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Champs Packet

Archived: August 18, 2006

ASU students return to Boone this weekend

Apart from the rise in temperature, a sure sign of summer in Boone is decreased traffic.As the bulk of Appalachian State University’s nearly 14,000 students hit the roads for summer vacation, local roads are granted a bit of relief.

Museum staff to be reassigned

The staff of the displaced Appalachian Cultural Museum will be reassigned to other university positions, Appalachian State University officials revealed this week.

Residents near WHS site recall possible cemetery

While Watauga County continues to explore whether a site on the proposed high school property actually contains graves, people living near the site recall markers and tombstones there and say it was well-known in the community as a cemetery.

Newspapers in Education workshops offered

Watauga Democrat Newspapers In Education (NIE) sponsors are invited to attend NIE teacher workshops being offered next week for Watauga County elementary school teachers.

Wheel-locking debate reveals several facets

Despite the fact that only eight letters of complaint regarding wheel-locking in town were sent to the town of Boone manager, Boone Town Council members confirmed that the majority of complaints are verbally registered.

Closed rest area may fix school's parking problems

It’s a project that’s been years in the making. There have been years of planning, years of research, years of communication and years of waiting. There is, however, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Home schooling is on the rise

Home schooling is becoming more popular in Watauga County and across the state, even as more private and charter schools are available.

Family ties evident at Eleganza!

A famous mother-and-daughter team was among those at the Hayes Center for the Performing Arts to commemorate Eleganza!, a fund-raising event for the community art center.

August 16, 2006

Sunny symphony

Sunflowers in the garden of the Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis bend under the weight of their blossoms. According to the National Weather Service, rainy weather for the High Country over the next several days means that the vibrant golds of August flowers may be the only rays of sunshine seen in the mountains. Photo by Marie Freeman

New WHS must meet town rules

Although the proposed new site for Watauga High School has been approved by the county and the local school board, plans for the 85-acre site still have to meet zoning standards of the town of Boone.

High Country Media launches online video

High Country Media is spinning its own brand of Web advertising and content by offering video ads and reports on three of its Web sites.

News briefs — Short standoff ends in arrest

Deputies with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Vilas man Saturday afternoon on suspicion of obtaining property under false pretenses.

Parking issues dominate shortened public hearing

The topic of wheel-locking was filed under “other matters,” at last Thursday’s town of Boone quarterly public hearing, but it became the primary discussion topic, after the other cases were continued due to the lack of a quorum from the Boone Area Planning Commission.

New cooperative focuses on biofuels

A group of like-minded people is planning to go right to the source for their energy needs.

Isabella Oates serves as student ambassador

Isabella Oates is the latest world ambassador from the High Country.

Oates, a Beech Mountain resident and rising freshman at Watauga High School, recently participated in the People to People Student Ambassador program and visited three countries.

Wheel-locking committee defends parking firm

A committee of private citizens and business owners were locked in lengthy discussion Aug. 5 on wheel-locking in downtown Boone.

Time to stop parking the blame

The more things change the more they stay the same. Case in point: The ancient practice of blaming the messenger for the message continues to plague us. At Thursday’s Boone public meeting regarding parking — specifically the practice of wheel-locking — the local media took the lion’s share of blame for supposedly engaging in one-sided reporting.

August 14, 2006

Evening of elegance: Mariam Hayes (seated) is honored with flowers and a standing ovation by those attending the Eleganza! — an inaugural celebration of the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock. Hayes’ significant gift to the Hayes Performing Arts Center was the impetus for others to follow in the establishment of the community center, which will house the Blowing Rock Stage Company. Standing behind and to the left of Hayes is, from left, her niece, Mary Bost Gray, and Ginny and David Stevens. Photo by Marie Freeman

Globe debate warms up

When it comes to fighting for environmental protection, a lot of people think it is the younger generation that is the most vocal on the subject. That was not the case last Wednesday when hundreds of Blowing Rock residents — mostly retirees — filled Blowing Rock Town Hall to voice disapproval over a government proposal to cut timber over 231 acres in the Pisgah National Forest in an area known as the Globe.

King Street paving will begin Aug. 21

Repaving of West King Street near New Market Center in Boone has been delayed, but the wait should yield long-term benefits to compensate for short-term inconvenience.

Officials may pour out aggressive measures

An aggressive approach may be what the town of Boone needs to heighten its water conservation efforts. The Boone Town Council and water study committee were briefed on the efforts’ progress, which could be stifled due to the resignation of the Every Drop Counts program director, Megan Wilson.

Holocaust center co-directors travel to Jerusalem

As co-directors of Appalachian State University’s Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies, Rennie Brantz and Zohara Boyd are always eager to expand and improve the center’s methods of education. Seldom, though, does this involve airfare.

Merchants, council discuss wheel-locking

A lack of quorum on behalf of the Boone Area Planning Commission left last week’s town of Boone quarterly public hearing unheard. The public hearing was rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m., during the planning commission’s regular meeting.

Dole, Foxx announce grant for new theater

The Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center moved closer to solid financial ground through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole was on hand Friday morning to announce the grant and tour the new facility, which held a grand opening “Eleganza” Saturday night as a commemorative fund raising event. The $400,000 grant was key to keeping funds moving for the performing arts center, which will be the culmination of years of effort.

'More bumpity-bumps' at App Ski Mountain

When it comes to renovating Appalachian Ski Mountain, workers have a blast – literally. On Aug. 3, nearby residents could hear the thunderous clamor of explosives, as Appalachian Ski Mountain underwent renovations that will provide an additional slope to “have more bumpity-bumps for the little hotdoggers,” said Grady Moretz, president and owner of the Blowing Rock ski mountain.

Adopt me at Watauga Humane Society!

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