee, and the Wings of Hope project was born. The group chose origami butterflies as a way to create a vibrant wall of color, bringing beauty to the area. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, transformation and hope. The Art Committee created opportunities for patients to make origami butterflies. Mary Morgan, a member of the Art Committee, took on the task of making pre-folded butterflies so that it would be easy for many to participate, and she also helped patients and caregivers make their own butterflies. Each person was encouraged to personalize their butterfly in some way—with words of hope, their name or name of a loved one, and/or date of completion of treatment. / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Wind chills settled in below zero and most of the area saw some snow on the ground overnight and this morning as residents woke up to temperatures in the teens and single digits. Temperatures began to drop throughout the day on Sunday and eventually into single digits across the High Country. Low temperatures reached five degrees on Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain, eight degrees on Linville Ridge and 12 degrees in Banner Elk and Seven Devils. The coldest area in Watauga County was Snake Mountain where the lowest temperature recorded was seven degrees. Temps dropped to 12 degrees in Blowing Rock, 13 degrees in Zionville and 15 degrees in downtown Boone. Early morning commuters also woke up to snow falling and sticking to the roads. Schools were already closed today for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Commuters in Avery County had a decent amount of snow on the roads that caused some havoc for travelers.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 20, 2020. Koen Maynard, a four-year-old from Boone who loves Ghostbusters and his meemaw, continuously approached his parents over the past two years to tell them that he wanted to be Santa Claus. At first, the Maynards thought Koen’s desire to be Santa Claus was a cute gesture that was soon forgotten; after Koen kept returning to say he wanted to be like Santa, his parents thought there might be something more to Koen’s statements. “Koen said he wanted to spread Christmas cheer because of the movie Klaus he had watched several times in the season,” said Koen’s father, Barry Maynard, “Koen wanted to be like the mailman who teamed up with a guy named Klaus to make the feuding town a team again.” By Joe Johnson / Read more…

January 17, 2020. Area business owners and community supporters gathered on Thursday morning at Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock for the fourth annual High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast that featured the latest economic news for the High Country. Dr. Harry Davis, Dean of the North Carolina School of Banking and Finance Professor at Appalachian State University, was the keynote speaker and took a look at the economic success, shortcomings and future for the country, North Carolina and Watauga County. Overall, Davis says the national economy is in its 11th year of growth and the sense is that there are no signs of a recession in the near future. At the state and local levels, the economy is also running strong.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 17, 2020. Students at Lees-McRae took matters into their own hands this week bringing relief to those affected by Australian wildfires. On Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Thursday, Jan. 16, 25 students lead by Director of Library Services Jess Bellemer sewed 21 pouches for baby marsupials. Held in the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons Makerspace—a dedicated space where students can design, craft, sew, podcast, and more—Bellemer guided students of all skill levels through the process. “The goal of the makerspace is to connect students with making skills that they’ll take with them beyond their Lees-McRae experience,” Bellemer said. “The pouch making workshops showed them how they can use a skill such as sewing to support victims in a terrible crisis on the other side of the world. I think learning to sew and making usable materials for animals in need really clicked with the students.” / Read more…

January 16, 2020. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Boone will have a little extra meaning this year with the dedication of the newly renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Street. On August 15, the Boone Town Council unanimously approved the renaming the front portion of Hunting Hills Lane, from State Farm Road to the bridge, after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What a better time to hold a dedication ceremony than on January 20 when the country pauses to reflect on Dr. King and his many accomplishments. According to the town of Boone, the location of where the street will be renamed is near the county’s new recreation center, a playground and ball fields and will be used to serve as a reminder of the impact of Dr. King’s legacy around the world. The dedication ceremony will be taking place at 4 p.m. at Boone Fire Station #2 located at 1075 State Farm Road. The ceremony will feature light refreshments and music from the Boone Mennonite Bretheren Church Choir. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 16, 2020. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce announced its winners of the 2019 Business of the Year Awards during the 4th Annual High Country Economic Kickoff Breakfast Thursday morning at Meadowbrook Inn. The awards were sponsored by the Watauga County Economic Development Commission and Skyline National Bank. Nominations were submitted by Chamber and community members and winners were selected by the Chamber’s Business Development committee. Businesses were awarded based on criteria that includes staying power, growth in sales and/or workforce, innovative products and services, strong response to adversity, contributions to community-oriented projects, and use of local resources in business operations. / Read more…

January 15, 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

January 16, 2020. A standoff between a suspect and numerous local law enforcement agencies ended during the early hours of Thursday morning with the death of the unnamed suspect. “At approximately 6:00 pm on January 15, our 911 center received information related to a welfare check in the Fleetwood area. Just before arriving on scene, Ashe County Deputies were shot at multiple times. Phone calls and communication from the suspect indicated he wanted to cause harm to any law enforcement individual,” said Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell in a statement. After approximately eight hours the situation ended with a deceased male suspect located at the scene. All officers, first responders and support personnel were unharmed even though law enforcement was fired upon multiple times during the incident. / Read more…

January 15, 2020. The last couple of weeks have been hard on the ski slopes in the High Country with unseasonably warm weather and pockets of heavy rainfall. With more than four inches of rain falling at Appalachian Ski Mtn. on Saturday, Brad Moretz made the difficult decision to close for a couple of days just before a big change in the weather happens on Thursday. “We had an unusual weather situation where we got over four inches of rain Saturday night. It’s been since December 20 since we have had significant snowmaking. We’ve had a couple of times where we had a few hours for part of a night but we have gotten along fantastic without snowmaking and rain falling, but there is a limit to how much of that you can take without having a little winter weather,” said Moretz, who is the co-owner of Appalachian Ski Mtn. “We’re going to be excited to get things looking like mid-winter again. These are pretty ideal conditions coming up so it will look like normal again in a big hurry.” Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain are also looking forward to the changing weather this week as temperatures will drop throughout the day on Thursday into the 20s. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 15, 2020 Legislators returned to Raleigh on Tuesday, Jan. 14, for a continuation of the 2019 session. Two pieces of legislation were voted on in the House. And with that, the session ended. The adjournment motion sends state legislators home until April 28. I voted “No” on the adjournment motion because our job is far from finished. We should have been working on compromise solutions for teacher, faculty, and staff pay, funding for universities and community colleges, funding for school and infrastructure construction, and making healthcare more available and affordable. Instead Legislative leadership held a press conference, refused to work with Gov. Cooper on a compromise, and proverbially “took their ball and went home.”  / Read more…

January 15, 2020. I read recently that January is National Slow Cooking Month, and yes, acknowledging that one way to increase quality mealtime at home and ditch the daily drive-through is to use a slow cooker. So, kitchen mates, I guess it’s time to dust off the old crockpot and fill it up, turn it on and forget it. That seems to be the idea these days as the “new” cooking method from the ‘70’s is making a comeback. It seems that, for a while, we pushed the crockpot to the back of the cabinet, but its popularity has begun to surge, once again. There’s no better for a busy woman to make sure her family has a hot meal at the end of the day. Let’s drag those slow cookers out and get crocking. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 15, 2020. Sunset Drive’s fresh new look in Blowing Rock received a lot of praise and positive reviews as the town gathered on Tuesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the finished product. “This project has needed to be done for many years. It’s done, it’s now a focal point of our town. It has taken us to a new level and hopefully, we will have more of this to come,” said Blowing Rock Mayor Charlie sellers. “This is the first street you come up where you have a view of the park. This accentuates the park, this accentuates the gazebo. Turning off of Valley Boulevard onto Sunset, you look up this street and it’s a world of difference. I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about how good it looks and how it means so much to the presentation of the town of Blowing Rock. The mayor extended his gratitude to the contractors including Iron Mountain, Greene Construction and McGill engineering for the work that they did up and down the street and doing their best to “make things as bearable for the business owners as possible.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 15, 2020. Land conservation is off to an exciting start in 2020 with Blue Ridge Conservancy’s (BRC) purchase of 91 acres on Peak Mountain in Avery County. The land includes the summit of Peak Mountain, originally part of the planned Tynecastle development. The prominent rock outcropping is familiar to residents and visitors of the Banner Elk area, and is quite visible from Sugar Mountain and Seven Devils. The property was previously owned by the Schwebke Family of Avery County, and is known by several other names including Tynecastle Peak, Invershiel Peak and Dunvegan Peak. “The Schwebke family is thankful to work with Blue Ridge Conservancy to protect Tynecastle Peak in loving memory of Robert C. Schwebke, an amazing husband, father and grandfather,” said Judith Schwebke.  “He loved the peak of this mountain and knowing that it is protected and enjoyed by others now is very special to our family.” / Read more…

January 15, 2020. During the recent 2020 Conference of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, Boone’s Chief of Police Dana Crawford was reelected to serve an additional year as one of 10 Regional Directors in the state. Along with his constituents, Crawford received his oath of office from Lt. Governor Dan Forest. Crawford was elected last year to serve as a director for Region II, which represents several counties from Watauga through Iredell and over to Burke By Sherrie Norris / 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.

Tuesday’s Boone Town Council Meeting Agenda 

Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Company

The Walker Center Presents The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids on January 30

Annual Rosen Sculpture Competition Seeks Sculptors

Lees-McRae Named Finalist for NCAA Award of Excellence

Springs Dates for Appalachian State University Sports Performance Camp

Read more…
Compiled by Nathan Ham

January 14, 2020 Note: Blowing Rock Mayor Charlie Sellers will be providing the High Country Press with news and updates on projects in Blowing Rock. This week, Mayor Sellers shared updates on some items discussed at the town council’s annual retreat. Town of Blowing Rock Council Retreat was held on January 6, 7 and 8 at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. Listed below are the top ten items that are the focus of the council and Department supervisors over the next 12 months and items that were discussed that were previously approved and are ongoing projects.   / Read more…

January 14, 2019. As 2020’s winter weather begins to make its stride here in the High Country, residents of Avery County have collectively taken to the task of helping out those in need by hosting a Winter Coat Drive on January 12th. Avery County native Elizabeth Hempfling along with the High Country Charitable Foundation and Feeding Avery Families, are among those responsible for spearheading this idea, which has resulted in huge donation amounts from businesses and individuals alike. “Not only did we have individual donations from people who had purchased new items just to drop them off, but for example, we had the Leonard family from Ski Country Sports donate a whole bunch of brand new gloves from the shop, Footsloggers and the Miller family donated new items including jackets as well,” Hempfling commented. By Colby Gable / Read more…

January 14, 2020. The N.C. Education Lottery begins a new program today called Play Smart™, becoming the first U.S. lottery to start an original player-focused responsible gaming and prevention program centered on the education, encouragement and empowerment of lottery players. “Most people who play the lottery play responsibly and do not develop a problem,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the lottery. “To ensure responsible play continues, we needed a program that not only provides the resources and tools players need to make smart decisions before they play, but also encourages players to adopt behaviors that can reduce the risk of developing a problem.” Play Smart is like a lottery coach, educating players on how its games work, encouraging sensible and responsible play, and empowering players to recognize when playing the lottery is no longer fun and what to do if that happens. / Read more…

January 14, 2020. At its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on December 5, 2019, The Village Foundation of Blowing Rock announced that two new members will join its Board of Directors in 2020. Melissa Pickett, who previously served on the Foundation board, will rejoin the board. In addition, Zak Ammar, the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, will join the Foundation Board as an ex-officio member. The Foundation also announced that the following officers will serve the foundation in 2020: Jim Pitts, President; Cathy Robbins, Vice President; Kent Tarbutton, Secretary/Treasurer; and Jim Clabough, Immediate Past President.The Village Foundation of Blowing Rock is a 501c3, a North Carolina non-profit corporation dedicated to economic development and business education in Blowing Rock. / Read more…

January 13, 2019. WAMY’s inaugural Santa for Seniors program exceeded everyone’s expectations in 2019, bringing over 750 gifts and Christmas joy to those around the community who were not able to leave their homes during the holiday season. WAMY (Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Community Action Inc.) began the Santa for Seniors program to partner with shut-ins and hospice patients throughout the community; the program aims to bring these isolated people Christmas cheer in the form of gifts containing basic items that are useful to those who cannot leave their home such as socks, lotion, chapstick, and other items. “The Santa for Seniors program came about because we wanted to help those in our community who are elderly; specifically those who are shut-ins,” said Ashley Cook, Development Director of WAMY. By Joe Johnson / Read more…

January 13, 2020. Appalachian State University students headed back to their dorms and classrooms on Monday with spring semester classes getting underway. A total of 19,280 students were enrolled to begin the 2019-20 academic year and approximately 1,300 students graduated in December’s commencement ceremony. Looking at the rest of the 2020 spring calendar, the university will be closed next Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Spring break is scheduled for March 9-13 and early enrollment for the 2020 fall semester will begin on April 1 and continue through April 15. The university will be closed on Friday, April 10 for Good Friday. The last day of classes will be April 29 and final exams will start on May 1 and continue through May 7. Commencement ceremonies will take place on May 8-9.   By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 13, 2020. MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. Melissa Etheridge, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, The Marcus King Band, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and John Cowan will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today’s lineup announcement adds five great artists to MerleFest’s already stacked lineup. Tickets for next year’s festival are on sale now and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. MerleFest offers a three-tiered pricing structure and encourages fans to take advantage of the extended early bird discount. / Read more…

January 13, 2020. MerleFest, presented by Window World®, is pleased to announce Trent Wagler (of The Steel Wheels), Darrell Scott, and David Holt as judges for the 28th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (CASC). CASC is one of the most acclaimed songwriting contests in roots and Americana music and has a reputation for launching careers as well as drawing attention to important new talent. The contest is split into four genre-based categories including bluegrass, general, gospel, and country. First through third place winners will be chosen in each category at MerleFest 2020, set to take place on April 23 – 26, 2020. Finalists will be invited to the final round of the competition, which takes place Friday, April 24, during MerleFest. First-place winners will receive $600 cash from MerleFest, a performance slot on MerleFest’s Cabin Stage on Friday night, and a shared 30 minute set on Saturday. / Read more…