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

No Plans To Close
Downtown Post Office

At the downtown Boone Post Office, Robin (above) always greets customers with a smile. According to postal officials, the historic building needs significant repair, and the U.S. Postal Service Facilities Office in Greensboro is currently evaluating what needs to be done and how much it will cost. Photos by Jamie Goodman (Full Story)

Exceptional Students at Hardin Park Host Coffee Talk

Program Receives Terry Sanford Award for Creativity

Fourth grader Elizabeth Presnell, EC teacher Mary Williams and sixth grader Corey South are all smiles at the April Coffee Talk at Hardin Park School, an innovative monthly program that offers coffee and healthy treats for sale to faculty, students and parents.
Photo by Corinne Saunders (Full Story)

Spring Issue Is Here!

The spring issue of High Country Magazine has arrived, and it’s packed with stories and photos of home-town folks who are making a difference in our communities—through music and dance, compassionate care and healing, sports, education, and inspired architecture. Copies of the magazine are going fast, so pick up yours at High Country Press distribution points today and add it to your growing collection of the region’s best magazine.

Weekly paper now available in PDF form!
Download or view complete sections of each week's High Country Press, complete with graphic layout and advertisements!

Remembering Local Resident Ray Carlton

Where Does the Water Go? Town Council Hears Stormwater Assessment

Think Your Job Is Tough? Boitshepo Giyose Discusses Food and Africa

Boone Service League Awards Grant to W.A.M.Y.’s Gardening Project

Remembering Rudy
Abused Children Lose a Friend

Glue Sticks and Scissors Make a Difference The Children’s Council Helps Families Transition to the Big K

Goss Introduces Legislation to Combat Underage Drinking

Banner Elk Winery Wins Three Medals at
Blue Ridge Wine Festival

Our Throw-Away Society
A Guest Column by Matthew Robinson, Ph.D.

Cho Seung-Hui is a name that will go down in history as the worst mass murderer (who used a gun) in U.S. history. If past attacks are any indication, Cho might only hold the record for a couple of decades. (Full Story)

Steve Sudderth: Watauga’s New Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator

What Would You Pay for the River?

Teacher Shortage in North Carolina ASU Looks at Teacher Education and Enrollment

Like Basketball, Only Different
Math Camp at ASU Targets Students at All Levels of Understanding

Daniel Boone Native Gardens Open for the Season May 1

... Additional Local News ...

Community News

Community Features

Putting Together the Pieces of the Green Puzzle

Local Businessman Proposes Green Business Plan for Watauga County

How Arbor Day Got Its Roots

Celtic Fire Festival of Beltane Celebrates Life

Subway and YMCA Announce Fresh Fit Video and Poster Competition

Workshops at Carlton Gallery for Artists and Aspiring Artists Begin in June

Women Helping Women, Women Helping the Community

ARDI Leadership Summit June 11

Business Spotlight of the Week

Melanie’s Food Fantasy

NC Wildlife Federation Canoe and Kayak-A-Thon Fundraiser June 9Register by May 1 To Qualify for an Early Bird Prize

The Children’s Council Celebrates 30 Years of Service

... More Community ...

Events & Entertainment

Confederate Veterans and the
Banjo Man Come to Life

Watauga County History Day Saturday, May 5

The banjo man is just one of the many historic photographs that will be available for viewing at Watauga County History Day. Palmer Blair, a noted area photographer and owner of a photo shop on King Street in the ‘50s, took the photo. (Full Story)
Photo courtesy of Watauga County Public Library

The Blalocks of Coffee Gap

Watauga County provided approximately 25 percent of the Confederate soldiers who fought from North Carolina and Confederate veterans’ reunions were a regular occurrence following reconstruction. This 1922 photograph of a veterans’ reunion shows (front row, left to right) unidentified, unidentified, Ranzey Miller, Henry Miller, Wiley Norris, unidentified, Robert H. Farthing, unidentified, Calvin Cotrell, unidentified, Webster Davis and Speck Henson. In the back row are Sam Bishop, Elijah Norris, William Blair, William P. Coffey, [no first name] Critcher, John Hughes, Harvey Davis, Bill Hodges, William S. Cook, Jerome Presnell, and Bill Norris. (Full Story)

Downtown Boone Development Association First Friday Art Crawl Set for May 4

MerleFest Takes Over Wilkes Community College This Weekend

The Wizard of Oz and The Twelve Dancing Princesses This Weekend

Gurl and Girl: Laughing with the Legends at Hayes Performing Arts Center April 28

Latino Celebration of the Day of the Child April 28

Midnight at the OASIS at Green Park This Saturday, April 28

Boone Saloon Experiences 40/40 Vision on Wednesday, May 2

High Country Kids’ Triathlon Is Saturday

Book Signing at The Crossnore School May 10

Renewable Energy Workshop Series at Appalachian Begins in May

... More Events ...