September 25, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Septembere 23, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
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.
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.
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.
September 22, 2025 JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — Large white tents will once again transform historic downtown Jonesborough into a stage for the imagination as the National Storytelling Festival returns Oct. 3–5 for its 52nd year. Recognized as America’s premier storytelling event, the Festival draws visitors from across the country and around the globe to the Storytelling Capital of the World. Since 1973, audiences have gathered in Tennessee’s oldest town to be inspired and entertained by folktales, fables, myths, legends, and personal stories told by master storytellers.
September 22, 2025 Watauga County Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to announce the 12th annual Blueprints and Bow Ties fundraiser! This live and silent auction event will be hosted at Appalachian State University’s Grandview Ballroom on October 23th, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Auction-goers can expect to be greeted upon entry, and can enjoy adult beverages with drink tickets provided for every ticket holder, and food catered by Appalachian State’s Grandview Catering and Events, while browsing silent auction items.
September 19, 2025 At first I was bewildered by Shane Fox’s attack on the Blowing Rock Civic Association. Then I realized he had insulted me and the several hundred members of the BRCA by attributing the personal views of one member of the organization to all of us. A bit of overreaction. The Civic Association has no position for or against the daycare. I have been a board member and attended every meeting for years. The BRCA and its’ board have never taken a position on the town daycare center. Personally, I think it’s a good idea.
September 18, 2025 If you believe what you were taught in public schools, and accept much of what the dominant media present, you are misinformed, at best. A famous American writer said something to the effect of: where you get your paycheck informs others of your opinion.
September 16, 2025 Ah, “Demon Slayer,” the anime franchise that comes out with a new movie about once every two years with seasons’ worth of television between the movies. I don’t keep up with the series, which admittedly puts me outside the film’s target audience of its existing fanbase. If you do follow “Demon Slayer,” you’ll almost certainly get more out of “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” than I did, since you won’t spend half the movie asking who most of the characters are and how much is supposed to be known about them.
September 16, 2025 September 15, 2025: One year after Hurricane Helene forced its cancellation, the annual Frank and Kay Golf Classic is back on the newly restored golf course at Hound Ears Club. This signature event, at the private, award-winning George Cobb designed golf course benefits Hospitality House of Northwest N.C. and honors the legacy of philanthropy and leadership that Appalachian State University Chancellor-Emeritus Frank Borkowski and his multi-talented wife Kay have bestowed upon the High Country since their arrival in 1993.
September 16, 2025 On Sunday afternoon, September 14, 2025, Watauga County Schools received an anonymous tip regarding a possible threat of violence directed toward Watauga High School for Monday, September 15. School officials immediately notified the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, and an investigation into the credibility and source of the information began at once.
Septembere 16, 2025. The following are recent obituary notices from Austin and Barnes and Hampton funeral homes in Boone and Reins-Sturdivant in Newland.
September 12, 2025 BOONE, NC — The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country unveils an extraordinary slate of events this fall, bringing world-class entertainment to Boone with a dynamic mix of film, music, magic, and cultural programming. From cult film favorites to Grammy- winning musicians, the historic venue continues its mission of presenting experiences that engage, entertain, and educate the High Country community.
September 2, 2025 On August 12, I spoke at the Blowing Rock Town Council about information I gleaned from the Duke University study done on the BR Academy daycare center. These comments were my own. I did not speak on behalf or at the request of any organization. I deny that any comments were made on behalf of or at the request of any organization. They were not made on behalf of any of the organizations that I am involved with such as the BR Historical Society, Village Foundation, BR Civic Association, St. Mary’s Church, etc.
September 15, 2025 In hopes of learning more about the protest held August 28 in support of Blowing Rock Academy, High Country Press sat down with Blowing Rock Town Manager Shane Fox. The conversation started by Shane stating his commitment to town employees and the town budget. He pointed out that of approximately 80 full-time town employees, only one could afford to live in Blowing Rock and just over 30% of them could afford to live in Watauga County.
September 12, 2025 The Blowing Rock Civic Association (BRCA) celebrated its 10th anniversary during the organization’s annual meeting held on August 28. The gathering took place at Chip Perry’s car barn. Over 130 attendees parked at Rumple Presbyterian Church to board a BRCA-provided shuttles to the event. Participants included BRCA leaders and members, as well as several mayoral and town council candidates for the upcoming elections.
September 12, 2025 Beginning around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, a group of protesters gathered along the south side of Ginny Stevens Lane between Main and Wallingford streets. According to organizers, the protest was formed to show support for Blowing Rock Academy, the childcare program facilitated by the Town of Blowing Rock for town employees.
September 12, 2025 In every great town, there’s a group of people who quietly, tirelessly, and selflessly keep things running. Here in Blowing Rock, that group is our town staff. They are the ones who show up in every storm, answer every emergency call, fix every broken pipe, and care for the community in ways most will never fully see. It’s time we come together, as a town, to show them that we see them, appreciate them, and support them. Recently, a group of residents did just that by coming out in public support of our staff, and their words and presence meant more to all of us than anyone may realize. We needed it, and we felt it, and we thank you for it.
