1000 x 90

Watauga County Announces New School Superintendent

May 16, 2023 Watauga County, say hello to your new superintendent of public schools. Dr. Leslie Alexander was announced as superintendent-elect at a special meeting of the board of education on Monday. She will take over for Dr. Scott Elliot, whose tenure ends this summer. “Welcome on behalf of a wonderful community that loves its schools,” Elliot said. “We couldn’t be happier you are here and I couldn’t be more proud right now of our school system and board. I’m so happy and optimistic for the future of our schools under your leadership.” By Zack Hill

Read more

Leslie Alexander Will Begin As Superintendent of Watauga County Schools July 1

May 15, 2023 BOONE — The Watauga County Board of Education named Leslie Alexander as the new Superintendent of Watauga County Schools during a special called meeting held Monday.Alexander was most recently the Chief Human Resource Officer and Area Superintendent of Leadership Development of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.Watauga County Board of Education Chairman Dr. Gary Childers welcomed Alexander to the school system, noting her existing ties to the community.

Read more

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO ADOPT HOUSING STANDARDS

May 15, 2023 A local community group is asking Watauga County Commissioners to adopt a minimum housing standard. 27 counties have adopted similar standards that give renters a viable way to handle unaddressed maintenance or safety issues with the county, instead of pursuing legal action.Counties employ minimum housing standards to ensure renters have basic needs met by addressing things like:Safe and functional electric, plumbing, and heating systems Intact floors, foundations, and stairs
Windows and doors that are weather-tight and pest-proof

Read more

2023 Bentley Scholarships Awarded to Amelie Fawson and Lula Rose Bovino

May 15, 2023 BOONE, N.C. – Watauga High School seniors Amelie Fawson and Lula Rose Bovino were awarded scholarships honoring the late Don and Audrey Bentley, both Watauga County natives.
Both scholarships are administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation.Fawson received the 2023 Don and Audrey Bentley Scholarship. She is the fourth recipient of the scholarship which this year awarded $20,000 and is renewable annually for up to four years.

Read more

Board of Elections Discuss Proposed Budget Concerns, Voter ID guidelines, Redistricting

May 12, 2023 The Watauga County Board of Elections met on Tuesday, May 9, at the Watauga County Administration Building at 814 W. King Street. In attendance were board director Matthew Snyder, chairman Michael Behrent, secretary James Hill, and members Eric Eller and Matt Walpole with member Marv Williamsen attending via Zoom and county attorney Andrea Capua present at the meeting. By Zack Hill

Read more

Town of Boone PSA: No Mow May

May 11, 2023 During the March 8th, 2023 Boone Town Council meeting, the Boone Town Council passed a “No Mow May” resolution. In the resolution, property owners are encouraged to not mow their properties in order to promote habitat growth for our pollinators.

Read more

High Country Real Estate XII: The Power of Flowers

May 10, 2023 We’ve all heard the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” But we’ve also been told “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” In a recent article from RIS Media entitled: Mulch Matters! How Curb Appeal Can Spark (or Sink) A Sale REALTOR® Alex Chingas relayed the following: “We recently had an appointment with a home stager to come look at a house that we would be listing,” he says. “The stager remarked to the client right at the front door that ‘Before I even come inside, I have to tell you that you have the wrong color mulch.’ She said that red mulch was a hindrance, and, while she happened to like it personally, that sellers don’t get big money with that color.”  By Becky Morgan, Realtor

Read more

Pioneer Playmakers, Valle Crucis School project, Superintendent Search Highlight Board of Education Meeting

May 10, 2023 The Watauga County Board of Education met on Monday, May 8th, at the Margaret E. Gragg Education Center on Pioneer Drive in Boone to discuss regular board matters and recognize the outstanding achievements of students and faculty. In attendance were board members Marshall Ashcraft, Jason Cornette and Jay Fenwick along with board chairman Gary Childers, vice-chairman Steve Combs and superintendent Scott Elliott. A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Watauga High School’s Pioneer Playmakers who recently traveled to the Southeastern Theatre Conference and brought home a long list of accolades. By Zack Hill

Read more

Watauga County Commissioners Approve Several Project Bids in Meeting

May 4, 2023 The Watauga County Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 2, to discuss several agenda and business items. In attendance were commissioners Todd Castle, Braxton Eggers and Ray Russell along with vice-chairman Charlie Wallin and chairman Larry Turnbow. Robert Marsh, Watauga County maintenance director, presented the commissioners with several bids for county projects. By Zack Hill

Read more

North Carolina High School Athletes Could Get Paid if Name, Image and Likeness Proposal is Adopted

May 3, 2023 High school student-athletes in North Carolina could soon start getting paid if a new proposal passes on Wednesday. The Board of Directors of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), the governing body of prep sports in the state, discussed a proposal on Tuesday that would let student-athletes profit off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). It is very similar to how college students can get sponsorship deals for large amounts of money. By Tim Gardner

Read more

Boone First Friday: A Night of Art and Celebration

May 3, 2023 Boone, NC – The first Friday of May in Boone is an exciting time for art lovers, as the town comes alive with a range of creative events and activities. This year’s Boone First Friday promises to be particularly memorable, with a range of art exhibitions, receptions, and pop-up installations throughout the evening.The Watauga Arts Council, at 377 Shadowline Drive, is hosting an artist reception from 4-6 pm, showcasing the work of talented local painters Elle Green and Bunny Eaton. The pair of never shown their work together before. You do not want to miss this exhibit! Visitors can meet the artists, view their work, and enjoy refreshments in a welcoming and festive environment.

Read more

Napoleon Dynamite Live! Comes to the High Country this Fall BYOT (Bring Your Own Tots)

May 3, 2023 .BOONE, NC – The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country takes its film screenings to new heights with the upcoming Napoleon Dynamite: A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, and Jon Gries. The September 1 event features a 7:00 p.m. full screening of the 2004 cult film classic Napoleon Dynamite followed by a lively free-form discussion with fan favorite cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro Sanchez) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). The discussion will be moderated by Boone Chamber of Commerce President, David Jackson, and will include insider stories, favorite quotes, and an audience Q & A. Reserved seats start at $35. A limited number of $90 VIP tickets are available which include preferred seating, a signed poster and pre-show meet and greet with the actors.

Read more

Packed House for Information Session on Burying Downtown Utility Lines in Blowing Rock

May 2, 2023 .More than 100 concerned citizens attended a community meeting Monday night at the American Legion in Blowing Rock for a question and answer session regarding the burying of downtown underground power and communication lines. Blowing Rock town manager Shane Fox started the meeting with a brief overview of the project and how the project came about. “Fifty or sixty years ago this conversation came up,” Fox said. “And then, periodically, this topic would come up every few years,” he added. By Kris Testori

Read more

Digital Watauga Project Exhibit: Animals of Digital Watauga

May 2, 2023 For this year’s Jones House exhibition of images from the Digital Watauga Project (DWP), we decided to take a deep dive into our collections to find the pets, livestock, and exotic animals that have been captured in photographs over the past century and a half. This unusual and much anticipated exhibit will occupy the walls of the Jones House main gallery from May 3 until May 30, 2023. We will hold a gallery talk at the Jones House, 604 West King Street in Boone, at 5:30pm as part of our Opening Night Reception on Friday, May 5, 2023 (5:00pm to 7:00pm).

Read more

Watauga County Farmers’ Market to Host 50th Birthday Bash May 6

May 1, 2023 Boone, NC – This year marks the 50th season of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market. Affectionately known as “Boone’s Town Square,” the Watauga County Farmers’ Market has now served as a fixture in this community for half a century! A 50th Birthday Bash to celebrate will be held on Saturday, May 6, also Opening Day for the Market’s main season. The community is invited to join in the festivities taking place from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM on-site at the Market, located at 591 Horn in the West Dr. in Boone. This bustling market with over 60 local food and craft vendors runs every Saturday morning from April through November.

Read more

ARHS Responds to Concerns About Wellness Center Ending Memberships to Public

April 27, 2023 Rob Hudspeth, senior vice president for system advancement at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, has responded to some of the concerns and controversy arising from last week’s packed county commissioners meeting where many community members voiced anger and sadness at the Broyhill Wellness Center ending memberships to community members. By Zack Hill

Read more

Nonprofit Spotlight: Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge 

April 27, 2023 The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge hosted a well-attended information session Wednesday evening at Sunset and Vine in Blowing Rock. Patti Jupiter, WFBR Board Chairwoman spoke and shared the organization’s mission and history. Established in 2007, The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is a collective giving organization formed and sustained by a group of women philanthropists who want to positively impact the lives of women and girls in the High Country. The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge believes that all women have the right to equality, safety, opportunity, and self-determination in every aspect of their lives. By Kris Testori

Read more

Boone Drug partners with Casting Bread to provide donation station for Travis’s Lunch Box

April 26, 2023. BOONE, N.C. – April 25, 2023 – Travis Gryder was “living the dream” being an Eagle Scout from Blowing Rock Troop 101, a firefighter/paramedic with Blowing Rock Fire Department, a volunteer member of Watauga Rescue, and one of the founding members of Watauga High School’s Athletes for Good. Travis cared for the wellbeing of others. As an example of Jesus’s love, he did what he could to see that those around him had food. If you went to school or church with Travis, he may have even brought you lunch or a Moon Pie while sharing his smile and the simple, kind words, “You gotta eat!”

Read more

Alair Homes Announces Environmental Stewardship Commitment with Watauga Riverkeeper; Kicks Off with Planting Native Trees in Floodplains

April 25, 2023 Alair Homes announced a five-year environmental stewardship commitment with the Watauga Riverkeeper Thursday. To celebrate the launch, teams from both organizations worked together, planting native trees and live stakes in the wetlands on The Middle Fork Greenway. The Greenway, a multi-use recreational trail, is being developed to connect Blowing Rock to Boone.   “We have a unique opportunity to use our collective voices to influence others to create a cleaner, more sustainable environment,” said Whitney Brown of Alair Homes Carolinas. “This positive environmental impact, while seemingly small in scale, would be the first step to fostering better habits and, in turn, influencing others to live better. Change starts with us, as individuals, working together with local partners like the Watauga Riverkeeper.”

Read more

Casting Bread and Winston Salem Urban League Recruiting Seniors 55+ for Employment Opportunity

April 25, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, N.C. – April 25, 2023 – Casting Bread and the Winston Salem Urban League have a longstanding partnership that provides employment opportunities for senior citizens in Watauga County. If you are 55 or older, seeking employment, and would enjoy working for an organization that helps some of your neighbors in need, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) may be for you.

Read more

High Country EMT Ride Along

April 24, 2023 Screeching sirens generally cause one of four reactions for those within earshot. People may initially look to find out in which direction the sirens are coming from and then if they are being emitted by ambulances or fire trucks, checking to see if they’ve got to stop and allow emergency vehicles to pass or, finally, glancing quickly in the rear view mirror to see if they’re
being pulled by law enforcement. By Peter Morris

Read more

Casting Bread and Blue Cross Blue Shield Launch Pop-up Food Pantry

April 24, 2023 BLOWING ROCK, N.C. – April 24, 2023 – On April 20, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina hosted a pop-up pantry at its new Boone office with food provided by Casting Bread. The two organizations will continue to partner for this initiative monthly through August for anyone who is in need. The new Blue Cross Blue Shield location is at 2640 NC Highway 105, Suite 101, in the bottom-left side of the Graystone Eye building. The office was completed less than a month ago and the grand opening will be held later this week. 

Read more

Watauga Democrats Elect New Leadership

April 24, 2023 At its annual county convention on Saturday, the Watauga Democratic Party elected long-time activist Emily Bish as its new chair for 2023-2025. Bish has been a part of the party’s executive board as get-out-the-vote coordinator and has also served as precinct chair of the Watauga Precinct and as 2nd Vice Chair of the county party, among other roles.

Read more

Celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday with “As You Like It” Theatre & Dance Production Runs April 26-30 at Appalachian

April 21, 2023 BOONE, NC – The Department of Theatre and Dance (T&D) at Appalachian State University is celebrating the week of William Shakespeare’s birthday by producing his popular 1599 comedy “As You Like It” in the Valborg Theatre on the university campus. Performances are at 7 p.m. from Wednesday, April 26 through Saturday, April 29 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Ticket prices are $17 for adults, $15 for faculty and staff, and $10 for students. For more information, call the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-ARTS (2787) or click here. 

Read more

Predatory Practices of Parking Enforcement Agencies Comes Under Scrutiny of Town Council

April 19, 2023 As Boone continues to grow in size, population and businesses, parking has become harder and harder to come by. And though there is a necessity for enforcing parking regulations for residents and businesses alike, there is a growing consensus in the town that the practices of those parking enforcement companies who tow and boot vehicles are becoming increasingly predatory. By Zack Hill

Read more