For more information contact:                    Sergeant Dennis O’Neal de**********@to*********.net Phone:  828-268-6936   Boone, NC –   Release Date:  May 16, 2025   On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Investigators assigned to the Boone Police Department Criminal Investigations Division were notified of a sexual assault.  During the investigation it was determined that the victim of the assault was a juvenile.   At the conclusion of the investigation, 37-year-old Joshua Lynn Suit of Boone, was placed under arrest.  Suit was charged with two counts of Felony Statutory Sexual Offense With a Child by an Adult.  Suit was issued a court date of June […]

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2025   4 new and reappointed App State Board of Trustees members to begin new terms July 1   BOONE, N.C. — At its May 15 meeting, the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors reappointed one member to Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees and appointed three new individuals to serve on the board. The trustees will begin their four-year terms July 1.   The new appointees are Jamie Schaefer, of Blowing Rock, Wayne Sumner ’75, of Boone, and William Warren ’87, of Columbia, South Carolina. The board reappointed Joseph Jeffries […]

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University celebrated the resilience and achievements of more than 4,200 graduates during its Spring 2025 Commencement, with six ceremonies held May 9–10 at Holmes Convocation Center. The graduates — whose educational journeys were impacted by such challenges as a global pandemic and a historic natural disaster — crossed the commencement stage prepared to begin new chapters and make meaningful contributions across North Carolina and beyond. Approximately 4,206 students applied to graduate this spring, including 3,585 undergraduate students from seven colleges and schools and 621 graduate students from the Williams School of Graduate Studies — including 29 doctoral […]

Not all local advertisers buy radio, but those that do are showing their confidence in the medium with their dollars. The average local radio station advertiser spent $48,060 in the medium last year, which according to a new report from Borrell Associates puts AM/FM near the top when it comes to spending. The only media channels to get a higher average spend from local advertisers last week were out-of-home (67,575) and search engine marketing (58,567) with radio getting a higher average total than even television. The numbers are noteworthy because as Borrell points out, there has been a profound change […]

Ashe County Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on September 2024 Felony Traffic Stop and Grand Jury Decision Ashe County Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on September 2024 Felony Traffic Stop and Grand Jury Decision Today, the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office is providing a critical update regarding the traffic stop that occurred on September 13th, 2024, and the recent findings by the Grand Jury. This update is shared with the deepest respect for our community. Since the incident, our office has refrained from public comment to allow the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the District Attorney’s Office to conduct a […]

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               Contact: David Jackson, 828-264-2225 May 14, 2025   FULL AGENDA ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 VISION NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt headlines a group of presenters highlighting career pathways for skilled labor jobs   BOONE, NC – A visit and featured remarks from North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt headlines a day filled with industry-driven presentations and insightful panel discussions at the 6th annual Vision Northwest North Carolina summit. The event takes place Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute’s Watauga Campus in Boone. This year’s focus centers on Defining Today’s Skilled Labor […]

    As Congress considers legislation to keep AM radio in vehicle dashboards, broadcast leaders are underscoring what they say is the medium’s unmatched role in public safety, rural communication, and local service. Speaking in a new video series produced by the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) President Jeff Nalley and National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) President Jim Winston outlined why passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R.979/S. 315) is essential. “Our goal is to continue to have the ability with terrestrial radio to serve the needs of the agriculture […]

Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF) – Preservation Congress has appropriated emergency supplemental funds from the Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF) to provide relief to owners of historic properties and support preservation in communities that received a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). Funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Office capacity and survey is available under a separate notice of funding opportunity for fiscal year 2025. Who May Apply? What is Funded? • States and Territories • Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian […]

BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES AN ADDITIONAL $520,000 IN THIRD ROUND OF BUSINESS RESILIENCY DISASTER GRANTS Hope for the High Country funds granted to an additional 61 businesses in Watauga, Ashe, & Avery Counties.   BOONE, NC – With over 160 requests received through Hope for the High Country: Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grants, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has recently awarded an additional $520,000 to 61 High Country businesses in its third round of funding. Through three funding rounds, 209 businesses have received disaster grant funding totaling $978,500.   Since late September, the Chamber Foundation […]

As economic instability defines the first days of 2025’s second quarter, brands and marketers are likely weighing where to potentially make budget cuts. Yet for those considering pulling back on advertising, history shows that would be a mistake. Cumulus Media Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard has outlined research-driven strategies for maintaining brand strength during financial downturns from studies by Kantar, the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, and WARC, among others. Historical data shows that maintaining a higher share of voice than share of market is a key predictor of brand growth. Reducing advertising spend during economic uncertainty can have exponential consequences, with some […]

Citing in-house and outside research, along with a case study, a new report from Audacy quantifies the effect of radio or podcast hosts’ endorsements of advertised products – specifically their impact vs. regular commercials, and to what degree they strengthen listeners’ connection to, interest in learning more about, or intent to purchase brands. “Whether it’s a podcast influencer weaving a product into their storytelling, or a radio host passionately sharing their favorite go-to restaurant, host endorsements pack in an unmatched energy, delivering results that are hard to ignore,” Audacy Senior Manager, Research and Insights Deepika Das says in Audacy’s Insights blog. “When it comes […]

WCC Announces Marshals for 2025 Commencement Ceremony WILKESBORO, N.C. – Wilkes Community College has announced the student marshals for its 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony, recognizing those with the highest academic achievement. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the John A. Walker Community Center on the Wilkes Campus.   Two separate ceremonies will be held to honor the graduating students. Graduates from the Applied Career Technology Division and the Health Sciences Division will participate in the 4 p.m. ceremony. Graduates from the Arts and Sciences Division and the Business and Public Service Technology Division (BPST) will be […]

AMOREM Welcomes New Volunteer Coordinator VALDESE – AMOREM welcomes Ingrid Link as its new volunteer coordinator in the low country service area. Link received a Bachelor of Science in special education from Appalachian State University. She retired from 28 years of service to the Caldwell County School System, where she taught special education, middle grades and served as a teacher support specialist. “I am so excited that Ingrid has joined the Volunteer Services Team,” says Director of Volunteer Services Cyndi Akins. “She is a blessing in many ways and the volunteers already love her. We all look forward to serving […]

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 6, 2025   Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State   BOONE, N.C. — William James Sears Jr. has been appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at Appalachian State University, announced Chancellor Heather Norris on Friday, May 2. The appointment is effective July 1.   The vice chancellor of university advancement reports to the chancellor and is responsible for leading and coordinating all aspects of the university’s fundraising, alumni relations and donor engagement efforts — advancing and promoting the university’s mission and vision by providing leadership; planning, developing, managing and implementing […]

      Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation Accepting Grant Applications   For Immediate Release   Contact: Renee R. Walker, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Energy, (828) 759-8913, (828) 757-6771 (cell) or rw*****@bl*************.com     Lenoir, North Carolina (May 6, 2025) – The Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2025 grant cycle.   Applications are accepted online at https://br.energy/grants through June 30, 2025. Grants will focus on organizations impacted by Helene or helping with recovery efforts. The Foundation will also consider grant applications that support economic and community development initiatives and programs, projects, and/or […]