“The law of this nation says that the water of this country belongs to the people,” said Donna Lisenby, former Catawba Riverkeeper, Waterkeeper Alliance board member and new Upper Watauga Riverkeeper, responsible for the protection of the Watauga and Elk rivers. “Riverkeepers protect the people.”
Here’s the article from the High Country Press
Watauga helps tweetsie
Watauga County and Tweetsie Railroad are exploring a proposal that would keep the Wild West theme park at its current location “for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Watauga planning director Joe Furman, who is acting economic developer for the county, presented a proposal to the commissioners Monday in which the county would buy land to support the theme park in exchange for a long-term commitment to keep the business operating.
Here’s the article from the Watauga Democrat
New Blowing Rock Fire Department Nears Completion
The new Blowing Rock Emergency Management facility is on track to open in early May, said Kent Graham, Blowing Rock Emergency Management Services director.
Currently, Amber Contracting of Mount Airy is completing the final 10 percent of the $4.2 million job, including final interior and landscaping work and corrections to the roof, Graham said.
Read more in the High Country Press
Highway 321, postponed until 2009
Completion of the widening of U.S. 321 from Lenoir to Blowing Rock likely won’t come until spring 2009, more than six months behind schedule, transportation officials said Monday.
Here’s the article from the Hickory Daily Record
Here are photos of the proposed highway
$1.5 Million for Water Projects
More than $1.5 million could be on the way to help North Carolina communities upgrade their water systems.Gov. Mike Easley has signed off on federal-state grants for projects in Marshall, Mars Hill, Tryon, Valdese, Lenoir and Blowing Rock, his office announced today.
Click here to read more from the Asheville Citizen
Fire destroys gift shop, museum at Tweetsie Railroad
Investigators spent today shoveling through ashes to determine what caused an early morning fire that destroyed the Tweetsie Railroad Museum and gift shop at Tweetsie Railroad
Click here to read more
New Parking deck in Blowing Rock
The Blowing Rock Town Council on Tuesday voted 3 to 2 to award a $1.08 million contract to Kearey Builders of Statesville to build a two-story, 62- by 200-foot parking deck in downtown Blowing Rock.
Here’s the article from High Country Press
What can I buy in Blowing Rock for 45mil?
A big road. Here they are, in case you haven’t seen them yet, the state released computer mock-ups of the new highway 321.




Great Chili—and everything else.
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
Over $20 Million of development in Blowing Rock in ‘07
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
High Country Video Highlights
Check out these videos that highlight different parts of the High Country & Blowing Rock: Click to read more