Last Updated on January 17, 2026 10:06 am (Mountain City, TN) – The Mountain City Police Department, in cooperation with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Marshals Service, successfully located and arrested a wanted fugitive in Mountain City earlier this month. On Monday, January 5, 2026, Investigator Thomas …

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Last Updated on January 17, 2026 9:56 am ASHE COUNTY – A weapon was discovered at Ashe County Middle School on Friay after a student reported its presence, according to the Ashe County Sheriff's Office. School administrators, along with the School Resource Officer, responded immediately. The weapon was quickly located and secured, and the student …

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Last Updated on January 17, 2026 8:18 am BOONE – “Corner Provisions,” a shopping-style food pantry at First Baptist Church of Boone, is reopening from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month, beginning January 19, 2026. The pantry is located at 375 W. King St. and is accessed from the back parking lot …

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Last Updated on January 15, 2026 3:30 pm In the latest drought update for North Carolina, most of the High Country remains in Moderate drought. In the High Country, all of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery are in Moderate drought status. The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 59 counties …

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Last Updated on January 15, 2026 11:31 am BLOWING ROCK – A traffic stop by Blowing Rock Police in November has resulted in a prison sentence for a man charged with felony habitual larceny and fentanyl possession. On November 8, 2025, Blowing Rock Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Food …

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Last Updated on January 15, 2026 9:10 am WATAUGA COUNTY – A chimney fire early Thursday morning in the 6100 block of Howard's Creek Road was extinguished with no damage to the structure, according to the Watauga County Fire Marshal's Office. Watauga County Communications received the call at just after 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, January …

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Last Updated on January 14, 2026 1:26 pm NCZ001-018-VAZ015-150200-/O.NEW.KRNK.WI.Y.0002.260115T0200Z-260115T1600Z//O.EXB.KRNK.CW.Y.0001.260115T0500Z-260116T1200Z/Ashe-Watauga-Grayson-Including the cities of Troutdale, Whitetop, Boone, Independence,Volney, and West Jefferson1259 PM EST Wed Jan 14 2026 …WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM ESTTHURSDAY……COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 AM ESTFRIDAY… WHAT…For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds …

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Last Updated on January 14, 2026 11:53 am Watauga County Communications received a call at approximately 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 14th reporting a structure fire in the 100 Block of Miranda Ln in Zionville. Upon arrival, responders found the outside porch area was on fire due to improperly disposed fireplace coal and ash materials. …

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