Jan. 26:

Propane truck crisis ends safely

Firefighters from three local districts headed off a potentially explosive situation Tuesday, when a Blossman Gas truck rolled down a steep embankment and began leaking propane.

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New Watauga construction value rises

The value of new construction in Watauga County totaled nearly $100 million last year, a jump of about 15 percent from the previous year.

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Blowing Rock prepares for frosty festival

What will this weekend’s weather  bring? It’s still anybody’s guess at this point, but we can say with certainty that we will experience it with plenty of guests as folks from all over travel to Blowing Rock for the 7th Annual Winterfest Celebration, January 27-30.

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Christmas shooting trial set for March 23

The man accused in the fatal shooting of his son-in-law on Christmas 2003 will have to wait until March 23 for his trial.

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Jan. 24:

Water supply not as large as first thought

The Boone Town Council adopted a resolution regarding the town’s water supply and allocation at Thursday’s regular meeting, following a revelation at Wednesday’s water study committee meeting that there wasn’t as much water as previously estimated.

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Police reports:

Jan. 18: At 8:03 a.m., police received a report of larceny from a motor vehicle at the Steeple Chase Apartments, 190 Wood Circle. A car stereo system was reported stolen.

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Impact of abduction will likely

linger for years to come

Stories that begin with guns, all too often end in gunfire. This one did not, and the nation shared a sigh of relief following the peaceful surrender of two Watauga County parents and the safe return of two children whose cherubic faces reached the pages of dozens of newspapers and millions of television screens this past week.

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Icy roads set multiple crashes into motion

N.C. Highway Patrol officials said it took poor visibility, icy roads and about 15 minutes to cause at least 15 multiple-car crashes along U.S. 421 east of Boone, Friday night.

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Jan. 21:

Parents found, kids OK; search ends at Virginia

trailer, suspects returned to county

A search for two Watauga County parents who allegedly abducted their children from court-appointed foster parents Saturday ended in Virginia Wednesday afternoon and the couple are now in the Watauga County jail.

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Becoming a foster parent is an arduous process

It isn’t easy being a foster parent.

Never mind the often volatile circumstances surrounding the lives and families from which many foster children emerge.

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DSS will reexamine policy after abductions

The Watauga County Department of Social Services will examine its foster home policies in the wake of a recent child abduction case.

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Boone will consider two moratoriums

The Boone Town Council approved the consideration of two moratoriums at its regular meeting Thursday.

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High Country appears in Pinnacle list of top towns

Considered one of the most desirable places to live, Watauga County has received its fair share of accolades, and Pinnacle Living magazine’s latest issue is another testament to that notion.

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Jan. 19:

COUPLE CAPTURED; CHILDREN OK

A search for two Watauga County parents who allegedly abducted their children from court-appointed foster parents Saturday apparently ended in Virginia Wednesday afternoon.

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Board Opts To Leave WHS At Existing Site

To build or not to build.

That is the question facing Watauga County School Board members after their Jan. 17 meeting.

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Boone continues work on comprehensive plan

The Boone Area Planning Commission moved a few steps closer to its goal of completing the town’s comprehensive plan and growth strategy map revisions at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

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Heavenly Mountain: County board OKs 262 lots

The Watauga County Planning Board approved plats for the second phase of the county’s largest planned development.

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County farms still strong

Watauga County’s farms are still strong despite the increasing pressures of development, rising land costs,  and out-of-county property owners, according to a report by agricultural extension agent Jim Hamilton.

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