New High School is on the Horizon |
| By: Lauren K. Ohnesorge Watauga Democrat"It's been a long journey," he said. Thanks to a temporary certificate of occupancy, teachers are already moving into the new structure. A permanent certificate is expected by July 19th. The facility has already enacted life safety demands like fire alarms and Thursday the Department... click here for more |
High Country Makes 'Natural Wonders' List |
| by Scott Nicholson of The Mountain Times
The High Country had a place in four of the 10 natural wonders in the state, as determined by a recent statewide poll. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, the New River and Mountains to Sea Trail were among the 10 selected by the 3,000... click here for more |
Museum of Ashe County to Hold Grand Opening |
| by Ron Fitzwater of the Mountain TimesNearly a full 10 years has passed since the 1904 Ashe County Courthouse ceased to be the center of official business when the County judicial offices moved to their new location in the government complex on Highway 221. During that time, many volunteers, craftsmen... click here for more |
New Grandfather Mountain Top Shop Now Open |
| The new Top Shop building at Grandfather Mountain, located near the Mile High Swinging Bridge, opened to the public on Thursday. The building, which was under construction for the last two years, houses retail space and a snack bar. Plans are underway for exhibits that focus on relevant subjects such... click here for more |
Two Local Land Trusts Merge |
| By: Staff Reporter for the Watauga DemocratThis week, Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust (BRRLT) based in West Jefferson and High Country Conservancy (HCC) based in Boone, announced that they are joining forces creating a new organization called the new Blue Ridge Conservancy. According to John Turner, President of the newly combined... click here for more |
Watauga County Farmer's Market Opens Saturday May 8th |
| by Scott Nicholson from the Mountain TimesA farmer places a seed in the ground, carefully waters and patiently nurtures it, and eventually comes an abundant crop. Such is the yield of the Watauga County Farmers' Market, opening for its 37th season on Saturday. The market that began with a small... click here for more |
Ashe County Chamber of Commerce Gets New Home |
| Chamber of Commerce Opens Doors on Jefferson Avenue By Joel Frady Little more than two months ago, the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce's board of directors decided to look for a new location for the Chamber. In late May, executive director Cabot Hamilton announced that the Chamber would be moving... click here for more |
Elk Park Attendance Increases |
| By: Scott Nicholson of The Watuaga DemocratElk Knob State Park has seen a surge of attendance in the past year, part of a statewide increase of visitation to public parks. According to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, Elk Knob's attendance more than tripled over the same period last... click here for more |
Local Schools Score High on State ABCs Standards |
| By Scott Nicholson Seven Watauga County schools were distinctly commemorated and county students exceeded the statewide average under 2008-2009 ABCs of Education testing. Bethel, Blowing Rock, Cove Creek, Green Valley, Hardin Park, Parkway, and Valle Crucis elementary schools were rated “Schools of Distinction” for the last school year, meaning 80... click here for more |
New Repairs Scheduled for Parkway Bridges |
| Bridges on the Blue Ridge Parkway will be undergoing routine maintenance in the next couple of months, including some local bridges, though travel delays are expected to be minimal. Beginning Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, Aldridge Brothers Inc., of Robbinsville, NC will be conducting maintenance on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The... click here for more |
Outside Magazine Names Boone in Best Towns 2009 List |
| Outside Magazine, August 2009 Best Towns 2009 The Best Small Towns Our 10 favorite adventure burgs
Salida, Colorado Think of Salida (pop. 5,000) as a ski hub without a resort—the nearest hill is the underrated, overpowdered Monarch Mountain, 20 minutes away. Which means residents of this unpretentious, bike-friendly town can take... click here for more |
Blue Ridge Parkway Construction Update |
| Goshen Creek Bridge Expected to Re-open by Fall Leaf Season
By Jeff Eason While not as lengthy as the 2,178-mile Tour de France, the High Country’s “Detour le Parkway,” just seems as long for people forced to take its circuitous route on a regular basis. Since the spring of 2008,... click here for more |
Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary Finds New Home at Eagles Nest |
| The Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary has a new home at Eagles Nest in Banner Elk. The grand opening of the new three-acre habitat took place on Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the sanctuary’s new home at the base of Eagles Nest Mountain. More than 200 wildlife supporters and conservationists... click here for more |
Grandfather Mountain Purchase Finalized |
| It's a done deal. Grandfather Mountain now belongs to North Carolina — well, most of it. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced the closing of the deal on Thursday in which the state bought 2,456 acres surrounding the popular attraction. The acreage is now officially North Carolina's newest... click here for more |
Frugal Fun in the High Country |
| Here is a list of thrifty ideas for fun in the High Country! Hike up to 26 miles of carriage trails at Moses Cone Estate on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit the Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone's Flat Top Manor for a virtual gallery of the finest crafts in... click here for more |
Hawksnest Builds the Largest Zipline Course on the East Coast |
| Hawksnest is in the process of building the largest zipline course on the east coast with 13 cables. These 13 cables add up to 2 miles of cable riding. The course takes you through the trees, over the trees, over creeks and surrounded by some of the best views in... click here for more |
DOT Gets Ready for Hwy 421 Construction |
| By Scott Nicholson Motorists in Boone can expect some intermittent delays as crews prepare for road improvements, while a section of Old U.S. 421 will be closed until mid-autumn. Frank Gioscio, resident engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said utility workers will be installing new power poles and... click here for more |
Home Refinancing Basics |
| In recent years, millions of homeowners have taken advantage of low rates and refinanced their mortgages. This article describes the advantages and possible pitfalls associated with a "refi." Before You Start: Remember that refinancing to reduce debt can be a smart move, but refinancing in order to borrow more for... click here for more |
Blowing Rock Restuarants Among State Finalists |
| Blowing Rock has served up three of the 20 finalists in a statewide "fine-dining" competition for Best Dish. Crippen's Country Inn & Restaurant and The Table At Crestwood earned slots in the fine dining competition, while the Storie Street Grille made it in the casual dining category. The competition is... click here for more |
Farmers Market Opens May 2nd |
| By Scott Nicholson The Watauga County Farmers Market is kicking off its 35th anniversary season on Saturday, with local greens, handmade crafts and starter plants for those who are bringing the local-foods movement into their kitchens and gardens. “We are right at 120 members,” said new farmer’s market president Joe... click here for more |
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