Archived

Mast General Store and Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation team up
Mast General Store and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation are collaborating to preserve and protect the Blue Ridge Parkway, a ribbon of national park that unites the spirit of the past with the present, allows travelers to sample the pleasures of simple mountain living, and participate in an unforgettable and inspiring journey.

D&B Mini Mart reports fourth breaking and entering of the year
One man remains in custody of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office following the third incident of theft in 2008 at the D & B Mini Mart in Zionville.

Repealing county powers: Bill would stymie tax authority
With a land-transfer tax proving unpopular with voters, the General Assembly may be removing it as a revenue option for local governments.

Newest traffic signal arrives
Watauga County will soon have one of the state’s newest types of traffic signals, designed to make left turns easier and safer. A light at the signalized intersection of U.S. 421 and Bamboo Road (SR 1514) will feature a series of left-turn signals to indicate stops, cautions and protected turns.

Watauga County sheriff’s reports
May 26 —Dominque Dore Piscopo, 26, of 469 Willard Johnson Road, Vilas, was served with a criminal summons on a charge of a school attendance violation. She is scheduled to appear in district court on June 10.

School board honors retiring Short
The Watauga County Board of Education honored retiring superintendent Bobbie Short at its monthly meeting, held Monday, June 9. The meeting was Short’s last official board meeting, ending her five-year tenure with the school system.

Emergency Fest moves to ASU campus
The Watauga County Firefighters Association, in conjunction with Appalachian State University, are gearing up for a day of serious fun this Saturday.

Grand jury indicts woman in infant-death case

A Deep Gap woman was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter following the death of an infant girl. Comment on this story

Man sentenced in case of false report causing ASU lockdown
The former Appalachian State University student charged with filing a false police report that lead to the first-ever campus lockdown was sentenced Tuesday in Watauga District Court.                              

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June 11, 2008

June 10: Mountaineer Day in North Carolina
Governor honors Appalachian football team
Mountaineer fans have realized for a while now that the Appalachian State football team is the most successful pigskin program in North Carolina history. If any Tarheel, Demon Deacon or Wolfpack fans doubt it, they can just ask the governor.

No injuries reported in King Street accident
The newest AppalCART purchase was damaged Tuesday afternoon when a Ford Ranger pickup truck crossed the centerline and struck the bus in a near head-on impact.

Sugar Grove man injured in motorcycle accident

A Sugar Grove man remains in the emergency room following a motorcycle accident Tuesday afternoon on U.S. 321 North near the intersection of Old Watauga River Road.

Coach: New WHS field plan should be booted
The Watauga County Board of Education’s Monday meeting turned into a turf battle over the future construction of athletic fields and the school calendar.

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Dual events push biz development
Registration is under way for two local events designed to spark business development and entrepreneurship. The Appalachian Regional Development Institute is hosting its Eighth Annual Leadership Summit on Aug. 11. This year’s theme is “Accelerating Our Economy: Tapping Creative Assets.”

Mast Store celebrated 125 years
Before lighting the birthday candles, the Mast General Store might want to get a few dozen fire extinguishers handy.

Elkland Arts group represents Todd at regional festival
A local puppet troupe is taking an environmental show on the road as part of a regional festival. Elkland Art Center in Todd has been selected to present “Jason’s Dream” at the Southeast Puppet Festival in Savannah, Ga., this weekend, and is also exhibiting in a public street fair.

Crimestoppers

Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in solving the following crimes: Sometime on Friday, May 30 between 7 and 9 p.m. someone took property from the bed box of a green Dodge Dakota pickup truck parked at Brookshire Park in Boone …

June 9, 2008

A summer of agriculture
With farmers’ markets in full swing and local produce showing up in the garden and on the dinner table, agricultural officials are hosting a number of upcoming events to ensure the banquet remains lush and healthy.

Drought stays extreme
Watauga County remains under extreme drought, according to the most recent report by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

Cyclical economy: Gas price hike pushes more pedal power
High gas prices may have frustrated motorists, but it’s proving a boon to those who are peddling pedal power.

Watauga County sheriff’s reports
May 20 —An assault was reported on the 200 block of Saddle Hills Drive in Boone. The victim reported having been shot with a pellet gun.

Valle Crucis may get state natural area
Valle Crucis could soon have another parcel of preserved property and the state’s residents may have access to another natural area.

Well rules will mirror state regs
New well rules are helping guarantee safer water supplies, but they add an extra layer of building regulation and permitting.

ASU will add centers and wind turbines
The Appalachian State University Board of Trustees met Friday, June 6, for its regular meeting. The meeting’s early action included the swearing in of David Mofford, newly elected student body president. The board then voted to grant professor emeritus status to Harriette Buchanan, Alice Naylor, Jane Nowacek, O’Hyun Park and Joan Woodward.