Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

DECEMBER 25, 2008 Issue - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! WE’RE OFF NEXT WEEK! OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL PUBLISH ON JANUARY 8. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

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Top News Stories of the Week

Homeowners’ Insurance Rates To Decrease in Watauga, Avery


On Thursday, December 18, Insurance Commissioner Jim Long signed a settlement agreement with homeowners insurance companies allowing an overall statewide average increase of 4.05 percent in rates beginning May 1, a much lower statewide increase than the 19.5 percent increase originally proposed by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. The Bureau is an independent organization that represents all of the homeowners insurance companies doing business in the state. Read More »

ASU Quarterback Armanti Edwards Handily Wins Walter Payton Award

Armanti Edwards poses for photos with his family after winning the Walter Payton Award on December 18. Photo courtesy Keith Cline/ASU Sports InformationIn a rare honor for an underclassman, ASU junior quarterback Armanti Edwards is the national player of the year. He became the first ASU player to win the Walter Payton Award—the Football Championship Subdivision’s most prestigious award—last Thursday, December 18, at The Sports Network’s annual awards ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Walter Payton Award has been presented to the nation’s top FCS (I-AA) player since 1987. Voting was conducted by a panel of 102 FCS media members and media relations professionals.
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The View Stories


Tonight We’re Going To Party Like It’s 2009!

 

Thank Canadian bandleader and violinist Guy Lombardo for popularizing the unmistakable New Year’s Eve anthem “Auld Lang Syne.” Beginning in 1929, Lombardo’s annual New Year’s Eve shows from New York City featured the melodic ode to good friends and good times based on the poem penned in 1788 by Robert Burns. According to Wikipedia, Lombardo’s recording of the song is still the first song played each new year at the massive celebration in Times Square.
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Shelter Stories

Hospitality House Shelter Campaign Reaches 68 Percent of Fundraising Goal

At their meeting this month, the Hospitality House board of directors voted to put the three downtown properties on the market. The combined asking price for the emergency shelter, the Rock Annex behind it, and Sleeping Place next to Tupelo’s World Café is $1,080,000. All proceeds from the sale of the three properties will be used to fund the new shelter. Photo by Ken Ketchie As of December 8, the Hospitality House’s Giving Hope a Hand capital campaign had passed its 66 percent fundraising mark with gifts and pledges totaling more than $2,025,950. That’s good news, but the better news is that private contributions for the new shelter continue to come in. As of December 19, that number had reached 68 percent. Read More »

 


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