Meat Camp Road Fire Contained After Two-Hour Battle A fire that broke out along Meat Camp Road Thursday evening and prompted traffic detours has been contained, according to Meat Camp Fire Department. Crews from Meat Camp Fire Department, North Carolina Forest Service, Boone Fire Department, Zionville Fire Department, Watauga Rescue, and Oregon ODF responded to the fire, which started in the ditch line …

✅ UPDATE: 2.5-acre fire on Meat Camp Road contained in 2 hours Thursday evening. Meat Camp Fire, NC Forest Service, Boone Fire, Zionville Fire, Watauga Rescue & Oregon ODF all responded. wataugaonline.com/meat-camp-ro... #WataugaCounty #HighCountryNC

AppHealthCare to Eliminate 23 Positions Effective June 30 AppHealthCare is eliminating 23 positions effective June 30, 2026, Health Director and CEO Jennifer Greene announced Friday in a statement citing budgetary constraints that have stretched the organization beyond what is sustainable. “This decision was driven by budgetary constraints that have stretched our organization — and many like ours — beyond what is sustainable,” Greene …

AppHealthCare is eliminating 23 positions effective June 30, CEO Jennifer Greene announced Friday. Budget constraints cited. The announcement came during National Public Health Week. wataugaonline.com/apphealthcar... #AppHealthCare #HighCountryNC #PublicHealth #WataugaCounty

💧 WATER MAIN BREAK: Town of Boone reports a break near 2082 Blowing Rock Road (near Chick-fil-A) at 9:40 PM. Water off in area during repairs. Drive carefully. Info: (828) 268-6250. 📋 Town of Boone Public Works #Boone #BooneNC #WataugaCounty

State awards $4M+ to WNC parks for Helene recovery — High Country gets $2M+. Avery County leads with $987,500 for Hodge Turbyfill Fields. Watauga, Beech Mountain, Ashe, Banner Elk and Seven Devils also receive grants. wataugaonline.com/state-awards... #HighCountryNC #WataugaCounty #HurricaneHelene

⚾🌅 No AI. No filters. No edits. Just the High Country at its finest — Watauga High School baseball hosting West Wilkes on Monday night. 📷 Josh Honeycutt #HighCountryNC #WataugaCounty #Sunset #NCHighSchoolSports

🚧 TRAFFIC ALERT — King Street in downtown Boone closed just before 11 AM–12 PM Saturday, March 28. Closure runs from Hardin Street to Poplar Grove Connector. Plan alternate routes. #Boone #WataugaCounty #HighCountryNC

That High Country sky putting on a show this morning. 🌅

📷 Amy Miller — Boone, NC | March 26, 2026

#BooneNC #WataugaCounty #HighCountryNC #NCSunrise

🎭 Watauga High School presents Matilda The Musical Jr. — March 26, 27 & 28 at 7 PM, WHS Ross Auditorium. Tickets $12. our.show/whsmatilda #WataugaCounty #HighCountryNC

Closings/Cancellations WataugaOnline.com

⏰ 2-HOUR DELAY Wednesday March 18 — Watauga, Ashe & Avery County Schools + Johnson County Schools (TN) all on 2-hour delay. Full details: wataugaonline.com/closingscanc... #HighCountryNC #NCwx #WataugaCounty #SchoolDelay

🚨 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS — Watauga County until 8:45 AM and Avery, Mitchell, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell counties until 8:30 AM. 60 mph wind gusts. Damage to trees, power lines, roofs expected. Move to interior room now.

#NCwx #HighCountry #Boone #WataugaCounty #AveryCounty

🌅 Sunday morning sunrise in Meat Camp before the incoming storms.

📷 Phyllis Winebarger

#HighCountry #WataugaCounty #NCwx #MeatCamp

#BlueRidgeParkway #DarkSky #LightPollution #SkyQuality #Astronomy #NightSky #BlueRidgeMountains #BRP #Stargazing #DarkSkySurvey #ProtectTheNight #AsheCountyNC #WataugaCounty #BooneNC #FloydCountyVA #GalaxVA #NCmountains #VAmountains #Appalachia #828isGreat #VisitNC #VisitVA #Astrophotography

🚧 NC 105 Bridge Update: NCDOT begins pouring concrete bridge deck over the Watauga River starting Friday. Brief lane closures possible (up to 15 min). The $48.7M project replacing the 71-year-old bridge is expected to finish late 2027. wataugaonline.com/crews-to-pou... #Boone #WataugaCounty #NC105

🚨 QUICK ACTION SAVES MARGOT ROAD HOME 🏠

Smoke alarms alert residents, preventing potential fire disaster. Four residents evacuated safely after early warning.

Fire originated in bathroom ceiling, quickly contained.

➡️ wataugaonline.com/quick-action...

#HomeFireSafety #WataugaCounty

🔥 Zionville porch fire caused by improperly disposed fireplace ash. Minimal damage. Fire Marshal reminder: Let ashes cool 4+ days, store in metal container 10+ feet from structures. Never use cardboard or plastic.
#WataugaCounty #FireSafety
wataugaonline.com/improperly-d...

Back to School: Traffic Alert for Watauga County 🚸🚌
Attention parents, students, and commuters!

Monday, January 5, 2026 - First day back after holiday break:

🚦 Expect increased traffic
🚏 School zones will be active
🚌 School buses on the roads
.

#WataugaCounty #BackToSchool #SafeDriving

🥶 COLD WEATHER ADVISORY

7 AM Sunday - 10 AM Monday

⚠️ Wind chills as low as 15 BELOW ZERO

Dress in layers if you must go outside.

#WataugaCounty #NCwx
wataugaonline.com/cold-weather...

Structure fire reported early this morning at 100 block of Barnes Rd in Sugar Grove (Beaver Dam Fire District). One person transported via ambulance. Multiple departments responded. Structure total loss, cause under investigation.

wataugaonline.com/structure-fi...

#WataugaCounty

Snow falling on the Doc Watson statue in downtown Boone this morning. ❄️

📸 Photo: Luke Turner

#NCwx #WinterWeather #HighCountry #Boone #WataugaCounty #DocWatson

❄️ Winter weather has arrived in Watauga County.
These photos from around the county this morning show snow-covered roads and icy conditions.

Use caution if traveling this morning - roads are slick in spots.

📸 Photos: Watauga County Schools

#NCwx #WinterWeather #WataugaCounty #HighCountry

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you and yours a weekend filled with good food, family, and gratitude.

#Thanksgiving #HighCountry #WataugaCounty

Thanksgiving Eve sunset in the High Country. Golden clouds glowing over the Blue Ridge as we head into the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

📷 Kara Harmon

#HighCountry #WataugaCounty #Sunset #Thanksgiving

Good morning, High Country! Fog fills the valley as the sunrise paints the sky over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Captured this morning from the old Canyons parking lot in Blowing Rock.

📷 Amy Odom

#BlowingRock #HighCountry #WataugaCounty #Sunrise

Sunny and 55°F in Boone at 11 AM, but a big cooldown is on the way. Temps drop to mid 40s this afternoon, mid 20s tonight with gusts up to 50 mph. Thanksgiving highs only in the mid 30s. Bundle up!

#WataugaCounty #Boone #HighCountry #NCWeather

Pertussis cases identified in Watauga County - WataugaOnline.com AppHealthCare has identified 8 cases of pertussis and 20 cases under investigation. These cases are among school age children and young adults. Some of these cases have known connections to other case...

AppHealthCare confirms 8 pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Watauga County, 20 more under investigation. Cases among school-age children and young adults. Vaccinated individuals experiencing milder illness.

wataugaonline.com/pertussis-ca...

#WataugaCounty #AppHealthCare #PublicHealth

NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook including Watauga & Ashe for Tuesday November 25, 2025 - WataugaOnline.com Hazardous Weather OutlookNational Weather Service Blacksburg VA340 AM EST Tue Nov 25 2025 NCZ001-002-018-VAZ007-009>018-WVZ042-260845-Ashe-Alleghany NC-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-Wythe-Pulaski...

NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook: Low probability of hazardous weather today. Potential wildfire risk Thursday-Friday afternoons if rainfall is light. Slight chance of snow mixed with rain late Saturday night into Sunday morning.

wataugaonline.com/nws-hazardou...

#WataugaCounty #AsheCounty #NCWeather

Boone Police Department Mourns Passing of Retired K9 Meeka - WataugaOnline.com The Boone Police Department is saddened to announce the passing of retired K9 Meeka, a beloved working dog whose 6-year career left a life-long imprint on the department and the community she served. ...

Boone Police Department mourns the passing of retired K9 Meeka, a Dutch Shepherd who served 6 years before retiring in May 2024. Handler Sgt. Miranda Bowen called her "a partner with plenty of sass and even more heart."

wataugaonline.com/boone-police...

#BoonePolice #K9Meeka #WataugaCounty

Bull Rider Dies After Sustaining Severe Injuries at Deep Gap Event - WataugaOnline.com A 21-year-old man has died after sustaining severe injuries while participating in a bull riding event in Deep Gap, according to the Watauga County Sheriff's Office. Emergency responders were dispatch...

A bull rider has died after sustaining severe injuries at a Deep Gap event.

wataugaonline.com/bull-rider-d...

#WataugaCounty #DeepGap

My photo of "Foggy Mountain" finished in 2nd place in the fineartamerica photo contest "Leaves on the Ground" out of 279 images submitted this week! #trail #ElkKnob #fog #foggy #autumn #fall #blueridgemountains #WataugaCountyNC #WataugaCounty #hiking #landscape #photography #bluemoonistic

When the fog rolls in and the deer come out to play. Classic High Country morning! 🦌🌫️

Photos: Melinda Reeves

#HighCountry #WataugaCounty #NorthCarolina #Wildlife #Deer #MountainLife