1000 x 90

“A Community on a Mountain with a Garden and a City”, New Art Piece in Blowing Rock

September 30, 2025 In May of 2020, Lillie and Kevin Troyer commissioned local artist Roger Allen Nelson to paint a 9 foot by 12 foot work of art entitled “A Community on a Mountain with a Garden and a City.”The Troyer’s and Mr. Nelson collaborated diligently for 5 years to implement the vision for the piece that was planned to be placed in 4 Forty Four’s new office in Blowing Rock. The Troyer’s purchased the property for the new office in July of 2018 and had the first stage of their design / build business model completed to the extent that they had identified a location on a wall in the central room of the new office to accommodate this 9’ by 12’ canvas and frame. 

Read more

AppleFEST at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market – Saturday, October 4th

September 30, 2025 Boone, NC – The Watauga County Farmers’ Market will celebrate the height of apple season with AppleFEST on Saturday, October 4th. Located at 591 Horn in the West Dr. in Boone, this bustling market with nearly 60 local vendors runs from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. every Saturday through November. This community tradition highlights the bounty of local orchards and the flavors of fall with fresh cider samples, an apple press experience, and the annual Apple Pie Contest.

Read more

Grandfather Mountain hosts international “summit” 

September 30, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, played host to the “Grandfather Summit” on Sept. 23, in partnership with the British Consulate General Atlanta and NC Forever. The day-long event included a tour of the N.C. nature park, panel discussions, presentations and “A Taste of Scotland” reception. 

Read more

Watauga Humane Society Raises Over $130,000 at Fur Ball, Launches $300,000 Capital Improvements Campaign with Matching Gift

September 30, 2025 BOONE, NC — On Saturday, September 13, WHS hosted its first Fur Ball since 2019. Held in the Grandview Ballroom overlooking Appalachian State University, the gala brought together animal lovers from across the High Country for a night of celebration with real impact. In just one evening, over $130,000 was raised to support lifesaving shelter services, medical care, and pet adoption programs.

Read more

VCF 2025 – “Come Hungry to the Fair!”

September 30, 2025 Come Hungry to the Valle Country Fair on Saturday, October 18
VALLE CRUCIS, NC – “Come hungry,” said Food Chairperson Trish Lanier. “Nibble your way through Fair flavors like apple cider, roasted corn and fried pies before you stock up on barbecue, Brunswick Stew or chili to take home for your evening meal. Everything you eat helps raise money for the charitable works of the Fair, so there is no such thing as eating too much!”

Read more

LETTER: Putting Helene Recovery in Historical Perspective

September 30, 2025 The bright warm days gave way to rains that parked over the verdant hills and unleashed torrents of water, swelling creeks and rivers throughout the region. People in quaint towns and bustling cities alike saw their cars swept away as roads flooded almost without warning. When it was all over, people had lost their lives and their livelihoods, and a largely rural region was left to pick up the pieces. In particular, those living in already precarious social positions often lost the most.

Read more

VCF 2025 – Gallehers 31st Year as BBQ Bosses

September 29, 2025 VALLE CRUCIS, NC – The October 18 Valle Country Fair (VCF) will be the swan song for BBQ Booth chairs Mike and Debbie Galleher, as the 2025 festival will be the last in their 31-year run as members of the VCF leadership team. “We started going to Holy Cross church and wanted to get involved in the Valle Country Fair,” said Mike. “We were told that everyone starts with garbage.”
Always held on the third Saturday in October (October 18, 2025), the Valle Country Fair is an authentic harvest-season celebration that revolves around hand-made crafts, home-cooked food and mountain music. Proceeds are used to provide grants to local charities and relief to local families with emergency needs. Admission is FREE and parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per vehicle.

Read more

TOWN OF BLOWING ROCK SEEKS FILLING A VACANT BOARD SEAT

September 29, 2025 The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) promotes, solicits, and encourages tourism in the Town of Blowing Rock in accordance with adopted Town plans/policies and administers the appropriation of the room occupancy tax proceeds. This Authority also studies the impact of tourism on the Town and develops strategies to minimize any negative impacts of tourism on the Town. The Authority shall have at least one/third of its members affiliated with lodging establishments that collect the occupancy tax and at least three/fourths of its members active in the promotion of travel and tourism in Blowing Rock. There are five (5) members of the Tourism Development Authority, two (2) members shall be individuals who are affiliated with the businesses that collect the occupancy tax.

Read more

Movie Review: “One Battle After Another”

September 29, 2025 Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson is known as a top-tier talent without top-tier recognition. None of his movies have made more than $50 million at the domestic box office, and despite 11 nominations, he’s never won himself an Academy Award (a combined three Oscar wins have come from his films, including Daniel Day-Lewis as Best Actor for 2007’s “There Will Be Blood,” but I’m talking about Anderson personally). “One Battle After Another” seems to represent an attempt by Anderson to step up his game, both commercially and creatively. The result is a film that is highly likely to give him his first blockbuster, and yes, could very well end his losing streak at the Oscars. 

Read more

Blowing Rock Planning board recommends town council deny Hampton Inn special use permit 

September 26, 2025 The Town of Blowing Rock’s Planning Board held its monthly meeting on September 18. The only non-standard agenda item was a discussion of the proposed special use permit (SUP) for a Hampton Inn hotel. Vice Chair Tom Barrett facilitated the meeting as the chair could not attend.
Blowing Rock Planning Director Kevin Rothrock’s presentation on behalf of the town included plan outlines, explanation of the special use permit requirement and numerous slides to provide context for the proposed project. The new hotel would have 98 guestrooms, a 200-seat banquet hall and a multistory underground parking deck located at 986 Ransom Street on a 2.076 acre lot. Vehicles would utilize a single driveway on Ransom Street to access the hotel.

Read more

BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION RECEIVES

September 26, 2025 BOONE, NC – The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation (BACCF) is excited to announce it has received a $250,000 grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s (CDP) Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund (the Fund).

Read more

Remembering Coach Clark: Faith, Family and Football

September 26, 2025 There are times when certain people come into your life, and you truly feel blessed by their presence.  That certainly was the case with Shawn Clark.  To meet Shawn was to be overwhelmed by a genuine, caring, kind, and optimistic soul.  He changed lives wherever he went because his life had been changed.  Shawn recalled during our first real conversation, “I learned how to be a man from my dad and Coach Moore”.  He credited both for introducing him to Jesus.  Shawn truly was a person who stood for faith, family, and football in that order.   

Read more

County hires new SRO for Blowing Rock School

September 25, 2025 In 2018, the Blowing Rock Town Council voted to hire a school resource officer (SRO) for Blowing Rock School. That decision preceded the Watauga County Board of Commissioners’ choice to fund SROs for county schools. The historic relationship between county commissioners and the Town of Blowing Rock regarding budget items was different than today. At that time, the county decided to allow the town to continue funding the SRO position on its own.

Read more

LETTER: Support Ransom Street

September 24, 2025 Last Thursday a Texas based developer presented a plan to build a 98 room, 6 story hotel on Ransom Street to the Blowing Rock Planning Board.  This meeting was attended by many Ransom Street residents worried about how this hotel would change for the worse their neighborhood and during an open comment period many voiced their fears including me.

Read more

Over 100 Indivisible High Country protesters gather Saturday afternoon

September 25, 2025 Over 100 protesters gathered along Stadium Drive between the duck pond and Jack Branch Drive Saturday afternoon to greet attendees of the Watauga County Republican Party’s Lincoln-Reagan dinner. The multi-generational group of protesters included members of Indivisible High Country and representatives from Appalachian State’s and Watauga High School’s Indivisible chapters. The protest began at 4:00 p.m. and was in full swing by the time the first dinner guests arrived around 4:30 p.m.

Read more

Watauga GOP Lincoln-Reagan dinner featured Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan

September 22, 2025 Boone, NC – The Watauga County Republican Party (GOP) held its annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner and fundraiser at Appalachian State University’s Grandview Ballroom on September 20. A VIP reception began at 5:00 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 6:00 p.m.

Watauga County GOP Chair Linda Byrd welcomed attendees before introducing Watauga County Board of Commissioners Chair Braxton Eggers to emcee the event. Toby Oliver, pastor at Perkinsville Baptist Church, delivered the invocation. Before dining, the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance as the Watauga High School ROTC presented colors, Blowing Rock Town Council candidate Melissa Tausche sang the National Anthem and guests viewed a welcome video message from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Read more

VCF 2025 – “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Release

September 25, 2025 Helene turned our world upside down last year and forced the cancelation of the 2024 Valle Country Fair (VCF), but the congregation of Holy Cross Episcopal Church rallied and is planning to reintroduce the beloved Fair on October 18, 2025, at the Red Barn pasture on Highway 194 between Banner Elk and Valle Crucis.

Read more

Four Eggers testifies before House Subcommittee on Natural Disasters and Elections

September 24, 2025 On September 16, National Voter Registration Day, Four Eggers testified in Washington, D.C. before U.S. House Administration Subcommittee on Elections. Eggers is an attorney in Boone and serves as the secretary for the North Carolina Board of Elections. Florida’s former Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Karen Bell, former executive director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, joined the panel with Eggers.

Read more

HCC A Night at Chetola is a hit!

September 23, 2025 Blowing Rock (NC) – “My Girl” echoed around Chetola Resort on Sept. 11 as hundreds of people gathered to raise money for High Country Caregivers, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting grandparents and other kinship caregivers. The 5th Annual “A Night at Chetola”, a gala fundraiser sponsored this year by The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation, Chetola Resorts, UBS — Wickham Cash Partners, Blowing Rock Brewing, and Ron & Reba Kennedy. 

Read more

Wildlife Agency Provides Updates to State’s Hatchery Devastated by Helene

September 23, 2025 RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2025) — Just as many lives, businesses, landscapes and wildlife were impacted on September 27, 2024 by Hurricane Helene as it ravaged through western North Carolina, one of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) fish hatcheries, the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County, was nearly destroyed.

Read more

Annual Fall Color Ramble returns to Grandfather Mountain on Sept. 27

September 24, 2025 LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is set to begin its annual Fall Color Ramble, marking one of the most beautiful times of the year. This series of guided nature walks allows guests to experience the season’s signature colors like never before. The Fall Color Rambles will be offered daily, weather permitting, from Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 12. The short excursions begin at 1 p.m. outside the entrance of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, and they typically last for 30 minutes.

Read more

Movie Review: “Him”

September 23, 2025 Jokes linking football and religion, especially Christianity, are common. “One gets Americans to sit attentively for hours every Sunday, the other is religion.” “Christian athletes always thank God when they win, never blame Him when they lose.” And of course, “WW(FSDJ)D? – What Would (Football Star Du Jour) Do?” With “Him,” it’s like writer/director Justin Tipping went and made a whole movie out of these jokes. But there’s a big problem: the movie isn’t supposed to be a comedy, it’s supposed to be a horror movie. 

Read more

+ More Articles