The High Country News - Boone, North Carolina

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

Year in Review – August 2006

WIND: The Watauga County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a wind energy ordinance, the first county in the state to do so, that established permitting requirements for small- and large-scale wind turbine installations.

HE SAID, SHE SAID: Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook filed suit against former Chief Deputy Paula Townsend, denying her charges of sexual harassment and wrongful termination and suing her for slander.

FACELIFT: The Downtown Boone Development Association began the process of obtaining agreements from property owners to provide rights of way for the Howard Street Restoration project.

DEVELOPMENT: Developer Jack Stout held an information meeting at Powerhorn Mountain to explain his concept for the new town of Elk Creek and invite investments in the concept.

KICKOFF: Watauga Arts Council launched the Junior Appalachian Musicians program, designed to teach kids how to play fiddle, banjo and guitar in traditional styles.

ASU: ASU opened its community music school, offering lessons in several instruments to adults and children in the region.

NEW FACES: Steve Smith hired as town clerk in Banner Elk.

CHANGES: Hunger Coalition changed its name to the Hunger and Health Coalition, reflecting its dual focus on providing food and free medical care and prescriptions to low-income people in the region.

OPENINGS: The Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock opened on August 12 with the lavish fundraiser Eleganza, followed by a formal ribbon cutting on August 18 and then by the Blowing Rock Stage Company’s production of Robert Inman’s play Crossroads, its first in the new theatre.

BOOTS: Several downtown business owners spoke in favor of parking lot enforcement at a special meeting of the Boone Town Council.

HEALTH: The Watauga County commissioners adopted a no-smoking policy for county employees and visitors to county properties to be effective January 1, 2007.

KICKOFF: High Country United Way held its first Power of the Purse luncheon, inviting area women to contribute to a special fund earmarked for women’s and children’s projects and raising more than $60,000.

KICKOFF: A Triad-to-Boone bus route began August 24, with service to Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

BALLOONING: Boone Town Council approved an amendment to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance establishing a permitting process for large inflatable signs such as hot-air balloons.

KUDOS: Norman Cheek, owner of Toyota of Boone, received the Toyota President’s Award for the second year in a row and was featured in a Toyota ad in Time magazine.