Fatcow Icon
News
ACS superintendent search continues
The search for a new Ashe County Schools (ACS) superintendent continues, with the Board of Education narrowing its list of candidates. The board is scheduled to announce its decision in a little over three weeks. Ashe County Schools posted a job listing mid-January seeking to fill the superintendent position vacated by Dr. Travis Reeves. The board received 47 complete applications, mostly from in-state applicants, said Assistant Superintend...
full story
GYMS_truck_accident.JPG
Truck accident halts traffic on N.C. 88
James Howell | Jefferson Post Nobody was injured after a truck drove off N.C. 88 and into a ravine while heading west towards Jefferson Wednesday afternoon. According to Trooper W.P. Miller, from the N.C. Highway Patrol, the accident happened shortly before 1 p.m. Even though no one was injured, traffic was halted for over an hour as wreckers worked to remove the truck from the ravine.
full story
High_Country_Local_First_accepting_new_members_for_20130_1368049498.jpg
High Country Local First accepting new members for 2013
High Country Local First (HCLF) is accepting new business, farm and community organization members. It is an exciting time for this organization as it gears up for its second annual LOCAL FIRST! REWARDS CARD and first annual Directory of Independent Businesses, both to be released in June. The LOCAL FIRST! REWARDS CARD will provide the cardholder with ongoing discounts throughout the year to participating independent businesses. The goal ...
full story
Keep Ashe Beautiful receives $500 grant
Keep Ashe Beautiful was one of 10 affiliate chapters of Keep N.C. Beautiful to be awarded a community improvement grant of $500 as of April 24. In order to receive the grant, which was offered by N.C. Coca-Cola Bottlers Council, Keep Ashe Beautiful competed against other affiliate programs. “This is our second grant since we became an affiliate chapter,” said Executive Director Elaine Graham. “To get the grant, we told them what we had al...
full story
John Tyler Harms
Local man charged with child rape
A Warrensville man was charged with first degree sexual offense, rape of a child and disseminating obscenity to a minor under the age of 13, according to a report from the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office. John Tyler Harms, 20, allegedly raped an 11-year-old child, according to Ashe County Sherff’s Capt. Carolyn Gentry. An investigation revealed the child had met Harms in West Jefferson and became friends. According to the ACSO, on the nigh...
full story
Big Horse Creek flooded Lansing Creeper Trail Park Monday.
Steady rains soak Ashe County
Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post Big Horse Creek flooded Lansing Creeper Trail Park Monday. Photo submitted | Jefferson Post Water from the New River flooded West Sugar Tree Road near Warrensville on Monday. Emergency Management Coordinator Patty Gambill said several low-lying bridges in Ashe County were under water Monday morning. James Howell | Jefferson Post Heavy rains caused the creek in Candlelight Park in Jefferson to overflow. Photo...
full story
NCDA_CS_challenges_restaurants_to_highlight_local_food_this_summer0_1367870500.jpg
NCDA&CS challenges restaurants to highlight local food this summer
A new program from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is encouraging chefs to dig into locally grown products this summer. The Dig into Local – 90 Day Challenge aims to promote the bounty of N.C. agricultural products available during the growing season by challenging chefs from across the state to create new menu options in their restaurants. “This 90-day challenge is a great opportunity for local chefs to connect...
full story
Students donate $450 to sharing center
James Howell | Jefferson Post Students from the Mountain View Elementary School student council donated $450 for the Ashe County Sharing Center. Polly Jones (far left) accept the donation on Wednesday, and explained the importance to the sharing center to the students. The students included (front row, left to right) Cierra Burgess, Kenadie Hudler, Emily Williams, Emma Calloway, (middle row, left to right) Autumn Blackburn, Sarah Corley, Hunt...
full story
<p>Image submitted | Jefferson Post</p><p>The gray area of this map shows where the Christmas in July festival will take place this year. The festival will stretch through most of the backstreet and also up West Main Street.</p>
Volunteers preparing for 27th Annual Christmas in July
With the 27th annual Christmas in July only two months away, the annual festival’s volunteer committee is making final tune-ups preparing for the event. Christmas in July is a one full-day, and Friday night free-admission event featuring the very best in traditional mountain music and handmade crafts from throughout the mountains of North Carolina. “The planning process for this festival starts a month after it’s over,” said Jane Lonon, t...
full story
<p>Open source image | Jefferson Post</p><p>Local N.C. Cooperative Extension agent reminds local gardners to read the labels of the pesticides they may be applying this spring on their gardens; many are harmful to beneficial insects like local honey bees.</p><p>Jefferson Post</p><p>Home gardeners can achieve safe, minimal application of pesticides by practicing integrated pest management.</p>
Extension agent: controlling pesticide use starts at home
This year, home gardeners in the U.S. will apply tens of millions of pounds of pesticides to their vegetable patches, flower beds and lawns. Travis Birdsell of the N.C. State Cooperative Extension would like gardeners in Ashe County to be conscientious about it. “Just the other day I saw somebody spraying their apple tree, which was in bloom,” he said. Applying pesticides when trees and plants are blooming kills not only pests, but also...
full story
<p>Doug Goss</p>
Local volunteer receives national award
The USDA Forest Service honored bicycle patrolman Doug Goss with the 2012 National Trails Volunteer of the Year Award for outstanding service on the Virginia Creeper Trail in southwest Virginia. This prestigious award is presented nationally to one volunteer each year. Goss received the award during a ceremony along the Virginia Creeper Trail on Saturday, May 4, at Green Cove Station in Damascus, Va. Residing in Ashe County, Goss began vo...
full story
AJ36_Ashe_Idol_2013_016.JPG
Four new 'idols' in Ashe County
Photo submitted | Jefferson Post The winners of the 4th Annual Ashe County Idol Competition pose with their trophies on Tuesday, April 23. The winners included K-third grade winner Noah Farmer (front, left), fourth-sixth grade winner Nick Chamberlain (front, right), seventh-ninth grade winner Abby Manley (back, left) and 10th-12th grade winner Heather Travers.
full story
Rev. David Blackburn, director of Missions Ashe Baptist Church, officiated the National Day of Prayer ceremony in front of the Ashe County Courthouse Thursday.
National Day of Prayer held despite inclement weather
Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post Rev. David Blackburn, director of Missions Ashe Baptist Church, officiated the National Day of Prayer ceremony in front of the Ashe County Courthouse Thursday. Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post The Ashe County High School JROTC color guard presented the colors during the Pledge of Allegiance. Generation Next, a a multi-church youth choir who performed a patriotic medley, stood on the courthouse steps, dressed...
full story
<p>James Howell | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ryan Simms attempts to catch his balance as he walks a straight line under the supervision of officer Kevin Roark.</p>
ACHS students learn about dangers of drinking and driving
In order to discourage impaired driving this prom/graduation season, Ashe County High School held its annual “impaired driving rodeo” Wednesday morning, giving a first-hand demonstration of the effects alcohol can have on students’ driving. To accomplish this, juniors and seniors were briefly called out of class and given special goggles to wear that simulate intoxication. Students were encouraged to drive golf carts through a traffic cours...
full story
<p>Jefferson Post</p>
Ashe unemployment drops to 12.1 percent in March
Ashe County’s jobless rate fell to 12.1 percent in March, according to the latest figures from the N.C. Division of Employment Security. The March rate was down 0.9 percent over February, and 1.2 percent since March, 2012. The county has now registered double-digit unemployment for 51 consecutive months. Of the county’s labor force of 11,697 in March, 1,415 workers were unemployed. Ashe ranks 83rd among the counties for employment. Ne...
full story
Several W.J. downtown businesses planning to open Sundays
As the weather grows warmer, business owners in West Jefferson are warming up to the idea of opening their doors on Sundays hoping to attract customers who flee the county for weekend shopping trips to Boone and Blowing Rock. “I don’t relish the idea of working seven days-a-week,” said Shelley Felder, the owner of the Honey Hole in West Jefferson, “but we have an obligation to be hospitable to those who visit us.” One of Felder’s chief co...
full story
<p>Photo submitted | Jefferson Post</p><p>New River Soil and Water District poster contest winners are (from left to right): Alyssa Cahan and Jadyn Trivette of Westwood elementary, Emilee Williams and Karoline Keith of Mountain View Elementary, Adrian Arado of Westwood Elementary, Josh Taylor of Shadyside Home School and Chris Luna of Westwood Elementary.</p>
New River Soil and Water announces contest winners
New River Soil & Water District congratulates students who participated in this year’s annual New River Soil and Water Conservation contests. Each year, the local NRSW conservation district offers contests to third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grader students to compete in the poster contest, said NRSW Education Coordinator Brenda Garland. Also an essay contest is offered to 6th-grade students only, and a speech contest offered for sevent...
full story
<p>James Howell | Jefferson Post</p><p>Lansing officials join new business owners Nic and Michelle Slaton and their friends for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for Phoenix Mountain Arts. People in attendance included (front row, from left to right) April Turner, Shirley Farmer, Jane Lonon, owners Nic and Michelle Slaton, Jenny Wunderlich, (back row, from left to right) Jeff Dreyer, Lansing Town Manager Bernice Prestwood, Lansing Mayor George Rembert, Lansing Alderman Dylan Lightfoot, and Steve Katz.</p>
Ribbon-cutting for Lansing's Phoenix Mountain Arts
Phoenix Mountain Arts, a mountain craft gallery located in downtown Lansing, had their opening official with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 1. Phoenix Mountain Arts is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Nic and Michelle Slaton, along with their business partner Sarah Ford. “We sell everything decorative for your home, including paintings, cabinetry, furniture, and interior decorating items,” said Michelle Slaton. S...
full story
‘Tag_and_Tax’_combined_bills_will_be_delivered_on_revised_schedule0_1367427119.jpg
‘Tag and Tax’ combined bills will be delivered on revised schedule
The first combined tag and tax notices will be mailed on a revised schedule, going out for September renewals rather than for renewals due in July. The revision allows for additional time to test and certify systems provided by vendors supplying online services for vehicle dealers. The program will still be ready to implement on July 1 and that is when the DMV will begin collecting, however the first combined tag and tax notices will now be...
full story
Weather
Sponsored By:

Lottery
Sponsored By:

Stocks
Sponsored By:

Gas Prices
Sponsored By:

Sponsored By:

Featured Businesses
Recipes
Sponsored By: