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News alert: Police make arrest in Nissan theft
Investigators with the Boone Police Department have made an arrest in connection with the theft of a 2003 Nissan truck taken from University Nissan on Aug. 9.
Matthew David Taylor, 2
4, of Laurel Bloomery, Tenn., was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of larceny of a motor vehicle. Police have accused Taylor and another person of asking to test drive the truck. While the salesperson went inside the business to obtain a permit for the test drive, Taylor and the other person allegedly left the business with the truck, police said. The truck was recovered in Mountain City, Tenn. on Aug. 11.
Taylor was taken before a Watauga County magistrate and placed under a $5,000 bond with a court date scheduled for Sept. 27 in Watauga County District Court. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests may be forthcoming.
Submitted by the Boone Police Department
Canines-n-cars
The Collins family — Dan, Yogi, Wyeth and Sophie — of Boone came out Wednesday to the Kmart parking lot to meet NASCAR Busch Series driver Eric McClure, who was in town for an appearance for the Watauga Humane Society’s spay and neuter event. As fast as it takes for McClure to make a lap at Bristol on Friday evening is about how long it took for 11-month-old Molly to win the hearts of the Collins family who adopted her.
Photo by Marie Freeman |
State bans burning due to dry spell
Continued dry conditions have sparked a statewide burning ban. N.C. Division of Forest Resources announced the ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits effective at noon Wednesday. The ban on open burning will remain in effect until further notice. Read more.
Commissioners hope state will bolster bridge
The Watauga County board of commissioners are asking the state to make a bridge near Valle Crucis safer. The commissioners adopted a resolution asking the N.C. Department of Transportation to “immediately conduct a feasibility study and plan for improvements including a turn lane for the intersection of N.C. 105 and Broadstone Road and improvements to the Watauga River Bridge.”
Read more.
Boone Police reports:
Aug. 16 —At 1:37 p.m. a suspicious incident was reported on Oak Street. Read more.
Incumbents respond to PAC
Three incumbent members of the Boone Town Council and one other candidate released statements this week in response to endorsements by a political action committee that has set its sights on changing the council’s makeup. Read more.
Oldest active MLB player golfs at Redtail
Baseball star Julio Franco visited the mountains recently to swing at a smaller ball. Franco, who plays in the Atlanta Braves system and is expected to be the oldest active major leaguer when he joins the team in September, took a break before the stretch run of the pennant race on Tuesday. Franco visited a friend at Redtail Mountain near Mountain City, Tenn., for 18 holes of golf on Johnson County’s only course. Read more.
Boone and App State get water proposal flowing
The town of Boone and Appalachian State University are close to finalizing a water interconnection and a sewer maintenance agreement. Read more.
August 22, 2007
Second person dies from 421 motorcycle crash
A fatal collision at the intersection of U.S. 421 and Bamboo Road has claimed another life.
The second victim of the accident, Kimberly Diana Blevins, 40, of Abingdon, Va., died from her injuries just before noon Tuesday at Baptist Hospital. She was the passenger on the 2002 Harley Davidson, which was struck by a Nissan SUV Monday afternoon.
To read more, please click here. Photo by Melanie Davis |
Winston-Salem woman injured in Foscoe area Wednesday
A Winston-Salem woman was treated and released by the Watauga Medical Center after an accident in the Mill Creek development in the Foscoe community Wednesday. At 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Wanda Harmon, 40, was packing the trunk of a vehicle, preparing to return to Winston-Salem when she was pinned between two vehicles. Read more.
Junior Johnson visits Boone to promote new liquor
Racing legend Junior Johnson made a pit stop in Boone Friday, only this time he didn’t have to elude law enforcement or stock-car track rivals to do it. Johnson appeared at the ABC Store for a special promotion of a new brand of “moonshine,” Midnight Moon. Read more.
Watauga District Criminal Court reports:
Aug. 6 — Jonathan Thomas Benson, 21, of 1600 Helmwood Drive, Greensboro pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed weapon. Read more.
Town deals with lights, downtown patrols
In summing up a couple action items at last Thursday’s Boone Town Council meeting, one could say the council dabbled in some “light rezoning.” Read more.
FEMA grants $4 million for flood maps
Watauga County’s waterways will receive updated flood information in the next couple of years, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently granted $4 million for new flood maps.
Read more.
School system changes visitors policy
With the start of the school year, Watauga County Schools has tightened its visitors policy at local schools. Under the policy, only people related to a student may visit a student during the day, usually during lunchtime. Read more.
High speed chase ends with arrest
A Mountain City man remains in custody after leading police in Watauga and Johnson County, Tenn. on a high-speed chase. Read more.
August 20, 2007
Palatial pooch pad
Being in the doghouse wouldn't be so bad if they were all like this one, designed to match the historic Westglow Resort and Spa. Beside the doghouse is its architect, Steven Carter Price, and Westglow owners Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer. "Westgrowl," as the doghouse is called, will be up for auction at the Watauga Humane Society's annual Fur Ball fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 25. The Greek revival doghouse measures 7-by-5 feet and was created through a partnership with Price, Boone Construction and Westglow. For information about the Fur Ball, call Jan Watson at (828) 264-1743. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Son-in-law of local couple killed in Iraq
A soldier with local ties was reported as one of the latest casualty of the Iraq War Friday. Lt. John Edds, 24, was killed by a homemade explosive device while leading his division on patrol in Baghdad. He was a native of White Pigeon, Mich., and a West Point graduate. He had been in active duty in Iraq since March and had just been reassigned to the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division. Read more.
Elk Motel discussion continues
The Elk has not so much been saved, as it is being saved – sort of. The future of the beleaguered motel still remains uncertain, even after last Thursday’s meeting of the Boone Town Council. Read more.
Sheriff’s reports:
Aug. 6 — Breaking and entering, larceny and damage to property were reported at a residence on Ralph Wilson Road, Vilas. Several appliances and the under pinning of the residence were stolen.
Read more.
Police reports:
Aug. 13 — At 10:03 a.m. police investigated a report of fraud at a Birch Street. Read more.
Testing is available for lead levels in children
With Mattel recalling thousands of toys due to concerns about potential lead exposure, health officials are asking parents to monitor children who have been exposed to the toys but say the most serious symptoms from lead poisoning come with repeated and long-term exposure. Read more.
Police get ready for student influx, offer safety tips
They’re back. Traveling through downtown Boone this weekend may have taken longer than anticipated as thousands of students arrived over the weekend to begin classes on Tuesday at Appalachian State University. Read more.
New fingerprinting machine will conform with state law
A new bill requiring fingerprinting of those driving while impaired, or driving while license revoked, if due to a DWI charge has been ratified by the N.C. General Assembly. Senate bill 1211 has been presented to Gov. Michael Easley to be signed into law. Read more.
County OKs new 911 software
The job of Watauga County and Blowing Rock telecommunicators is about to get a little easier.
Read more.
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