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Archived
A white lion
What has been called a “mega storm” passed through the area this weekend, dumping up to 11 inches of snow throughout the High Country. The month of March came in like a "lion," more like a white lion that is, on Sunday. The continuous snow on Sunday created traffic problems and fender-benders, but Monday morning brought clear skies and frigid temperatures. Photo by Rob Moore
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Friday, Feb. 27, 2009
Great Friend to Families Award
Judith Winecoff (left), the youth services librarian at Watauga County Public Library, was presented with the Great Friend to Families Award by Kathy Parham (middle), executive director of the Children's Playhouse, and Megan Ellis, president of the board of directors for the Playhouse. Winecoff was presented with a certificate in recognition of her support of Watauga youth, a piece of glass artwork, made and donated by Glenn Randle, and a $500 check to be donated to the High Country nonprofit of her choice. Winecoff chose the Health and Hunger Coalition as the recipient of the funds. Photo by Melanie Davis |
Take the Feinstein Challenge and help conquer hunger in the High Country
The Hospitality House has joined with the Alan Shawn Feinstein Foundation of Rhode Island to help fight hunger in the area.
Who are those caped plungers?
Appalachian State University hosted the 11th annual Polar Plunge Thursday at the duck pond on campus. The plunge benefits Watauga County Special Olympics. Volunteers took flying leaps for Special Olympics, diving into 39 degree water. The event is sponsored by ASU’s University Police Department, Boone Police Department, Blowing Rock Police Department, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Police Department, Watauga County Sheriff’s Department and Watauga County Parks and Recreation. More than $75,000 has been raised for Watauga Special Olympics since the fundraiser began in 1998. Totals from this year's event were not yet available. Photo by Mark Mitchell |
Sports update: Mountaineers roll past Mocs
Appalachian State guard Donald Sims brought back memories of past Mountaineers sharpshooters who have victimized Chattanooga.
Sexual assault reported on campus
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, a female Appalachian State University student reported a sexual assault to the ASU Police Department. The victim told police she had been assaulted by a male acquaintance at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The alleged assault took place in a residence hall on the north side of campus. ASU police are releasing few details regarding the incident. Tips for staying safe were released, in addition to the police statement. ASU encourages students to exercise caution when inviting a person into their rooms or apartments, or when visiting someone's else. This is where a majority of sexual assaults occur, according to the police. Police also tell students to trust their instincts and leave any situation that makes them uncomfortable. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings at all times, the police said. Anyone with information regarding crime on campus is asked to call the ASU Police Department at (828) 262-2150. Crimes may also by reported anonymously through the Web site www.busaf.appstate.edu/police/reportcrime.html. ASU PD also encourages students to call anytime they feel they are in an uncomfortable situation. — By Melanie Davis
Staying on top of the economy
Although the economy remains in a recession, many local business owners are starting to notice upward trends that may indicate a thaw on the regional monetary freeze. One example includes developer Mark Harrill, president of Foscoe Companies and its key development, Echota, who had a good year in 2008 by staying “positive” — his philosophy of doing business. Foscoe Companies operates a series of gated communities. In 2008, despite a national economic downturn, there were 91 sales at Echota and Echota on the Ridge. These facts, as well as more positive news about our regional economy, are included in a special section inside titled “Economic Facts” being included in the Mountain Times Publications' newspapers, including the Watauga Democrat. We’ve had a veritable blizzard of negative economic news lately and, while we don’t want to minimize the damaging effect of the recession, there’s also a place for some good news for a change. We hope you enjoy “Economic Facts.” Photo by Mark Mitchell |
Three charged with possession of a stolen vehicle
Boone police have arrested three people in connection with a vehicle reported stolen from Hickory. Officers began looking for a vehicle in connection to an assault reported at the Cook-Out restaurant on Blowing Rock Road. After the vehicle was located, a records check indicated the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier as stolen. The three occupants, Tad Aaron Navey, 33, of Conover, Kevin Dwight Hull, 35, of Hickory, and Chantiza Maria Cook, 28, of Hickory were each charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Cook, the driver, was also charged with driving while impaired. All three remain in custody at the Watauga County Detention Center under $10,000 secured bonds. They are scheduled to appear in district court on April 1. The vehicle was returned to the owner. Boone Police Department did not release any further information regarding the reported assault on Blowing Rock Road.
— By Melanie Davis
Fire destroys Banner Elk home
What began as a chimney fire led to the complete destruction of a home on Hallelujah Trail in the Banner Elk area.
Animal complex tops county projects
Watauga County’s capital improvement list is staying locked in place despite the tight budget year looming, with a new animal-control facility as the top priority.
Watauga sheriff’s reports
Feb. 17 — Fraud was reported by a resident of Odes Wilson Road in Zionville. The victim reported a person obtained his/her debit card and using it for purchases.
Vandals deface downtown business
A reward is being offered by a Howard Street business for information following graffiti vandalism.
News update: Funds awarded for King Street widening
The rubber is meeting the road on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, as N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue steamrolled $14.4 million toward the widening of King Street in Boone.
 News update:
Officers seize 20 pounds of marijuana
An investigation by the Watauga County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Division, with assistance from the Boone Police Department Narcotics Division, has lead to the seizure of an estimated $128,000 cache of marijuana. A search warrant was served on Feb. 10 at a residence on Repogle Drive in Boone. Officers discovered a highly sophisticated hydroponic cultivation system in the home and seized 105 marijuana plants and 24 large, vacuum-sealed plastic bags. The total weight was estimated to be 20 pounds. The street value is estimated at a calculation rate of $400 per one ounce. The owner and occupant of the residence at 1918 Repogle Drive, Robert Sterling Boulter (pictured), has been charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana and one count of felony maintaining a dwelling for purposes relating to a controlled substance. Boulter is being held at the Watauga County Detention Center under a secured $10,000 bond. Officers are continuing their investigation and more arrests are expected. -Posted Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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February 25, 2009
Mount Tabor holds off Pioneers 73-51
WINSTON-SALEM - This was supposed to be somewhat of an easy victory for Mount Tabor's girls' basketball team. Just host, and then beat Watauga in the first round of the state 4-A playoffs and move on.
News update: School to be in session Saturday
Watauga County Schools will be in operation Saturday to make up for the Monday snow day. Saturday will be an early release day. Kindergarten through eighth grade will let out at noon and the high school will dismiss at 1 p.m. Buses will run and lunch will be served, though the after school program will not operate. Please note that pre-kindergarten classes will not be held on any Saturday make-up day. The last day of school for students remains scheduled for June 5, however that date is subject to change pending additional missed days that are made up on Saturday or spring break. -Posted Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
School board expects county budget cuts
The Watauga County school budget has grown by an average of 8.5 percent a year over the last decade, but that run of increases could be threatened under the next county budget.
Wind turbine will be raised near Broyhill Inn
Appalachian State University is running with the wind on a renewable-energy project. After Appalachian State University students voted themselves into a $5 annual fee to fund renewable-energy projects on campus in 2004, the investment is paying off in the state’s largest wind-energy project.
Boone Police reports
Feb. 13 —An incident of fraud was reported at 8:01 a.m. on the 1800 block of Blowing Rock Road.
Boone commits funds for 421
The Boone Town Council has paved the way for progress on the U.S. 421 widening with a $1.2 million commitment for utility upgrades. Council members took action at their annual retreat Friday, Feb. 20, having learned such an agreement would be necessary for the N.C. Department of Transportation to open the project for construction bids.
Beekeepers all abuzz about encouraging others to take up the hives
The Watauga County Beekeepers got the year off to a sweet start with a short course in the I.G. Greer Theater at ASU.
February 23, 2009
Welborn Hall falls
The Appalachian State University Bell Tower is framed by demolition equipment from E. Luke Greene Co. Inc. as the demolition of Welborn Hall, located adjacent to Sanford Mall, continued on Saturday afternoon. The $29 million project consists of two phases. Phase I of the new dining hall was finished in January 2009. The new facility features Rivers Street Cafe (cafeteria) and Sanford Commons (food court). Phase II will involve demolishing old Welborn Hall and adding rotunda seating area to Sanford Commons, with additional green space added to Sanford Mall. Photo by Mark Mitchell |
Boone OKs Greenway extension near new WHS
The Boone Town Council hit the trail by approving a greenway connector near the new Watauga High School. The town will commit $96,000 toward the trail, which follows a sewer easement unfit for development toward the Perkinsville area of town.
Attempted robbery turns to stabbing on Howard Street
A man was stabbed in the early morning hours of Sunday, as he was walking along Howard Street sometime between 2 and 2:30. The victim, who has not been identified, told Boone police he was walking east on Howard Street after leaving Char Restaurant. He was approached by a white male, wearing a dark-colored toboggan and dark clothing. According to the victim, the man demanded money. When the victim tried to talk to the man, the man attacked. The victim sustained a stab wound to the chest and other minor injuries. The victim was interviewed by police at the Watauga Medical Center, where he was receiving treatment following the attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He told police his attacker fled on foot after the altercation. The Boone police have issued a statement seeking information on this crime. Anyone with information is urged to call the Boone Police at (828) 268-6900. Calls may also be placed confidentially through Watauga County Crimestoppers at (828) 268-6959. Crimestoppers pays rewards for information leading to arrests, recovery of stolen property, seizure of drugs and/or the location of wanted persons. — By Melanie Davis
Report: Cyber crime, local thefts on the rise
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners received updates and law enforcement and emergency response on Friday, with the recession and funding concerns as a backdrop.
Watauga sheriff’s reports
Feb. 5 — Fraud by credit card was reported at a business on Ski Mountain Road in Blowing Rock. The victim reported an unauthorized purchase was made at the business.
Queen Street to face tighter scrutiny as conservation district
Occupancy violations in the Queen Street neighborhood will face tighter governmental scrutiny, after the Boone Town Council added the area to its group of neighborhood conservation districts.
Officials told a tough budget year lies ahead
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners started its annual planning retreat last Thursday with a statement of the obvious — a tough budget year lies ahead. County manager Rocky Nelson said in his budget memo, “Even though not as affected as other areas of the state or nation, the local economy is not immune from the current recession.
County discusses forming group to develop affordable housing
The commissioners discussed establishing a nonprofit organization to develop affordable housing on county-owned land Friday.
Crimestoppers: Sign bandit
Watauga County Crimestoppers requests the public’s help in identifying those responsible for the following crime: Sometime between Monday, Feb. 16, and Thursday, Feb. 19, someone took a sign from the intersection of Poplar Grove Road and Honey Bear Campground Road. The sign belonged to Sport 4 Automotive. Anyone with information on this crime, or any other crime, is asked to call Crimestoppers at (828) 268-6959. All information will be kept confidential. Crimestoppers pays rewards for information, which leads to arrests; recovery of stolen property; seizure of drugs; and the location of wanted persons.
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