Oct. 3, 2017. At the Watauga County Democratic Party’s Fall Rally on Saturday, N.C. Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin was the keynote speaker and the 2017 class of the local party’s Hall of Fame – James Patrick Morgan, Christine Agnes Behrend, Grace Elizabeth McEntee, Percilla Sue Counts and Lonnie Webster – was inducted during the annual fundraiser. Photos by Lonnie Webster
Oct. 3, 2017. About a third of North Carolina voters approve of the job that Donald Trump is doing as president, with three out of four saying the Republican should make deals with Democrats to pass legislation, the most recent Elon University Poll has found. Asked how Trump has performed since he took office in January, 37 percent said he’s doing worse than expected while 16 percent say he’s doing better and 45 percent said he’s doing about how they expected.
Aug. 15, 2017. Appalachian State Student, Robert Block, 20, announces his candidacy for North Carolina District 93. Mr. Block has been working diligently with the educators of this great state to craft a new and effective education plan that will raise teacher pay, increase the competency of students, and provide a more productive learning environment.
June 26, 2017. Candidates seeking to file for the 2017 municipal elections will file their notice of candidacy at the Watauga County Board of Elections, 842 West King Street, starting at 12:00 noon on Friday July 7, 2017. The following seats are up for election this year: Beech Mountain Town Council; Blowing Rock Mayor; Blowing Rock Town Council; Boone Mayor; Boone Town Council; and Seven Devils Town Council.
June 12, 2017. The Watauga County Annual Community Plant Sale took place last Saturday at the former Aunt Pymm’s Table Antiques location on Old U.S. Highway 421 S. in Boone. All proceeds from the sale benefited the Watauga County Democratic Party. Each year hundreds of people attend the sale that is operated by dozens of volunteers. Thousands of annuals perennials, trees and shrubs are featured in the sale. Photos by Lonnie Webster
June 6, 2017. The Watauga County Democratic Plant Sale will take place on Saturday, June 10, at the former Aunt Pymm’s Table Antiques location, 375 Old U.S. Highway 421 S. in Boone. The sale is held from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. There are no early sales. Plant shoppers are encouraged to come early for best selection.
April 6, 2017. Currently serving as the U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s fifth district, Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., spent the afternoon Friday, March 31 answering students’ questions and discussing her childhood in Avery County. Hosted by Lees-McRae’s Sport Management program, the discussion took place in Evans Auditorium and housed a mixture of students both within the program and without, as well as various faculty and staff.
March 1, 2017. A group of High Country citizens have invited U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx of the 5th Congressional District to a discussion over “Tea and Cookies” immediately following her appearance at the Watauga County Republican Convention at the Watauga County Courthouse on Saturday, March 4.
March 1, 2017. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress: “The president outlined a positive vision for our country, one that reflects the renewed hope and optimism many Americans now share about the future.
Feb. 17, 2017. The Watauga County Republican Party will hold its county convention on Saturday, March 4 at the Watauga County Courthouse. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx of the 5th Congressional District in North Carolina is the convention’s guest speaker.
Feb. 24, 2017. The Watauga NAACP will join with other NAACP branches, Forward Together Moral Movement supporters, and coalition partners in Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s district to visit her Boone office on Feb. 27 to present a letter of demands and to request a public Town Hall by the end of March.
Feb. 21, 2017. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx doesn’t have any public events scheduled during the current “District Work Week,” according to Sheridan Watson, communications director for Foxx. This is the first extended recess since President Donald Trump’s inauguration last month, and activists have made no secrets about protesting congressional lawmakers during their week home from Washington. By Jesse Wood
Feb. 20, 2017. The schedule, including dates, times, and locations for the 2017 annual Watauga County Democratic Party precinct meetings, is copied below. If you do not know your precinct, write [email protected] and include your full name and your residential address. Precinct meetings are open to Democrats and to Unaffiliated voters who wish to align with the Democratic Party.
Feb. 17, 2017. Denise D. Adams, who represents the North Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council, will run for the Fifth Congressional District seat now held by Virginia Foxx in 2018. The Fifth District covers parts of 11 northwestern North Carolina counties, including all of Forsyth, and runs to the Tennessee border.
Feb. 14, 2017. On Tuesday morning, Gov. Roy Cooper held a press conference to announce a “common sense compromise” for a repeal of HB2, otherwise known as the state’s bathroom bill. Meanwhile Lt. Gov. Dan Forest responded in a statement that if his proposal were to become law, it would “create a state-sanctioned ‘Look But Don’t Touch’ policy in our bathrooms.” See statements from Cooper, Forest and other state leaders inside. Compiled by Jesse Wood
Jan. 25, 2017. Kaye Wilkinson Barley, a writer based in Boone, was among the hundreds of thousands of people who participated in the Women’s March on Washington to protest Donald Trump’s inauguration. Barley called the Saturday event “very inspiring” and captured her experience on her blog, “Meanderings and Muses,” which includes nearly 100 photos from her trip and the event. Barley shared her post with High Country Press. By Kaye Barley
Jan. 20, 2017. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today released the following statement regarding the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States: “Today is a very exciting and positive day for the people of the United States. We pride ourselves on the peaceful transfer of power, and I believe this tradition is a strong statement to people all over the world who value freedom. We are a privileged nation and we must never be casual with the freedoms we have inherited.
Jan. 9, 2017. The North Carolina Justice Center is hosting a local roundtable to hear from Ashe and Watauga County residents about how policies have played out in your community, and where you see the most pressing needs and opportunities. Information about policies that boost local economies will be shared and opportunities to plug in during the upcoming legislative session will be discussed.
Jan. 4, 2017. The Boone Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Meet Your Local Representatives” event at Lost Province Brewing Co. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. Drop-in at your convenience. Dubbed a “causal evening,” elected officials from the Boone Town Council, Watauga County Board of Commissioners, Watauga County Board of Education, N.C. House and N.C. Senate are expected to attend. By Jesse Wood
Jan. 3, 2017. Roy Cooper today took the oath of office to become North Carolina’s 75th Governor, pledging to build a North Carolina that works for everyone. “It is the honor of my life to be your governor, who will work for all of North Carolina,” Governor Cooper said. “I pledge to give my very best to the people of this great state of North Carolina, the state I love and where I have spent my life.”
Jan. 3, 2017. Since Governor Pat McCrory entered office in January 2013, North Carolina’s economy added 300,000 new jobs, the state experienced one of the largest drops in unemployment in the country, $2.6 billion in debt for federal unemployment insurance was paid off, personal income and business taxes were cut, teacher pay was significantly increased, transportation funding was revolutionized and $2 billion was invested in our education, parks, National Guard and other infrastructure through the Connect NC bond.
Dec. 28, 2016. The Civitas Institute has sent letters to the NC State Board of Elections and Watauga, Buncombe, Bladen, Pasquotank, Wake, and Durham counties, requesting a thorough examination of voter rolls and full compliance with section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act.
Dec. 22, 2016. North Carolina lawmakers failed to repeal HB2, otherwise known as the “bathroom bill,” which forces transgender people to use the gender-based bathroom listed on their birth certificate – along with preventing local governments from raising the minimum wage and eroding the right for employees to sue in state court for workplace discrimination. By Jesse Wood
Dec. 15, 2016. In an effort to point out the blatant hypocrisy of Democrats and their allies, today the NCGOP called on Roy Cooper, legislative Democrats, and their protesting allies to condemn the long history of Democrat partisan power grabs to limit Republican power following elections.
Dec. 7, 2016. The Watauga County Board of Elections are meeting on Wednesday to hold a recount of ballots cast in the N.C. Auditor’s race during the general election on Nov. 8. Republican candidate Chuck Stuber is running against incumbent N.C. Auditor Beth Wood, a Democrat. Unofficial results on election night showed Wood had 2,259,397 votes (or 50.07 percent) versus Stuber’s 2,253,405 votes (or 49.93 percent). By Jesse Wood