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Avery Board of Commissioners Address Property Lease Agreement Between County and State During August 7 Meeting

August 9, 2023 Approval of a lease agreement between the County of Avery and the State of North Carolina of the property where the county’s Emergency Communications Tower is located and questions and concerns from citizens regarding military veterans, law enforcement officers, and religious literature being distributed in the county’s library highlighted the Avery Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, August 7. By Tim Gardner

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New Principal Jennifer O’Briant Leads Avery County High School Into 2023-2024 Academic Year


August 3, 2023. Avery County High School has a new principal for the 2023-2024 academic year as veteran educator Jennifer O’Briant has been hired to the post by the county’s Board of Education. She replaces Ricky Ward in the post.  According to Avery County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman, Ward was reassigned from principal to a position in the Avery County Board of Education Central Office, but resigned a short time later to become principal at Bethel School in Watauga County. By Tim Gardner

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Avery County to Offer Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on August 19

August 1, 2023 The Avery County Solid Waste Department will offer a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on August 19. The event is for Avery County residents only, who may dispose of items from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in collection areas located behind the Avery Board of Education administrative offices, located at 775 Cranberry Street in Newland. Signs will be posted at the roadsides there indicating the waste collection site, Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier, Jr. noted. By Tim Gardner

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Town of Boone Awards the Watauga Community Housing Trust $10,000 Towards Affordable Housing Opportunity

July 30, 2023 The Town of Boone has awarded the Watauga Community Housing Trust $10,000 towards the first concrete project for affordable housing within the Town of Boone limits. During the June 6, 2023 Town of Boone Budget Retreat, the Boone Town Council pledged $10,000 towards this project, with the contingency that the Watauga Community Housing Trust raised $45,000 and that the property is within Town limits. 

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Free Meals will be Available During The 2023-2024 Year for All Students Attending Avery County Public Schools

July 26, 2023 The Avery County Public School System will offer free lunches for the 2023-2024 school year, which begins for students on Monday, August 14. The free meals are part of the Community Eligibility Provision, which is a meal service option that allows eligible schools to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students in a particular school or an entire school system.  By Tim Gardner

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Lisa Bottomley Named Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association

July 10, 2023 Lisa Bottomley has been named Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association effective July 3, 2023. “I grew up and now live in the heart of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in beautiful Alleghany County, NC. I am passionate about the Parkway and scenic byways and the economic impact they have on surrounding communities. I am excited to work with the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and look forward to promoting its members and ensuring that the Parkway remains a beloved destination for millions of people. I hold so many memories of the Parkway near and dear to my heart and I look forward to connecting travelers of all ages to the diverse experiences that the Parkway has to offer” she said.

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Municipal Government Election Filings Begin Friday, July 7

July 6, 2023 Filing begins on Friday, July 7 at 12:00 noon for 2023 partisan and nonpartisan municipal (city, town and village) elections across the State of North Carolina. This filing period will end on Friday, July 21, at 12:00 noon and any person filing for a municipal government position must do so in person at the Board of Election Office in the county in which he or she resides.   By Tim Gardner

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The Mountain Boomer Brings Food, Drink, and Community to the High Country

July 3, 2023 After meeting at App State in 2019 by both being enrolled in the Fermentation Sciences program, Dean Reed of Newland and Willie Olson of Sugar Grove are embarking on a new adventure of bringing quality, tasty ciders to the High Country. Owners, veterans, and cider makers Reed and Olson began being business partners of The Mountain Boomer after realizing that they not only enjoyed each other’s company, but worked well together since completing countless classes, group projects, and brew days. By Harley Nefe

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Watauga High School Gets New Principal

June 26, 2023 Scott Strickler has been named the new principal of Watauga County High School by the county board of education. He takes the place of Chris Blanton who was recently promoted to assistant superintendent for the school system.  By Zack Hill

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The Graystone Lodge Celebrates Grand Opening: Modern, Upscale Hotel Captures the Spirit of the High Country

June 25, 2023 Inspired by the spirit of the High Country, a beautiful, revitalized hotel is giving travelers even more reason to visit the charming mountain town of Boone. The Graystone Lodge, a boutique hotel located at 2419 NC-105, officially celebrated its grand opening on June 20 with its ribbon-cutting ceremony. With a front lobby packed full of guests enjoying a silent auction benefiting the Hunger and Health Coalition, live jazz music, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and tasteful beer and wine, there was much to celebrate about the newly renovated property.  By Harley Nefe

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One Man Seriously Injured in Wreck With AppalCart Bus

June 20, 2023 A North Wilkesboro man was seriously injured and airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee after the car he was driving crossed the centerline of U.S. 421 in Watauga County and collided head-on with an AppalCart bus, according to a North Carolina State Highway Patrol press release.  By Zack Hill

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More Than 300 Turn Out for Pride Month Rally and Festival

June 19, 2023 More than 300 people marched down King Street and gathered in the parking lot behind Mast General Store and Lost Province Brewing Co. Sunday to celebrate Pride Month, dedicated nationwide to celebrating and furthering the cause of the LGBTQI+ community. Marchers started at the Watauga Health Department and headed east down King Street before crossing near First Baptist Church of Boone and circling back to Lost Province.  By Zack Hill

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Spruce Pine Hardee’s Restaurant Re-Opens after Clearance from Health Department as Police Investigation Continues

June 14, 2023 The Hardee’s Restaurant in the Mitchell County Town of Spruce Pine has re-opened after a temporary, voluntary closure on May 30. F.M. Gardner, Interim Director of the Toe River Health District, which governs the Mitchell County Health Department, released the following statement to High Country Press: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department agreed with the restaurant’s District Manager’s decision to temporarily close this establishment pending a deep cleaning and re-education of employees.  The Health Department has been in contact with the NC (North Carolina) Food Protection Branch regarding this matter.” By Tim Gardner

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U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review of N.C. Confederate Flag License Plate Case

June 14, 2023 The U.S. Supreme Court has declined reviewing a North Carolina lawsuit filed against the Department of Transportation’s decision to stop issuing license plates with the Confederate flag insignia of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The suit was brought by a N.C. chapter the group. The Supreme Court appeal stems from a previous lawsuit filed in 2021 by the same group. That suit was dismissed by a local court in N.C. and later upheld by a federal appeals court.  By Zack Hill

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Watauga County Republican Women’s Club Announce June Meeting

June 12, 2023 The Watauga County Republican Women’s Club (WCRWC) will have its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 27th at the Dan’l Boone Inn in Boone, NC. The meeting will begin at 6:00:PM. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in The High Country are welcome to attend and are invited to join. Call 828-832-6864 for more information. See us on Facebook and learn more.

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