Archived
November 22-24, 2006
Breaking news:
Recount certifies Hagaman's victory
In official results after Wednesday’s recount, as certified by the Watauga County Board of Elections, Len “L.D.” Hagaman has been determined the winner of the sheriff’s race.
The recount turned up three additional votes for incumbent Republican Mark Shook, but he still lost the election, 7,845 votes to 7,727.
"I am very pleased with the results. I know that both the Board of Elections and especially Jane Hodges have had a very intense few weeks made even more difficult by the passing of Jane’s father," Hagaman said in a statement.
"The deferment in the certification process and the Thanksgiving holiday has really compressed transition matters and thus puts the transition process on a fast track as well. There is much to do."
Hagaman said he next wants to implement an "assumption of office checklist."
"In addition, I have formally requested verification of evidence, significant investigations, property and assets, records, inmate count, and fiscal concerns to the proper personnel, agencies, and officials," he said.
For the District 45 N.C. Senate race, the results were unchanged from Friday’s canvass in Watauga County.
Districtwide results were not available, though Steve Goss’ victory appeared assured, as totals changed by only one vote in Wilkes County’s recount. Goss had a lead of 322 votes over Republican David Blust before the recount.
According to the Associated Press, Blust trailed by 319 votes after the districtwide recount.
Two other county totals were unavailable.
In the N.C. Court of Appeals judicial race, Linda Stephens gained four votes in Watauga County during the recount. Statewide, Stephens trailed by 3, 528 votes after Friday’s canvass.
Watauga County’s recount took five and a half hours, with 30 precinct workers on hand in addition to election staff. The workers fed all the paper ballots back through the voting machines by hand to get the new totals.
After the tally, the Board of Elections voted to certified the new results as the official count for the county.
The state Board of Elections meets Tuesday to certify results in all races and resolve any remaining issues.
— By Scott Nicholson, staff writer
Suspect in ’03 robbery found
Boone police and FBI investigators have joined with Alabama authorities to arrest an Alabama man they suspect of robbing a Boone bank in February 2003.
Read More...
County OKs parcel buys for new WHS
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners agreed to buy enough land to develop an 89-acre high school site and selected an architect during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Read More...
New tag office gets full plate
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a stop for vehicle registration — now made more convenient with a full-service tag office in downtown Boone.
Read More...
Old tag office case delayed to Jan. 2
Watauga County’s year-long wait for a new tag office ended recently with the grand re-opening at a new location in a downtown Boone location. But the trial of the woman charged with the alleged embezzlement of more than $6,000, which prompted the September 2005 closing, was delayed another month at a Superior Court hearing last week.
Read More...
Mixed-use plan may include museum
A chance meeting may herald a brighter future for the Appalachian Cultural Museum. Chuck Watkins, director of the Appalachian Cultural Museum, met with developer J. Douglas Gale last week and learned the museum may find space in Gale’s planned mixed-use development near downtown Boone.
Read More...
Sheriff’s report:
Nov. 3 — Brandon Keith Gills, 20, of 3563 High Peak Terrace, Valdese, was arrested for failing to appear at an earlier District-Court hearing. He was placed under a $500 secured bond and schedule to appear Dec. 7 in District Court.
Read More...
Autopsy reports from fire released
The state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released the results of toxicology exams of blood taken from the bodies of three Cove Creek Elementary students, victims of a Sept. 14 apartment fire, and determined that all died of smoke inhalation.
Read More...
Animal ordinance draws vocal criticism
Local animal advocates are worried the public may believe certain dogs’ barks are worse than their bites.
Read More...
November 20 & 22, 2006
Onward and upward
Watauga High School’s Pioneers beat Greensboro-Page 15-14 in the second round 4-A football game Friday evening. With temperatures well into the 30s during Friday evening’s football game, WHS students Will Barbour, Harrison Street and Mitchell Minford managed to stay warm from the intensity of the game. Please see sports for more on Friday night’s win. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Election recount Wednesday
Though the count of provisional votes widened the gap between two close races, two Watauga candidates are eligible for recounts.
Read More...
No flu cases here yet
North Carolina is one of the early hot spots of the flu season, listed by the Centers of Disease Control as experiencing “regional activity.” The CDC assessments are based on epidemiology reports, listing the state as having the most active influenza cases.
Read More...
Chamber: Speaker hatches incubator discussion
A discussion on business incubation was served at the most recent Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Roundtable. Russ Yelton, director of the small business center at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, spoke to several chamber members at the Nov. 9 event.
Read More...
Blowing Rock kicks off season Friday
Before the Thanksgiving leftovers have had a chance to chill in the fridge, the town of Blowing Rock is ready to celebrate Christmas. Some folks think that’s a tad early, while others appreciate Blowing Rock’s willingness to keep the holiday ball a-rollin’. The fun starts on Friday, Nov. 24, with Blowing Rock’s annual Christmas in the Park celebration.
Read More...
Playstation 3 frenzy begins
Days of waiting paid off for Sergio Rodriguez, one of the relatively few able to buy Sony's PlayStation 3 when the coveted console went on sale early Friday. He was among the die-hard gamers and entrepreneurs across the country who braved foul weather and heckling by passers-by all week for the chance to shell out $500 or more for the sleek PS3, plus about $60 per game.
Read More...
Boone to kick off Christmas events Dec. 2
There are many ways to work off a Thanksgiving feast. One of the most creative, though, is marching in a parade. The 2006 Downtown Boone Christmas Parade provides this opportunity, along with fun and holiday cheer for the whole family. With a theme of “High Country Holiday Traditions,” the parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m.
Read More...
Road closures okayed
Support of road closures from the Boone Town Council could help construction of a new Watauga High School move forward.
Read More...
Sheriff’s reports:
Oct. 29 — The front door was forced and a purse emptied of $250 cash at a Howard’s Creek Road apartment.
Read More...
Paging through the warring past
Some consider C. Clayton Thompson a Civil War hero. is not in the literal sense, though he has come to the aid of many a scholarly soldier seeking particularly hard-to-find books on the American Civil War.
Read More...
Boone council OKs new WHS water allocation
Seek and ye shall find. Watauga County sought and found water from the town of Boone for the new Watauga High School to be built in the Perkinsville area.
Read More...
Town approves zoning changes; tables ballon rules
The Boone Town Council adopted a series of zoning amendments at last Thursday’s regular meeting. The first was a zoning change request from resident Randolph Johnson. According to a Boone Development Services staff report, Johnson has submitted a request to change the zoning classification of 169 Rogers Dr. from R-1 (single-family residential) to CD-R3 (conditional district multi-family residential).
Read More...
Adopt me at Watauga Humane Society!
|
Sports
