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

In 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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• For unto you is born this day… a Saviour
• FEATURE PHOTO: 2008 Watauga Leadership Challenge Class Graduates
• Watauga’s Drought Status Improves—Official Still Urge Citizens To Conserve Water
• FEATURE PHOTO: Christmas at Hospitality House
• SAHA Asks for Additional Horn in the West Improvements
• Farm to School Project
• Are You Ready for the Digital TV Conversion?
• Appalachian Employees Sponsor Children’s Shopping Day
• Appalachian Receives Carnegie Foundation’s “Community Engagement” Classification
• Are Auto Safety Inspections Worth It? No Evidence Exists To Support Inspections’ Effectiveness, Evaluators Say
• Council Directs Community Appearance Commission To Develop Downtown Plan
• Expansion of Federal Unemployment Program Will Benefit Thousands in North Carolina
• Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships: Apply in January
• New Books Coming to the Watauga County Library in January
  
  

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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• Count Down the Sounds of 2008 With WNCW’s Top 100
• Christmas Day Services and Other Holiday Events
• First Baptist Church of Boone Provides Annual Christmas Day Luncheon
• Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition Submissions Due January 24
• Lipizzaner Stallions at Holmes Center January 16
• Art Crawl Presents… Debuts at Café Portofino January 9
  Live Music Added to Downtown Boone Art Crawl at Rotating Venues
• The Champagne Buying Guide—Tiny Bubbles For Celebrations Big and Small
• Hayes Center Announces 2009 Presenting Series
• African Children’s Choir: Journey of Hope January 27
• ASU Cycling Team Wins Second Title in Three Months
• File Under Funk-Tastic Fusion Soul Pop Rock—Major Magick Brings Genre Busting Sounds To Murphy’s New Year’s Eve
• FEATURE PHOTO—Mother, Daughter Team Take Second Place Clogging Award
• Dragonfly Theater & Pub Hosts Three Bands for New Year’s Eve Bash
• UNC-TV To Rebroadcast ASU Holiday Concert December 24 and 25
• Modern Calendar Marks Ancient Tradition: Why New Year’s Day Is January 1
• Want To Lower Your Food Bill? Angel Food Available at Three Watauga Churches—Orders Due January 11
  
  
  

Shelter Stories

Hospitality House Shelter Campaign Reaches 68 Percent of Fundraising Goal

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 »

• Business Spotlight: A-1 Vacuum Solutions—Answers For Everyone's Vacuum Needs
• Bike Crafted by Appalachian Students From Plastic Bottles Wins National Entrepreneurial Contest
• End-of-Year Charitable Donations and Tax Tips
• Debt Free At Last! Sugar Grove Developmental Day School Retires Loans from Skyline and BREMCO
• Lees-McRae Stocks the Shelves at RAM’s Emergency Food Pantry
• Applications Being Accepted for Second Round of Green Business Fund Grants—Application Deadline Is January 9
• Festive Hot Holiday Libations

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