Archived
Public Health Advisory: Peanut butter salmonella outbreak
From Appalachian District Health Department
Appalachian District Health Department, in partnership with N.C. Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is issuing a public health advisory regarding the outbreak of salmonella/Tennessee that has been linked to the brands “Great Value” and “Peter Pan” peanut butter with product code number beginning with “2111.”
To date, there have been 288 confirmed cases nationwide and 39 states have been involved, including North Carolina. Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter should contact their health-care provider to seek medical attention, and should call the Watauga County Health Department at 828-264-6635 before discarding their peanut butter.Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after being infected. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most recover from salmonella without treatment. The illness may be more severe in the elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems.
Gusting & Dusting
Two Appalachian State University students struggle against fierce winds as they walk down Rivers Street on Wednesday afternoon. A dusting of snow and bone-chilling, below-zero winds closed area schools, but caused relatively few traffic problems throughout the county. Photo by Marie Freeman |
ASU professor testifies about wind turbine turmoil
Though the jury is still out on the fate of a proposed commercial wind farm in Ashe County, a local man’s data suggests the winds of change won’t die down anytime soon. Dennis Scanlin, professor in the Appropriate Technology program at Appalachian State University, testified at a hearing of the N.C. Utilities Commission about his research on wind resources in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read more.
Globe decision left spinning for two, three more weeks
A decision on the Globe Project is still two or three weeks away, according to the U.S. Forest Service ranger who will make the decision. Read more.
Garden organizer pleased with crop
Though winter is still upon us, the Leola Street Community Garden is gearing up for a spring of abundant growth. Spearheaded by Matt Cooper, the Boone garden was founded in September 2005 by the Appalachian Cooperative for Progressive Sustainability, leasing 1.2 acres off Leola Street from the town of Boone.
Read more.
Inheriting the wind’s power
A Bethel man became the first person to operate a new wind turbine after passage of the county’s wind energy ordinance, but his project was more of an impetus for the ordinance than a result of it. Read more.
Tuesday forest fire scorches quarter-acre area in Meat Camp
A forest fire in Meat Camp destroyed a quarter of an acre Monday. According to Rudy Johnson, ranger with the N.C. Forest Service, a call came in at 5:23 p.m. on Feb. 12, and the Meat Camp Fire Department was dispatched with two trucks and about a dozen firefighters. Read more.
Boone’s watery paradox pours into council’s plans
To Boone residents, it may seem like quite the Catch-22. To the town of Boone, it may seem like common sense — and cents. Read more.
Fire destroys family home in Beaver Dam
A 100-year-old home on the far western edge of Watauga County burned Saturday night, displacing a Peoria couple and destroying all but a few photos and the family bible. The fire which was discovered just after 6 p.m., is believed to have started in the chimney of the home of Bill and Geneva Tester at 243 Albert Tester Dr. Read more.
Watauga County Crimestoppers
Between Feb. 4-7, someone entered Rutherwood Baptist Church located at 142 Don Hayes Road and stole three microphones and a bass acoustic violin. Read more.
February 14, 2007
Boone’s Hollywood star fades
Ned Austin, the only man to have a star of fame on King Street’s sidewalk in downtown Boone, is remembered for cutting up as much as cutting hair. Austin, who died Saturday at age 81, was a long-time actor who also owned the famous underground barber shop in Boone for 20 years. Read more. |
Boards see new WHS plans
The Watauga County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners were presented preliminary site plans for a new high school Monday and approved two construction firms for the project. Read more.
Wataugans in better shape but many still overweight
Watauga County residents are among those encouraged to “step it up” after recent survey findings suggest people in the western North Carolina mountains are more likely to be overweight when compared to national averages. Read more.
Boone planners OK public hearing cases
The Boone Area Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for all the items from last Thursday’s town of Boone quarterly public hearing. At its regular meeting Monday, the commission first recommended approval for a case on tree pruning. The town had proposed a text amendment to incorporate ANSI (American National Standards Institute) 300 National Standards relating to correct tree pruning.
Read more.
February 12, 2007
Slim 'n Jim
On Feb. 2, Groundhog Day aficionado Jim Sparger and his buddy, Sugar Grove Slim, conducted their annual visit to offices and restaurants in the High Country. Each year, Sparger and Slim bring flowers to area workers and deliver Groundhog Day tidings. This year, Slim dressed up as a bridegroom with the message, “Until Winter Us Do Part,” on his sash. Sparger said that Slim failed to see his shadow that morning, virtually ensuring the High Country an early spring this year. Photo by Jeff Eason |
Blue Ridge Parkway could get a budget boost
A proposed increase to federal park funding could make a difference along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Read more.
Goss gears up for Senate committee assignments
Newly elected state Sen. Steve Goss has taken the lead on several General Assembly initiatives during his first few weeks in office. Read more.
Ex-officer sentenced in Beech Mtn. burglary ring
An Appalachian State University graduate and former Fayetteville police officer was sentenced last week to 19 years in federal prison for his role in a burglary ring that targeted homes in Beech Mountain, Fayetteville and Raleigh. Read more.
Anti-smoking groups reach out to businesses
Anti-smoking efforts are turning up the heat, with a state bill introduced to ban smoking in state buildings.
Read more.
Detention officer arrested
Watauga County Sheriff's Office investigators have charged six people, including a county detention officer, in connection with alleged security breaches at the county jail. The detention officer, 24-year-old Jacob E. Cornett of Vilas, was charged with providing cigarettes to inmates. Read more.
ASU withdraws request for zoning changes
The town of Boone hosted its winter quarter public hearing Thursday, though the headlining item was removed from the agenda. Officials from Appalachian State University were scheduled to appear to request a zoning change for four parcels of land near downtown Boone to allow construction of a new college of education building. Read more. |
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