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Today: Streets temporarily closing for WHS homecoming parade
Today (Friday) at 3:30 p.m., Horn in the West Drive will be closed from King Street to Horn Avenue to allow the Watauga High School homecoming parade to line up.
Around 4 to 4:30 p.m. when the parade starts, King Street will be closed from the N.C. 105 Extension to Water Street. Traffic going west during the parade can take the N.C. 105 Extension to U.S. 321; Rivers Street traffic traveling east can use Rivers Street, U.S. 321 and the N.C. 105 Extension.
— From the Boone Police Department
News Update: Suspect arrested in ASU robbery
An arrest has been made in the robbery of three ASU students late Monday evening. Mu-Tse Michael Lin, 17, of High Point was arrested Wednesday night by officers with the ASU police department. Lin was taken before a Watauga County magistrate and charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon.
The robbery took place in the Greenwood parking lot at 9 p.m. on Oct. 1. Five students were leaving the parking lot when a suspect jumped in front of the car waving a silver-colored handgun. The suspect took three wallets, containing an estimated $650 in cash. Lin was arrested as a result of interviews and witness accounts, though ASU police chief Gunther Doerr did not wish to comment any further.
Lin was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in District Court on Nov. 21 in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond Police are continuing to investigate the incident and said additional arrests are likely. — Melanie Davis, staff writer (Posted Oct. 5 at 9 a.m.)
Fake disaster, real training
A full-scale, hazardous-material drill took place on Mabel School Road, Zionville Wednesday afternoon. This training exercise involved seven area fire departments, three medic and rescue squads, Watauga County Sheriff’s officers and communications, Watauga County Red Cross, Watauga County Fire Marshal and emergency management office, Watauga Medical Center, Blowing Rock Hospital, and Wings Air Rescue out of Johnson City, Tenn. To read more, please click here. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Forum: Candidates drive home traffic points
Editor’s Note: Because the recent Boone Area Chamber of Commerce forum of Boone Town Council candidates covered so many topics, the Watauga Democrat has published several articles that attempt to capture each topic area covered. The following deals with traffic issues. Candidates in the Boone municipal election recently got caught in traffic of an interrogative nature. Read more.
Six ounces of cocaine seized in undercover operations
Officers of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Division have taken more than six ounces of cocaine off the market and out of the hands of Watauga High School students.
Read more.
Armed robbery on ASU campus
Officers of the ASU police department are in search of a suspect for armed robbery.
Read more.
October 3, 2007
Honda vs. Honda: No serious injuries in wreck
No serious injuries were reported when a SUV was rear-ended by a motorcycle on N.C. 105 late Monday afternoon. Benjamin Alex Kautz, 19, of Butler, Tenn., was traveling south on a 2002 Honda CRV 600 motorcycle when he abruptly changed lanes. The 2007 Honda SUV driven by Elizabeth Trivett Harmon, 43, of Boone was stopped due to traffic congestion. The motorcycle collided at approximately 25 mph with the rear of the SUV. Kautz was wearing a helmet. He was treated at the scene, then transported to the Watauga Medical Center. The Boone Fire Department, Boone Police Department, Watauga County Sheriff's Office and Watauga Medics responded to the scene. Kautz has been cited for failure to reduce speed and reckless driving. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Homeless organization gets OK for property lease
The Hospitality House of Boone has cleared one more hurdle in its goal to centralize operations and move out of the downtown area. Read more.
It’s a great day to be Orville Hicks
Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson declared in an official proclamation that Oct. 25 will be Orville Hicks Day in the town of Boone. Read more.
Watauga County court news:
Sept. 17 — Tommy Russell Brewer, 31, of 205 Claude Warren Road, Mountain City, Tenn., pleaded guilty to second degree trespassing. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail, active, with credit for time served. Read more.
Commission proves its mettle with stronger metal for WHS
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners moved ahead on construction of the new Watauga High School Monday, approving an order for steel beams that could trim a couple of months off the entire construction timeline. Read more.
October 1, 2007
Mailing Michigan memories
The economic effects of Appalachian State's defeat over Michigan are still being felt several weeks afterward. It was all hands on deck as U.S. Postal employees at the main office on Blowing Rock Road, in Boone, worked to process 12 hampers filled with Appalachian State T-shirts ordered on the GoASU fan online store in September. According to postal official John Springer, the items are being sent all over the nation, with a larger percentage going to the state of Ohio. To date, the postage bill incurred has topped $20,000. “When you consider the Boone office, that amount put into the system is a significant increase in the general revenue,” he said. Jared Everett manages the GoASU fan store and has been scrambling to keep up with the influx of online orders. So far they have shipped more than 4,200 packages and are just a little over halfway. “I'd say 30-35 percent are going to Ohio, with another 20 percent being sent to dorm rooms at Michigan State. But really, the orders are coming in from everywhere,” he said. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Ed Pilkington recovering from wreck
Retired ASU professor and former Horn in the West director, Ed Pilkington, 68, is recovering after being injured Friday afternoon in a bicycle accident that put him in the path of a Ford truck.
Read more.
Watauga may not choose tax option
A number of counties are scrambling to put new local-tax options on fall election ballots, but Watauga County probably won’t consider newly approved tax options until next year, if then. Read more.
Tweetsie pioneer dead at 82
Harry C. Robbins, one of Tweetsie Railroad’s founding fathers, died Sunday, Sept. 30 in Blowing Rock at the age of 82. Read more.
Watauga County sheriff’s report:
Sept. 9 — Larceny and forgery were reported by a resident of Miller Drive, Boone. A payroll check was reported stolen and cashed. Read more.
Chamber of Commerce week: Showing ASU appreciation
The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce delivered a “Thank you” to Appalachian State University, whose officials promptly echoed the message right back. Read more.
Internet use may stay tax free
Congress may be moving to keep the Internet free, extending actions taken a decade ago to prevent taxation of online access. Read more.
Health district preps assessment
Health officials may soon have a better picture of what makes local people tick, as well as the best way to keep their biological clocks running smoothly. 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
Oct. 5: Forum: Candidats drive home traffic points |
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