Latest News

Highway 321 Will be Closed...

2010-03-11T19:55:36Z

Local traffic will be affected starting next week, as the NC DOT will close Highway 321 in between Blowing Rock and Lenoir on Monday and Thursday nights to speed up the completion of the highway-widening project. DOT officials said the stretch of highway from Kirby Mountain Road to Blackberry Road will be closed from 7:00 Monday evenings to 5:00am Tuesday mornings and 7:00pm Thursday evenings to 5:00am Friday mornings. These night closures are expected to run through July. The highway will also be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Mabel School's After School Program Recognized by the Board of Education

2010-03-11T19:55:33Z

The Watauga County Board of Education recognized Mabel School's after school program at their monthly board meeting on Monday evening. Watauga County Schools spokesman Marshall Ashcraft said Patricia Sperry was recognized for her program having achieved a four star license at Mabel School. They are very proud of that achievement and we think it's a great reflection of her commitment to her students. Mabel's after school program serves 16 students every day and provides them with recreation, education support, and enrichment activities.

Artists United Reaching out for Academics

2010-03-11T19:49:52Z

The High Country community is invited to experience an evening of performing arts at ASU's Valborg Theatre on tomorrow evening, hosted by Two Rivers Community School. Artists United Reaching out for Academics showcases the talents of local performing artists, musicians, dancers and poets. The doors open at 6:30 pm; the performance begins at 7:00 pm. Proceeds from the show and the auction benefit arts programming at Two Rivers Community School, which is a Learning Outward Bound public charter school in Boone. For more information, click to tworiverscommunityschool.net or contact Joanna 773-6636.

Laura Bush and Sarah Palin at the Complete Woman Expo in Wilkesboro

2010-03-11T19:48:06Z

Former First Lady Laura Bush, and Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have agreed to appear at the first annual Complete Woman Expo in Wilkesboro in June. The NCBlue Ridge Educational Resource Group is planning the event at Wilkes Community College on June 5^th from 8am to 6pm. According to their website, the purpose of this event is to motivate, inspire and equip women of all ages in the region to find purpose and reach their full potential as businesswomen, entrepreneurs, wives and mothers. There will be no entry fee, but advanced tickets are apparently necessary. To purchase tickets, go online to blueridge-erg.org.

Crimes: Call Crimestoppers' Watauga County

2010-03-11T19:46:50Z

Boone authorities are looking for the person who has been shooting out the same window at the Boone Saloon with a BB gun. April Gunter of the Boone P.D. said the window was broken on four separate occasions: December 30, 31, January 3, and on February 17.

Also, A $1,000 cash award has now been offered by a local business owner for information that leads to the recovery of a safe that was stolen from the Brown Heights Properties and Brown Brothers Motor Mart office last month. The safe contained an undisclosed amount of money. Detective Bobby Creed of the Boone PD said the break-in occurred on February 9 between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. The suspect was seen leaving the apartment office on the Highway 105 Extension in a small dark pickup truck. Anyone with information about these crimes should contact High Country Crimestoppers' Watauga County Office at 268-6959.

The High Country Continues to Help Haiti

2010-03-11T19:43:15Z

You'd be hard pressed to find a place anywhere in the world that has worked harder to help the people of Haiti after the earthquake than right here in the High Country. Our local chapter of the American Red Cross, almost every local church and civic organization, and local businesses like M-Prints have worked to raise funds for earthquake victims. And lets not forget about Wine to Water and Samaritan's Purse, which are two international Christian relief ministries that are headquartered right here in Boone.

Samaritan's Purse officials said several grassroots efforts involving students and local businesses have raised more than $17,000 to help earthquake survivors. Wine to Water President Doc Hendley just returned from Haiti a few weeks ago, and earlier this week, Wine to Water was able to raise over $1200 for relief work during a single one-night fundraiser at Makoto's.

Samaritan's Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham wants everyone to know how thankful they are at Samaritan's Purse for how generously everyone here in Boone and across the state have given to help the people of Haiti.

The Best of the Worst Winter

2010-03-11T14:57:32Z

The Best of the Worst Winter, a locally produced film about skiing and snowboarding in the High Country during the 2009-10 winter season, will have a special screening at Boone Saloon on Thursday, March 11, at 8:00 p.m. Eric Crews, primary videographer and editor of the film, said the team has documented some of the best winter conditions the area has seen in recent history. "This year will go down in history as being one of the worst winters Boone has ever had," Crews said. "But for some area athletes, the huge snowstorms that have made this one of the worst winters make it one of the best for area snowsports athletes." Admission is free for the screening.

For more information on The Best of the Worst Winter and to see segments from the upcoming release, click to highcountryadventures.net.

Baptist Missionary Released from Haiti

2010-03-10T20:51:22Z

One of two Baptist Missionaries charged with kidnapping in Haiti is back on US Soil more than a month after being arrested. A judge in Port Au Prince released Carissa Coulter on Monday. She was escorted to the airport and flown back to Miami. Her defense lawyer said there was no evidence to support the charges of kidnapping.

In the meantime, Laura Sylsby who is the leader of the missionary group is still in custody. Her attorney predicts she will soon be released. It's been more than a month since authorities arrested 10 Americans for trying to take 23 Haitian children out of the country after the January Earthquake. A judge later said that the parents voluntarily gave up their children, thinking the missionaries would give them a better life.

Ohio State University Shooting

2010-03-10T20:50:04Z

An early morning shooting Wednesday at an Ohio State University campus maintenance building left one employee dead and two others wounded. A suspect has been taken into custody, but officials have not determined any motive for the shootings. The two wounded workers were taken to Ohio State University Medical Center, where one was in critical condition and the other was in stable condition. The third employee was pronounced dead at the scene. Ohio State, the nation's largest university, said no students were hurt and that classes would be held as scheduled.

Peddler Re-Opens Wednesday

2010-03-10T20:48:45Z

After a kitchen fire caused $400,000 in damages to Boone's Peddler Restaurant in December, the business hopes to reopen its doors Wednesday. The Peddler's Mark Scruggs said "The whole kitchen was a loss. Then, they had severe smoke damage in the dining room, and the ceilings in the main dining room." Scruggs said despite being closed for well over two months, the restaurant was able to retain its employees. Scruggs said employees helped clean and rebuild the restaurant. Starting Wednesday, the Peddler will be open its normal business hours of Monday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:30, Friday 5:00 - 10:00, and Saturday 4:00 - 10:00.

Banff Mountain Film Festival is Coming to Boone!

2010-03-10T20:47:34Z

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to Boone on Friday March 26 and Saturday March 27. For 34 years, the Banff Film Festival has been inspiring audiences by showcasing the world's best films highlighting mountain adventure, culture, and the environment.

The Boone screenings have a history of selling out quickly so plan ahead to get your tickets, which are currently on sale at Farthing Auditorium on the Appalachian Campus, online at op.appstate.edu, and Footsloggers in Downtown Boone. For information visit www.banffmountainfestivals.com

Governor Bev Purdue Came to Boone!

2010-03-10T20:45:48Z

North Carolina's governor addressed several area chambers of commerce Monday afternoon at the Watauga County Commissioners' Chamber in downtown Boone. Governor Bev Perdue touched on the importance of education, job creation, green initiatives, tourism, and the great work ethic of North Carolinians as a whole. After speaking for about 30 minutes, she fielded questions from the audience.

After addressing several of the area's chambers of commerce, Governor Bev Perdue stopped by Boone's international relief ministry, Samaritan's Purse. SP President Franklin Graham showed the governor a model of temporary housing that the ministry is building in Haiti. This type of shelter can house a family of 10 people. It's also designed to protect the people from the weather and collect rainwater for family use. Governor Perdue was also shown water filters that Samaritan's Purse uses in Haiti and around the world.

SP spokesman Tom Layton said you can take a free tour of the shelters on weekdays at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You can call 262-1980 to reserve a time.

6.0 Earthquake Hits Turkey Monday Morning

2010-03-08T20:31:47Z

A strong 6.0 earthquake knocked down stone and mud-brick houses in eastern Turkey early this morning, killing at least 51 people in five villages. The earthquake surprised many residents as they slept, crumpling buildings into piles of rubble. Survivors fled into narrow village streets, some climbing out of windows, as nearly 80 aftershocks rattled the region.

Watauga County Republican Party Convention Last Saturday

2010-03-08T20:29:34Z

In a spirited discussion, the Watauga County Republican Party held its annual convention Saturday, introducing new chairwomen Pam Blume and assistant chairman Tommy Adams. The convention approved six resolutions and defeated three in split votes, seeking defeat of national health care legislation, tougher Fourth Amendment protections, and support of tax overhaul, though voters were divided on issues of abolishing the Federal Reserve, extending constitutional rights to detainees suspected of terrorism, portions of a resolution asking the federal government to reduce its electronic surveillance and national identification programs.

District and local candidates also spoke at the convention, which was held in the Watauga County Courthouse.

Happy International Women's Day!

2010-03-08T20:28:41Z

Today is International Women's Day. It is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. Samaritan's Purse is celebrating the accomplishments of women rising above poverty, abuse, and exploitation through livelihood and support projects in the developing world.