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U.S. 321 section to close near Blackberry

N.C. Department of Transportation will close a section of U.S. 321 from Kirby Mountain Road (State Road 1370) to Blackberry Road (S.R. 1500) in Caldwell County on Monday, June 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Tuesday, June 2. Currently, the contractor is allowed to completely close this section of the road on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 2 p.m. In an effort to expedite the completion of the U.S. 321 widening project, the department will close this section from 8 p.m. Monday evenings until 5 a.m. Tuesday mornings through the end of August. During the closure, the following signed detour will be in place: •N.C. 18 to Wilkesboro to U.S. 421 North to Boone to U.S. 321 to Blowing Rock. The closure is necessary for blasting operations as part of the U.S. 321 widening project and is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year, a DOT spokesperson said. NCDOT reminds motorists to stay alert, travel at non-peak times and use alternate routes, when possible. Plan ahead before driving by visiting the NCDOT Traveler Information Management Web site at www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/ or call 511, the state’s free travel information line for current travel conditions. For more information on this project, please contact the resident engineer at (828) 265-5088.

Sports update: Martin, Butler earn awards
Baine Martin won the Trailblazer Award, given to the top male athlete at Watauga High School, and Chandler Butler won the Hall of Fame Award, given to the top female athlete at Watauga on Friday.
Martin earned seven varsity letters, four all-conference honors and one honorable mention during his time as a Pioneer. He stared as a three-sport athlete his senior season, playing football, basketball and baseball. Butler earned 11 varsity letters, and six all-conference honors during her time as a Pioneer. She stared as a three-sport athlete all four years, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.
For complete details, see the Watauga Democrat on Monday.

And the winners are... The Best Hot Dog? The Best Teacher? The Best Place to Meet People? Find out what our readers picked in the 2009 People’s Choice Awards section, found inside the Friday, May 29, issue of the Watauga Democrat.

Caldwell County shooter found dead
An incident in Caldwell County left a child, her father and two deputies injured early Thursday morning. All were shot by the same man just after midnight near Grandin Road. Investigators told WSOC in Charlotte the confrontation began over a dog. The child’s father shot the dog and the gunman fired back hitting both the father and the 8-year-old girl. When officers arrived on scene, the man opened fire again, hitting two deputies. The victims' identities and conditions have not been released. The manhunt for the armed suspect ended at 6:30 a.m. when the man’s body was discovered in an area near Kings Creek Elementary School. His identity and cause of death have not been released. Classes at the school are being delayed while investigators remain on scene.

State budget could slash teaching jobs; raise class sizes
School advocates are concerned about education cuts proposed by an N.C. House of Representatives committee and some local teaching positions could be in jeopardy for next year.

Ordinance requires bike spaces
The town of Boone passed a bicycle and motorcycle parking amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance at last week’s regular council meeting.

Watauga sheriff’s reports
May 18 — Aaron Franklin Bowling, 19, of 7929 Straton Drive, Knoxville, Tenn., was served with an order for arrest for failure to appear at a scheduled court date.

Library announces adult programs
In addition to the upcoming Summer Reading programs for children, the Watauga County Public Library was several offerings for adults.

Boone Police reports
May 20 — Criminal damage to property by vandalism and larceny were reported at 2:56 a.m. on the 200 block of Shadowline Drive. A 24 pack of Yuengling beer was reported stolen.

Finding the right WYN-ing career
Watauga Youth Network students got a sampling of local careers, from the military to education to recreation, during a Thursday event at the old Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove.

Royal treatment From left, Will Barbour and Celeste Caton were crowned king and queen of the senior prom at Watauga High School last weekend. Photo submitted

May 27, 2009

Right lane of southbound U.S. 421 in Wilkesboro

closed due to retaining wall collapse Wednesday
N.C. Department of Transportation crews are working to repair a section of southbound U.S. 421 in Wilkesboro which collapsed Wednesday morning due to heavy rains. A retaining wall, concrete barrier and part of U.S. 421 near the exit 268B off ramp to N.C. 268 in Wilkesboro collapsed. Moravian Creek, which runs next to the highway, flooded due to heavy rains and washed out the ground beside the highway. NCDOT placed traffic barrels to block the damaged section of roadway. One lane is open through the area. It is uncertain how long it will take to repair the damaged highway. NCDOT is monitoring the area closely and has taken necessary steps in case the road needs to be closed. A potential detour route has been set up and signs have been installed in the event of further flooding and road damage. If necessary, motorists heading southbound should use the following signed detour: U.S. 421 Business to Curtis Bridge Road (state road 1185) to N.C. 268 east to N.C. 18/16 back to U.S. 421. NCDOT reminds motorists to stay alert, travel at nonpeak times and use alternate routes when possible. Plan ahead before driving by visiting the NCDOT Traveler Information Management Web site at www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/ or call 511, the state’s free travel information line, for current travel conditions.

ASU professor documents oldest evidence of leprosy found in India

Dr. Gwen Robbins, an assistant professor of anthropology at Appalachian State University, is the lead author of a paper reporting the analysis of a 4000-year-old skeleton found in Balathal, India, bearing evidence of leprosy.

A day of honor The Watauga County Firefighters Association Color Guard presented the colors during a Memorial Day program at the Boone Mall on Monday. Photo by Mark Mitchell

Obesity grant plan trims local tummies
After $400,000, a lot of exercise and nutrition tips, and a ton of fun, the Watauga County Childhood Obesity Prevention Project is stepping off the scales and celebrating a slimmer community.

Tabbies tapped as Humane Society spokespersons
Best friends are easy to come by – simply stop by the Watauga County Humane Society and pick one up.June is national Adopt-a-Cat month and the Watauga County Humane Society is celebrating by offering adult cats at a reduced rate.

Boone celebrates Arbor Day
Earlier this month, the town of Boone celebrated Arbor Day with a tree planting and award ceremony at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens.

Library launches summer program
The Watauga County Library is serving up two months of activities, magic, and fun during its upcoming Summer Reading Program.

No injuries in U.S. 321 wreck
A Valdese woman escaped injury in a Tuesday morning wreck on U.S. 321.

Crimestoppers: Vehicles are targets of break-ins
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the following crime: Between the hours of 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, and into the early morning of Monday, May 25, several cars in the Kellwood community were entered and various items, from CDs, cash, a Kel-Tec handgun to Toshiba laptop computer, were taken. The Boone Police Department wishes to remind everyone to be sure and lock their car, whether they are shopping, getting gas or in their driveway. “Locking your vehicle and removing valuable items from sight can help prevent you from being a victim,” a police spokesperson said. Anyone with information on this crime, or any other crime, is asked to call Crimestoppers at 828-268-6959 or the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900. 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.

May 25, 2009

Kiplinger features ASU student
This week, Kiplinger.com featured Appalachian State student Jennifer Mixter in a periodic report "in which we showcase our readers’ top choices among Kiplinger’s 100 best values in public colleges and universities." http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/05/Appalachian_State_University.html

Remembrance rings out The ringing of the “Memorial Day Chimes” is performed by, from left, Bill Winkler, Laurie Nicholson and Linda Jackson of the Watauga Community Band during a Memorial Day program at the Boone Mall on Monday. Photo by Mark Mitchell

The Bistro broken into, again
The Bistro restaurant in New Market Centre was broken into for a second time in nine months in very similar crimes.

Trooper dies of complications from 2007 injuries
North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Kyle P. Barber, 46, died in his sleep Tuesday, May 19, at Wake Forest University Hospital in Winston-Salem following a medical procedure related to injuries sustained on-duty in January 2007.

Dr. John Marchese died Sunday
Dr. John Marchese, a prominent local obstetrician, died Sunday at age 73. Marchese was the only specialist of nine doctors at the Watauga Hospital when he arrived in 1970, subsequently delivering about 8,000 infants in his 36-year career.

Memorial Day Concert: Community Band performs
The Watauga Community Band will present its annual Memorial Day concert today, May 25, at 3 p.m. at Rosen Concert Hall on the ASU campus. Veterans will be honored with a number of musical presentations, and a brief ceremony will remember those who have played in the band and have died. Dr. Charles Isley will participate with  The Mountainaires barbershop quartet as a part of the event. The concert is free and open to the public.

Hammer pleads guilty, receives seven life sentences in the deaths of three men

Frederick Philip Hammer, 49, of Crumpler, N.C., walked into the Grayson County Courthouse in Independence, Va., shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22, shackled and dressed in a red prison jumpsuit.

Third quarter LBTD revenues reported

Liquor-by-the-drink revenues exceeded $34,000 in the third quarter.

Movies: Goodbye Solo comes to the High Country

A critically acclaimed film partially shot in Blowing Rock is coming to the High Country in June. "Goodbye Solo" will premiere at the DragonFly Theater on June 12 and open for a single showing at the Hayes Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, June 16, at 7 p.m.

Green Park Inn closed indefinitely

The hand-printed sign on the front door of the Green Park Inn tells visitors that the hotel will be closed for repairs until June 1. The truth is that the historic western North Carolina inn may be closed for a lot longer.