Archived
Jones House jubilation
The fall colors of two maple trees frame the Jones House Community Center on King Street in Boone. Photo by Marie Freeman |
State plan paves $3.2 million of Watauga roads
Watauga County will get $3.2 million worth of state road improvements in the year ahead, though Long Hope Road residents received little hope of immediate improvements. Read more.
One-stop voting launches in Boone runoff contest
One-stop early voting is under way for the town of Boone runoff race and the races for three local municipal boards. Read more.
Boone native killed in Hickory traffic accident
A Boone native was killed in a traffic accident Wednesday morning in Hickory. Martha Ann Cook, 56, of Newton, was driving a 1999 Subaru station wagon when, according to investigators of the Hickory Police Department, she failed to stop for a red light just after 8 a.m. Read more.
Updated: Empty house in Foscoe destroyed by fire
Emergency communications received a report of a brush fire in the Foscoe community at about 3 a.m. Thursday. When the Foscoe Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene, firefighters discovered the remains of a vacant two-story house. Read more.
Watauga sheriff’s reports
Oct. 10: A stolen vehicle was recovered during a traffic stop on N.C. 105 South in Boone. The Ford Windstar van was reported stolen from Hampton, Tenn. Read more.
The art of appreciation
Plaques will be installed this week in recognition of the sponsors and donors who contributed to the Downtown Boone Public Art project. Read more.
Beech Mountain water restrictions
The town of Beech Mountain has implemented a Stage II Water Shortage Condition in order to comply with Governor Easley’s order that mandatory restrictions be put into place. Read more.
Sheriff’s office issues dominate monthly commissioners’ meeting
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners addressed some sheriff’s office issues, a communications tower relocation and a request to buy the county’s impound lot during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Read more.
School board will discuss reassignment policy
The Watauga County Board of Education wants to change the way it treats cases of student reassignment or transfers. Read more.
Haints at the Horn?
The Hickory Ridge Homestead on the Horn in the West grounds of Boone is billed as a “living history museum,” but legend bestows it with a little bit of “unliving history” as well. Read more.
October 24, 2007
Della Presnell again raises most Relay funds
For the second year in a row, Watauga County Relay for Life was ranked second place in its nationally ranked 40,000 to 50,000 population group. Its 2006 shortfall from first place was a bittersweet pill to swallow following its leading the nation for five years prior.
To read more, please click here. Photo by Sherrie Norris |
Florida man killed in ATV accident
A Florida man was killed Friday afternoon when the ATV he was riding rolled over an embankment. Read more.
County mails input survey
Watauga County residents could have a hand in establishing a blueprint for their future. The county commissioners have started the process to draft a new comprehensive plan that could provide a philosophical guide to growth over the next decade or two. Read more.
New group pedals Boone ‘bikeability’
A new organization is hoping to put Boone on two wheels by making bicycling easier and safer. The Boone Bicycle Initiative grew out of a talk a couple of friends had last December. Read more.
Watauga sheriff’s reports:
Oct. 6 — Breaking and entering, larceny and damage to property were reported at a residence on Maplewood Circle, Boone. Several items were reported stolen with a total value of more than $1,200. Read more.
Spooky Stuff: Local Halloween events
Tweetsie’s Ghost Train — Tweetsie Railroad’s 17th Annual Ghost Train and Halloween Festival runs on Friday and Saturday evenings from now through Nov. 3, with gates opening at 7:30 p.m.
Read more.
October 22, 2007
Worm predicts snowy winter start
The winning worm points to a warm winter with a cold close. Eleven-year-old Olivia King of Raleigh took home the grand prize of $1,000 at last weekend’s Woolly Worm Festival, and her worm, Armstrong, outraced 1,400 competitors Saturday. By virtue of his win at the 30th annual festival in Banner Elk, Armstrong became the official folk meteorologist of the High Country. The brown-and-black stripes on the woolly worm are said to predict the winter weather. According to Armstrong’s coloring, the first four weeks of winter will be cold and snowy. The fifth and sixth weeks will be cold, while weeks seven and eight will be cold with light snow. Armstrong’s stripes predict a mild spell during weeks 10 and 11, with a cold and snowy close to the winter in weeks 12 and 13. About 20,000 people were on hand for the annual festival. The worms compete in a series of heats to determine the eventual champion, and the festival has been ranked among the top 10 of its kind in the United States. Observing critters in the fall to predict the coming weather is an old Appalachian tradition. Over the 30 years of the festival, supporters say the woolly worm has been all or mostly correct between 57 and 87 percent of the time. From left, “Mr. Woolly Worm,” aka Woolly Worm Festival emcee Roy Krege, congratulates Olivia King, whose woolly bear dubbed Armstrong took championship race honors, as Olivia’s father, Tom, holds Armstrong. Photo by Jeff Eason |
Boone Town Council sets water usage terms for remainder of 2007
The Boone Town Council tapped out its water supply rations for the remainder of the year and the year ahead, with water and sewer issues dominating Thursdays’ four-and-a-half-hour regular meeting. The town ended the night with about 30 gallons per day of allocated water usage remaining in its self-imposed 2008 quota, with the council approving connections for a restaurant in the mall, second-floor apartments downtown and a group of townhouses while tabling requests from projects outside the town limits. Read more.
Town reaches sewer agreement with Elk Motel
The Boone Town Council approved a sewer connection to end a nearly yearlong quest by a man providing low-cost rentals at a Blowing Rock Road motel. Under the council’s action, Elk Motel owner Floyd “Dipper” Garrison will pay a portion of the cost of sewer replacement through private donations, with the town securing its investment in the sewer extension through a property lien. Read more.
Sheriff’s reports:
Oct. 2 — Vandalism was reported at a residence on U.S. 321 South, Blowing Rock. A suspect broke flower pots, a trash can, signs and posts. Read more.
Driving While Impaired District Court:
Sept. 24 — Molly Irish Carlson, 20, of 1401 Richardson Drive, Reidsville, pleaded not guilty to driving while impaired and driving after consuming alcohol while underage, and not responsible for exceeding the posted speed. Read more.
Police continue search for Johnson County jail escapee
A fugitive from Johnson County, Tenn. is still on the run. Robert Randall Deluca, 48, escaped just over one week ago from the Johnson County jail. Authorities stated he jumped over the fence at approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. Read more.
Council of governments looks for a new home
The High Country Council of Governments is laying long-term plans for its future by looking for a permanent home. Executive director Rick Herndon said the council had two years remaining on its lease at about $110,000 a year at its current facility on Greenway Road in Boone. The council hopes to buy a building for its office, which Herndon said could save money over the long run. The council would need about 8,000 square feet and find suitable land. Under a proposed time line, the building would be constructed within two years. Read more.
New task for Downtown Boone Development Association
The Downtown Boone Development Association wants to borrow from the best and bring it all back home. Ritchie Jacobs, president of the DBDA, asked the Boone Town Council Thursday for creation of a task force to focus on growth in the downtown area. Read more.
MRSA cases haven’t surfaced in Watauga County
A community-associated staph infection making the news has led to increased calls to the Watauga County Health Department, though no cases have been reported locally. Read more.
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