Following is a summary of key information related to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and impacts in Watauga County and surrounding areas. Visit wataugademocrat.com/covid19 for additional coverage on the virus and its impacts. For editorial tips and questions, email editor@wataugademocrat.com.
What a week this has been! I’m not sure if there are enough words in our language to accurately describe what we have experienced as a community over these past days. A month ago, we were locked into a familiar pattern that saw Thursday’s snow lead to Saturday’s skiers. Our hotels and restau…
In response to your article on Connor Hoy’s initiative to make Watauga County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary, (“Student starts Watauga effort for ‘Second Amendment sanctuary,” March 8), I want to address this from the perspective of someone who came here for college and decided to stay and work h…
My Mountaineer roots run deep. I came to App State as a freshman in 1973, graduated with a B.A. in 1977, an M.A. in 1979. After earning a Ph.D., I became a member of the History Department in 1984. I’m a long-time member of the Yosef Club and count our victory over Michigan as one of the thr…
Do electric cars contribute to child exploitation?
King Solomon and President Donald Trump: Solomon had a father who paved the way for success in his reign as king of Israel. Trump had a father who paved the way for him to have success in the business world. Solomon attained great riches during his reign. Trump has attained great riches in t…
After reading the “Locals, Representatives React to Trump’s Acquittal” article in the Feb. 6 Watauga Democrat, I wanted to respond.
I read with amusement today that President Donald Trump accused Sen. Mitt Romney of “posing as a Republican” because he is the sole Republican to break from his party and find the president guilty of abuse of power.
In 1992, I had the opportunity to to travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg with a group led by Josh McDowell to distribute copies of his powerful evangelistic book “More Than A Carpenter,” translated into Russian. After the recent fall of the Soviet Union, we found that people were eager to re…
Once upon a time in a time removed from today … there was little thought to staffing public schools in rural districts with school resource officers.
My letter is in response to the column “Greta’s weekly climate strikes ask for return to Sabbath” (Nov. 20).
The Senate Democrats say that they are standing up for the Constitution and the Republicans say that the Democrats only hate President Donald Trump and have wanted to impeach him from the start.
People should not be disadvantaged, mistreated, blamed or otherwise treated as less than fully human due to mental illness. When I say that there is stigma associated with mental illness, (“Ending stigma: High Country group bringing mental health awareness to churches,” Jan. 21, https://tiny…
I am writing to thank Boone residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.
My name is Elicka Sparks, and I’m a professor at Appalachian State University. I’ve been at ASU for 17 years teaching criminal justice. I’ve always loved my job. I love my students and my research, which does some good in the world.
I am a 65-year-old receiving my earned Social Security benefits. I am also a 24/7/365 caregiver for my wife who is an 18 year brain cancer survivor. My personal benefit is lower than most because of my inability to work and care for my wife at the same time.
In 2016, I was one of the estimated 18% of conservative evangelical Christians who did not vote for Trump. Nor did I vote for Clinton. Since then, I have engaged in discussions with many Trump supporters and found their arguments inadequate. Here are five arguments evangelical Trump supporte…
In the age of President Donald Trump, have we lost the Gospel?
One thing that we can all agree upon is that we live in divisive times, with Democrats and Republicans claiming that their side is right, the other side is wrong, and that there is little, if any, common ground.
As a new Boone resident, and peer-reviewed, published scientist, I was very disappointed in your recent op-ed by Walter Williams (“Scientists: Dishonest or afraid?” Nov. 24) who essentially reiterated the climate denialist, Tony Heller (a pseudonym, by the way).
While defending its plan to enroll 20,000 students by fall 2020, Appalachian State’s administration has tried to downplay the impact of its enrollment goals on the university and the broader community.
Most are aware of the Sabbath (which means “to rest” in Hebrew), where Moses taught that we should rest every seven days to glorify “The Creator,” thus giving us the week that we still use today. Fewer, however, are aware that the Sabbath also teaches that we should leave fields fallow every…
“Scientists have a moral obligation to clearly warn humanity of any catastrophic threat and to ‘tell it like it is.’ On the basis of this obligation, we declare, with more than 11,000 scientist signatories from around the world, clearly and unequivocally that Earth is facing a climate emerge…
In my 66 years I have witnessed American history: Vietnam, the Nixon and Clinton impeachments, Iran Contra, Benghazi, and the 9/11 wars, just to name a few. These events were traumatic and in some cases very divisive. But despite this, thanks to our democracy, our country has remained as str…
Here they are again, those inviting snowflakes on our lamp posts in Boone. Thank you for going back to the warmer lights after a couple years of the colder LED ones.
This time of the year schools are planning their annual 8th grade trips.
On Oct. 15, I attended a meeting of the Watauga County Commissioners to discuss the Application for Text Amendment to The Valle Crucis Historic District Ordinance. In preparation to build a new school in Valle Crucis, county commissioners are seeking a change which would render schools to be…
Pam Williamson is the de facto head of the Watauga County Democratic Party. Prominent among her many activities is writing “Pam’s Picks” every election season. Her website offers her views on all of the races on the ballot, and near the polling stations you’ll always find a replica of her sa…
A letter in the Watauga Democrat Oct. 23 (“Democracy not well”) scolded me for weighing in on candidates running for seats on the Boone Town Council.
Regarding the current municipal election in the Town of Boone, the Watauga County Democratic party did not recruit candidates, has not endorsed candidates and has not expended any Party resources to benefit any candidate.
Under the mantra “Make America Great Again.” the present administration in Washington has redefined greatness.
Yes, President Donald Trump abandoned the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria in our war on terror. But let’s not forget that President Kennedy abandoned the Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front at the Bay of Pigs in our war on communism.
In March the Watauga County Board Of Education entered into a contract to purchase 14.4 acres (the Hodges site) for $1.105 million as a possible site for a new Valle Crucis School grades 1-8. They are offering to pay 2-3 times the market value of that land. Thirteen of the 14.4 acres are des…
I am writing in protest of the proposed new school construction site in Valle Crucis on the Hodges Farm property on Broadstone Road.
On Sept. 3, the Watauga County Board Of Commissioners filed an Application for Text Amendment to the Valle Crucis Historic District Ordinance. The applicants have asked that all public schools be grouped with Bona Fide Farms in section 2.3 of the ordinance and that sections 2.4 and 2.5 not b…
I heard the D.O.T. is bringing the new left turn arrangement at all intersection on U.S. 221 between Boone and West Jefferson to other intersections in Boone. To turn left, you have to first turn right, fight your way to the far left lane and make a U-turn to complete the left turn. What a n…
Far too often, after another mass shooting of innocent people in our nation, our politicians and media reporters naturally demand action that “something must be done.” Some call for stronger purchasing restrictions and regulations for gun ownership or banning assault rifles, bump stocks and …
I believe the recent letter to the editor about the “NO to HATE” signs (Aug. 7) around the area bears witness to the fact of the great divide in our country —everything is viewed as one side against the other. In fact, the signs came as an act to try to bring our community together against h…
The recent debacle surrounding the renaming of a street in Boone to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a perfect example of getting what you vote for.
As one of thousands of year-round residents who welcome the second-plus home residents, students, tourists, the friends of friends or relatives of friends or the passers through and by who appreciate these beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, I write to give a local perspective.
Considering the letter, “About those ‘Don’t Hate-Love God’ signs” (Aug. 7): I have to remember to be a nice person, as I was raised and baptized in faith and Belief of Jesus Christ. I am thankful I had wonderful loving parents who taught me to love and abide by God’s commandments
I was deeply distressed to read the letter which expressed being offended by the ”Don’t Hate-Love God” signs (Aug. 7).
I am 91 years old. As far as I know, I am the oldest of the residents of Valle Crucis who were actually born in Valle Crucis and have lived in Valle Crucis their entire life. I have read all 80 comments written by the signers of the petition to prevent moving the Valle Crucis Elementary Scho…
This letter is in regard to the Aug. 7 letter, “About those ‘Don’t Hate-Love God’ signs.” The letter seems to be offended by signs placed by the High Country faith community earlier this spring. They are a renunciation of hate in response to the epidemic of senseless violence in our country.
Recently, a Your View opinion piece, “Housing and poverty in Boone” (Aug. 7), suggested that the Boone economy offers an illusion of prosperity propped up by the toils of its workers. Although the importance of reducing poverty, expanding a stock of affordable housing and making more widely …
A letter recently expressed discomfort, to the point of being disturbed, with the volume of faith-based signs located throughout our community (“About those ‘Don’t Hate-Love God’ signs,” Aug. 2).
I just finished reading the letter “About those Don’t Hate -Love’ signs” (Aug. 7).
In response to the story, “Boone council to continue discussion on renaming local street after MLK” (https://bit.ly/2YT7aMY), doing this change will invite and incite more hate.
(1) Nurses today in the 21st century are also speaking up about healthcare policies that hinder or help our society. As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse residing in Boone and a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for the past 22 years, I am concerned about the affordabilit…
I am one of thousands of folks who pour into these mountains for the summer, the same lovely blue ridges I grew up in as a child in Virginia. The worries back home and the destructive political banter that infects our lives now — all this disappears behind the mountains.
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