Archived

Scoring a goal for a cleaner Boone After noticing an abundance of garbage on the grounds surrounding the old Fire Tower overlooking Boone, 10 members of the High Country Soccer Association’s 94 Challenge Team decided that a community service project was in order. Armed with plenty of trash bags from the town of Boone, and paint from Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, the girls spent hours this past week collecting more than 700 pounds of garbage and painting over vandalized walls. Photo by Mark Mitchell

New WHS will have two access points
The Watauga County school board and county commissioners met Tuesday afternoon to receive an update on the new high school site plan. Jennifer Sisak, project architect for sfL+a, shared the proposed site layout for the main classroom building, athletic fields, parking and supporting facilities on the 94-acre site in Perkinsville. Read more.

Hot pursuit: Motorcyclist eludes capture
Police clocked a fleeing motorcyclist at speeds up to 130 mph before losing him at the Tennessee state line Tuesday afternoon. Read more.

County hopes to improve recycling and education efforts
Editor’s Note: The following is part two of a three-part series about trends and policies in solid waste in Watauga County and the surrounding region. Watauga County’s trash stream is growing steadily, but efforts to improve recycling and reduce the waste stream are being pulled from the scrap heap. Read more.

Stamp prices will rise May 14
Once again, it’s time for the two-cent stamps to shine. Come Monday, May 14, the U.S. Postal Service will increase the first-class postage rate from 39 to 41 cents, making those leftover two-cent stamps all the more useful. Read more.

County officials, organizers dispute playground vendor
A county playground turned into a battleground during Tuesday night’s Watauga County commissioners’ meeting. Read more.

Kidstock gets ready to rock May 19
Western Youth Network and Parent to Parent are teaming up once again to present Kidstock V, an annual fund-raiser and day of fun for all ages. Kidstock will be held May 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Watauga High School. Tickets cost $3 for children, $4 for adults and children under two get in free. Read more.

Tourism Week arrives
The town of Boone is opening the front door of hospitality for National Tourism Week 2007. Lasting from May 12 to 20, the event is now in its 24th year, having started as an initiative from the Travel Industry Association of America. Read more.

Carefree Companies named Chamber Business of the Year
A caring gesture from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce saw its 2007 Business of the Year Award presented to Carefree Companies. Dan Meyer, president of the chamber, made the announcement at Tuesday’s Business After Hours at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. Read more.

May 11, 2007

Return of the 1451st Before leaving for Iraq in 2005, Robert Johnson was pictured in the Watauga Democrat with his daughter, Sarah. Johnson is once again pictured with Sarah during the special Sunday ceremony welcoming returning soliders with the 1451st Transportation Company. For more pictures on the company’s return from Iraq, please visit Jason Reagan’s Editor’s Blog above. Photo by Marie Freeman.

Long-term garbage issues expected to pile up in N.C.
Editor’s Note: The following is part one of a three-part series about trends and policies in solid waste in Watauga County and the surrounding region. The state has room for its trash in the short term, but the escalating population growth and each person’s increased garbage production will put more strain on landfill space and could lead to changes in solid waste policies. Read more.

Attacker assaults woman at Boone convenience store
Police said they have few clues to the identity of an assailant who attacked a mini-mart clerk early Monday morning, but are hoping witnesses may come forward to help solve the case. The 40-year-old woman told police she was blind-sided as she mopped the floor at the BP station and Kangaroo Express market on West King Street and remembers nothing after that. Read more.

Rain helps control Linville Gorge blaze
Rain showers and increased humidity helped firefighters reach 90 percent containment of a stubborn fire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area this weekend after more than two weeks of trying to bring the blaze under control. Read more.

Local food guide continues to blossom
The 2007 Local Food Guide is now available, with more farms, restaurants and copies being circulated.

Read more.

New eatery on the rise
Panera Bread is on the rise at Boone Mall, and that fresh aroma is only a couple of weeks around the corner. Read more.

May 9, 2007

Welcome home heroes Several thousand people welcomed home the 1451st Transportation Company of the North Carolina National Guard during Sunday’s ceremony at Watauga High School in Boone. The 170 soldiers were greeted with applause, signs, American flags and banners, with a number of standing ovations. The troops returned to Boone Saturday morning from Indiana, where they arrived Monday after a year of active duty in Iraq. To read more, click here. Photo by Marie Freeman

Fleetwood boy injured in parking lot accident
A 10-year-old Fleetwood boy was seriously injured Thursday when he reportedly ran into the side of a pickup truck in an east Boone parking lot, according to a report from the Boone Police Department. Read more.

Sheriff’s reports:
The following were excerpted from incident reports filed by sheriff’s officers. April 16 — Danielle Nicole Presnell, 18, of 214 Thompson Hollow Rd., Vilas, was served with a warrant alleging one count of communicating threats. She was released on her written promise to appear at a May 21 District Court hearing. Read more.

Boards meet to review new high school
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners and school board will meet Tuesday to review site plans for a new high school. Read more.

Four cases await Boone public hearing May 10
Neighborhood parks, conditional zoning, sidewalks and mixed-use zoning make up this week’s town of Boone quarterly public hearing. The Boone Town Council and Boone Area Planning Commission will host the spring quarterly hearing, scheduled for Thursday, May 10. Read more.