Top News of the Week

Judge to TVA: Clean Up North Carolina’s Air—Federal Judge Rules in Favor of NC in Suit Against TVA

On Tuesday, January 13, a federal district judge ruled in favor of North Carolina in its case against the Tennessee Valley Authority, requiring TVA to clean up the coal-fired power plants that pollute North Carolina’s air.

U.S. District Court Judge Lacy Thornburg found that pollution from four TVA plants harms the health, economy and natural resources in North Carolina, and the ruling sets specific time limits for pollution reductions at those plants. Read More »

Residential Real Estate Prices Still Holding Steady Compared to 2007—Laurelmor Sale and NC Home Builders Call for Federal Aid Make Real Estate Headlines

Residential home and lot sales numbers in the High Country didn’t change much from October to November. The year-to-date 2008 figures compared to the same period in 2007 still show prices slightly above where they were last year, based on median sold price data provided by the Avery-Watauga Association of REALTORS. But fewer houses and lots are selling, they’re staying on the market almost 30 percent longer and the inventory is up from last year. Read More »

The View Stories

Winter—Not for Whiners! Celebrate the Cold at Blowing Rock’s 11th Annual Winterfest January 22 to 25

Photo by Todd Bush

Folks love the mountains for its cool summer climate. But the folks who call the High Country home grow to love it for another reason—we enjoy the sort of camaraderie or solidarity that comes from braving together the rock-bottom temperatures, blanketing snow and gale-force winds that come with mountain winters. So when the mercury falls, we don’t moan and groan like a bunch of flatlanders (well OK, maybe a little). Read More »

Shelter Stories

Blowing Rock Couple Installs Solar Power System In Backyard, Sells Power Back To BREMCO

The 3.69-kilowatt solar power system will produce about $70 worth of energy credit every month for the Gaul family in Blowing Rock. The power produced from the system will be fed back into the BREMCO grid, and the homeowners will receive a payment for the power quarterly. Photo by Sam Calhoun

A Blowing Rock couple is learning that the best way to beat the power company is to become your own power company.

A full remodel job is nearing completion on a home located on Green Hill Road in Blowing Rock owned by Dr. John and Mrs. Alicia Gaul. The remodel job includes the installation of a solar power system in the backyard that feeds power into the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cooperative (BREMCO) grid. The 3.69-kilowatt solar power system contains no batteries, so power is fed directly into the grid and the couple will receive a quarterly check in payment once the system is completed. Read More »

THE HIGH COUNTRY PRESS TEAM

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