BOONE — Watauga County, in conjunction with the towns of Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone and Seven Devils, will be closing all playgrounds, recreational courts and picnic shelters, effective Monday, March 30, at noon until further notice.
RALEIGH — The Raleigh News & Observer reported that 1,186 people in North Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19 as of 9:15 p.m. Sunday, March 29.
BOONE — On Saturday morning, Appalachian District Health Department (AppHealthCare) informed Appalachian State University leadership that the fifth positive case of COVID-19, announced on March 27, was an App State student who is a resident of Watauga County and lives off campus.
HIGH COUNTRY ─ Appalachian Regional Library, with public libraries in Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties, announced on March 28 that curbside service has been canceled, and all public library facilities, including the Western Watauga Branch and the Traphill Branch, will be entirely closed to …
BOONE — On March 28, the Boone-based Christian international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse released an announcement regarding relief efforts that have begun in New York City.
RALEIGH — The Raleigh News & Observer reported that 1,024 people in North Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19 as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
BOONE — Through a new campaign called “In This Together,” Blue Ridge Energy is increasing its efforts to help provide critical financial assistance to members and customers served by the electric cooperative and its propane and fuels subsidiary amid COVID-19 job and wage losses, the utility …
BOONE — Watauga County Schools issued a statement following the announcement of the governor's 30-day stay at home order, noting that the already limited operations of the school system will continue during this time.
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RALEIGH — N.C. residents are now mandated to stay at home unless going out for essentials, according to an executive order signed by N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper on March 27.
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BOONE — A fifth Watauga County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, AppHealthCare announced on Friday, March 27.
RALEIGH — Citing the potential for nicer weather bringing people to the region’s state parks and spreading COVID-19, N.C. State Parks announced that Elk Knob State Park, Grandfather Mountain State Park, New River State Park and Mount Jefferson State Natural Area are closed, effective March 27.
RALEIGH — Four people with COVID-19 have died in North Carolina as of March 26, according to the Raleigh News & Observer, including residents from Cabarrus, Harnett and Johnston counties and a Virginia resident traveling in the state.
WATAUGA — In response to public school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Watauga County Schools Superintendent Scott Elliott said school personnel have essentially created a whole new public education system in less than two weeks.
HIGH COUNTRY — The High Country is home to bands and musical talent spanning every genre through a number of decades. In the face of COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, many are taking the changes in stride, turning to platforms and services such as Facebook Live and YouTube to share their music.
BOONE — Pay raises of any kind for Appalachian State University faculty and staff might be unlikely for the 2019-20 school year as university officials respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOONE — While many local restaurants and shops face closures or drastically reduced operations as a result of COVID-19, others have experienced an uptick or steady business as a result of the virus’s impacts.
BOONE — As unemployment claims reach record numbers of 3.28 million nationally for the week ending March 21 as a result of COVID-19, loan and grant assistance programs at the federal level could help local businesses in the short term.
RALEIGH — As the United States on March 26 surpassed China and Italy to become the nation with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, North Carolina this week announced a shift in its response, and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System is preparing for a potential influx of patient…
BOONE — In the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and a canceled vacation to Costa Rica as a result, Michael Greene was searching for a way to give back to the High Country community when he and his wife came up with the idea of the Virtual Concert Dinner Series.
BOONE — Due to the growing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases occurring across the state, Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina will no longer offer one night of services for individuals who are from outside its designated seven-county service area — Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Wilkes, All…
BOONE — Appalachian Regional Library, with public libraries in Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties, is now closed to the public due to the COVID-19 situation, until such a time as it feels it is safe to reopen to the public.
WATAUGA — Watauga County — in conjunction with the towns of Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone and Seven Devils — will be ending short-term rentals, effective noon on March 26.
RALEIGH — At least 729 people in North Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19, the Raleigh News & Observer reported as of 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
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BOONE — A fourth Watauga County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, AppHealthCare announced Thursday, March 26. This case had travel history and has been in isolation since being tested. The local public health staff have identified the close contacts, who have been in quarantine.
Social distancing has been enforced across the country in response to COVID-19, causing nursing homes and hospitals to implement visitor restrictions. Local businesses and organizations are getting creative to keep spirits high amid these changes.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced the first two N.C. deaths as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in a March 25 statement.
RALEIGH — The number of positive COVID-19 tests in North Carolina crested the 500 mark on March 24, according to reporting from the Raleigh News & Observer.Â
With only one week to prepare, educators in Watauga County Schools hit the ground running to provide “remote learning” to students beginning March 23.
BOONE — More than 60 Appalachian State University faculty members joined in an online video-chat meeting on March 23 and discussed the ways that the university is still grappling with all of the changes brought forth by COVID-19.
BOONE — AppHealthCare on March 24 shared updated recommendations on testing and mitigation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including a shift in testing to focus on those with urgent medical needs.
WATAUGA — A total of 122,242 unemployment claims were processed in North Carolina from March 16 through 2 p.m. on March 23, according to N.C. Division of Employment Security’s spokesperson Larry Parker.
RALEIGH — According to a release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the organization has partnered with the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral network to launch a hotline to provide child care options for children of critical workers who do not have…
BOONE — Boone Town Manager John Ward and Mayor Rennie Brantz on Tuesday, March 24, provided an update on town operations affected by COVID-19.
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BOONE — A third Watauga County resident tested positive for COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), according to a March 24 AppHealthCare announcement.
RALEIGH — As the cases of COVID-19 continue to increase on a national level, the number of positive cases continues to follow suit within the borders of North Carolina, and Watauga County has confirmed its third case.
WATAUGA — State and national parks locally are cutting off some services and closing some facilities, but most of the parks themselves remain open as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
RALEIGH — The number of positive COVID-19 cases in North Carolina was up to at least 410, as reported by the Raleigh News & Observer as of 8:10 p.m. on March 23.
WATAUGA — Over the course of six week days, Watauga County Schools served 12,841 meals to local children 18 and younger during a state-mandated closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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RALEIGH — N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced March 23 that he would sign an executive order extending the closure of K-12 schools for in-person instruction until May 15.
RALEIGH — Positive COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continue to rise, as the Raleigh News & Observer reported that there are 307 reported cases as of 7:15 a.m. on March 23.
BOONE — Watauga County announced on March 20 that all county buildings will be closed to the public effective on March 23 to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
RALEIGH — Increasing by 47 people from the day before, North Carolina has a total of 184 positive COVID-19 cases as of 10:30 a.m. on March 21, according to data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
BOONE — Appalachian State University announced on March 20 that it will host a “virtual commencement” in May instead of its usual ceremonies at the Holmes Convocation Center. In addition, May graduates will have the option to participate in the December 2020 commencement ceremonies, accordin…
BLOWING ROCK — Tweetsie Railroad announced March 19 that it was postponing its opening day from its planned Friday, April 3, date.
BOONE — Appalachian Regional Library — with public libraries in Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties — is closed to the public as of March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RALEIGH — A total of 137 positive COVID-19 cases, up 40 from the day before, was confirmed by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in an update posted at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20.
As the COVID-19 pandemic results in supply shortages at grocery stores, local food producers are seeing immediate problems, short-term opportunities and potential long-term issues.
While federal and state legislators promise aid to help those financially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, restaurants and retailers across the state are already feeling the pinch.
In less than a week, multiple groups have rallied to help High Country community members in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that’s leaving many temporarily or permanently without jobs.
CALDWELL — Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute released a statement on March 18 to announce the closure of its campuses, including the campus in Watauga County, through March 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BOONE — Spanning three days starting on March 16, AppHealthCare received approximately 260 phone calls from community members inquiring about COVID-19, according to Health Director Jennifer Greene.
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