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Property reappraisal postponed until 2012 for Watauga
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to adopt a resolution postponing property reappraisal until January 2012. The process was originally scheduled for Jan. 1, 2010.

Watauga County Farmers' Market bringing in the crops

The Watauga County Farmers' Market has made a few changes this year, with extended vendor spaces and new hours on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. The spring crops are coming in well now, and market-goers will find a good selection of fresh foods this weekend.

The state has a Grandfather
It's a done deal. Grandfather Mountain now belongs to North Carolina — well, most of it.

Lightning ignites house fire
Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Jane Bass pulled into the driveway of her Sunset Mountain Road home in Boone to see flames coming out of the roof.

Losers are winners
The Children’s Council and the Childhood Obesity Prevention Task Force recently acknowledged its “Biggest Movers,” the result of an effort to help childcare providers to become more active and physically fit.

Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary finds new home at Eagles Nest
Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary has a new home at Eagles Nest in Banner Elk.

Softball battle benefits Boone Police officer
Ten teams battled through a double-elimination softball tournament for a good cause Saturday. Funds raised at the event benefit Bradley Swift, 24, a Boone Police officer who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

News update: Bistro bandit arrested
An arrest has been made in connection to multiple breaking and entering reports of both motor vehicles and area businesses.

Fourth of July parade seeking participants
The Downtown Boone Development Association is now registering participants for the Fourth of July parade. The parade will be held on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 3 p.m. with line-up at 1 p.m at the Horn in the West parking lot. This year’s event is at a later time of day to accommodate the Watauga County Farmer’s Market. “This is a big Saturday for the market, and we want to support what they doing,” said DBDA director Tuesdae Rice. Participating in the parade is free and open to the public. “We only ask that floats are decorated with children in mind. This is a family event,” Rice said. For more information call the DBDA at (828) 262-4532. A registration form can be obtained via email by contacting boone@goboone.net. The final day for participant registration is June 29 by 5 p.m.

News update: Clement will enter Hall of Fame
Boone attorney Charles Clement is among seven who will be inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association’s General Practice Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, sponsored by the NCBA’s GP, Small Firm and Solo Section, was established in 1989. To be eligible, lawyers must have practiced law for at least 25 years, a significant portion of that time having been devoted to the general practice of law, and be members in good standing of the N.C. State Bar. Clement has been practicing law in Boone since 1972. He is former attorney for the Town of Blowing Rock and has been active in civic and community organizations such as the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the ASU Hayes School of Music, North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust, Lees-McRae College and United Way. The induction ceremony will take place on the opening day of the 111th NCBA Annual Meeting, scheduled June 25-28 at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville.

June 3, 2009

Sunset Mountain Road home damaged by fire

Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Jane Bass pulled into the driveway of her Sunset Mountain Road home in Boone to see flames coming out of the roof.

Will Dicus 1990-2009 Five-year cancer battle ends Will Dicus, a popular member of Wataugaˇ¦s baseball team, died Monday night at Watauga Medical Center after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 18.  Photo by Rob Moore

Foscoe man dies from tractor accident injuries
Local farmer Ned Jestes, 91, died Tuesday afternoon, June 2, from injuries sustained in a tractor accident Saturday at his Grandfather community home in Foscoe.

Could Jackson make a difference?
What can $20 do? You might say "Not much." It can barely feed a family at a fast-food eatery. It may just fund a duo through a bowling game. It can bring a smile to a birthday kid's face.

Boone Police reports
May 27 - Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated person at 2:42 a.m. on the 100 block of North Street.

Watauga court reports
May 22 - Mark Douglas Pierson, 54, of 6682 Old U.S. 421, Zionville, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor larceny and shoplifting.

CCC&TI moves ahead with building despite state's budget crunch
The Watauga campus of Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute is officially poised for expansion, but as with most public agencies, a lean budget year lies ahead.

State could add more charter schools
With the N.C. House of Representatives approving a slight increase to the number of charter schools in the state, there could be room for expansion even as education funding is undergoing debate.

June 1, 2009

Air Harold Harold Bennett catches some air as he competes in the long jump competition of the High Country Senior Games at Watauga High School on Thursday. Photo by Mark Mitchell

News update: Appalachian Skate Park closed by county commissioners
After three years in operation, the Appalachian Skate Park was closed Monday by a unanimous decision by the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.

Cost of green changes discussed at luncheon

The Green Revolution doesn?t come without a price. That was the message Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation CEO Doug Johnson had for attendees at Friday?s ?Wake Up Watauga.?

Garden tips and more planned in workshops
Organic gardening, cost-share management, and agricultural funds are on the calendar in June for local farmers and growers.

Watauga County court reports
May 19 ? Jeffrey L. Chappelear, 55, of 1004 Maplewood Court, Martinsville, Va., pleaded guilty to driving without an operator?s license and an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of the vehicle.

U.S. 321 section to close near Blackberry
N.C. Department of Transportation will close a section of U.S. 321 from Kirby Mountain Road (State Road 1370) to Blackberry Road (S.R. 1500) in Caldwell County on Monday, June 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Tuesday, June 2. Currently, the contractor is allowed to completely close this section of the road on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 2 p.m. In an effort to expedite the completion of the U.S. 321 widening project, the department will close this section from 8 p.m. Monday evenings until 5 a.m. Tuesday mornings through the end of August. During the closure, the following signed detour will be in place: N.C. 18 to Wilkesboro to U.S. 421 North to Boone to U.S. 321 to Blowing Rock. The closure is necessary for blasting operations as part of the U.S. 321 widening project and is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year, a DOT spokesperson said. NCDOT reminds motorists to stay alert, travel at non-peak times and use alternate routes, when possible. Plan ahead before driving by visiting the NCDOT Traveler Information Management Web site at www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/ or call 511, the state’s free travel information line for current travel conditions. For more information on this project, please contact the resident engineer at (828) 265-5088.