index

News
Sports
Editorial
Classifieds
Place Class Ad
Calendar
Obituaries
Photo Gallery
Weather
Subscribe
Contact
Web Links
Archives
About Us
Advertise w/ Us

Champs Packet

Archived

May 20, 2006

Breaking News

Town council OKs high school rezoning

Based on overwhelming public support and conformity to the town of Boone comprehensive plan, the Boone Town Council approved a request from the Watauga County Board of Education to rezone the Watauga High School property.
The board of education had requested the rezoning of portions of the Watauga High School campus from R-3 (multi-family residential) to B-3 (general business). At the town’s quarterly public hearing, Watauga County Schools attorney Paul Miller said the property would be more marketable with a B-3 designation, allowing the school system to reap revenue that could be invested in a new high school.
Miller added that potential buyers the board of education had spoken with expressed a desire to build a mixed-use development on the land.
The request received unanimous recommendation for approval from the Boone Area Planning Commission at its Monday, May 15, regular meeting, and received final approval from the Boone Town Council at its Thursday, May 18, meeting.
For more details, see the Monday, May 22 edition of the Watauga Democrat.

---Frank Ruggiero, Staff Writer

ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

May 19, 2006

Marsha Anderson is top teacher

For the second year in a row, Blowing Rock Elementary School boasts the Watauga County Schools (WCS) Teacher of the Year.

Patching up a park

The Valle Crucis Park is undergoing more improvements as clean-up continues from flooding nearly a year ago.

Cyclists gear up for ‘just enough pain’

The High Country’s most popular bicycle trek has exploded in growth by a factor of ten since the first mile was ridden in 1999.

Watauga received $250K from Homeland Security

After three years and nearly a quarter of a million dollars of support from U.S. Homeland Security grants, Watauga County emergency services agencies were cut off completely in 2005.

Taylor says he prefers jail sentence

Avery County’s former court clerk says he prefers jail time to house arrest less than a month after pleading guilty of altering bail bonds.

Report: Poverty is on the rise

Despite continued construction growth and an influx of second-home owners, Watauga County and the High Country is seeing its poverty rate increase.

Rep. Gene Wilson sponsors eminent domain bill

Rep. Gene Wilson, R-Watauga, is co-sponsoring a proposal to limit eminent domain powers in the wake of a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision.

May 17, 2006

A time to sow

Rosalia Alvarez and Maria Evarda plant onions while enjoying a quiet morning conversation last week on Charles Church's organic farm in Valle Crucis. Photo by Marie Freeman/Watauga Democrat

WHS zoning moves ahead

The Boone Planning Commission heard enough evidence and testimony at last Thursday’s quarterly public hearing to be satisfied with a proposal to rezone the Watauga High School property.

ASU freshman class hits high mark

Interest in attending Appalachian State University continues to soar. The university’s admissions office has received 11,212 applications for the fall 2006 freshman class — a 7 percent increase in the number of applications received last year.

News briefs: Man arrested as break-in suspect

Boone Police arrested Warren Andrew Broyhill, 47, of Boone May 8 and charged him with two misdemeanors – possession of stolen property and resisting, delaying or obstructing of a police officer – and two felonies, including breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering.

Sheriff’s reports:

May 4 — Aaron Gilbert Tailor, 27, of 6364 Old U.S. 421 S, was served with an order for arrest for failure to appear on alleged infractions of speeding and displaying an expired inspection sticker. He was placed under a $200 cash bond and scheduled to appear in District Court on June 22.

Storm water discussion rises again

Talk of storm water once again flooded the Boone Town Council chambers, this time at the council’s April regular meeting.

School board passes abstinence curriculum

Budget amendments, policy updates and a new sexual abstinence curriculum saw approval during the Watauga County Board of Education’s recent meeting.

Seminar on ‘Maximizing Your Marketing’

All About Women magazine is sponsoring a marketing seminar titled “Maximize Your Marketing” on Wednesday, May 24, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the High Country Home Builders Association’s Banquet Hall off the N.C. 105 Bypass (next door to the Coca-Cola warehouse).

May 15, 2006

(and highlights from May 12)

Rezoning for WHS sale gets massive support

A room packed to capacity expressed overwhelming support for a Watauga County Board of Education request to the town of Boone to rezone the Watauga High School property.

Health department prepares for tick season

As summer makes a belated arrival, concern over tick-borne diseases arrives as well. While Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a little more prevalent in Watauga County, Lyme disease is a bigger threat in warmer areas and cases of it have been reported locally.

Makoto’s earns Small Business of Year honor

It was a night of joy and celebration on Monday night as Makoto’s Seafood and Steakhouse of Japan was recognized as the Small Business of the Year by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, but it was also a night that will be remembered for tears and sorrow.

Counties want help with Medicaid funds

A battle may be brewing in the General Assembly over Medicaid funding for counties.

Flooded out greenway bridge nears completion

Walkers, skaters and bicyclists should soon have a full route to enjoy on the Boone Greenway Trail, as work continues on a bridge replacement.

Old jail may become double lot

With the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office now occupying the new Law Enforcement Center, the old office may become a “parking structure.”

May 12, 2006

General Assembly honors Mountaineers

RALEIGH — The General Assembly honored Appalachian State University’s football team and its national title during the first of what the Mountaineers hope will be many trips to Raleigh in the years ahead.

Primary election finalized

A hand-and-eye count Monday verified the accuracy of the county’s new voting machines, and Tuesday’s canvass caused little change in the unofficial election returns reported last week.

Sheriff’s report:

May 1 — The owner of Storie Construction, Inc., 597 Isaacs Branch Rd., Sugar Grove, reported that an ex-employee had failed to return property belonging to him. A 61-year-old Vilas man reported he’d paid someone to do some work that was never done.

Zionville man found guilty of threatening to kill local man

In 1984, an Ashe County court convicted Stephen Ned Allen of second-degree murder. On Wednesday, a Watauga County jury found him guilty of threatening to kill his Zionville neighbor over a long-running land dispute.

Steep slope task force backs moratorium

The town of Boone could face another moratorium if the Boone Town Council approves a recommendation from the town’s Steep Slope and Multi-Family Development Task Force.

Proposed budget would drop property tax rate

Watauga County manager Rocky Nelson has presented his proposed budget to the county commissioners, who have scheduled two work sessions to fine tune it before its official adoption.

Adopt me at Watauga Humane Society!

adopt me!

ADVERTISING

News Sports Editorial Classifieds Calendar Obituaries Photo Gallery Weather Subscribe Contact Web Links About Us Privacy Policy

©2007 Watauga Democrat - High Country Media LLC ~ All rights reserved. Reproduction of content and design work strictly prohibited.
474 Industrial Park Drive Boone, NC 28607 ~ Telephone 828-264-3612 ~ Fax 828-262-0282