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Watauga County's Chief Animal Control Officer Steve Norris wants to remind pet owners to take special precautions in this type of weather to keep pets safe. Norris suggested bringing the animals inside if it is at all possible.  If bringing your pet inside is not an option, Norris said by law pet owners must provide a shelter with bedding, fresh, unfrozen water, and fresh food at least once per day.  Norris also wants to remind residents to check on their pets regularly.

On Wednesday, February 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Avery Middle School will host a collection event for Locks of Love. The event is sponsored by the Giving Back Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Donated hair must be at least 10 inches long from tip to tip to be used for a Locks of Love wig. However, shorter hair is accepted and is sold to offset the manufacturing costs of the wigs. Locks of Love can accept hair that is colored, permed and gray. It cannot accept dreadlocks or hair that has been bleached or highlighted. To schedule a haircut appointment, call 828-733-0145 and ask for Chantae or Ken.

Resident Engineer with the Watauga County DOT, Kevin Whittington said every truck and piece of equipment that is at the DOT's disposal is on the roadway working to treat and scrape the road. Whittington said 14 push trucks and spreaders, 11 rental trucks, five motor-graters, and three push trucks working throughout the county. Whittington did say despite the DOT's best efforts, many roadways are still snow covered.  He added, "If you don't have to drive, stay put because it is snow covered and dangerous."

The National Weather Service is warning residents that bands of heavy snow and sleet moving across the area could cause white outs in some regions of the High Country. According to weather officials, the heaviest bands of snow will move through the High Country this morning at rates of up to two inches per hour.  Visibilities could be reduced to near zero at times in areas that are experiencing heavier snowfall. Some light icing will also occur closer to the Tennessee border. At least six inches fell overnight in most areas of the High Country, which is making even main highways extremely treacherous. The Boone Police Department is advising that everyone stay home if at all possible today. The National Weather Service's Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the High Country until 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

Both Watauga and Avery county boards of elections are prepared to accept official candidate's filings for the upcoming elections starting at noon on Monday, February 8, and continuing through Friday, February 26. In Watauga County, candidates can file for three county commission district seats, three school board seats, two soil and water conservation positions, clerk of court and sheriff. Avery County seats are open for sheriff, clerk of court, three county commissioners and two positions for the board of education. Candidates for district-wide state seats, the N.C. Senate and N.C. House of Representatives will file in their resident counties. Candidates for district attorneys, judges and U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives file at the state board of elections in Raleigh. Primary elections will take place on May 4, with run-offs scheduled for June 22. The election is on November 2.

Athletes from North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana will compete in the 2010 Special Olympics Southeast Region Alpine Games this weekend and into next week at Appalachian Ski Mountain. According to Watauga County Parks and Recreation's Karon Poteat, who is heading up the event, the three-day competition will begin on Sunday evening with a torchlight parade of athletes and coaches, and an opening ceremonies event on the ski slope.  Poteat said area law enforcement and Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson will be on hand for the lighting ceremony. The actual games will be held on Monday and Tuesday.  Spectators are welcome to attend the event, and volunteers are encouraged to be a part of the games. 

Interested residents can call Watauga County Parks and Recreation at 264-9511.

A resolution passed through the House of Representatives this week that was sponsored by Congressman Patrick McHenry. The motion commemorates NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson for becoming the first driver to win four consecutive cup championships. McHenry said Jimmie Johnson's historic season and rise to the pinnacle of his profession is the embodiment of the American dream.  He represents what's best about professional sports, and his contributions to NASCAR and the community through his foundation are truly remarkable.  McHenry added that he's looking forward to watching Jimmie's 'Drive for Five' in 2010. The 2010 NASCAR season begins with the Daytona 500 on February 14.

Despite dealing with dangerously low funding, the Hospitality House is seeing more and more residents looking for help. The agency has seen an increased demand for crisis assistance and homelessness prevention through the WeCAN program. The WeCAN program makes funding available for residents who might become homeless or would be unable to pay critical bills. WeCAN has seen more than twice the expected requests for rental assistance in the first part of this fiscal year and there's no relief in sight. The Hospitality House relies on support from the local community to fund WeCAN and other vital programs that help those facing crisis and homeless situations.  You can visit HospitalityHouseOfBoone.org or call the Hospitality House at 262-3461 to learn how to donate.

Another opportunity to donate is this weekend at the Hearts of Hospitality Ball. You can enjoy music, dinner, a lively dance contest and a silent auction Saturday night from 6:30-11:30pm at the ASU Broyhill Inn & Conference Center Helen Powers Grand Hall. All proceeds benefit Hospitality House.

You can purchase tickets by calling Rose Bridgeman at 264.2733. You may also purchase them at High Country Bank at New Market Center or Shadowline Drive or at Chetola in Blowing Rock.

Several counties in western North Carolina including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, and Watauga counties will receive federal assistance money from FEMA after a federal disaster declaration for the winter storms and flooding that occurred December 18-25. The DOT will use the money for debris removal and infrastructure repair, utility companies for costs to restore services and local governments to repair disaster-damaged facilities and costs associated with debris removal. This declaration will also provide public assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and repair or replacement of disaster damaged facilities.

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is keeping an eye on this week's looming winter storm. BREMCO's public relations director Renee Whitener said employees are prepared to implement the cooperative's emergency power restoration plan should the storm cause widespread outages. Whitener said much like last week, line technicians are topping off fuel supplies, checking safety equipment, tire chains, and making sure chain saws for tree removal are ready. This week's storm differs from last week's because sleet and freezing rain are expected to be in the mix.  The National Weather Service is calling for moderate snow and sleet accumulation and up to a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation between late Thursday night and Saturday evening. If you're a BREMCO customer and your power goes out, call the outage line at 1-800-448-2383.