Hosted by Watauga Democrat Editor Jason Reagan
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Commentary and Expanded News from Watauga County and beyond.
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Archived
June 17, 2006
Relay for Life: Compassion through the Camera Lens
Click here to view our latest photo album from last night's Relay for Life at Watauga High School. Staff photographer Marie Freeman captured several memorable images from this year's event.
June 16, 2006
Paula Townsend files suit against sheriff
A long-rumored lawsuit pitting Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook against his former chief deputy has finally made the leap from gossip fodder to federal court.
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Logistics: Ready to Relay
With about 1,000 people expected to participate in this weekend’s Relay For Life at Watauga High School, a lot of preparation must go into setting the stage for one of the community’s largest events of the year.
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Horn in the West opens June 16
Though a few signs of summer have reared their balmy heads, some argue a High Country summer can’t properly commence without the opening of the “Horn in the West” outdoor drama.
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News briefs: Best Cellar fire likely electrical
Blowing Rock fire marshal Kent Graham said an electrical fire most likely sparked the early-morning blaze that destroyed a popular local restaurant last month.
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School board OKs CTE
Watauga County Board of Education members heard some encouraging news about the school system’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program during their June 12 meeting.
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Town council passes steep-slope moratorium
The Boone Town Council approved a 120-day moratorium on certain steep slope development at a special meeting Tuesday.
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Father and son carrying on family dental tradition
Maybe the implications of his surname led Robert “Robbie” Bridgeman to become a dentist, but most likely it was in his blood.
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June 15, 2006
Townsend sues Shook
Ex-chief deputy claims sheriff harassed her
Former Watauga County chief sheriff’s deputy Paula Townsend filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Sheriff Mark Shook and the county, claiming Shook sexually harassed her several times and subsequently fired her for refusing his advances.
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June 14, 2006
Chambers breaks probation
Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook confirmed Tuesday that convicted child abductor Alisha Ann Chambers had broken probation by leaving the Asheville area drug treatment program she had been ordered to complete.
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Boone parade plans revealed
It may be nearly a month away, but the town of Boone’s Fourth of July parade has been on the drawing board for some time.
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Sheriff’s reports:
May 27 — A hand truck was stolen from Scholl Engine Shop on Bryant Combs Road.
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Report: Watauga children fare well
The latest “report card” on the status of Watauga County’s children shows Watauga compares favorably to most of the state in most categories, though the number of overweight children and the need for more child care could be areas of concern, according to a state organization.
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Relay for Life steps out this weekend
This weekend’s Watauga County Relay for Life will be in a new location, but organizers hope to have the same success as previous years.
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6/6/6 provokes mixed emotions in Boone
Last Tuesday was June 6, 2006—6-6-06. It’s just another number. Right? “666 is very creepy” said Nyesha Kenner, an employee of University Highlands.
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Broyhill will close Lenoir factory
Broyhill Furniture Industries said Monday it will close a plant in Lenoir, shedding nearly 700 jobs in a region reeling from the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs in recent years.
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Land donors give more acreage for conservation
Conservation easements continue to grow in popularity, and local conservation groups are currently working with landowners to keep several thousand more acres from being developed this year.
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June 12, 2006
Tag-office bidders may be out of luck?
While the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) officially says it is still considering private applications to run a full-service tag office in Watauga County, the state seems to be shifting the job over to local governments.
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A grateful state remembers Hugh Morton
Hugh Morton may be best known for Grandfather Mountain, but as a North Carolinian, his reputation spanned the state. Made evident by the hundreds that attended his memorial service in Greensboro last Friday, including Gov. Mike Easley and University of North Carolina system president Erskine Bowles, Morton’s life was to be celebrated and not mourned.
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Auto break-ins: Don’t be another victim
The Boone Police Department would like to make the public aware of an increase in the number of vehicle break-ins in Boone. Since April 1, thieves have broken into 24 vehicles and taken several valuable items. Almost all of these vehicles were left unlocked with the valuables visible.
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Boone Police reports:
May 26 — A larceny from a motor vehicle was reported at 8:24 a.m. from 224 Yosef Drive.
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Woman pleads to lesser charge in sex abuse case
A Boone woman pleaded guilty last week to a reduced charge of attempted child abuse in a case where investigators accused her of allowing her 15-year-old daughter to have sex with a 33-year-old Tennessee man.
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Watauga must form mental-health plan
A change in the state’s management of mental health services will require a multi-county alliance, but should result in little change for service providers.
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