October 12, 2020  OASIS will be hosting a virtual 5k fundraiser event during the week of Oct. 18-24, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Week of Action. OASIS offers free and confidential services to victims and survivors of intimate partner violence ranging from immediate emergency shelter to comprehensive, wrap around services and referrals. The virtual 5k fundraiser is designed to raise awareness about intimate partner violence. While completing the 3.1 miles, participants can reflect on the realities of intimate partner violence, consider their roles in breaking the cycle of violence, think about ways to support survivors and spend time with themselves to heal and grow.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 12, 2020 Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs is pleased to provide an update on how to access the Banff Film Festival World Tour Virtual Online Platform which is now available. The Banff Film Festival has been an outstanding resource designed to celebrate the people, places, and pursuits from so many beloved mountain environments from all across the globe. While Outdoor Programs was disappointed in being able to deliver the Banff Festival World Tour Films (44th Edition) in-person back in March 2020 (or this fall) due to Covid-19, they are pleased to announce a virtual edition of those same Banff Festival World Tour Films (44th Edition) that were missed this year.  / Read more…

October 12, 2020  The High Country real estate market hit a new sales high in September, according to the monthly real estate report by the High Country Association of REALTORS®. REALTORS® sold 434 homes worth $171.41 million last month, eclipsing the then-record 370 homes sold in July. In that three-month time span – July to September – REALTORS® sold more homes than they had in the first six months of the year (1,172 to 1,041). Overall unit sales for the year so far – 2,213 – exceeded annual sales recorded for each year from 2007 to 2017. It’s also 85 percent of sales recorded the entirety of last year, as recorded within the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It tracks all REALTOR® transactions in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. Sellers’ market trends can also be seen in the median sold price – the midpoint at which half of all homes sold either above or below. The median sold price so far this year is $315,000, 6.7 percent higher than the median sold price for all of 2019. / Read more…

October 12, 2020  The Watauga County Board of Elections on Thursday welcomed Michael Behrent who was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to be Chair of the Watauga County Board of Elections. Mr. Behrent is replacing Jane Ann Hodges who resigned due to health concerns. “We welcome our new Chair and appreciate his service to Watauga County voters during this unusual time. We also want to thank Jane Ann Hodges for her years of dedicated service to the citizens of Watauga County as Director and as Board Chair. She will be missed, “ said Matthew Snyder, director of the Watauga County Board of Elections.  / Read more…

October 12, 2020  Guests can celebrate the 2020 holiday season at Tweetsie Railroad, as the attraction will transform into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas. Tweetsie Railroad will be opening to host Tweetsie Christmas beginning Nov. 13, and the event will take place every Friday and Saturday and select weekday evenings through Dec. 31. Guests will be able to enjoy a nighttime 3-mile ride in the Blue Ridge Mountains among thousands of dazzling light displays and scenes while being in an open-air train car pulled by a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive for about 20 minutes. Tickets for Tweetsie Christmas will go on sale beginning tomorrow, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.  By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 9, 2020 As a reminder, the last day to register to vote to cast a ballot on Election Day is today for North Carolina. However, individuals can also register and vote on the same day during the One Stop Early Voting Period. One Stop Early Voting in Watauga County and Avery County begins on Oct. 15 and continues through Oct. 31. Residents can also vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot online at the North Carolina Board of Elections Online Portal or by written request to the county board of elections office. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 9, 2020 The State Board of Elections on Thursday welcomed its newest members, Republicans Tommy Tucker and Stacy “Four” Eggers IV, who were appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper this week. The new members, sworn in during a State Board meeting Thursday afternoon, replace former members David Black and Ken Raymond, who recently resigned from the board. Black and Raymond both resigned over legal battles that were associated with absentee ballots in North Carolina.  “We welcome the new State Board members and appreciate their service to North Carolina voters,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board. Tucker, of Union County, is a former state senator who served four terms from 2011 to 2019. Eggers, of Watauga County, is a lawyer and formerly served on the Watauga County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections. / Read more…

October 9, 2020  Positive COVID-19 cases are still rising in Watauga County with an additional 107 cases in the last seven days, an increase of 28 percent since October 2. Currently, there are 377 active cases in the county with another 375 individuals being actively monitored. There have now been 1,473 total cases in Watauga County since the pandemic started. There have been three additional deaths reported from the virus, bringing the total to 14 lives lost in Watauga. Ashe County also had two additional deaths this week, bringing their countywide total to five. Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation has been the location of the bulk of the deaths in the count. A call placed to Glenbridge on Friday afternoon referred all questions to AppHealthCare. In the three-county district that AppHealthCare serves, there are currently 51 people hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 9, 2020  The leaves in the High Country have been continuing to explode with color this week. 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. 5, Neufeld said due to moderate temperatures since August and in September, he believes peak color will arrive near normal times. In addition, because there has been a lack of drought, the trees are retaining their leaves well into the season, meaning there are a lot of leaves that will turn colors. “Sometime between (October) 12th and 18th should be peak color at around 3,000′ elevation, a few days earlier high up, and a week or 10 days later moving downslope,” Neufeld wrote. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 5, 2020  Guests will have many reasons to grab their beer steins and put on their lederhosen or dirndl to visit Sugar Mountain this upcoming weekend, as the resort will be holding its 30th annual Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11. Held annually in the fall, Oktoberfest is a world famous German folk festival. It is considered one of the world’s most fun-filled celebrations. Admission, parking and shuttle service are free for the event, and the festival will go on no matter the weather. Families can take in the fall foliage, cool and comfortable mountain temperatures and festival activities from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 8, 2020 Appalachian State University released a statement on Oct. 8 announcing newly identified confirmed COVID-19 cases and clusters. App State and Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) are working closely together to investigate and respond to 15 active cases in 4 clusters of confirmed COVID-19. Additionally, there are 4 new positive cases associated with the active App State football team cluster: three staff and one student-athlete. / Read more…

October 8, 2020  Located at 140 W. King Street, the Watauga County Republican Party Headquarters is open to the public. It is a place where individuals can purchase merchandise, pick up campaign signage, get information about voting and discuss politics. The headquarters opened Aug. 15, and the hours of operation are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m – 1:30 p.m. The headquarters is also extending its hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. In addition, the headquarters is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 7, 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 7, 2020 As of Wednesday, October 7, according to latest available data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the state has had 222,969 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state has experienced a huge increase in hospitalizations during the last week. The NCDHHS reported on October 7 that 1,028 people were hospitalized, compared to 897 hospitalizations reported eight days earlier (September 29). NCDHHS reports an additional 247 North Carolinians have died related to the virus over the past eight-day period, as the agency reports 3,693 overall deaths compared to 3,446 on September 29. The Toe River Health District which encompasses Avery. Mitchell and Yancey counties, along with the NCHHHS reports that Avery County has had 435 cases, counting those at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institute (prison) as of October 7. Avery has had zero COVID-19 deaths. By Tim Gardner / Read more…

October 7, 2020. According to national and state pork producers councils, October is National Pork Month. In state rankings, North Carolina comes in second in pork production, following a good ways behind the No.1 producing state of Iowa. Global pork production is led by China, which is projected to produce around 34 million metric tons of pork this year. The European Union and the United States currently hold the second and third positions, respectively. Pork has in times past received less than positive reviews, but in recent years, has earned its place as “the other white meat.” There are many ways to use and enjoy pork, and hopefully this week’s recipes will help enhance your menu and inspire you to create your own new ways to put pork on your table. By Sherrie Norris / Read more…

October 7, 2020 Eligible individuals who want to cast their ballot on Election Day 2020 have until Friday, Oct. 9 to register to vote. “We encourage all eligible individuals to register to vote and make their voice heard in 2020,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “It’s easy, and there’s still time, either through the regular process or at any one-stop early voting location in your county.”Individuals who miss Friday’s deadline may register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, October 15-31, at any early voting site in their county.  / Read more…

October 6, 2020 Recently, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 exposures occurring from church services and are calling on all faith based organizations to help prevent further spread in our communities. “We acknowledge the important role faith and worship has in our daily lives, and COVID-19 has certainly challenged us to find ways to maintain connections with our community throughout this pandemic. We are sharing this alert because we are concerned with the increase in COVID-19 cases that have been linked back to church services or events and the risks this poses to each faith organization and the community as a whole. We appreciate and value the partnerships with our faith community and acknowledge this is not the only COVID-19 risk we are seeing currently, but is one that has had enough activity in the past week to draw attention to this as a serious matter.  / Read more…

October 6, 2020  A summer of improvements sets the stage for an enhanced visitor experience this winter at Beech Mountain Resort, the highest ski resort in the eastern United States. Guests will encounter more snow on the slopes, better skating conditions and less time filling out paperwork and waiting for ski rentals. Addressing these three areas was an ambitious endeavor over the summer, but general manager Ryan Costin says everything came together as planned. “I’m looking forward to this winter,” Costin says. “It will certainly be different in some aspects, but the product on the slopes will be the best we’ve ever been able to provide, and we have taken steps to improve the ice-skating experience and expedite wait times for lift tickets and equipment rentals.” On the mountain, the second phase of a three-part snowmaking upgrade was finished. It involved the installation of a major new pump system at reservoirs off property, which allows the resort to now move 4,000 gallons of water per minute to the on-site holding pond and then onto the slopes. / Read more…

October 5, 2020  All 536 Regal movie theater locations, which house 7,076 screens across 42 states, including the Regal Boone Cinema location, will shut down after the business day on Thursday, Oct. 8. The movie theater chain tweeted a statement this afternoon announcing the closure, saying: “In response to an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures, Regal will suspend operations at all theatres at close of business on Thursday, October 8, 2020 until further notice.” By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 5, 2020 School buses were back on the roads and picking up children Monday morning for the first time since March as Watauga County Schools returned kindergarten through third grade students to the classroom in a limited capacity. “It was certainly nice to see students in schools this morning! Our schools handled our screening and check-in procedures very well. It was good to see the planning we’ve done over the past several weeks put into practice,” said Garrett Price, the Director of Communication for Watauga County Schools. “In-person instruction is most important to our youngest students, so we were very happy to be able to get them back into school safely on our 2×3 Flex Schedule.” The “2×3 Flex Plan” will see half of the students in classrooms on Mondays and Tuesdays, the other half will be in school on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be used as remote instruction time for all students and will also be used as a day where each school goes through a deep cleaning process. Each day that the students are not in the classroom, they will have remote instruction activities to work on from home. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 5, 2020. Fall is in the air at App Ski Mtn., and now is the perfect time to get your 20-21 Season Membership!  All Memberships are offered at a discounted rate if purchased by October 15. With a season membership, you can ski all winter long for the price of about 8 ski tickets. Drop in anytime, when you only have the time to ski for an hour or two, and take advantage of your chance to ski without worrying about the cost of an unused ticket. Membership benefits include free parking and a gated members’ parking area closest to the lodge.  / Read more…

October 5, 2020  The Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk would like to recognize September’s group of Terrific Kids from Newland Elementary and Freedom Trail Elementary. The students from Newland Elementary are: Back Row (left to right): Ollie Blevins (3rd), Henry Ferrell (4th), Herlindo Barajas (5th), Trenten Brown (4th), Ivan Magallan (5th), Jaime Leon-Pahuamba (3rd), Adalyn Dellinger (1st). Front Row (left to right): Jasper Blake (K), Aron Robles Jimenez (1st), Maggie Carver (PreK), Brandon Enriquez (2nd). Not Pictured: Hayes Patience (5th). The students from Freedom Trail Elementary are: Back Row Left to Right: Jace Townsend, Amelia Grindstaff, Katie Lewis, Liliana Osorio, Jose Velazquez. Middle Row Left to Right: Sadie Franklin, Lindy Manis, Camryn Jarrett. Front Row Left to Right: Brynn Benfield, Walter Franklin, Darla Smith.  / Read more…

October 3, 2020  We are continuing to see increases in cases for COVID-19. These continued increases are concerning given that we are approaching flu season and will have both viruses circulating at the same time. For the week of September 20-26 (graphs below), increases occurred in cumulative, active and quarantine cases. These increases mean we must continue doing the things we know slow the spread of this virus. Our case trends have continued to increase with the largest percentage of cases in the 18-24 old age group. We are continuing to see the same trend with cases mostly exposed due to close contact with others through living or working closely with others or attending social gatherings. / Read more…

October 2, 2020  Over the last three days, Watauga County has experienced over 120 new cases and saw its active case total climb to 271 with 355 people in the county being actively monitored for the virus. On Tuesday, Watauga County had 1,076 total cases, 216 active cases, and 259 people being actively monitored. Watauga also saw its death count increase from nine to 11. As of Friday, October 2, Watauga County has 1,198 total cases, 271 active cases, and 355 people being actively monitored. Active cases have also slowly risen in Ashe County over the last three days. Previously, Ashe had 33 active cases and now has 50 active cases. Alleghany remains about the same, dropping from 17 active cases to 15 active cases. The total number of cases in the three-county district now sits at 1,755 with 336 active cases. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 2, 2020  The Watauga County Candidate’s Forum co-sponsored by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce gave local voters a chance to hear some of the ideas that each candidate has in mind for the High Country. “We certainly wish you could have been with us tonight, but in accordance with North Carolina’s Safer at Home Order 2.5 which we are still in until Friday, we simply don’t have enough capacity here at the Appalachian Theatre to host you,” said Boone Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, David Jackson. “Instead, we have worked to make this event more accessible than it ever has been before.” The forum was aired live on AppTV throughout western NC as well as on the chamber’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel. The forum was aired live on radio on WATA 96.5 FM and 1450 AM. The questions were asked in a round-robin format and each candidate had the chance to answer all the questions. By Nathan Ham / Read more…

October 2, 2020  Amos and Kaci Nidiffer, the owners of Trosly Farm in Avery County, are the 2020 North Carolina Small Farmers of the Year. It took a bad car accident for the Nidiffers to commit to farming. “We were lucky to survive,” Kaci Nidiffer said. “The day after we crawled out of the wreck, I said, ‘I’m quitting my job and we’re going to farm full time.’ That was our eureka-type moment when we realized what’s really important.” Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University presented the award to the Nidiffers Sept. 30 during an online ceremony. “They live and breathe this business, and they work it constantly,” said Avery County Cooperative Extension Agent Bill Hoffman, who nominated them for the award. “They make it look easy. Everybody who comes out here is impressed.” / Read more…

October 2, 2020  The North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF), formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, awarded Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) $1,064,895 toward the purchase of land on Three Top Mountain in Ashe County.  The 355-acre property is located within the Three Top Mountain Natural Heritage Area and will serve as a critical connection between existing game land managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. This project protects 3.5 miles of headwater streams and expands the range for wildlife habitat and migration corridors. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program defines the mountain as exceptional, the highest rating a natural area can receive. / Read more…

October 2, 2020  Regal Boone Cinema, located at 210 New Market Street Centre, is scheduled to open today, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m.  This reopening comes six months after the Boone movie theater and all other Regal theater locations had to close on March 17 as a precaution to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reopening plans include a wide range of new health and safety measures that adhere to the latest CDC and public health guidelines, including innovative sanitization procedures, new social distancing protocols, and mandatory mask policies for Regal employees and guests. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 2, 2020 Avery County law enforcement authorities as well as its fire marshal and other emergency management agents are in the process of contacting as many of the county’s residents as possible by phone and other means to make them aware of a scam currently circulating. The scam is being conducted by telephone and the caller tells those who answer the calls that their Social Security number has been compromised and they could possibly be arrested. The caller then says that their Social Security number will be locked and for the person answering the call to send money on gift cards. The caller claims to work with Avery Emergency Communications and is even cloning the communications numbers.  / Read more…

October 2, 2020  As fall colors continue to burst in the Western North Carolina High Country, Grandfather Mountain is offering one of the most stunning vantage points from which to view it — in person and digitally. Digitally, Grandfather Mountain is showcasing its annual Fall Color Gallery, which is updated daily at www.grandfather.com/fallcolor and on Grandfather Mountain’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). The Fall Color Gallery provides viewers with a real-time glimpse at foliage progression in the area. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 2, 2020 Appalachian State University and Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) are working closely together to investigate and respond to seven new active clusters of confirmed COVID-19. A cluster is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as a minimum of five cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases. / Read more…

October 1, 2020 The Watauga County Board of Elections will meet electronically on Friday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. to continue reviewing and approving absentee envelopes. The Board of Elections’ first meeting was held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and they received 1,677 ballots, Watauga County Board of Elections Director Matt Snyder said. Snyder further said 1,677 absentee ballots is more than any one single year in totality, as in 2016, there were 1,544 total absentee ballots voting by mail. As of Oct. 1, the Watauga County Board of Elections has received 1,794 absentee by mail ballots. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

October 1, 2020. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina invested $500,000 with Meals on Wheels of North Carolina to help improve the issue of food insecurity for seniors statewide. The money was distributed between all 100 counties in North Carolina, with each county receiving $5,000. Meals on Wheels of North Carolina is a nonprofit statewide network of senior nutrition providers allied in passion to end senior hunger, according to its website. The senior population in North Carolina is at 2,186,554 or 22% of the total state population. The number of seniors threatened by hunger is at 448,244 or 21%. Before COVID-19, Meals on Wheels discovered nearly 1 in 4 seniors were threatened by hunger in North Carolina. By April, Meals on Wheels then saw an increase in need, with an average of 77% more meals and 47% more seniors being served compared to the month prior. By Harley Nefe / Read more…

September 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

September 30, 2020 North Carolina will ease cautiously some restrictions while continuing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as the state’s metrics remained stable in September, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. “Our top priority remains getting children back to in-person learning. This month marks a major shift for many families now and in the coming months as schools open their doors, some for the first time since the pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “The virus continues to spread, so we must take the next steps methodically, and responsibly.” “We must continue our hard work to slow the spread of this virus,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “By practicing the 3Ws — wear, wait and wash, — getting your flu shot, and downloading the SlowCOVIDNC app, each of us can protect the progress we have made.”  / Read more…