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Archived:
September 9, 2006
Short TDs lead ASU over JMU
Photo by Leila Jackson/ASU
Kevin Richardson rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns to lead Appalachian State to a 21-10 win over James Madison on Saturday.
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September 8, 2006
Legality of WHS bond issue debated
While a petition circulates calling for a bond referendum to go before the public to pay for a new high school, no one is sure whether the petition would actually have any effect.
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Forest Service to delay Globe logging plan
Federal officials say a new plan will be devised for a logging proposal near Blowing Rock that has drawn intense public opposition. Forestry officials got more than 1,200 comments from the public, with most against cutting trees on 231 acres in Pisgah National Forest.
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The Chase is afoot for better SAT scores
For many high-school students, the SAT is an intimidating foe — hours of study, leading up to sweaty palms in a showdown of wits. After all, the Scholastic Aptitude Test can determine where a student will spend the next four years of his or her life.
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Zones of debate develop in steep-slope discussion
It’s a mountain of a topic. Measures taken by the town of Boone to address steep slope development have proven to be a considerable uphill climb, but now that proposed regulations are on the table, residents and members of the business community are wishing to pull them down hill for further examination.
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Tree farmers keep close watch on immigration issue
Concerns continue over the future of immigrant labor as the federal government addresses immigration issues and legislation. Locally, the Christmas tree industry uses a number of immigrant workers, particularly through the H-2A program that allows growers to set up temporary work visas for their desired labor force.
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Money, items stolen from Humane Society store
Employees and volunteers scrambled to clean up a ransacked Watauga County Humane Society thrift store after a Monday-night burglary while investigators combed the scene for evidence.
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Report: Kicking butts gets harder
Trends toward stronger cigarettes may make smoking cessation efforts more difficult, according to a local tobacco education coordinator. A recent study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health suggested tobacco companies were increasing the nicotine levels in their cigarette brands.
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Recovery Month focuses on substance abuse
September is National Recovery Month, but the journey to a new life generally requires more time and patience than one special month. Those suffering from alcohol, drug or substance abuse have several options in getting treatment.
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September 6, 2006
Avery man accused in ASU peeping investigation
 A burglary suspect arrested last week by Boone and Avery County law enforcement officials is facing felony secret peeping charges after investigators allegedly found nude photos of at least two female Appalachian State students on his digital camera. Police said Newland’s Jonathan Otis Lewis, 28, photographed one of the students as she exited the shower in her off-campus Boone apartment.
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Mixed bag for political coffers
Republicans hold a large financial advantage in state and federal races, according to reported campaign finance data, but local races show state-level Democratic candidates with a slight edge in the latest filings.
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New disc-golf course tees off in Ashe County
Ashe County Park is now home to what some are calling the fastest growing sport in the world – disc golf. The park is now home to the area’s only disc-golf course and local organizers are hoping to expand the sport’s popularity.
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Boone Tot Lot plan selected
Boone Tot Lot planners have selected a playground equipment provider and established a time line for fund raising and construction.  Marty Wilson, who is helping spearhead the effort through the Boone Service League, said the design by Playworld Systems, Inc. (PSI) emerged as the most popular choice from a series of samples selected by the community in June. The company’s schematic drawings arrived Friday, showing several specific areas that should provide safe play for children up to age 12.
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Convicted killer may get paroled after 28 years
The family of an Ashe county woman, who was stabbed and shot dead by her brother and sister-in-law nearly 30 years ago, are awaiting word from state parole authorities on whether her last surviving killer will be freed. The sister-in-law, Virginia L. Hopkins, now 61, escaped a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to second-degree murder, arson, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Her husband, Larry Dale Hopkins, who was the victim’s younger brother, was 22 at the time of the murder. He pled guilty to the same charges.
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September 4, 2006
Streak!
From left, Will Davis and Tyler Hite join several other Pioneers in claiming the Bucket, a symbol of the team’s intercounty rivalry with Avery County. For more on the game, please click on sports in the side menu. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Sheriff’s report:
Aug. 17 — Someone used the Social Security number of a Boone woman to make a fraudulent purchase. Zionville woman said she was assaulted by a trespasser.
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State plans new Todd bridge
Plans for the new bridge in Todd are on schedule for construction within two years, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.  Drew Joyner, DOT engineer overseeing the project, said the design that came out of public workshops and environmental review should be included in the new transportation improvement plan (TIP) coming out in the next couple of weeks.
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Parkway ecologists tackle invasive species
Blue Ridge Parkway officials are developing a management plan to deal with invasive species and protect biological systems and rare plants in the national park. Parkway rangers want input on an Exotic Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment which will help develop park guidelines to manage non-native species. The plan could include a mix of mechanical, physical, chemical, cultural and biological controls.
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Town council grows ‘smart’ on local growth
Boone Town Council and planning commission members were briefed on the principles of smart growth last week. John Spear, director of Boone Development Services, hosted the information session Monday, Aug. 28, and presented the principles and advantages as outlined by the American Planning Association and Environmental Protection Agency.
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Watauga Democrat introduces Newspapers in Education program to area teachers
It’s a program that began in the 1950s with the New York Times. Since then, 950 newspapers have climbed on board, along with more than 110,000 schools and more than 10 million students. Its mission is simple, create future readers and help children learn through using newspapers as a teaching tool. It is Newspaper in Education (NIE), and it is growing. Read More...
State, region see lower jobless rates
Watauga County had the fourth lowest unemployment rate in the state for July, according to data from the Employment Security Commission (ESC) of North Carolina. The ESC reported that Watauga followed an upward trend in unemployment with 89 other counties. However, the ESC noted the total statewide employment increased by nearly 131,000 over the course of a year.
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No infant deaths in Watauga in 2005
A year after having one of the highest infant mortality rates in the state, Watauga had no infant deaths in 2005, according to a report from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics.
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Adopt me at Watauga Humane Society!
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