🏈 WATAUGA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME INFO 📅 Friday, December 12th ⏰ 4:00 PM 📍 Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill 🏆 #1 Watauga vs. #3 Middle Creek Tickets available at GoFan.co or at the gate on game day. ⚠️ Current WHS students: Do NOT buy tickets — Booster Club is working on covering them!

Watauga County Schools will operate on a two (2) hour delay on Mon, Dec 8th. Buses will travel Limited A Rts with exceptions. Any changes will be shared by 8A. wataugaonline.com/closingscanc...

Progress continues at the NC 105 bridge project as the big beams (grinders) were placed this week. Video from Sunday, Dec 7, 2025, by Kenneth Reece/WataugaOnline

❄️ Winter Weather Advisory for Watauga & Ashe counties Mon 1 AM - Tue 1 AM Expected: 1-3" snow (locally higher above 3,000 ft) Slippery roads during Monday commutes. Use caution. #NCwx #WinterWeather

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND! 🏆 Your 2025 Watauga Pioneers are headed to Chapel Hill! Final: Watauga 43, Northern Guilford 42 14-0 and playing for the 6A State Championship Friday, December 12th at 4:00 PM at Kenan Stadium! First title game appearance since 1978. 📸 Alice Gryder

The last time Watauga went to the title game was 1978. Listen and watch that game here wataugaonline.com/1978-watauga...

🏈🏆 PIONEERS ARE GOING TO CHAPEL HILL! 🏆🏈 FINAL: Watauga 43, Northern Guilford 42 FG attempt NO GOOD! First state championship game since 1978! 14-0 → Chapel Hill on Dec. 13th #WataugaFootball #StateChampionship

NG FG is NOOOO GOOODDDDD!!! PIONEERS WIN!!!!

2 point conversion by Watauga GOOD!!! WATAUGA 43, NORTHERN GUILFORD 42 with 47 seconds left!!!

TOUCHDOWN PIONEERS - 3-yard TD catch with 47 seconds left! (NG 42, Watauga 41 before PAT)

Northern Guilford rushing score from 1 yard out, PAT good. NG 42 Pioneers 35 with 3:37 to play.

End of 3rd Quarter: Northern Guilford 35, Watauga 35 Tied heading into the 4th! Winner to state championship game.

Northern Guilford scores in 5 plays with a short TD run. PAT good. NG 35 Pioneers 35 with 5:23 left in 3rd quarter.

Pioneers score on 5 yard run. 2-PT good, Watauga 35 Northern Guilford 28 7:55 left in 3rd quarter.

In two plays Northern Guilford scores and takes the lead after PAT good. NG 28 Watauga 27 11:32 left in 3rd quarter.

From a couple of days ago.

❄️ NWS: 1-2" snow possible Monday in High Country mountains (west of Blue Ridge). Very cold Monday night - temps in the teens. Another system possible Thu/Fri. #NCwx #HighCountryWeather

Halftime: Watauga 27, Northern Guilford 21 Pioneers up by 6 at the half! Winner advances to the 6A state championship game. 🏈 #NCFootball #WataugaPioneers

Northern Guilford scores on a 35 yard run, PAT good. Pioneers 27 NG 21 with 2:28 to play until halftime.

Northern Guilford with a 70 yard pass and run for the score. PAT good. Pioneers 27 NG 14 with 6:30 until halftime.

Pioneers with an INT for the score! Pick 6! PAT good! Pioneers 27 North Guilford 7 with 6:50 left til halftime.

Watauga on a 47 yard TD pass for the score. PAT no good. Pioneers 20 Northern Guilford 7 with 7:29 left til halftime,

Watauga scores on a 21 yard TD pass, PAT good. Pioneers 14 Northern Guilford 7 with 11:01 until halftime.

End of 1st Quarter: Northern Guilford 7, Watauga 7 Winner advances to the 6A state championship game! Go Pioneers! 🏈 #NCFootball #WataugaPioneers

Northern Guilford answers with a 1 yard TD run, PAT good. NG 7 Pioneers 7 5:12 left in 1st quarter.

Pioneers score TD after getting the ball back on an INT. Pioneers 7 NG 0 8:01 left in the 1st.

The excitement is already in full force on the Watauga campus! Pioneer men's basketball team wins in overtime 62-60 over Mountain Heritage. Next up - the kickoff of the final home football game in less than hour as of this post. Winner goes to the state 6A title game!

Carolers at the Banner Elk tree lighting Friday night. Video: Rebecca Calhoun

App State police responded to third hoax threat this week Friday night. Police confirmed call about Rivers St./Thomas Hall was not credible, following similar hoax calls Tuesday at Sanford and New River halls. Increased patrols ongoing. wataugaonline.com/app-state-po...

🏈 GAME DAY Watauga vs Northern Guilford TONIGHT 6:00 PM Jack Groce Stadium Final Four. One win from state championship game. First title game appearance since 1978 (won it all).

Banner Elk tree lighting tonight. Video: Rebecca Calhoun

⚠️ BLACK ICE & FOG ALERT (NWS) Tonight - Saturday AM: Temps at/below freezing causing refreeze of melted snow on roads, bridges, parking lots, sidewalks. Patchy fog possible. Slow down. Use caution. Leave room between cars.

"When you can't find your scraper, you improvise." Photo & caption submitted by a local High Country resident this morning!

📚 SCHOOL CHANGES - Friday Dec 5: • Watauga County Schools: 2-hour delay (Limited A routes, check by 7 AM) • Avery County Schools: 2-hour delay • Ashe County Schools: Remote learning (Zoom at 10 AM) • Johnson County TN Schools: 2-hour delay Full list: wataugaonline.com/closingscanc...

📚 SCHOOL CHANGES - Friday Dec 5: • Ashe County Schools: Remote learning (Zoom at 10 AM) • Johnson County TN Schools: 2-hour delay Full list: wataugaonline.com/closingscanc...

🏈 GAME TIME CHANGE: The Round 5 playoff game vs Northern Guilford originally scheduled for Friday 12/5 has been moved to Saturday 12/6 at 6:00 PM. Location: Jack Groce Stadium at Watauga High School #GoPioneers #WataugaFootball

Missy Harrill (Foscoe Companies) contributes $50,000 to Watauga County childcare centers. Combined with other funds, $62,500 will be distributed for budget stabilization. "Childcare centers serve families of over 700 local businesses." Full story: wataugaonline.com/boone-area-c...

🏁 North Wilkesboro Speedway adds 50 laps to 2026 NASCAR Cup race Window World 450 (July 19, 2026) will be first 450-lap Cup race at NWS and first 450-lap Cup race anywhere since 1974. Winner punches ticket to NASCAR Playoffs. Tickets on sale now. wataugaonline.com/50-laps-adde...

Visually it looks like a lot of progress at the 105 bridge project with the placement of bridge beams this week. Thursday video by Kenneth Reece/WataugaOnline

It’s got that feel in the air that something’s about to happen weatherwise. The view from Valle Crucis Park during the 11 AM hour. Video: Kenneth Reece/WataugaOnline

What a view this morning at the Parkway bridge! Photo: Lauren Carlton

❄️ ROAD CONDITIONS ALERT (NWS): Snow-covered roads expected for Friday morning commute. 2-4" accumulation tonight. Roads will stay slick throughout morning as temps struggle to get above freezing. Allow extra time. Use extreme caution.

⚠️ WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY (NWS Blacksburg): 7 PM tonight - 1 PM Friday Wet snow expected. Total accumulations: 2-4 inches. Plan on slippery roads. Friday morning commute will be impacted. Use caution while traveling. wataugaonline.com/winter-weath...

❄️ FRIDAY FORECAST (NWS Blacksburg): Snow begins Friday morning, spreading across area. Transition to wintry mix (freezing rain/sleet) Friday afternoon/evening. Expected: Trace to 2" snow (highest southern Blue Ridge), light ice accumulation on raised surfaces

Raeford man arrested after high-speed chase through Wilkes County reached speeds near 100 mph. Angelo McIntyre, 30, faces multiple charges after driving in wrong lane toward oncoming traffic. wataugaonline.com/arrest-after...

⚠️ SCAM ALERT: Watauga County Sheriff's Office warns of phone scam. Callers claiming to be WCSO requesting callback about a "matter." These calls are NOT legitimate. DO NOT provide personal info or return calls to unfamiliar numbers. Questions: 828-264-3761 wataugaonline.com/watauga-coun...

Appalachian State University police responded to two threatening calls targeting Sanford Hall and New River Hall on Tuesday night that were confirmed to be hoaxes. wataugaonline.com/app-state-po...

🏈 FINAL FOUR: Watauga hosts Northern Guilford Friday 7:30 PM One win from state championship game. If Pioneers win, it would be first state title appearance since 1978 - when they won it all. Weather: Light snow expected Friday morning, possible wintry mix.

Not much of a day to be sitting outside today. Also, this from the National Weather Service - Snow Friday morning may result in minor travel impacts. Light accumulations are expected with amounts ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 inches.

Watauga County Schools operate on a regular schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Buses will travel regular routes with exceptions in all districts except Bethel which will run Limited A routes wataugaonline.com/closingscanc...