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.
Read a while, blackout of a word, phrase, line or paragraph. Read a while, blackout of a word, phrase, line or paragraph. It is enough to make one black out while reading it, but it is the Mueller Report published by the United States Department of Justice.
In the executive and legislative branches of our national government there appears to be a dearth of real leaders. It has reached the point where it is fair to say we are desperate for real leaders who can find common ground, build a consensus and move forward with solutions, rather than the…
“I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.” So says the Hippocratic Oath that I, along with all physicians, swore to uphold. It guides my practice as a pediatrician, and it guides my staunch support for expanding Medicaid.
Over the years celebrating the July 4th holiday has changed.
On Wednesday, June 26, a fire seriously damaged a local Blowing Rock business of a beloved shop owner. Citizens, town officials and the community stood in deep concern as Blowing Rock firefighters diligently worked to stop the blaze. Many were distressed, heartbroken and in tears for the bel…
Regarding dogs on the Boone Greenway, it has been brought to my attention that one of our members, while waiting for hikers to assemble and the hike to begin, encountered two young people who stopped to chat with a pair of interesting unleashed dogs. Both dogs began to romp; they were largis…
Some of you will know this and others won’t, but June is considered Pride Month for the LGBTQIA community. It’s a time where those of us who are lesbian, or gay are encouraged to come out and be visible to our family, friends, neighbors and enemies. It’s not that any of us want enemies, but …
I agree with the letter writer of “Hottest Day of 2019 so far” (May 26). Not enough is done to caution residents about the dangers of leaving their pets in the car.
Welcoming sunshine and 80 degree temperatures in Boone also comes with downsides.
About 4:30 on a recent afternoon, two fighter jets flew over Boone.
Isn’t it ironic that both President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor John Bolton, neither of whom have experienced military combat, are now, according to news reports, thinking about starting a war in the Persian Gulf?
If you have ever felt lonely, know that you are not alone. We live in an era where we are more connected with one another than ever yet the national rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s. Loneliness can be defined as “subjective distress” which does not always mean not having frie…
My heart breaks. My spirit suffers. Yet another sleepless night. I am left wondering — yet again.
It is shameful that the masses of social media have bullied Boone Saloon co-owner Skip Sinanian out of his business and livelihood for a perfectly reasonable observation and comment regarding consent.
An article Feb. 24, headlined “Council seeks to eliminate ‘non-conforming’ uses in neighborhoods,” turned my world upside down. Fifteen years ago, I bought my home in Boone; a small one-level, three-bedroom house with two rear-entrance apartments below. At that time I was given a letter from…
To even begin to think that this president, or for that matter, any president, could, in the course of one term or even two, actually make America great again is simply preposterous, or easily grossly short-sighted. To believe that millions of jobs, the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice…
I am deeply saddened by the news that a young person died after being shot by a Watauga County sheriff’s deputy over the weekend.
Relying on the generosity of strangers, telephone scams are again making the rounds of the High Country.
Watauga County is a thriving community defined by hard-working and caring individuals who come together in times of celebration and in times of need. We pride ourselves on the history and culture that exists in our mountain town, and work hard to preserve that culture.
Many of us celebrated love and Valentine’s Day recently with our spouses, partners, children and other loved ones, but another group of people within our country did not have the same experience; instead, this day of love was overshadowed by the remembrance of the deadliest school shooting i…
As we approach Easter and deal with a crisis in our culture concerning truth, perhaps we ought to think about the question Pilate asked Jesus not long before he gave his approval to Jesus being crucified. Pilate had asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus replied that his kingdom w…
I’m not sure that this widening project of US Hwy 421 is prudent at this time.
A sincere thank you is due to those folks in the town of Boone’s Public Works Department.
Senator Thom Tillis needs to prevent the health insurance tax from coming into effect again in 2020. This tax impacts health plans purchased by small businesses. It results in thousands of dollars in higher annual costs for businesses that offer health insurance. For my hardware store, this …
My dad spent his retirement years serving the community of Boone. With great humility he committed his efforts to improve the lives of the community and the environment.
This letter is not to “bring down,” but to uplift.
A new resident to our community wrote a letter, “Racism still exists,” which was published in the Nov. 28 issue of the Watauga Democrat. It hurt my heart to learn that anyone would be treated in such a bigoted manner by another resident of our community. I’m not naïve to this reality, but al…
It has been a little more than 90 days since Randy Collins left this world as we know it.
Racism in Boone is alive and well. I moved to Boone in October 2017 just knowing that the serenity of being surrounded by the mountains with its quaint downtown would be the perfect place to retire. I knew before moving here that the African-American population was very low, but it never daw…
I feel compelled to write this letter about the result of the Oct. 9 meeting of the Blowing Rock Town Council, specifically concerning the very disappointing and frankly, disgusting outcome and “non-vote”on accepting the gifts to the town of Blowing Rock of the replicas of the Declaration of…
Obviously, some business entity is making money by causing hundreds of thousands of people to change their clocks twice a year which is a small, but unnecessary, inconvenience and a very small consideration compared to disrupting every individual’s circadian rhythm which nature provided for …
To students at ASU voting. For the first time in many, many years, thanks to President Donald Trump, there will be jobs waiting for you at graduation.
I just received in my mail the latest campaign poster from the NC Republican Party and I must say how appalled and downright outraged I am at how low a political party can go.
That this midterm election cycle has been contentious is an understatement. Reaching near to the interest of a general election — Watauga saw 1,700 early voters on the first day such ballots could be cast — voices from all sides of the political aisles are reaching out through social media, …
This message to voters pertains to one of the six proposed amendments to the Constitution of North Carolina which will be on your ballot.
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