Election 2015 Archives

Educator Workshop Series Returns to Grandfather Mountain in 2025 Beginning June 13

April 24, 2025 Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced its educator workshops for 2025. These workshops, provided specifically to environmental educators in various professions, offer opportunities for career growth and professional development by using the wonders of Grandfather Mountain to further participants’ expertise.

Police Department is Now Accepting Applications for Spring Session of the Citizens Police Academy

January 15, 2025. Are you interested in learning more about law enforcement to include patrol officer functions, criminal investigations, K9 operations, community policing, or just want to become more familiar with the Boone Police Department in general? Now is your opportunity! The Boone Police Department is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 session of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA). Class meetings are held at the Boone Police Department each Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The CPA will begin on March 6th, 2025, and will conclude on April 24th, 2025, with a graduation from the program.

Fall Repair Hub at the Watauga County Public Library Sepotember 28th

September 23, 2024 Don’t let your possessions “fall” into disrepair! The Watauga County Public Library will host the ever- popular Repair Hub on Saturday September 28th from 10am until 1:00pm. They will be offering knife sharpening, electrical repair, costume jewelry repair, and sewing. Repair Hub is free, but donations toward supply costs are gladly accepted at the Watauga County Public Library Circulation Desk.

7,215 Vote Early in Watauga, App State One-Stop Site the Busiest, Primary is Tuesday

March 14, 2016. Even with college students on Spring Break for the majority of the early-voting period for the 2016 primary, the one-stop site on the campus of Appalachian State University was the busiest. Early voting ended on Saturday. Of the 7,215 people who voted early in Watauga County, 3,250 of those voted in the Plemmons Student Union on the campus of Appalachian State University. Here is the breakdown for all of the early voting sites in Watauga. By Jesse Wood

Brantz Thumps Opponent To Be Boone’s Next Mayor, Clawson & Mason Re-Elected

Current Mayor Pro-Tem Rennie Brantz will be the new mayor, according to unofficial results in the 2015 municipal elections held on Tuesday, and Councilwomen Loretta Clawson and Lynne Mason retained their seats. Brantz, who has served on the Boone Town Council for about 10 years and is a professor of history at Appalachian State University, thumped his conservative opponent, Ryan Hollingsworth. By Jesse Wood

Newland Residents Vote To Keep Buying Beer, Wine; Anti-Alcohol Campaigner Arrested

Beer and wine are here to stay in Newland restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and other establishments. Although the sale of beer and wine was initially approved in the 2009 election, citizen Steve Nelson persuaded the Newland Town Council to place an alcohol referendum on the ballot in the hopes that voters would ban the sale of wine and beer. By Jesse Wood

JB Lawrence Defeats Charlie Sellers, To Begin 10th Straight Term as Blowing Rock’s Mayor

The village people spoke, and J.B. Lawrence will soon begin his 10th term as the mayor of Blowing Rock. According to the unofficial elections results, Lawrence won 62 percent of the vote with 277 votes, while challenger Charlie Sellers, owner of The Blowing Rock attraction and a member of the Robbins family, garnered 38 percent of the vote. By Jesse Wood

Unofficial Results for 2015 Municipal Elections in Watauga and Avery Counties

The unofficial results for the 2015 municipal elections in Watauga and Avery counties are in.

Losing Incumbents: Cindy Keller (Beech Mountain Town Council); Dan Phillips (Blowing Rock Town Council); Dale Henson (Crossnore Alderman); Susie Potter (Newland Town Council)

Newland’s referendum on the sale of alcohol: 72 percent of voters approved the sale of wine and beer in Newland town limits. This compares to 54 percent that favored alcohol sales when it first appeared on the ballot in 2006. For more background on this controversial issue, click

Nearly 17,000 Registered Voters in Boone, Small Percentage Voting in Election So Far

Boone has nearly 17,000 registered voters (those active and in-active for last two general elections). During early voting, 544 Boone citizens voted for the municipal elections. During the first hour of early voting, only a handful made it to the polls between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. “It’s been pretty quiet,” Watauga County Elections Director Matthew Snyder said earlier this morning. By Jesse Wood

Candidate Statements for Blowing Rock Elections – Mayoral & Council Candidates

Instead of framing the response and sending all of the candidates a list of questions, High Country Press let the candidates set the tone by asking for a statement on whatever the candidates wanted voters to know. Here are their responses. Compiled by Jesse Wood

Vast Majority of Early Voters Reside in Newland and Boone, Election Day is Tuesday

In Watauga County and Avery County, residents of Newland and Boone beat folks from other municipalities to the polls during early voting, which ended on Saturday afternoon. By Jesse Wood

Candidate Statements for Boone Elections

Outgoing Councilman Quint David Questions Boone Candidates on Sustainability Issues

Outgoing Boone Town Councilman Quint David, who decided not to run for re-election this cycle, said he was concerned about the lack of questions, and subsequently discussions, regarding sustainability at recent candidate forums. So he took the matter into his own hands and asked several questions of mayoral and council candidates in the Boone municipal election. Posted by Jesse Wood

Early Voting in Municipal Elections Ends at 1 PM on Saturday in Avery, Watauga

Only several more hours of early voting in the municipal elections exists through 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. So far – as of Friday at around lunchtime – more than 600 people have voted early in Avery and Watauga counties. By Jesse Wood

Nearly 400 Vote So Far in Avery & Watauga Municipal Elections, Early Voting Ends Saturday

With a few more days of early voting left in the 2015 municipal elections, nearly 400 people have voted in Watauga and Avery counties as of early Wednesday, according to staff at the Avery and Watauga County Board of Elections. By Jesse Wood

More Than 100 Vote on First Day of Early Voting in Watauga & Avery Counties

Nearly 70 people have voted through 4 p.m. on the first day of early voting in the 2015 municipal elections, according to Watauga County Board of Elections Director Matt Snyder. “It’s not a huge number, but we’re getting there,” Snyder said. Snyder said that most of the voters are from Boone with a handful from Blowing Rock and a couple from Beech Mountain. By Jesse Wood

Early Voting Begins on Thursday Morning

Early voting for the 2015 municipal elections begins on Thursday at 8 a.m. While Election Day takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, registered voters may cast their ballots through Saturday, Oct. 31. By Jesse Wood

Listen to Candidates for Boone Town Council, Mayor Speak at Boone Chamber Forum

All of the candidates in 2015 municipal elections for the Town of Boone pitched their candidacy and spoke on some of the issues facing the town on Monday evening. The Boone Chamber of Commerce sponsored the forum, which included questions related to the town’s water-intake project, relations between the town and Watauga County, affordable housing and more. By Jesse Wood

See Sample Ballots for Municipal Elections in Watauga, Early Voting Begins Oct. 22

Just a few days away, early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 22. All four municipalities in Watauga County – Beech Mountain, Seven Devils, Blowing Rock and Boone – feature contested races. Boone and Blowing Rock both feature candidate forums on Monday, Oct. 19. By Jesse Wood

Blowing Rock Chamber Holds Candidate Forum on Monday, Oct. 19, See Ballot

The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce hosts a “Candidates’ Forum” on Monday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the Blowing Rock Elementary School auditorium. According to an announcement by the chamber, this forum is being dubbed a “community question-and-answer session” with all of the candidates. By Jesse Wood

Boone Chamber To Hold Candidates Forum on Monday, Listen on WATA-1450, See Ballot

The Boone Area Chamber is encouraging voter participation by hosting a “Meet the Candidates” forum on Monday, Oct. 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m, to hear from Boone Town Council and Boone mayoral candidates. The forum takes place in the Boone Town Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road. By Jesse Wood

See 2015 Sample Ballots for Avery Municipalities, Contested Races, Beer/Wine

Inside are the sample ballots for all the municipalities in Avery County for the 2015 elections. Unlike the other municipalities which only feature candidates on the ballot, Newland is unique this election cycle because of the referendum on beer and wine wine sales, a controversial topic that has divided Christians. Newland residents barely approved the sell of beer and wine in restaurants and stores in 2009. Now it’s back on the ballot. By Jesse Wood

Voters in Blowing Rock, Beech and Seven Devils Must Vote in County of Residence

If you live in Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain or Seven Devils, you might have to vote in a different location for the 2015 municipal elections than you have voted at during past elections. Beginning this election season, the N.C. State Board of Elections (SBOE) will only allow registered voters to vote in the county of residence. By Jesse Wood

Last Day To Register To Vote in 2015 Municipal Elections is Friday, Oct. 9

The deadline to register to vote for the 2015 municipal elections throughout North Carolina is Friday, Oct. 9. Early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 22. Election Day is Nov. 3. By Jesse Wood

BRCA Releases Video of Entire Candidate Forum for the Elections in Blowing Rock

The Blowing Rock Civic Association has released video of the group’s candidate forum for the 2015 municipal elections that was held last week at the American Legion Building in downtown Blowing Rock. All of the candidates – incumbent Mayor J.B. Lawrence, mayoral challenger Charlie Sellers, owner of The Blowing Rock attraction, incumbent Councilmen Dan Phillips and Al Yount and challenger and former Councilman Jim Steele – attended. By Jesse Wood

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