Christmas trees that is.  Senator Steve Goss has received word today of a revised interpretation of state law which states that US 321 and US 421 statewide will now be accessible for truck/tractors pulling semi-trailers up to 53 feet in length.  This will stop the ticketing of large trucks coming to get Christmas trees.

Here’s the article in the Jefferson Post

State Representative Phillip Frye helped speed up the permit process for a new dam at Wildcat lake in Banner Elk.  The lake has been dry for two years while officials tried to get permits.  Now with the proper permits, the lake could be filled as soon as this summer.

The spring home-buying season has arrived–except things are quite different from years past. While many economists believe house prices still have further to fall, there’s little doubt it’s become a buyer’s market, with buyers gaining leverage that was unthinkable during the boom and the long run-up in prices.

Click here to read this article

Charlie’s was crowned Chili Challenge champion in the restaurant division at the recent Blowing Rock Winterfest in January

A great place to eat, Sledgehammer Charlie’s Smokehouse and Grill is at one of the newest restaurants on to the miracle mile of restaurants along Blowing Rock’s bypass of U.S. 321.

Click here for the article in the Mountain Times

For buyers with good credit and healthy bank accounts, a million dollars buys a lot more home than it did a few years ago.

Read the article from Yahoo Finance or look at homes priced 0ver $1 million in the High Country.

Boone Point, The new mixed use development on the 105 ext. will be 40k square ft and offer 10 condominiums above several businesses such as a Cold Stone Creamery. The project began last September and is scheduled for completion this fall.

Here’s a link from the Appalachian

A group of Boone citizens known as the ABC Taskforce is gearing up for an attempt to bring liquor by the drink to the restaurants of Boone. Spearheaded by Boone Saloon co-owner Stephen Sinanian, the group is currently testing the popularity of a potential referendum that would put liquor by the drink on the ballot later this year. Boone residents have not voted on liquor by the drink since the mid 1990s.

“I represent a group of business owners and professors who are interested in pursuing the feasibility of liquor by the drink,” said Sinanian. “We’re going around to different groups such as the DBDA and the Boone Chamber of Commerce, just to feel out how the town is going to receive the idea of having a mixed beverage referendum. So far we’ve gotten positive feedback.”

Click here for the High Country Press article

UPDATE:

Boone Council Schedules Public Hearing on Mixed Beverages for April 24
The council agreed to a public hearing on Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom in the Watauga County Administration Building.

In 2007 there were 403 building permit applications. This number is an increase of 67 permits from a year ago (+20%) and 167 permits from 2005 (+70%).

Here’s the article from the Blowing Rocket

The US Airways Magazine did a great feature on Boone and Blowing Rock in the January issue. Here’s a link to the article , which is comprised of 10 PDF’s (below)

1. Cover
2. Word of Mouth
3. The Big Picture
4. Where to Spa
5. Where to Eat
6. Where to Stay
7. The Last Word
8. Ties that Bind
   Quality of life, the great outdoors, and a university meld for economic success
9. At Home in the Mountains
   The newest high-end developments capitalize on their proximity to nature
10. Four Seasons of Fun
    In the mountains or the theater, sights and scenery delight

The DOT is planning to remove the row of shops on the Dan’l Boone Inn corner, to allow a new right turn lane.

According to the Uniform Relocation Act, tenants will be eligible to collect up to $10,000 in reestablishment expenses, up to $2,500 in search expenses and will also be reimbursed for any and all moving costs. Tenants could also choose to settle for a single, one-time payout of $20,000 to cover all moving and reestablishment expenses.

Here’s the High Country Press article

The speed limit on N.C. 105 has been changed from 45 mph to 35 mph, extending from the Poplar Grove Road intersection to the N.C. 105 Bypass.

Click here for the article in the Watauga Democrat.

In case you missed it, Simm’s Furniture will be replaced by TJ-Maxx. Barry Nicholson, spokesman for H.L. Libby Corp., which bought the mall about two years ago, said the off-price retailer has signed a lease and should be open by fall.

Click here for the Watauga Democrat article

A digital outdoor advertising sign with rotating clients is not subject to the scenic byway regulations due to its orientation on Old U.S. 421.

Click here for the article in the Watauga Democrat

Boone and Blowing Rock are among 11 North Carolina communities facing the most severe water shortages because of drought.

Mayor Loretta Clawson of Boone and Chancellor Ken Peacock of Appalachian State University signed an agreement last month to connect the town and university water and sewer systems. They agreed to share the $250,000 cost of design and construction. Both the town and university are pursuing grants for the project.

Click here for the complete article from the Winston-Salem Journal

The Long Hope Retreat property is located in Todd and connects to thousands of acres of undeveloped forest land that’s available for hiking and exploration. The property borders several large ponds that have their own habitats, rare and native plants and a field for sports and recreation.

Click here for an article in the Mountain Times

Click here for the Long Hope website

The resolution notes the county doesn’t expect property tax increases to repay the loan, since it is selling the current high school property. The construction price for facilities is set at a guaranteed maximum of $47.2 million, with another $11.2 million committed in land purchases, site testing, studies and design work. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 19.

Click here for the Mountain times article

Reck wrote, “The decision to rezone flies in the face not only of good planning; it flies in the face of any planning. Let’s face the truth: the university’s request and the decision to rezone were never the result of planning. They were the result of the opportunity presented to the university to purchase property, which the university did without an ounce of credible cooperative planning with the town, or even with itself. ”

Click here for the complete article from the High Country Press

Please check out www.highcountrydirt.com/network and sign up, it’s fun and it’s free!

ASU will play LSU on August 30, 2008. Click here for the article on ESPN.COM.

vs.

ASU 2008 football schedule
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 30 at LSU 8 p.m.
Sept. 6 JACKSONVILLE 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at James Madison TBA
Sept. 28 PRESBYTERIAN 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 *THE CITADEL 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 *at Samford TBA
Oct. 18 *at Georgia Southern TBA
Oct. 25 *FURMAN 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 1 *WOFFORD 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 8 *at Chattanooga TBA
Nov. 15 *ELON 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 *at Western Carolina TBA

*Denotes Southern Conference game

Plans are in action for a 250ft radio tower. Here’s a link to the Charlotte Observer.