Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 4, 2007 issue
Year in Review – February 2006
• WAR: Soldiers of the 1451st transportation unit left Boone en route for training in Indiana, followed by deployment in Iraq.
• WEATHER: Grandfather Mountain reported record-breaking wind gusts of more than 200 mph on February 1.
• RELOCATION: The Hunger Coalition announced plans to move from its location on Meadowview Drive to the old health department building off Bamboo Road.
• RELOCATION: Watauga County administrative and finance office staff moved from the courthouse to the renovated building next door.
• RELOCATION: High Country Press moved from its office on Howard Street to new digs at 130 Depot Street in downtown Boone.
• NEW FACES: Kraut Creek Committee hired Jocelyn Elliott as project manager for developing a plan for the creek’s restoration.
• KUDOS: The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons reaccredited Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center with the highest rating a community program can receive: Three Year Approval with Commendation.
• ‘BOARDING: The Appalachian Skatepark Council approved a mission statement and pitched Watauga County Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Poulos with the idea of locating the skatepark at the site of the tennis courts off Hunting Hills Lane in Boone. ASC members continued to debate the pros and cons of a prefabricated park versus a concrete park.
• ASU: ASU announced the selection of Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner as the summer read for incoming freshman, making it the Watauga Reads selection.
• PREGNANCY: Children’s Council reported a rise in teen pregnancy in Watauga County; received a $30,000 grant for the Parents as Teachers program.
• PROTEST: Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains continued to meet in opposition to the Ginn Development, citing impacts on the viewshed, water supply and land values and other environmental concerns.
• ELECTION 2006: Local candidates filed in Watauga County: Mark Shook, Joe Moody and Len Hagaman for sheriff; commissioner candidates Keith Honeycutt, Mary Moretz, Doug McGuinn, John Cooper, David Triplett, James Coffey and Billy Ralph Winkler; NC State House candidates Gene Wilson, Dan Hense and Cullie Tarleton; Board of Election candidates Lowell Younce, Ron Henries, Lee Warren, Alan Utter, Allen Trivette, Al Wheeler and Phil Smalling. School Board Chair Andy Reese does not run for reelection.
• VOTING: Watauga County Board of Elections agreed to move three polling places: Boone 1 from the county courthouse to the county administration building; New River 3 from Mutton Crossing to the National Guard armory; Boone 3 from the Agricultural Conference Center to ASU’s Newland Hall. The board tabled proposals to move Brushy Fork and Boone 2, as well as a consideration to close North Fork.
• APPLAUSE: Former Boone Mayor Velma Burnley received the Alfred Adams Award in recognition of her many years of public service. At the awards banquet, Employer of the Year awards were presented to the law firm of di Santi, Watson, Capua and Wilson and to Gunther and Kim Jochl of Sugar Mountain Resort.
• GENESIS: Collaborative Biodiesel Project held a fundraiser to help complete a biodiesel processor to be entered in a national competition for a $75,000 grand prize.
• DEVELOPMENT: Avery County Economic Development Council announced Spinnaker Development’s plans to build an assisted living facility in Elk Park.
• TAXES: Property owners in Watauga County received their reevaluations.
• COME BACK: Blue Ridge Parkway officials announced a 6.3 percent decline in visitation in 2005 compared with 2004.
• DEVELOPMENT: Angelo Accetturo presented plans to the Newland Board of Aldermen to build a gated community with an 18-hole golf course called Wilderness Trail on 883 acres at the western edge of town.
• UPWARD TREND: Engineering firm W.K. Dickson revises the estimate for the Howard Street renovation project from $3.6 million to $4.2 million.
ARRESTED: Avery County Clerk of Court Robert “Nub” Taylor was arrested and removed from office on charges of altering court documents.