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Mountaineers wear out Mocs

The No. 2-ranked Appalachian State Mountaineers, for the second week in a row, proved almost unstoppable in the first 30 minutes on the road against the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Saturday.

Wildfire burning in Pisgah National Forest

A wildfire damaged 25 acres of the Pisgah National Forest on Friday. The fire was reported to U.S. Forest Service officials at approximately 8:45 a.m. The fire is burning in the Wilson Creek area near Joe White Mountain in Caldwell County. Currently, 40 U.S. Forest Service firefighters are battling the blaze by digging fire lines around the perimeter to prevent spreading. According to a spokesperson for USFS, the area consists of very rough terrain. Firefighters must hike one mile to reach the fire site. As of 4 p.m. Friday, the fire was 30 percent contained. The cause has not yet been determined.
Melanie Davis, staff writer

ASU announces: Old Crow flying back to Boone

Local favorites Old Crow Medicine Show will perform at Legends on the Appalachian State University campus Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10 p.m.

 

Veterans salute American veterans make their way past Parkway Elementary School students during a "parade" as part of the school's Veterans Day program on Friday morning. Photo by Mark Mitchell CLICK HERE FOR RELATED VIDEO

Tallies in on war chests for regional candidates

Fellow legislators, broadcasters, insurers, health care interests and educators were among those backing successful General Assembly candidates' campaigns.

Prints to benefit ASU library student employee scholarship
Pat and Don Phillips, benefactors of Appalachian State University’s Belk Library and Information Commons, commissioned Ashe County artist Stephen Shoemaker to create a limited edition print of the library.

Spirit of the community The 53rd annual Farm-City Banquet brought together the best of the urban and rural sectors of the county, with more than 250 people gathering at the Boone United Methodist Church for dinner and awards recognition. Photo by Scott Nicholson

Sheriff's office: Warning issued for potential scams
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to citizens involving two potential scams and confirming the validity of an N.C. Department of Health and Human Services mailing.

Gloria Steinem moderates film, forum on sex slavery “You’ll pay for this,” Veronika (Alicia Bachleda) uttered as she looked her enslaver in the eye for the last time. She had enough. Before he could answer her threat, the young mother threw herself off the ridge. She would rather die then become a sex slave. Photo by Tiffany Allison

Creating a resilent community
MountainKeepers is expanding its mission and hoping to help the High Country be prepared to bounce back when faced with challenges.

Watauga prepares for Veterans Day ceremonies
As time progresses and memories fade, the significance of Nov. 11, 1918 slowly dissolves and becomes just another detail in a history book. This date, the unofficial end of World War I, symbolized a newfound appreciation for the armed services. It was the birth of Veterans Day.

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Crimestoppers: 2008 truck stolen from Boone Mall

Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the following crime: On the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 30,  a 2008 GMC Sierra Duramax truck was stolen from the parking lot at Boone Mall.

Complaint filed with Avery County Board of Elections;
Resident claims inaccurately translated Spanish instructions

An official complaint has been filed with the Avery County Board of Elections regarding the posted Spanish translation of voting instructions.

Watching history being made Incumbents fared well in local elections and Democrats carried Watauga County in most state-level races, mirroring a national change of “red” to “blue.” Photo by Scott Nicholson

Boone voters pass $25 million

water bond referendum
Boone voters overwhelmingly passed a $25 million bond referendum by a 73 percent-to-27 percent margin Tuesday, with the money going toward a new water intake plant on the New River.

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Election Day Coverage

Unofficial results for Watauga County only with 22 of 22 precincts and absentee, one-stop and early reporting. Follow along with Twitter.

President
Obama (D) 14,513
McCain (R) 13,303

U.S. Senate
Hagan (D) 14,208
Dole (R) 12,428

Statewide: Hagan projected winner
Kay Hagan (DEM)
52.86% 1,607,321
Elizabeth Dole (REP)
44.03% 1,338,971
Christopher Cole (LIB)
3.07% 93,267

U.S. Congress, 5th
Carter (D) 14,727
Foxx (R) 12,702

District Total
Roy Carter (DEM)
42.16% 113,879
Virginia Foxx (REP)
57.84% 156,247

NC Senate, 45th
Goss (D) 16,331
Butler (R) 10,410
Steve Goss (DEM)
53.46% 29,523
Jerry Butler (REP)
46.54% 25,704

NC House, 93rd
Tarleton (D) 14,333
Soucek (R) 11,718
Cannon (L) 1,120

District Total
Cullie Tarleton (DEM)
52.75% 14,333
Daniel F. Soucek (REP)
43.13% 11,718
Jeff Cannon (LIB)
4.12% 1,120

Governor
Perdue (D) 13,330
McCrory (R) 13,240

Statewide
Bev Perdue (DEM)
50.15% 1,523,566
Pat McCrory (REP)
46.97% 1,427,055
Michael C. Munger (LIB)
2.88% 87,625

Watauga Co. School Board
Combs 12,610
Miller 11,719
Walpole 8,627
Horine 8,517
Ward 8,563

Town of Boone Water Referendum Bond (5,800 votes early)

Yes 73%

No 27%

To report any polling-place problems, e-mail reagan@wataugademocrat.com

Submit your election-day photos by e-mailing reagan@wataugademocrat.com

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Watauga native dies in hunting accident

A Watauga native was killed Saturday as the result of a hunting accident in Tennessee.

Behind the battle lines: The Democrats
The Democratic Party campaign office on the corner of Straight and King streets and has been busy as the brain trust and social center for the local campaign effort.

Behind the battle lines: The Republicans
The Watauga County Republican Party campaign headquarters on Meadowview Drive in Boone was busy Friday promoting the party’s candidates as the election entered its stretch run.

Final push Campaign volunteer Doug Tarleton talks about the general election with Debi Golembieski and her son, Paxton Martin, Tuesday morning at the Boone National Guard Armory — New River 3 precinct. Polls will close at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. As of Saturday, more than 18,000 Watauga County voters used one-stop balloting out of more than 42,000 registered voters. Photo by Mark Mitchell

Reported crime victim suffers fire loss
A fire that destroyed a woodworking shop on Saturday appears to be the fourth unfortunate event to plague a local man after he reported being the victim of three crimes this past month.

County may help with sewer for affordable housing development
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners is exploring a public-private partnership to assist with affordable-housing development.

Area project kicks off anti-obesity push
A campaign to trim the fat kicked off last week, but it’s not a reference to pork-barrel spending in an election year.

Agriculture service wraps up a low-impact Christmas present with workshops
Green is a traditional Christmas color, and a new effort is aimed at keeping the holidays green while also promoting local goods and services.

Crimestoppers needs the public's help
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests help in identifying the suspects responsible for recent crimes involving the theft of tools, jewelry and guns among other items.

No injuries in N.C. 105 wreck
There were no injuries in an accident between a dump truck and a passenger car Tuesday morning.

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November 3, 2008
Missing children believed to be in Boone
Three children reported missing in September 2007 from Eureka Springs, Ark., are believed to be in the Boone or Asheville area.

Crimestoppers: Tabernacle Baptist Church damaged by vandal(s)
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the following crime. Some time between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, Tabernacle Baptist Church was damaged by an unknown suspect or suspects spray-painting "4:20" on the side of the church. The term is often used in reference to marijuana use. Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 828-268-6959. 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.

$267,692 grant to help prevent dropouts
Watauga High School will receive grants from a dropout prevention initiative lawmakers created last year, state Sen. Steve Goss announced last week.

As election looms, one-stop ballots top 18,000
Even before polls were ready to open on Election Day, many Watauga County voters had already made up their minds and stepped into the booth. By the close of one-stop voting Saturday afternoon, more than 18,000 people had cast ballots at the five one-stop sites.

A face in the crowd Patrick McKethan, 5, eyes artist Tom Lanno as he gets a spooky makeover on Friday at the Boone Mall’s Halloween festival. For more photos from this year’s event, please visit the Web site’s photo gallery. Photo by Mark Mitchell

Dole’s ‘ElizaBus’ rolls through Boone
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole made a campaign stop in Boone Thursday as part of a statewide “ElizaBUS” tour as the election enters the home stretch.

Watauga sheriff’s reports:
Oct. 19 —Timothy Roy Nelson, 22, of 195 Green St., Apt. D, Boone, was served with an arrest warrant on charges of communicating threats, second degree trespassing, felony possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.