BOONE — A woman who spent roughly a year in Boone as an international student from China seven years ago mailed masks to a Valle Crucis couple after hearing about the personal protective equipment shortage due to COVID-19.
RALEIGH — North Carolina saw its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases yet on May 23, with 1,107 new cases reported, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
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BOONE — Less than 24 hours after the restriction was passed, a Watauga County judge has blocked the town of Boone from enforcing a restriction barring anyone who has overnighted outside of Watauga County from entering indoor establishments until they have stayed in the county for 14 days.
Appalachian announces fall semester plans: no fall break, students to remain home after Thanksgiving
BOONE — The Appalachian State fall semester will be a bit different when students return to their classrooms Aug. 17.
RALEIGH — Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued new emergency orders on May 21 about court operations across North Carolina that extend some filing deadlines, postpone jury trials and require in-person court operations to take place with some restrictions to ensure safety protocols.
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BOONE — Under new restrictions adopted by the Boone Town Council on May 21, anyone (except work commuters) arriving in the town of Boone who previously overnighted outside Watauga County will not be permitted to enter establishments open to the public, other than medical facilities, until th…
BOONE — The Will Dicus Memorial Baseball Tournament has turned into a High Country tradition that promotes baseball locally and helps raise funds for baseball causes.
RALEIGH — N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced on May 20 that North Carolina would move into Phase 2 of the statewide reopening plan at 5 p.m. on May 22 with the approval of Executive Order 141.
RALEIGH — North Carolina's number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 topped 20,000 on Wednesday, May 20. Watauga and Ashe remain at 12 and 28 cases, respectively, while neighboring Wilkes County is at 447 cases and on Wednesday reported its second COVID-19-related death.
WATAUGA — Starting in June, Watauga County Schools will start to modify how it distributes meals to children during the summer months.
BOONE — Watauga County was to ease local restrictions on May 22 after commissioners voted to align their timing with the statewide three-phase reopening plan, which moved into Phase 2 on Friday.
RALEIGH — Following are updates on COVID-19 cases and test numbers in the U.S., North Carolina and in High Country counties. The following reports may differ from other sources due to the varied reporting times of multiple health agencies and other sources.
BOONE — On May 18 and 19, local health departments announced that the number of Watauga County residents testing positive for COVID-19 has risen to 12 and that Avery County has its first confirmed case of the virus.
BOONE — According to Watauga officials, the county will receive $1,164,018 in federal CARES Act relief funds that will be split eight ways to help with the local COVID-19 response.
BOONE — Additional Watauga County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total of identified cases among Watauga County residents to 11.
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is taking further action to prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities, it said on May 18. All long-term care facilities in the state will receive personal protective equipment packs of needed supplies, an…
NEWLAND — Avery County Health Department has recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Avery County as of Monday afternoon, May 18.
RALEIGH — COVID-19 cases among Watauga County residents increased to 11 on May 18, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the Raleigh News & Observer. In addition, Avery County reported its first positive test — the last of the state's 100 counties to do so.
RALEIGH — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina rose to 18,610 as of 9 p.m. Sunday, May 17, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
RALEIGH — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina rose to 17,494 as of 9:15 Friday, May 15, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
ASHEVILLE — The Pisgah National Forest began to reopen many trails and roads and partially lift restrictions for dispersed camping May 14, using a site-by-site approach, including assessment of facility cleanliness, maintenance status and health and safety of recreation areas. Facilities and…
BOONE — Opportunities for general election polling sites, absentee ballots and poll workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed during the May 13 Watauga Board of Elections virtual meeting.
BOONE — Curbside pickup of materials and printed items will be offered once again by the Watauga Public Library beginning Tuesday, May 19, and the hours are as follows:
BOONE — For the first time in its 69-year history, the outdoor drama “Horn in the West” will not be presented due to the concerns associated with COVID-19.
BOONE — After having to cancel its biggest fundraiser of the year, OASIS staff are wondering how they’ll make up the potential $25,000 to $30,000 shortfall the agency may face.
BOONE — Eyes and ears are focused on Tuesday and Thursday, May 19 and 21, when the Watauga County Board of Commissioners and Boone Town Council will each deliberate over how to move forward with local COVID-19 restrictions.
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BOONE — Appalachian State announced on May 14 that 16 subcontracted workers for a campus construction project have tested positive for COVID-19. The workers are not Watauga County residents.
BOONE — In accordance with state-mandated restrictions on large gatherings, Watauga High School plans to host an outdoor “drive-through” graduation ceremony on Saturday, May, 30, at the school.
BOONE — Regional home sales declined in April, as both buyers and sellers coped with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Realtors remained at work throughout the month albeit under extraordinary conditions, according to the most recent sales figures recorded by the High Country Association of Realtors.
AVERY COUNTY — As North Carolina slowly loosens restrictions in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a pair of local resorts have released their strategic reopening plans to once again welcome visitors.
BLOWING ROCK — The executive committee of the Tour of Homes Blowing Rock — an event held annually by St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church to raise money for High Country nonprofits — has decided to postpone this year’s tour until July 2021.
BLOWING ROCK — Depending on the outcome of a May 19 discussion on local COVID-19 restrictions by the Watauga County Commissioners, the Blowing Rock Town Council could potentially take separate action on the status of the 14-day quarantine order and ban on short-term rentals.
Smiles and some joyous tears were on the faces of residents and staff of Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living as loved ones paraded around the outside of the facility on May 12.
RALEIGH — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina will likely crest the 16,000 mark on Wednesday, May 13, as the Raleigh News & Observer reported 15,950 cases as of 11:15 a.m.
WILKESBORO — As officials monitor an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in neighboring Wilkes County involving a Tyson Foods processing plant, AppHealthCare stated it is working closely with the Wilkes County Health Department to monitor impacts to counties like Watauga and Ashe.
BOONE — The High Country Food Hub has seen a sizable increase in sales and customers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as community members search for ways to benefit the local community and support their neighbors during financially stressful times.
RALEIGH — To help families access food during the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is temporarily increasing benefits for May 2020 to current Food and Nutrition Services recipients in North Carolina. NCDHHS received federal authority to implement …
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on May 11 introduced a new weekly estimate of people in the state who have recovered from the COVID-19 virus.
RALEIGH — North Carolina's positive COVID-19 case count was at 14,893 as of 12 p.m. Sunday, May 10, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
RALEIGH — North Carolina's positive COVID-19 case count was at 14,464 as of 12 p.m. Saturday, May 9, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
BLOWING ROCK — The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce announced on April 29 that the Art in the Park show scheduled for May 23 has been canceled due to COVID-19. According to the announcement, this is the first cancellation in 58 seasons of Art in the Park.
LINVILLE — Following a two-month closure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Grandfather Mountain planned to tentatively open in limited capacity on May 15, with all ticket sales moving online.
RALEIGH — North Carolina's positive COVID-19 case count was at 13,954 as of 12 p.m. Friday, May 8, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
WATAUGA — Watauga County Schools students who meet state and federal requirements may now apply for free and reduced lunch online, and eligible families can apply to receive additional North Carolina Pandemic Electronic Benefits.
ASHEVILLE — Blue Ridge Parkway officials are increasing recreational access to sections of the road previously closed to motor vehicle traffic in North Carolina following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities.
VILAS — The meal distribution site that has operated at Brushy Fork Baptist Church since schools were closed by a state order in mid-March moved to Cove Creek School starting Monday, May 11.
BOONE — County staff are recommending roughly a $7 million decrease in Watauga County’s budget for fiscal year 2020-21 in anticipation of impacts from COVID-19.
RALEIGH — North Carolina public school students will not participate in standardized tests at the end of the academic year, and state education leaders have also enacted a policy on grading for the terms affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATAUGA — Local retail businesses are preparing to reopen on May 8 under Phase 1 of Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan for reopening the state following COVID-19-related shutdowns and restrictions. However, in Phase 1, stores are limited to 50 percent of their regular capacities.
BOONE — The Boone Town Council will later this month consider a proposal to enact additional COVID-19-related restrictions, including an order for people arriving in Boone from other areas to self-quarantine. As proposed, the self-quarantine order would remain in effect after a similar count…
RALEIGH — North Carolina's positive COVID-19 case count was at 13,541 as of 11:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
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