🚨 Boone Police seeking info on dark-colored lifted Dodge Ram — white wheel well lighting, black wheels — after a man was ejected from the truck bed near Perkinsville Dr. & Grove St. on April 11. Tips: 828-268-6959 or text NCTIP to 274637. wataugaonline.com/boone-police... #Boone #WataugaCounty

Drought Monitor: NC Extreme Drought expands to 30 counties — quadrupled in one month. Wilkes remains D3. Watauga, Ashe, Avery still D2. All 100 NC counties in drought. Fourth straight week of worsening. wataugaonline.com/drought-moni... #NCwx #HighCountry #DroughtMonitor #Boone #WataugaCounty

Watauga County Fire Marshal issues local burn ban on top of statewide ban. All open burning prohibited, all permits cancelled. Violations: $100/offense. Cooking fires must be in enclosed grill or appliance. Ban runs concurrent with NC Forest Service statewide ban. wataugaonline.com/watauga-coun...

NC Governor Stein announces $25,000 reward in the 1982 disappearance of Angela Hamby in Wilkesboro. Hamby, 20, left home Oct. 29, 1982 and never returned. Case unsolved 40+ years. Tips: Wilkesboro PD (336) 667-7277 or NC SBI (919) 662-4500. wataugaonline.com/governor-off...

BREAKING: Explosion and large fire reported at 625 Burl Brown Road in Vilas at 1:43 AM Wednesday. Multiple agencies responded. Fire now under control. Joint investigation underway — Watauga Fire Marshal + Sheriff's Office Investigations Division. wataugaonline.com/explosion-an...

A Valle Crucis neighborhood cut off for weeks after Helene has its permanent bridge back. Samaritan's Purse built the new structure. Original 1966 bridge was swept away when the river rose 25 feet. Dedication held Monday. wataugaonline.com/samaritans-p...

Fire restrictions now at state AND federal level in NC. Starting April 15: no open burning or campfires outside developed sites on Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie & Croatan National Forests. State burn ban since March 28: 554 wildfires, 2,200+ acres, 150 citations. wataugaonline.com/state-and-fe...

NC state audit finds Baptists on Mission in full compliance on $3M in Helene relief grants. 472 home repairs completed at avg $6,392/home — vs. $20K estimated. Projects included Boone, Burnsville, Spruce Pine, and more. No audit recommendations. wataugaonline.com/nonprofit-co...

That glow in the High Country sky early Tuesday morning was a SpaceX Falcon 9 — 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral, the 1,000th of 2026. WataugaOnline reader Anita Watson captured the exhaust plume. Did you see it? 📷 Anita Watson

Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park remains closed after Hurricane Helene. Debris removal just started in early spring 2026 — full reconstruction still ahead.https://wataugaonline.com/helene-recovery-at-grandfather-mountain-state-park/

Two Mexican nationals sentenced to federal prison for trafficking meth across Watauga, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. Watauga County Sheriff's Office helped investigate. Law enforcement found CJNG cartel-branded clothing in leader's trailer. wataugaonline.com/watauga-coun... #WataugaCounty

Improperly discarded smoking materials sparked a deck fire on Hwy 421 South in Boone Friday. Tenant & neighbors fought it before crews arrived — fire didn't reach the structure. With NC-wide drought & burn ban in effect, Boone Fire urges home wildfire safety. wataugaonline.com/boone-fire-s...

⛽ GAS PRICES – High Country, April 12, 2026 Boone: $3.88 | Diesel: $5.69 NC: $3.90 | National: $4.13 📌 May vary and change after posting. WataugaOnline.com/high-country-gas-prices-steady-at-3-88-as-ceasefire-brings-uncertain-hope-for-relief/

🌡️ NWS Blacksburg warning: Record heat possible by Tuesday in the High Country. Drought and fire risk worsening. "Any new fires will be difficult to contain." Statewide burn ban in effect. wataugaonline.com/nws-record-h... #HighCountryNC #NCWeather #Drought #Wildfire

Helene debris will fuel wildfire risk in western NC for 10-20 years, NC Forest Service warns. 822,000+ acres of downed timber drying out. Fires burning 5-10x their normal size. Statewide burn ban in effect. wataugaonline.com/helene-debri... #HighCountryNC #WildfireNC #HurricaneHelene

🌍 This is home — as seen from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission. Only a handful of humans have ever witnessed this view in person. Yesterday, four more joined that list. 📋 NASA #ArtemisII #NASA #Earth #SpaceExploration

🚀🌊 They're home. Artemis II splashes down in the Pacific. Wiseman, Glover, Koch & Hansen back on Earth after 10 days — including a flight around the Moon. Farther than any humans since Apollo. History made. 🇺🇸🇨🇦 📋 NASA #ArtemisII #NASA #Moon #Splashdown

🏔️ Friday evening webcam check — Mountain City TN (72°F), Lees-McRae/Banner Elk (67°F), Beech Mountain Resort (63°F), Buckeye Lake/Beech Mtn (66°F). Happy Friday, High Country! 🌿 📋 ResortCams #HighCountryNC #BeechMountain #BannerElk #HappyFriday

✅ UPDATE: 2.5-acre fire on Meat Camp Road contained in 2 hours Thursday evening. Meat Camp Fire, NC Forest Service, Boone Fire, Zionville Fire, Watauga Rescue & Oregon ODF all responded. wataugaonline.com/meat-camp-ro... #WataugaCounty #HighCountryNC

AppHealthCare is eliminating 23 positions effective June 30, CEO Jennifer Greene announced Friday. Budget constraints cited. The announcement came during National Public Health Week. wataugaonline.com/apphealthcar... #AppHealthCare #HighCountryNC #PublicHealth #WataugaCounty

💧 WATER MAIN BREAK: Town of Boone reports a break near 2082 Blowing Rock Road (near Chick-fil-A) at 9:40 PM. Water off in area during repairs. Drive carefully. Info: (828) 268-6250. 📋 Town of Boone Public Works #Boone #BooneNC #WataugaCounty

State awards $4M+ to WNC parks for Helene recovery — High Country gets $2M+. Avery County leads with $987,500 for Hodge Turbyfill Fields. Watauga, Beech Mountain, Ashe, Banner Elk and Seven Devils also receive grants. wataugaonline.com/state-awards... #HighCountryNC #WataugaCounty #HurricaneHelene

Drought Monitor: NC Extreme Drought triples in 2 weeks to 23 counties. Wilkes and Buncombe (Asheville) now D3. Watauga, Ashe, Avery remain D2 Severe. All 100 counties in drought. wataugaonline.com/drought-moni...

⚾🌅 No AI. No filters. No edits. Just the High Country at its finest — Watauga High School baseball hosting West Wilkes on Monday night. 📷 Josh Honeycutt #HighCountryNC #WataugaCounty #Sunset #NCHighSchoolSports

Hawksnest Golf & Ski Resort in Seven Devils has been sold after 35 years of Cottom Family ownership. New owners not yet identified. More details expected in coming months. wataugaonline.com/hawksnest-sn... #Hawksnest #HighCountryNC #SevenDevils

NC sports bettors wagered $726M in March 2026. Operators kept $75.9M in gross revenue. Estimated state tax take: $13.7M. wataugaonline.com/nc-state-lot... #NCLottery #SportsBetting #NorthCarolina

🌿 High Country pollen at 9.1 (Medium-High) today — climbing to Very High by Thursday. Oak leading at 66%, pine 17%. Drought conditions keeping it airborne longer. Allergy sufferers, take precautions. wataugaonline.com/high-country...

🏆 Watauga County 911 dispatcher Elizabeth "Beth" Hamby nominated for national Rookie of the Year during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12–18). She's maintained the highest call volume in the center month after month. wataugaonline.com/watauga-coun...

🚨 Two fatal crashes in Wilkes County within hours of each other Saturday morning — one on Dav Road near North Wilkesboro, one on South Windy Gap Road near Wilkesboro. Both under investigation by NCSHP. No charges filed in either case. wataugaonline.com/two-fatal-cr...

App State Football's 2026 home game themes are set — Gold Out (9/5), Black Saturday Under the Lights (9/19), Homecoming (10/10), Family Weekend (10/22), Heroes Day (11/7) and Senior Day (11/21). Season ticket renewals due April 15. wataugaonline.com/2026-app-sta... #AppState #Mountaineers

⛰️ Good Friday from the top of Grandfather Mountain. The High Country never gets old. 📷 Dr. Scott Elliott #GrandfatherMountain #HighCountryNC #NorthCarolina

🌕 The moon setting this morning over Aho, filtered through a layer of wildfire smoke and haze — turning the sky shades of pink and orange as Good Friday began. 📷 Phyllis Taylor

Candler man sentenced to 126 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material via peer-to-peer network. 571,950 images found on devices. Boone Police Department among agencies that investigated the case. wataugaonline.com/boone-police... #WNC #ProjectSafeChildhood

A lightning-caused wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon on the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, approximately five miles south of Blowing Rock. wataugaonline.com/wildfire-bre...

🎴 Sports Card & TCG Show - Boone Mall Saturday, April 25 • 9am-4pm Buy, sell, trade with collectors across the High Country. Vendors: grailcardpromotions.com

✝️ Good Friday school closings (April 3): Ashe County Schools CLOSED (Spring Break April 6–10). Avery County Schools CLOSED (Spring Break April 6–10). Watauga County Schools OPEN. wataugaonline.com/closingscancellations

Drought Monitor update: Major deterioration across NC. Extreme Drought more than doubles — 7 to 15 counties. Western mountains hit hard with 6 counties jumping to D3. All High Country counties now at D2 Severe Drought. Only 6 of 100 NC counties still at D1. wataugaonline.com/drought-moni... #NCwx

💰 FEMA announces $103M in new Helene recovery funding for NC. High Country highlights: $26.1M to Watauga County Schools for the former Valle Crucis School, $6.2M for Avery Co. debris removal. wataugaonline.com/fema-announc...

⚠️ Blue Ridge Parkway alert: Heavy equipment and dump truck traffic on open sections between Asheville and Mount Mitchell for Helene recovery work. 35 mph, one-lane controls, delays expected. 45 sites still active, late 2026 completion targeted. nps.gov/blri wataugaonline.com/ongoing-work...

🔥 Marion woman charged after cigar ash sparked the Jumping Branch Fire in McDowell County. Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, faces class 3 misdemeanor. Fire now 275 acres, 30% contained. Statewide burn ban in effect. wataugaonline.com/marion-woman...

🔥 626 wildfires in NC since March 20. 114 started after the burn ban. Zero caused by lightning since March 29 — all human-caused. 18,000 permits canceled. Burn ban in effect statewide. wataugaonline.com/wildfire-act...

🏠 Watauga County ranks last in NC for housing affordability,index of 47.5, meaning median home payments exceed 60% of median household income. Ashe (68.8) and Avery (69.1) are nearly as bad. wataugaonline.com/watauga-county-ranks-last-in-state-for-housing-affordability-ashe-and-avery-not-far-behind/

✅ Wilkes Co. wildfire now 50% contained (up from 20% yesterday). 600 acres near Dehart community. Statewide burn ban in effect. wataugaonline.com/wilkes-count...

🔥 4 PM update: Wilkes Co. fire now 620 acres (up from 350 this AM), 20% contained. Small Wilkes fire 90% contained. Elk Park/Avery 95-100% contained. Mitchell/Poplar holds at 80%. Burn ban in effect statewide. #WilkesCounty #HighCountryNC #WildFire #BurnBan wataugaonline.com/wilkes-count...

🏆 Boone native Ingrid Brown named the Women in Trucking Association's 2026 Driver of the Year. 46-year career, 3-time melanoma survivor, WIT Board member. Announced March 28 in Louisville. Congratulations! wataugaonline.com

Wilkes County Wildfire More Than Doubles to 350 Acres Overnight; Five Active Fires in the Region wataugaonline.com/wilkes-count...

🔥 9 PM update: Avery Co. fire now 60% contained (was 0%). Wilkes Co. 45-ac fire at 15%. Wilkes Co. 140-ac fire still 0% — most active. Mitchell/Poplar at 80%. Burn ban statewide. wataugaonline.com

🔥 Five active wildfires near the High Country tonight: McDowell (175 ac, 0%), Avery (30 ac, 0%), Wilkes (140 ac, 0%), Wilkes (20 ac, 0%), Mitchell/Poplar (350 ac, 80%). Statewide burn ban in effect. Call 911 for new fires. wataugaonline.com

🚨 NC Forest Service issues statewide burn ban — all 100 counties effective 6 PM today until further notice. All open burning banned, all permits canceled, campfires and fireworks prohibited. $100 fine + $183 court costs for violations. Call 911 for wildfires. wataugaonline.com/statewide-bu...

❄️ Heavy frost on Elk Knob this morning in the High Country. Winter's not done yet. 📷 Tina Presnell | March 28, 2026 wataugaonline.com