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Local DHHS leaders work toward better customer service
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services hosted a Work Support Strategies leadership summit for teams from local departments of social services April 22-23 in Raleigh. During the two-day summit, teams collaborated to produce action plans and updated business processes to support the rollout of North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (NC FAST) across the state. The N.C. FAST system is an integrated case manage...
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Health officials continue investigation, control of statewide measles outbreak
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services public health officials and staff from local health departments are now investigating 19 cases of measles in Stokes, Orange and Polk counties as part of an outbreak that was first reported in mid-April. Since the outbreak began, state and local public health authorities have notified more than 1,000 people in Stokes, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Polk and Chatham counties who may have been...
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<p>Photo submitted | Jefferson Post</p><p>The trio Inalare will perform &#8220;Dreams of Love,&#8221; a selection of chamber music for voice, flute and piano, at the Ashe Arts Center 7:30 p.m. Saturday. From left to right: pianist Bair Shagdaron, flutist Kay Borkowski and soprano Linda Larson.</p>
Arts Center welcomes Inalare ensemble
The Ashe County Arts Council welcomes Inalare to the Ashe Arts Center Saturday May 4 for a concert entitled “Dreams of Love.” Kay Borkowski, Linda Larson, and Bair Shagdaron join forces for this program of pieces for flute, voice, and piano. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. Soprano Linda Larson, flutist Kay Borkowski, and pianist Bair Shagdaron gave their first concert together as “Inalare” in February of 2010. The ensemble was established ...
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<p>Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post</p><p>Phase two of West Jefferson&#8217;s sidewalk redesign project began in earnest today, with crews cutting and breaking up asphalt at the intersection of South Jefferson Avenue and State Street.</p>
W.J. streetscaping phase II begins
Work crews began phase two of West Jefferson’s downtown streetscaping project today, said Town Manager Brantley Price. Redesign of intersections at South Jefferson Avenue and First Street, and South Jefferson Avenue and State Street, will be patterned after the pedestrian-friendly bump-outs completed at other downtown intersections last year, he said. Price said the town was planning for work to be complete by June 1, weather permitting. ...
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<p>Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post</p><p>Robin Privette of the Chamber of Commerce will be serving the public during new extended Visitor Center hours from 5-8 p.m. Fridays, and 9-8 p.m. Saturdays.</p>
Chamber extends Visitor Center business hours
The Ashe County Chamber of Commerce today announced new extended business hours for the Visitors Center to better serve tourists this season. “We’re seeing a lot more visitors to Ashe County, and several of the businesses in West Jefferson are now staying open later,” said Chamber Executive Director Cabot Hamilton. “We’re doing it because it enables us to serve more people.” The Chamber Board of Directors decided to keep the doors open un...
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<p>Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post</p><p>The West Jefferson Tourism Development Authority discussed advertising strategies with High Country Host Marketing Director Candice Cook at Town Hall Thursday. Clockwise from left: Town Clerk Wesley Barker, board members Danny Jones, Vivian Miller and Josh Williams, Candice Cook, Town Manager Brantley Price and Mayor Dale Baldwin.</p>
TDA approves revised budget for 2013-14
The West Jefferson Tourism Development Authority (TDA) approved a revised budget for fiscal year 2013-14, and heard a presentation from High Country Host on co-op ad campaigns at their April meeting at Town Hall Thursday. The TDA has budgeted for a $19,300 tourism promotion campaign through a variety of media, said West Jefferson Town Manager Brantley Price. A $3,600 WBTV.com advertising package was agreed upon, with WBTV breaking the cos...
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<p>New marketing resources from the 2-1-1 service now contain simple, more colorful graphics than their previous marketing tools.</p>
2-1-1 makes a difference in Ashe County
Where do people turn during a mental health crisis, or for information about human service agencies like legal aid or child care? It’s easy. Just dial 2-1-1. Three short months ago, the 2-1-1 service, a universal telephone number for health and human services, became available for Ashe County residents. Since then, 2-1-1 has been utilized on several occasions to transfer callers to appropriate agencies to meet their human services needs. ...
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<p>Dylan Lightfoot | Jefferson Post</p><p>N.C. Department of Agriculture Livestock Marketing Specialist Ben Carpenter (left), N.C. State Cooperative Extgension Agent Travis Birdsell (center) and Piedmont Research Station Research Operations Manager Joe Hampton (right) talk cattle at the second annual High Country Regional Cattle Conference Saturday. Held at Upper Mountain Research Station, the event was sponsored by the N.C. State Cooperative Extension, with lunch provided by the Ashe County Cattlemen&#8217;s Association.</p>
Cattlemen discuss high feed, falling prices
The second annual High Country Regional Cattle Conference was held at the N.C. Department of Agriculture Upper Mountain Research Station Saturday, where Ashe County cattle farmers met to hear the latest on cattle feeds, genetics and marketing, and enjoy a little barbecue. The event is sponsored by the N.C. State Cooperative Extension to keep farmers abreast of research and developments in the cattle industry, but also for researchers to mee...
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<p>James Howell | Jefferson Post</p><p>Allison Reeves (left) talked to community organizer Jessica Baker (right) during an American Cancer Society meeting.</p>
Paint West Jefferson Purple
An event to raise awareness for the 2013 Relay for Life called “Paint the Town Purple” will line the streets of West Jefferson from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 21 at Mount Jefferson Presbyterian Church. “The main purpose of the event is it’s an awareness event for the Relay in July,” said Melissa Hiatt, a community organizer for the American Cancer Society. “I’m really excited. This is the first time we’ve done it in Ashe County,” said...
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Ashe County Free Clinic benefit golf tourney is a success
Cliff Clark | Jefferson Post Despite the gray skies and damp conditions, Mountain Aire Golf Club hosted a full field of duffers to participate in the 18th Annual Carl and Pearl Hagel Memorial Golf Tournament. The annual benefit for the Ashe County Free Medical Clinic was a great success with thousands of dollars raised to help provide health care to those less fortunate in Ashe County. With Mountain Aire GC co-owner Mark Hagel (left) watching...
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AsheCounty has low violent crime rates
Despite high rates of drug crimes and suicides, Ashe County continues to have a low violent crime rate, due in part to the vigilance of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, but also due to the area’s sparse population and lack of a true gang presence. “Our murder rate has typically been pretty low per capita,” said Ashe County Sheriff James Williams. “We average about one murder per year, if that.” According to Country Health Rankings and Ro...
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<p><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" ><span style="font-size: 11pt;" >The fourth grade class at Westwood Elementary School recently raised </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" ><span style="font-size: 11pt;" >$1,629.56</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;" ><span style="font-size: 11pt;" > for St. Jude Children&#8217;s Hospital. The fourth graders are shown with the results of their fundraising efforts.</span></span></p>
Westwood fourth graders are helping the children at St. Jude’s

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Westwood fourth graders are helping the children at St. Jude’s
Cara Brooks Elliott’s fourth grade class at Westwood Elementary School recently raised $1,629.56 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The fourth graders are shown with the results of their fundraising efforts.
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<p>James Howell | Jefferson Post</p><p>Charles Medley (left) used his Lowes advantage card as Mariah McCoy (right) checked out his groceries Wednesday morning.</p>
Couponing is an art form
Clipping and using coupons can be made into an art form, and local woman Ann Trivette is a natural Van Gogh with using coupons, and she has taught her methods to others with the hope of saving money in a slow economy. Every time Trivette gets a new issue of a newspaper, she begins clipping; not news articles, but the coupons held inside the paper looking for a way to save money at the counter. “There’s couponing, and then there’s extreme ...
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File photo | Jefferson Post
Legislative update
As month three of the 2013 legislative session draws to a close, the House passes the Voter Information Verification Act and amendments to state gun laws, and prepares to vote on legislation limiting liability for volunteer health care providers, while a Senate bill easing regulations for environmental permitting makes its way through committee. House Bill 589: ‘Voter Information Verification Act’ (VIVA) “An act to restore confidence i...
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<p>Lucas Zeller</p>
Lucas Zeller is a finalist for a National Merit Scholarship
A special congratulations goes out to Ashe County High School senior Lucas Zeller, who has been named as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. “I’m excited about going to college,” said Zeller. He also said he was excited about hearing the results of the National Merit Scholarship. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT. Semi-finalists for the scholarship are determined by a student’s PSA...
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<p>Photo by Eric Johnson | Jefferson Post</p><p>Eric Johnson, an Ashe County High School alumnus and UNC Wilmington grad, took this photo while riding through western Kentucky.</p>
ACHS alum making good time on coast-to-coast ride
Cyclist Eric Johnson, an Ashe County High School alumnus who hails from Lansing, crossed the Ohio River Wednesday on his 3,500 mile cross-country trek from Wilmington to San Francisco, and spent the night in Elizabethtown, Ill.. A UNC Wilmington graduate, Johnson, 24, rode out of Wrightsville Beach April 10 on his nine-week coast-to-coast ride with a goal to average 65 miles per day and arrive in San Francisco by June 11, in time to catch a...
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<p>James Howell | Jefferson Post</p><p>GE Aviation (formally called Smith&#8217;s Aviation) was recruited to Ashe County in 2004.</p>
Pitching Ashe County is a full-time job
All too often it operates in the background of county government. It’s one of those departments you don’t know you need, until you need it. But, when a prospective new industry comes knocking at Ashe County’s door, it is the Department of Economic Development that answers the door and shows them in. “Economic development involves many different things,” said Ashe County Manager Dr. Pat Mitchell, who is also responsible for the county’s ...
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<p>Submitted photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe Assisted Living facility in West Jefferson.</p>
Celebrating two years of service
Two years ago, Ashe Assisted Living and Memory Care opened its doors to usher in a new patient for the first time. Now, Ashe Assisted Living plans on hosting an open house to celebrate their two years of service to the community on Friday, April 26. Everyone is welcome to attend the open house, although, special invitations were sent to local doctors and healthcare facilities, as well as representatives from county and town government, alon...
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