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Tree-Farm Murders Update
Ashe man charged in triple-homicide
 U.S. marshals have arrested an Ashe County man in Florida in connection with the Thursday slaying of a prominent Christmas tree farmer, his son and an employee. Read more
SPORTS: MOUNTAINEERS FALL TO MOCS ON THE ROAD
The Chattanooga Moccasins, who were beaten twice on the road last week, were missing three players either because of suspension or injury, and had two others who were nursing nagging injuries, finished their 89-77 victory over Appalachian State Saturday at McKenzie Arena. Read more
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Update: Banner Elk man arrested twice in one week
A report of trespassing yielded the arrest of a Banner Elk man for the second time in one week. Officers responded to a call on Devils Den Road in the Foscoe area on Jan. 23. The caller had reported Freddie Len Shook, 46, of 244 Devils Den Road, Banner Elk, was on the premises. Read more.
Update: Vehicle crimes alert police
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests your help in identifying those responsible for several area crimes involving vehicles. Read more.
Frigid ridges
Overnight foggy conditions on Wednesday, mixed with frigid temperatures, left a rime of frost across the ridge tops of the High Country. About an inch of snowfall was expected Thursday afternoon. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Man shot by Seven Devils officer dies; funeral arrangements set
Walter Steele, 37, of Foscoe died in the early morning hours of Tuesday at Johnson City Area Medical Center in Tennessee. Steele was shot by a Seven Devils patrolman during an incident on Jan. 9 at his home on N.C. 105 near the Avery-Watauga county line. Read more.
New high school building has $47 million price tag
The county commissioners and the school board on Tuesday approved a guaranteed maximum price of $47.2 million for the new high school building and related facilities. Read more.
Teach-in focuses on climate
Appalachian State University is preparing to participate in an unprecedented national event. From Jan. 28 to 31, several groups within the university will team up to host Focus the Nation, a national teach-in dedicated to raising awareness and instigating discussion about global climate change. Read more.
Watauga County sheriff’s reports
Jan. 6 —Derek Allyn Cheesman, 32, of 207 E. Springbrook Drive, Johnson City, Tenn., was served with a warrant for arrest on a charge of assault and battery. Read more.
Engineer puts slopes on the map
The Watauga County planning board received landslide hazard maps Tuesday night, that suggested some slopes could be at risk but it would remain difficult to predict the triggering weather. Read more.
Local waterways flow on to impaired list
The latest state list of impaired waters features two Watauga County creeks and the South Fork of the New River. Read more.
Accepting the MLK Challenge
Many across the nation enjoyed a day off from school and work on Monday, Jan. 21, in recognition of the birthday of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Read more.
ASU may buy church
Appalachian State University may have the opportunity to expand its campus, as First Presbyterian Church considers selling its current building on East Howard Street. Read more.
Game show doubles the scrambles
“Ebolud geesni.” That’s “Sqrambled Scuares” speak for “seeing double,” something viewers now experience when tuning in to the High Country’s own game show. Read more.
January 23, 2008
Running down diabetes
Athletes train for Iron Man event and documentary
Three local athletes soon hope to prove that, although they have diabetes, diabetes doesn’t have them. The trio plans to prove it by participating in the Ironman Wisconsin triathlon in September. To read more, please click here. Photo by Marie Freeman |
Horn in the West facilities should be demolished
An architect’s report could draw the curtain on the current Horn in the West facilities. According to Larry Greene of Greene Architecture, demolishing buildings on the Horn in the West grounds would be more cost-effective than the extensive repairs necessary. Read more.
Census data shows a rise in poverty rates
Poverty rates in Watauga County have risen by more than 50 percent in the first half of the decade, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Read more.
Local TV station placed on virtual auction block
Now television ownership is a few mouse clicks away. Local television station MTN is currently up for sale on the Internet auction forum eBay, with a listed price of $495,000, though other offers are considered. Read more.
Foxx tours family resource site for WAMY and OASIS
U.S. Rep.Virginia Foxx (R-5) met with local nonprofits last week to tour what will soon be the Family Resource Center of Watauga County, a joint venture by OASIS and WAMY Community Action to create a center serving those in need in the High Country. The Family Resource Center will be located in the current Blue Ridge Pediatrics building, connected to Boone Drug’s Deerfield Road location.
Read more.
Ridge top easement in Valle Crucis will preserve land
The High Country Conservancy commemorated the completion of a key ridge-top easement in Valle Crucis Monday. The 32-acre Mission Ridge project, overlooking a historic valley in the community, was already on the drawing board for roads and home sites when the developer began looking at the property not just down from the home sites and their views of the valley, but up from the valley floor to the impact the development would have on the scenery. Read more.
Watauga Medical adds latest in CT scanners
Now local patients can let doctors get under their skin with barely a scratch. Watauga Medical Center recently installed an advanced computer tomography (CT) scanning machine that allows diagnosing physicians to zoom down to the vascular level and see what’s happening in patients’ hearts and other organs. The VCTXT model from General Electric has a 64-slice imaging system that can take a series of snap shots of the trouble area and quickly build a comprehensive image. Read more.
Hickory teens charged with breaking and entering
Two Hickory teens have been charged with breaking and entering of a vehicle early Monday morning. Read more.
January 21, 2008
App fans back national champions
Appalachian State University celebrated National Champions Day on Saturday at the Holmes Center during the Mountaineers’ basketball game against Georgia Southern. Mountaineer Corey Lynch signs a young fan’s championship hoodie during an autograph session in the Holmes Center concourse. Photo by Marie Freeman |
High school price tag to be discussed
County taxpayers could get a rough glimpse of the final price tag for the new Watauga High School after Tuesday’s joint meeting of the county commissioners and school board. Read more.
Council vote lays foundation for new college of education building
The Boone Town Council’s adoption of two zoning amendments could mean a new college of education for Appalachian State University – along with numerous other uses. At its regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 17, the council reviewed two cases concerning Appalachian State, the first dealing with council-initiated amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance. Read more.
Watauga sheriff’s reports
Dec. 27 —Simple physical assault was reported by a resident of Meat Camp Road in Boone. The victim reported their father-in-law drew back an ax with intent to strike. Read more.
Boone council sends message to postal service
Concerning the potential sale of the downtown Boone post office, the Boone Town Council wanted to make sure its opinion on the matter was signed, stamped and delivered. Read more.
Filing for political offices begins in February
The filing period for local elections will open in a few weeks, with three seats open on both the school board and county commission. Filing for all county and state offices begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 11 and ends at noon on Feb. 29. The district-level Soil and Water Conservation board seat held by Thad Taylor will be open for filing on Monday, June 9 and end on Monday, July 7. Read more.
Boone Police reports
Jan. 10 — Forgery was reported at 1:17 p.m. on the 300 block of Deerfield Road. Read more.
United Way auto raffle drives through halfway milepost
The halfway point of this year’s High Country United Way (HCUW) car raffle has been passed, but there’s still time to get your name in the pot to win a 2007 PT Cruiser, thanks to United Way and Randy Ross of Ross Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Boone. Read more.
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