January 6, 2021. 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 6, 2021 Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen shared an update today on North Carolina’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and support the vaccination effort currently underway.  Governor Cooper extended North Carolina’s Modified Stay At Home Order that requires people to be at home from 10 pm – 5 am to last through at least Friday, January 29. Secretary Cohen also issued a Secretarial Directive with stark warnings for North Carolinians to avoid indoor spaces without masks and gatherings between households. Read here for more details on the Secretarial Directive. “We have turned the page on a new year – one that we’re hoping will bring better times. But as we know, the virus didn’t disappear at midnight on December 31,” Governor Cooper said. “In fact, in North Carolina, we have seen some of our highest case counts, percent positives, hospitalizations and ICU bed usage numbers in the past few days. No matter where you live, work, worship or play, COVID-19 remains a deadly threat, and we must treat it that way.” / Read more…

January 6, 2021 Today, The Conservation Fund and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced the addition of 205 acres to Pisgah National Forest at Linville Gorge, buffering the adjacent Wilderness Area. Its protection secures iconic viewsheds, enhances access for recreation, and preserves wildlife habitat and water quality for the area. In 2018, The Conservation Fund purchased the property and transferred it to USFS for their permanent protection at the end of 2020. This effort was made possible with support from the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Conservancy and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, as well as funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Fred and Alice Stanback.. / Read more…

January 6, 2021. The crockpot, also known as a slow cooker, has made a come-back in recent years, and has become a best friend to cooks everywhere. It’s especially helpful to busy wives and mothers, as it requires very little prep or clean-up, and its results usually end up as family favorites for life. In today’s world, anything we can do to make life a little less hectic is a win-win for everyone. Here’s hoping these recipes help ease the load for you in this new year. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

January 5, 2021 Three incumbent District Court judges for the 24th Judicial District – Ted McEntire, Hal Harrison, and Rebecca Eggers-Gryder – were sworn in at the Mitchell County Courthouse on Jan. 1 by Superior Court Judge Greg Horne. The 24th Judicial District comprises Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties. All three judges ran unopposed in the 2020 Election. District judges serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…

January 5, 2021 The 16th annual Sugar Mountain Adult Race League kicked off its first night of the 2021 season on Jan. 4. “Ski Country Sports and Sugar Mountain are proud to kick off this year’s SMARL event,” said Bill Leonard, owner of Ski Country Sports, who co-sponsors the racing league along with Sugar Mountain Resort. Matt Leonard of Ski Country Sports said the conditions for the opener race night were beautiful, with great snow and perfect temperatures. He also said the race crew did a nice job getting the course up and running on time, and it being in great shape. “Everything ran smoothly, and it was nice to get out and get some fresh air after a busy couple of weeks,” Matt Leonard said. “It was fun, and we’re excited for the season.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

January 4 2021 The news surrounding COVID-19 in the High Country continues to be concerning as hospitalizations from the virus now sit at 105 people in Ashe, Watauga and Alleghany counties, according to the latest data provided by AppHealthCare. There are currently 140 active cases in Watauga, 99 active cases in Ashe and 53 active cases in Alleghany. So far 33 deaths have been reported in Ashe, 20 in Watauga and four in Alleghany. The major surge in deaths in Ashe County has been reported at Margate Health and Rehab where there has been a large, ongoing outbreak that has affected 89 residents and 54 staff members. Of those positive tests, 13 have died. Currently, the outbreak appears to be on the decline with just five active cases among residents and one staff member with an active case.  By Nathan Ham / Read more…

January 4, 2021 Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the arrest of a Reginald Steve Elledge for the shooting death of Leonicio Ramos Guerrero in the Fleetwood area. At approximately 7:40 P.M. on Saturday, January 2, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call advising that an adult male had just shot another adult male at a home in the 400 block of Little Gap Road. The caller advised telecommunicators that the suspect shot the victim and fled the scene in a white Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Law enforcement officers were given a description of the suspect’s vehicle. West Jefferson Police Officer Mike Miller observed a vehicle matching the description pull into the parking lot of Lowe’s hardware in West Jefferson where Miller was able to stop the vehicle and take Elledge into custody without incident. / Read more…

January 4, 2021 Thrivent is awarding Watauga County Habitat for Humanity a contribution of $5000 to help families in Watauga County stay in their homes. Thrivent’s donation will allow Watauga Habitat to provide mortgage relief to Habitat homeowners who need temporary assistance making their mortgage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Thrivent’s support, Watauga Habitat will sustain affordable homeownership costs for families who will be served through these funds. Prior to the spread of the novel coronavirus, more than 18 million households across the U.S. were paying half or more of their income on a place to live. As the pandemic continues to cause job disruption and economic fallout, many households are enduring lay-offs, unemployment, and pay cuts. This wage loss has amplified the financial burden on households to maintain essential payments and can result in families having to trade-off between bills, mortgage, or medical care. / Read more…

January 4, 2021 Chief Justice Paul Newby became the 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina today. He took the oath of office shortly after midnight, administered by Superior Court Judge Andrew Heath in the Newby home. Chief Justice Newby holds the highest judicial office in North Carolina and heads the Judicial Branch, the third and co-equal branch of state government. A formal ceremonial investiture is scheduled for January 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. and can be viewed from the Supreme Court’s YouTube page. “It is truly a sacred honor and privilege to serve as the 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina,” said Chief Justice Paul Newby. “Today, I took a solemn oath before God and the people of this great state to uphold the constitution and laws of this land, so that justice will be administered fairly without prejudice for all North Carolinians.” / Read more…

January 1, 2021 The second annual ball drop at the Horton Hotel went off without a hitch on New Year’s Eve night in Downtown Boone. The weather turned out to be beautiful with 50-degree temps and a fuzzy huge moon shinning through the overcast night sky. Due to North Carolina’s 9 p.m. curfew, the ball drop was moved to 8 p.m. “We’re doing what we can to celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of a new year within all the parameters,” said Denise Lovin, hotel co-owner. “We felt it was important to try as hard as we could to keep the tradition alive,” said Fulton Lovin, hotel co-owner. Guests filled the rooftop bar area to help ring in the New Year and there were a number of folks standing across the street from the hotel in the Jones House lawn to watch the event. / Read more…

December 31, 2020 March seems like forever ago at this point as we all say goodbye to 2020 at midnight tonight. Unfortunately, after the first positive case of COVID-19 in Watauga County was discovered on March 15, the public is still dealing with this virus in full-force as the year comes to a close. The High Country Press has put together a timeline of events related to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to remind everyone how the pandemic started and how quickly the coronavirus spread throughout the High Country and North Carolina. By Nathan Ham and Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 31, 2020 As of New Year’s, Eve, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 3,320 Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Toe River, NC Health District counties of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey combined. Counts of those afflicted with the disease have been tabulated, updated and publicly released by the Department of Health and Human Services and locally by the Toe River Health District since early March 2020 when COVID-19 became a pandemic in the United States. There currently are 408 people in the Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties isolating with COVID-19. The health departments of each county are closely monitoring these cases. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

December 31, 2020 Samaritan’s Purse will begin the construction of a 30-bed, emergency field hospital on the grounds of Caldwell UNC Health Care in Lenoir, NC on Friday, January 1st. The unit will provide regional COVID-19 care support, assisting five health systems in western North Carolina. The Caldwell UNC site was selected for this field hospital due to its central location and ability to provide support services. Patients receiving treatment at the field hospital will be limited to those who are COVID- positive but do not need the support of a ventilator. / Read more…

December 31, 2020 COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise in most parts of the country, including right here in Watauga County. Watauga Medical Center is close to its max capacity in its COVID-19 unit. On Christmas Day, there were 15 patients in the COVID-19 unit. As of Dec. 30, there were 28 patients in the COVID-19 unit. The unit can currently hold up to 34 patients battling the virus. In one week, Watauga Medical Center went from having 38 total patients to 88 patients. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 31, 2020 “Last week we were able to provide the first COVID-19 vaccines to those who qualify in Phase 1a. This is an exciting and important step to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Since there are limited supplies of the vaccine right now, we have to give it to those at highest risk first. We encourage everyone to be patient as we work through the phases. Everyone who wants a vaccine will have an opportunity to get it and as supplies increase, we will be able to broaden it to more people,” stated Jennifer Greene, Health Director, AppHealthCare. Last week we received 600 doses of Moderna vaccine and this week we received 975 doses of Pfizer vaccine. We anticipate we will receive 400 doses of Moderna vaccine next week. / Read more…

December 31, 2020 Ray Russell served one term in the North Carolina House of Representatives, but it was certainly an experience that he will never forget. “There’s so much history there. You see the pictures of the people who have come before you. They’re all hanging on the wall, each class of the legislature, and to know you’re a part of that grand history. That part is good. Not all of that history is great. Some of it is pretty devastating when you dig into it. But still, you’ve got people who have sacrificed for the state for over 200 years, so it’s great to be a part of that history,” Russell said about his first impression of walking into the N.C. House of Representatives. Russell challenged Republican incumbent Jonathan Jordan in 2018 and won the District 93 seat with 52.2 percent of the vote to Jordan’s 47.8 percent of the vote. During his two years in office, Russell served on the N.C. House Transportation Committee, Pensions and Retirement Committee, Environment Committee, Elections and Ethics Law Committee and Appropriations on Transportation Committee. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 31, 2020 Watauga High School freshman Ellary Smith, who is 14 years old, enjoys being a musician and running on the cross country team. Ellary is also a young activist in the community who has raised over $1,155 for the homeless population in Watauga County, and this initiative all started from a single encounter. One day in November when running alongside some of her friends on the Greenway, Ellary saw someone who had their sleeping bag and their coat and everything set up in the woods. “They were having to sleep in the woods, and the day we saw it was when it was getting ready to have a big snow and a temperature drop,” Ellary said. “It was just really concerning to see that.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 31, 2020. I read something this week that pretty well sums up my feelings about New Year’s Eve: “I’m not so anxious about staying up to see a new year in, but just to make sure this old one leaves.” I have a feeling that I am not the only one who agrees to this sentiment. This has, indeed, been a very difficult year for our community, our state, nation and world. There are few words to describe the confusion, the pain, loss and just overall despair that countless people have felt since mid-March. We can only hope and pray that things start to improve for our families and all around us. In the meantime, and on a lighter note, I ran across some of my seasonal archives and thought it would be fun to share some New Year traditions, thoughts and ideas that have been passed down and all around. I truly wish us all a Happy New Year as 2021 rolls around. Here in the south, it’s a long-held tradition to eat black eyed peas, turnip greens, cabbage, corned beef and cornbread on New Year’s Day. The black-eyed peas are considered a symbol of good luck; and the cabbage, like the turnip greens and cornbread, are considered symbols of money and wealth. Many believe that other traditions or “superstitions” associated with activities on New Year’s Day set the pattern for the year to come. Here are a few of the most common: By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

December 30, 2020 Blowing Rock native and Team USA Snowboarder Luke Winkelmann came home for the holidays last week and made sure to stop by Appalachian Ski Mtn. for the unveiling of a new terrain park feature named Wink’s Way. “We were talking about ideas over at Red Bull and we made this come to life. I had this vision to make this street-inspired plaza and I thought it would be cool to bring it to my home mountain,” Winkelmann said. “I’ve seen them do it in California at Bear Mountain where they have another Red Bull Plaza there and I thought it would be special to bring one here.” The new feature is designed to make you feel like you are on the streets in a downtown city with a staircase, down rails and flat rails. Winkelmann and some of his snowboarding buddies came to the mountain on Monday, December 21 for the grand opening of Wink’s Way. Luke worked with Chris Jones, the lead terrain park builder at Appalachian Ski Mtn., as well as Rick Wilkinson and Devin McCluskey, who worked on fabricating the new terrain park feature. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 30, 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

December 30, 2020 Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 184, extending North Carolina’s evictions moratorium through January 31, 2021. Research shows that eviction moratoriums help prevent the spread of COVID-19. States that let their eviction moratoriums lapse saw a COVID-19 incidence rate that was 1.6 times higher than states that kept a moratorium in place. “Too many families are living on the edge, trying to do the right thing, but left with impossible choices. This Order will help them stay in their homes, which is essential to slowing the spread of the virus,” Governor Cooper said. E.O. 184 clarifies and expands the federal eviction moratorium, which was extended by Congress until January 31, 2021. With many people struggling financially due to this pandemic, this Order halts evictions for nonpayment of rent. / Read more…

December 30, 2020 Blue Ridge Conservancy has now conserved over 22,000 acres of land in northwest North Carolina. Two recent projects in Wilkes County enabled us to reach this benchmark in the final days of 2020. Despite the challenges, restrictions, and unknowns faced this year, land protection success remained steady. This month BRC closed on two projects in Wilkes County, adding land to existing conservation easements and further protecting the scenic beauty, cultural history, and ecological richness of the Brushy Mountains. / Read more…

December 28, 2020 In February 2020, at the request of the Town of Boone, the Boone Town Council and the Watauga County Commission held a joint meeting to discuss the Town’s desire to save what is known as the “Oscar and Suma Hardin House” located at 136 North Water Street in downtown Boone, which most recently functioned as the Turner Law Offices. The town’s Historic Preservation Commission had recognized the historic nature of the home due to its unique architectural features and because it was the childhood home of Bobby Hardin, the mayor of Blowing Rock from 1953 to 1971. The structure is included in the town’s planned historic district which has been approved by the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office. But demolition is pending, it may only be a matter of days, and if you are interested you may want to visit the site sooner than later so that you can see the beauty of the historic structure and the missed opportunity. / Read more…

December 28, 2020 During this time of year, visitors through the holiday season have always played a major role in keeping a stable economy in Watauga and Avery County. Restaurants, ski resorts and hotels need these travelers each winter to survive an otherwise quiet time in the High Country with limited student impact during December and January. In Avery County especially, a vibrant tourism economy is much-needed at all times of the year. “Banner Elk has experienced a very lively holiday weekend that will continue through the rest of this week,” said Melynda Pepple, the Executive Director of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber is hearing from our members that the holiday period has been very good so far. We’ve seen lots of people visiting the ski slopes and many other things available in the Avery County area.” By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 28, 2020 Folks can meet and have a place to celebrate the new year in Downtown Boone at The Horton Hotel and Rooftop Lounge with its own ball drop Thursday night. Weather permitting, the ball drop will be located outside on the rooftop, which is visible from King Street, the Jones House lawn and numerous other places in Downtown Boone. However, if it rains, the ball drop will take place indoors and go from the ceiling in the entrance to the floor in the lobby area. “We felt it was important to try as hard as we could to keep the tradition alive,” said Fulton Lovin, hotel co-owner. Due to North Carolina’s 9 p.m. curfew, the ball drop will occur at 8 p.m. “We’re doing what we can to celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of a new year within all the parameters,” said Denise Lovin, hotel co-owner. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 26, 2020 After a deep freeze last night that saw temperatures approach zero across the High Country with Boone reaching a low of 9 degrees and Blowing Rock was down to 7 degrees in the early hours, while Beech Mountain dropped to -0.5 degrees at 10:30 this morning and it was -1 on the top of Sugar Mountain at 5:30 a.m.  And Banner Elk was at 0 degrees at midnight. Ray’s Weather Center is forecasting afternoon temps reaching right at the freezing mark of 32 degrees today before dropping to just the mid teens tonight. And we’ll see lots of blue skies through Sunday afternoon. Travel is still hazardous out there – so be careful!  / Read more…

December 26, 2020 A total of 31,293 COVID-19 tests were administered by Appalachian State University to faculty, staff and students during the fall 2020 semester — representing the majority of tests conducted in Watauga County. The tests were offered at no cost to participants. App State, which coordinates its COVID-19 response with the University of North Carolina System, held 42 open, campuswide testing events since Aug. 10, in addition to daily testing available for students at the M.S. Shook Student Health Service. There were also targeted testing events for student-athletes and residential students in response to clusters identified by local public health agency AppHealthCare.  / Read more…

December 23, 2020 If you’re one of the many people who have been begging for a White Christmas over the last few years, it sure looks like you will get your wish. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning that will go into effect at 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon until 6 a.m. Friday. According to the NWS, moderate to heavy snowfall will fall throughout the evening Thursday and overnight Thursday night. Total snow accumulations will range from 2-4 inches for most areas with higher totals at the higher elevations. Wind and bone-chilling temperatures will also be an issue as the storm rolls through the High Country. Winds will gust up to 45 MPH and wind chills will dip below zero, making travel hazardous, particularly Thursday night. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

December 23, 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

December 23, 2020 The Boone Police Department delivered holiday cheer today to local retirement and assisted living facilities. Officers from the department delivered blankets as well as care packages containing snacks, treats and hygiene items to Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation, Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living, and Appalachian Brian Estates. A community partnership was started on December 7 and ran through December 18 in an effort to help with various needs in these facilities. Community Resource Officer Kat Eller led the initiative by asking the public to partner with the department to help fill the needs of Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation Center. However, after a two-week Holiday Drive, the Boone Police Department collected over 200 blankets and enough items to also provide care packages to Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living, and Appalachian Brian Estates.  / Read more…

December 23, 2020 Appalachian Regional Healthcare System’s first COVID-19 vaccines were administered on Tuesday, December 22 at Watauga Medical Center. Occupational health nurse, Crystal Minton, RN, vaccinated Kevin Wolfe, MD, a pulmonologist who is treating COVID patients at the hospital, followed by Emergency Department nurse Madison Bakken, RN. “We feel so fortunate to be able to begin vaccinating our frontline workers who are taking care of COVID patients each day,” said Chuck Mantooth, President and CEO of ARHS. “Protecting them means they will stay healthy and continue to be available for the community.”   There was an air of excitement in the room as Dr. Wolfe received his dose, and those within view erupted in applause. Many healthcare workers see these vaccinations as a first step in defeating this virus, and have a renewed sense of hope.  / Read more…

December 23, 2020 Three hundred and thirty-five days ago, Appalachian State University began its COVID-19 campus planning discussions, and on March 1 it formally activated its emergency operations center to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Since then, the university has coordinated a universitywide response, guided by App State Chancellor Sheri Everts, to the global COVID-19 pandemic that has involved every department at App State, as well as agencies across the town, region and state. The campus remained open, continuing to deliver instruction remotely, in-person and using hybrids of both methods. Faculty and staff adapted classes, events and experiences to continue App State’s academic mission as safely as possible. By Megan Bruffy / Read more…

December 22, 2020 Residents throughout the local community can bring the spirit of Christmas to their houses or surprise someone dear to them this season with the Southern Appalachian Historical Association’s Lamp-post Carolers. “It is so that we can move off our regular season to bring entertainment within the community and also begin to fundraise outside of our regular season, so that our drama and entertainment can continue,” said Jill Privett, who is a SAHA Board Member and helped create the concept. This is a new concept for SAHA this year, and it is historical, with the carolers being clothed in authentic period costumes. After being hired, the carolers will go into the community and sing, spreading holiday cheer, especially during the challenging times. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

December 22, 2020 Looking up at the southwestern sky at night the past few days, many people have been seeing the rare astronomical event of the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, more commonly known as the Christmas Star this time of the year. Local photographer Todd Bush is also one of the people who has had some luck in seeing the event through breaks in the clouds and has been capturing pictures of it to share with others. “It was a really fun event to be part of, and I was so glad that the people of planet Earth seemed to be sharing in the enthusiasm for it,” Bush said. By Harley Nefe / Read more…