Archived
Breaking news: Man struck by a vehicle on Poplar Grove Road
Ed Pilkington |
Retired ASU professor and former Horn in the West director, Ed Pilkington, was injured Friday afternoon in a bicycle accident that put him in the path of a Ford Ranger. Pilkington was traveling on Poplar Grove Road, near the Shulls Mill Road intersection when, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol, he lost control of the bicycle. Pilkington landed in the path of oncoming traffic and was struck by a Ford Ranger. Trooper Adams said the driver of the truck was not at fault in the accident, nor exceeding the speed limit. The identity of the driver is not available at this time. Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue and the Highway Patrol responded to the scene. Pilkington was then transported via WINGS Air Rescue helicopter to Johnson City (Tenn.) Medical Center. As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, he was being treated in the emergency room and no condition update was available. Trooper Adams is still investigating the accident.
— By Melanie Davis, staff writer (Posted Sept. 28 at 5:08 p.m.)
News update: Construction site damaged by a paint can explosion
A spokesperson for the Sugar Mountain Police department said a paint can exploded causing a fire, which burned a 12-square-foot section of the new construction on lot No. 50 on Grouse Moor Drive at Sugar Mountain. The fire started at approximately 3 a.m. Friday and was quickly contained by the Banner Elk Fire Department. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the paint can explosion is under investigation by the Avery County fire marshal, Sugar Mountain Police and the State Bureau of Investigation. — By Melanie Davis, staff writer (Posted Sept. 28 at 11:25 a.m.)
Down at the patch
Roy McCarter of Foscoe enjoys the fruits of his summer labor. McCarter scattered “Big Max” pumpkin seeds in a 10- by 10-foot plot of his garden and more than 16 pumpkins thrived growing in an excess of 63 pounds each, despite the dry weather.
Photo by Marie Freeman |
Carving an ASU campus in Hickory?
HICKORY — The prospect of a UNC-Hickory is apparently gaining steam. The state’s university system and local elected officials are considering several potential sites in Catawba County for what could eventually become a University of North Carolina at Hickory campus, according to sources.
Read more.
Students initiate relationship between town, ASU
In order to improve communication between the town of Boone and Appalachian State University, the Boone Town Council agreed to establish a “town-and-gown” committee. The agreement came from a request of ASU’s Student Government Association (SGA), and SGA director of civic engagement Nathan Smith made the request at last Thursday’s regular council meeting. Read more.
Security to be increased at Boone Mall after break-in
No merchandise was stolen when a suspect broke into the Boone Mall during the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 24. An unknown person attempted to shoot out a parking lot light before forcing entry into the back door. Read more.
Boone will help with WHS water fees
The Boone Town Council agreed to help Watauga County out with its water bill. Considering the county faced a total of more than $76,000 in water availability fees for the new Watauga High School in Perkinsville, the council wanted to discuss amending the water and sewer ordinance regarding the transfer of availability fees for government entities. Read more.
App State board of trustees welcomes four new members
Appalachian State’s Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting last week on Sept. 21. The first action on the agenda was to swear in four new members to the board and two returning members. The four new members were G.A. Sywassink, Michael A. Steinback, Helen Powers and Avery Hall. The members reappointed for another four-year term were Hughlene Frank and John Cooper. Superior Court judge Phil Ginn, representing the 24th District, officiated the ceremony.
Read more.
September 26, 2007
Kraut kreation
Hailey Marshall and Kate Kearse paint a vivid mural during the 15th annual Kraut Creek Festival held Saturday afternoon in downtown Boone. Presented by the Downtown Boone Development Association, the festival celebrates the history of the creek, which bisects downtown and the Appalachian State University campus. The name derives from the smelly but prosperous sauerkraut industry that owed its existence to Watauga County’s brisk cabbage crops. Photo by Jimmy Day |
Early Boone voting begins
While many people see election day as singular, Watauga County Board of Elections director Jane Hodges would beg to differ. Early, one-stop voting started last Thursday, Sept. 20. “We actually have 14 election days, because we have 13 days prior to the election in which people can come in to vote,” Hodges said. Read more.
Google plus CCC&TI: Jobs program fuels career search engine
Google is not only a popular Internet search engine or a blue-chip stock, it’s also the spark for a series of new information technology classes. Read more.
Watauga County sheriff’s reports:
Sept. 1 — Larceny was reported at a business in Vilas. A suspect distracted the vendor while stealing 20 hemp necklaces, two ball caps and four picture frames. Read more.
Deep Gap market burglarized
Someone burglarized the 3 Way Grocery in Deep Gap early Tuesday morning while the store was closed. Read more.
Profile: Loretta Clawson looks for an ‘inclusive town’
The final installment in a multi-part series. “Your mayor.” These are two words that go together like peas and carrots, and two words that Loretta Clawson never fails to emphasize. Read more.
New e-mail scam targets the unemployed
An e-mail scam has been brought to the attention of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office. The scam is targeted towards the unemployed, posing as a profitable job offer. Read more.
Boone Police reports:
Sept. 14 —At 1:26 a.m. officers responded to a report of forcible entry burglary at a residence on Blowing Rock Road. Read more.
Forum: Candidates pour opinions on water
The following is part five in a series on the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce “Meet the Candidates” forum, held Sept. 13 for the 2007 Boone municipal election. Mediator Ron Hester asked mayoral and council candidates their position on water in the town of Boone, considering the council has enacted an ordinance that allows only a certain amount of allocations per year until an additional water source can be secured and a new water treatment plant built to accommodate the town’s future needs.
Read more.
September 24, 2007
Breaking news: Monday fatality
A Boone man died Monday morning before the truck he was driving careened down a 150-foot embankment, an investigator said this afternoon. The N.C. Highway Patrol said Michael Todd Critcher, 39, of Boone, suffered a sudden medical seizure suspected to be a heart attack, which caused his death as he approached his worksite at the Laurelmor development near Blowing Rock. According to an eyewitness, Critcher's red truck approached the guard house at less than 5 mph and continued past the building down the steep embankment. Trooper T. Hendricks of the N.C. Highway Patrol said the accident occurred at such a low speed, the air bags were not deployed. The truck suffered only minimal damage as it came to rest against a small tree. Rescue workers from Blowing Rock fire and rescue departments, as well as Watauga Medics, responded to the scene (shown above). “The medical examiner has not yet determined the exact medical condition which caused Mr. Critcher's death, but it was not the vehicle accident,” Hendricks said.
— Melanie Davis, staff writer Photo by Jerry Burns
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Drug sting nets 79 charges against 18 suspects
A large scale undercover operation has nabbed 18 King Street suspected drug dealers. The operation took three months and the Boone narcotics unit received assistance from the Ashe County Sheriff's Office, Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, North Wilkesboro Police Department and the Watauga County Sheriff's Office.The operation culminated in 79 charges against 18 defendants on Thursday, Sept. 20. Read more.
Sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison without parole
It was an emotional day in the Watauga County courthouse. Kyle Quentin Triplett, 23, entered a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office in the 2005 murder of Stephen Harrington. Triplett was facing the death penalty for the capital offense of first degree murder, in addition to first degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and burning of personal property. Read more.
County reviews ‘Reverse 911’
A new emergency response system will allow Watauga County to send out emergency messages to select groups, including issuing general public warnings. The “Reverse 911” system is an automated calling system driven by computers that can deliver messages about road closings, meetings or emergencies and is similar to one used by the school system to deliver news of school closings. Read more.
Profile: Tim Wilson looks to represent a ‘cross-section’
Editor’s Note: The following is part nine in a multi-part series featuring candidates in the upcoming Boone municipal election. Tim Wilson’s election signs don’t say “elect,” but rather just “Mayor of Boone.” Needless to say, Wilson is eager to assume office, provided the votes come his way on election day. Read more.
Kevin Freeman and Rob Taylor withdraw from council race
Though both ran relatively silent campaigns, only agreeing to interview with the university newspaper and relying on publicity through the social-networking Web site, Facebook.com, Boone Town Council candidates Kevin Freeman and Rob Taylor announced they will withdraw from the 2007 Boone municipal election. Read more.
Childhood deaths in N.C. on the decline
Recorded child deaths reached historic lows in 2006, according to the latest statistics from the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force. Read more.
Candidates build up their housing ideas
The following is part four in a series on the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidates” forum held Thursday, Sept. 13, for candidates of the Boone municipal election. Candidates for the Boone Town Council afforded a variety of responses when asked their stance on affordable housing. More specifically, mediator Ron Hester asked candidates attending the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidates” forum on Sept. 13 whether they could foresee land available for such a use in Boone’s future. Read more.
Town of Boone election
The town of Boone will hold a town election on Oct. 9 to fill three council posts and the mayor's seat. The last day to register to vote was Sept. 14.
This was also the last day to do address changes. 
One-stop absentee voting will begin Thursday, Sept. 20, and will continue from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays through Friday, Oct. 5, and from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Oct. 6 will be the only Saturday for one-stop voting. The location for one-stop voting is the Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Road, Boone. For more information, call the Board of Elections office at 828-265-8061.
The Watauga Democrat is also featuring a series on the candidates for this year's town election. For previously published stories, please link with the profile articles below:
Sept. 3: Jeremy Blocker wants to see Boone succeed
Sept. 5: Ethan Dodson brings student's perspective
Sept. 7: Liz Aycock — Planning to make a council move
Sept. 10: Lynne Mason wants a 'vital downtown area'
Sept. 12: Stephen Phillips hopes to follow family tradition
Sept. 14: Dempsey Wilcox seeks ways to enhance communication
Sept. 17: Candidate hopes to Spann communication gaps
Sept. 24: Tim Wilson looks to represent a 'cross section'
Sept. 26: Loretta Clawson looks for an 'inclusive town'
Meet the candidates
The following is a series on the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidates” forum held Sept. 13. Boone municipal candidates offered their opinions on the Unified Development Ordinance and other topics. For the articles, please link below:
Sept. 17: Town of Boone forum: Candidates face questions
Sept. 19: Candidates agree: UDO needs upgrades
Sept. 21: Candidates tackle finance questions
Sept. 24: Candidates build up their housing ideas
Sept. 26: Forum: Candidates pour opinions on water |
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