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Minor injuries in King Street crash
Three preschool-aged children received minor injuries Wednesday morning when a pickup truck collided with a school bus on a downtown Boone street. ` Officer Donny Goodman of the Boone Police Department said the children, two five-year-olds and a four-year-old, were transported to the Watauga Medical Center following the crash. Read more.

U.S. 421 widening project: DOT paves forum for input
The N.C. Department of Transportation hosted a combined public hearing in Boone Tuesday to gather residents’ input on the U.S. 421 widening project. The project proposes to widen U.S. 421/King Street from N.C. 194 to U.S. 321/Hardin Street. Ed Lewis, public hearing officer with the NCDOT, spoke at the meeting, held at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center, and said widening would take place on the south side of the road’s existing alignment. Read more.

Theft hurts more than the museum
When burglars made off with a haul of irreplaceable blacksmithing tools from Boone’s Hickory Homestead Museum last month, they left behind a wagon-load of questions. For one, why, in a world of 21st-Century crime, did the thieves face little more than 19th-Century security in their quest to loot the museum of its valuables? Read more.

Officials raise questions about highway widening
Watauga County residents, business owners and officials were able to voice their opinions on the U.S. 421 widening project at Tuesday night’s N.C. Department of Transportation combined public hearing. The meeting, held at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center, was mediated by Ed Lewis, public hearing officer with the NCDOT. Read more.

Note: Boone Town Council special hearing, meeting cancelled
The Boone Town Council canceled its special public hearing and subsequent special meeting scheduled for Monday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. At its regular meeting March 15, the council opted to reconsider a conditional zoning district amendment, the subject of an agenda item for the special public hearing and meeting. The additional agenda items for the special meeting, concerning multi-family projects in the central business district and zoning amendments to the table of permissible uses, will appear on the council’s agenda for its regular meeting in April. For more information, read Monday’s Watauga Democrat.

March 14, 2007
Commissioners’ retreat: County wants to keep higher fund balance
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners began counting dollars on Friday in preparation for the coming fiscal year. Read more.

Local Republicans convene, regroup
Recovery from last year’s political losses topped the agenda when the Watauga County Republican Party met Saturday at the county courthouse for its annual convention. In addition to planning an optimistic future strategy, the party also elected a new slate of officers and heard a pep talk from U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5). Read more.

Elk Motel owner offers lodging to those down and out
The following is part one of a two-part series about the Elk Motel and its owner, Floyd “Dipper” Garrison. The Elk Motel’s reputation may precede it. Police warn tourists not to stay at the small motel on the outskirts of Boone, and it sometimes appears in local crime reports. Read more.

Local Red Cross chapter celebrates 90 years
Since the “birth” of the local chapter of the American Red Cross 90 years ago, thousands of volunteers have served the residents of Watauga County and surrounding areas during times of disaster and personal loss.

Read more.

Connector would drive new campus exit road
A proposed road would connect Appalachian State University to N.C. 105 and could alleviate traffic congestion in the campus area of Boone. According to Clyde Robbins, ASU director of design and construction, a recently completed feasibility study would see Bodenheimer Drive near the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center extended to reach Homespun Hills Road, which spills onto N.C. 105. The plan would also connect Poplar Grove Road near The Meadows subdivision to Homespun Hills. Read more.

March 12, 2007

Medical facility prohibition draws no opposition
A dispute between Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson and developer Phil Templeton practically promised a fueled public hearing last Thursday. However, nobody spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that would prohibit medical facilities in excess of 10,000 square feet in R-1 and R-1A residential zoning districts. Read more.

County builds capital project plan at retreat
The Watauga County commissioners discussed the long-range future of county buildings, parks and a parking lot during last weekend’s annual planning retreat. A long-range capital improvement plan prevents borrowing the full amount and gives time to set aside money. Read more.

Eastern Watauga may get a senior center
A senior center for the eastern end of Watauga County emerged at Watauga County commissioners’ Friday retreat. Read more.

Boone Police arrest local man on forgery charge
A Boone man was arrested last week and charged with forging stolen checks and passing them to three local retailers, according to a statement from the Boone Police Department. Sean Jamason Arnold, 33, has been charged with three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense and three counts of uttering forged instruments. Read more.

Sheriff’s report:
Feb. 27 —A home on Will Cook Road was broken into and a Sony CD player reported stolen. The owner suspects an acquaintance is responsible. Read more.

Zoning questions top Boone’s public hearing
The Boone Town Council and Boone Area Planning Commission dealt with a relatively short special public hearing last Thursday, March 8. The first case, regarding multi-family housing in the central business district, yielded only one speaker to comment on the issue. Read more.

Bridge boosters cross over into DOT victory
Residents of the Amantha community have apparently won their fight to limit bridge changes in their historic community in western Watauga County. Read more.