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Archived
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BREAKING NEWS: WHS pairings posted
Watauga’s two varsity basketball team get to play at least one more game in the 2007-08 season.
Watauga’s girls’ team captured a wildcard berth into the state 4-A playoffs and will play at McDowell Monday at 7 p.m. The Pioneers (11-14) lost both of their regular season games to McDowell (22-3), including an 82-44 road drubbing a few weeks ago.
McDowell, the No. 1 seed in District 4, won the Northwestern 4-A Conference regular-season and NWC Tournament this year. The Titans beat Freedom 63-61 in the tournament final Friday night.
The Watauga boys’ team also earned a wildcard bid into the playoffs and will play NWC regular-season champion East Burke Tuesday night at 7.
The Pioneers (9-15) also lost two games to East Burke (20-5) during the regular season. East Burke fell in the semifinals of the NWC Tournament to Alexander Central. McDowell won the tournament with a win over Alexander Central.
Other NWC teams begin the playoffs this week. In the girls’ bracket, Freedom (18-9) hosts Northwest Guilford (19-8), with the winner taking on the winner of the Butler (24-3)/Providence (9-16) game. East Burke (11-14) plays at North Mecklenburg (21-5), and Charlotte Garinger (4-18) plays at South Caldwell (16-9). A.C. Reynolds (13-11) opens at East Gaston (22-5) All games are Monday night.
Alexander Central is the lone NWC team not to make the playoffs.
On the boys’ side, Freedom (17-9) hosts Charlotte Garinger (12-14) in the first round Tuesday night. Northwest Guilford (7-19) plays at McDowell (23-4), while Alexander Central (18-8) plays at Charlotte Vance (23-5).
A.C. Reynolds and South Caldwell did not make the playoffs on the boys’ side.
Up, up and away
This enthusiastic plunger gets a lift from a friend during the Polar Plunge on Thursday at the Duck Pond on the ASU campus. Brave souls and groups took to the cold water to raise funds for Watauga County Special Olympics. According to the ASU News Service, the 10th annual plunge raised more than $9,600. A total of 202 plungers participated. All of the money raised will remain in Watauga County to support local athletes. Prizes were awarded to the most extreme costume for male and female jumpers, as well as to the top fundraising group and individual. Be sure to visit the Web's photo galleries, as more pictures from this year's plunge will be posted. Photo by Mark Mitchell |
Sports update: Mountaineers glide by Paladins
The gold uniforms. The return of injured center Ike Butts. The return to the friendly confines of the Holmes Center. Yes, Appalachian State needed a game like this. Read more.
Oops!
The Quality Plus Smoke Shop on U.S. 421, about four miles from Boone, received an unexpected visitor Thursday evening, when this Honda Prelude drove into the building. The accident took place around 9 p.m., and it is believed that no serious injuries occurred. The Quality Plus Smoke Shop, by the way, is a drive-through convenience shop. No other details were available at this time. Photo by Garrett Burkett |
Air Gordon
Grayson Gordon catches some air as he hits a rail at Appalachian Ski Mountain's Terrain Park on Monday. Photo by Mark Mitchell |
New face enters school board race
Another incumbent and a newcomer filed for seats on the board of education this week.
Marsha Walpole is making her first run at public office, saying she had enjoyed her volunteer work at Cove Creek School and with the Friends of Watauga educational support group. Read more.
Campus comments: Public hearing aims at new WHS input
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners received unanimous public support for a school financing plan, at least among those who filled the commissioners’ boardroom Tuesday night who applauded the plan. Read more.
Dance promotes healthy living
Good health is just a dance away, says Bryan Belcher, manager of Watauga County Healthy Carolinians, a community outreach of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System and co-sponsor with Charter Communications of an upcoming event to which area women are invited. Read more.
Commissioners: In other business
During the same Tuesday meeting in which the Watauga County Board of Commissioners moved forward on a $70 million financing plan for a new high school, they faced another $82,3888 in permitting fees. The commissioners had earlier approved $42,000 for the facility’s building permit from the town of Boone. Read more.
DBDA digs requests for downtown art completion
It could be called a “Request for Art,” but the Downtown Boone Development Association will stick with “Request for Qualifications.” Read more.
Home fire sprinklers are growing in popularity
Smoke alarms in homes are very important, but a growing trend is adding to home fire protection. Home fire sprinkler systems are quickly becoming a popular feature of new home construction.
Read more.
Sheriff’s reports:
Jan. 29 — Jason Jeremiah Pitts, 21, of 156 Autumn Ridge Road, Boone, was served with a warrant for arrest on a charge of assault and battery. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Mar. 6 in lieu of a written promise bond. Read more.
Kelly Brothers Tire breaking and entering suspect arrested
A Millers Creek man has been charged in the breaking and entering of Kelley Brothers Tire and Auto in early January. Read more.
Feb. 20, 2008
An ode to Presidents Day
A resident of Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living in Boone listens to students from Hardin Park Elementary School present a Presidents Day Reader’s Theatre program on Monday. But was it really Presidents Day? According to archives.gov, the federal holiday is officially still Washington’s birthday. In 1968, an attempt was made by Congress to rename Washington’s birthday as Presidents Day, but the measure never passed. Retailers took up the idea years later and the unofficial name has stuck in the collective national memory.
Photo by Mark Mitchell |
Robbery suspect apprehended
A Tennessee man remains in custody on a robbery charge following an incident Tuesday morning. Terry Scott Livingston, 27, of Elizabethton, is alleged to have entered the Kangaroo Express convenience store on Blowing Rock Road in Boone just after midnight. Read more.
Retreat: Town won’t waive fees for WHS
The new Watauga High School may not make the grade, as far as fee waivers are concerned with the town of Boone. At its annual retreat Feb. 15, the Boone Town Council agreed to deny a request from Watauga County to waive water availability, permitting and inspection fees for the new high school project. Read more.
County will seek small business, minorities for projects
Watauga County, in accordance with a change in state statutes, is revising its plan to solicit more minorities and small-business owners for its capital projects. The county has an existing policy dating back to 1989 and has a goal of 3 percent of all building construction contracts going to businesses owned or operated by minorities. Read more.
Watauga sheriff’s reports:
Jan. 23 —Damage to property was reported at a residence on the 200 block of Devils Den Road in Banner Elk. A person shot a hole in the wall of the home and broke the back door, causing a total of $480 in damage. Read more.
At season’s end: Unique preserve reviews opening
The organizers of Watauga County’s only hunting preserve hope their work will lead to more fowl play. Mark Scruggs and Don Jones started Covey Hollar Hunting Preserve last year and say they have been pleased with the response to the effort as it winds down to the end of its first season. Read more.
County commissioners gear up for annual retreat
The county administration has prepared a list of planning topics and a budget timeline for the Watauga County Board of Commissioners’ upcoming annual retreat. Read more.
Boone woman cruises away in new car
Tammy Guilford of Boone could not find words to describe her excitement as she was named the winner of a 2007 PT Cruiser in the High Country United Way car raffle. Guilford was among 10 weekly winners of the recent raffle who gathered at Ross Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Boone on Valentine’s Day to see which one would be cruising happily out of the dealership parking lot a short time later. Read more.
Capital punishment seminar focuses on families
The ongoing series on capital punishment at Appalachian State University will continue through next week. On Monday, Margaret Vandiver of the University of Memphis will speak on the human side of capital punishment. Read more.
February 18, 2008
The Deal includes some Sparks
Two receive Adams award
The ninth annual Alfred Adams Leadership Awards Luncheon on Thursday recognized area businesses and community leaders who work to make the area a better place to live. The luncheon, named for a late banker and civic leader Alfred Adams, was both a celebration of Adams’s life of service and recognition of those who followed his footsteps to build the community and bolster the job market. To read more, please click here.
Photo by Mark Mitchell
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Local section of parkway could close until 2009
A Blue Ridge Parkway project could lead to extended detours for motorists in the latter half of the year. Goshen Creek Bridge, located about 5 miles north of the intersection with U.S. 321 at milepost 286, will undergo rehabilitation this spring and the work could continue until 2009. Read more.
Filing update: Combs will seek re-election
Incumbent Steve Combs has filed for another term on the Watauga County Board of Education. There are three seats open on the school board, with the terms of incumbents Deborah Miller and Ron Henries expiring this year. Read more.
Watauga County sheriff’s reports:
Jan. 22 — Breaking and entering of a motor vehicle was reported on the 500 block of Oak Grove Church Road in Boone. Someone entered the vehicle and stole stereo equipment, valued at $470.
Read more.
Boone Police reports:
Jan. 17 — Criminal damage to property was reported at 8:09 a.m. on the 200 block of Howard Street. Three businesses were damaged with graffiti. Read more.
Peace House comes to Boone
Boone will soon be the center of an international peace initiative, Steve Leighton, president of the Gol Iluminado Foundation, announced Saturday at a special event at Appalachian State University’s Farthing Auditorium. Read more.
Fishing continues to hook tourism dollars
Despite vanishing habitat as more woodlands and streams are lost to private development, hunting and fishing remain important economic and recreational engines. Read more.
Future shelter issues find a home in Boone Public hearing
In lieu of chocolates, the town of Boone celebrated Valentine’s Day with a quarterly public hearing. The first case at the Feb. 14 hearing concerned council-initiated amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance table of permissible uses to allow emergency shelter housing, long-term traditional housing and permanent housing for the homeless in the M-1 (light industrial) district. The table of permissible uses would be amended. Read more.
Highway Patrol action confuses local truckers, Goss says
Local truckers are wondering whether size matters as they have raised concerns about the allowable lengths of tractor trailers on rural roads. Read more.
Case closed on body found in Tennessee; man froze to death
Investigators are wrapping up the case involving a body found in Johnson County, Tenn., over the weekend. A passerby discovered the body of William David Hopkins, 19, of Mountain City, Tenn., Sunday morning in a parking lot off Prison Camp Road. Read more.
Crime of the Week
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the following crime(s):
• Sometime during the night on Wednesday, Feb.13, between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, an unknown suspect(s) broke into a home on Curley Maple Road, Boone. Several items were taken, including skill saws, a table saw, chisel sets, stilts, a hammer and a grinder.
• A residence on Roby Greene Road was broken into sometime during the day on Friday, Feb. 8. A witness observed a red minivan with a Tennessee license plate occupied by two males leaving the victim's residence sometime between 11 and 11:30 a.m. that day. The suspect(s) took various coins in a flowerpot, prescription medication and a green peridot marquise gold ring. One of the tips on the ring is chipped.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at (828) 262-4555. All information will be kept confidential. Crimestoppers pays rewards for information, which leads to arrests; recovery of stolen property; seizure of drugs; and the location of wanted persons.
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