Incumbents fared well in local elections and Democrats carried Watauga County in most state-level races, mirroring a national change of “red” to “blue.”
Democrat Cullie Tarleton of Blowing Rock won his second term to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Republican challenger Dan Soucek and Libertarian Jeff Cannon of West Jefferson. Democrat Steve Goss handily turned away challenger Jerry Butler, both of Boone, to win a second term in the N.C. Senate. For the school board, incumbents Steve Combs and Deborah Miller won four-year terms while Marsha Walpole eked out a third-place finish to earn a two-year term, defeating David Ward and Joni Horine.
Republican Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk won a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democratic challenger Roy Carter by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin, though Carter topped Foxx by 2,000 votes in Watauga.
Governor-elect Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, beat Republican challenger Pat McRory by 90 votes in Watauga, getting 50 percent of the statewide vote.
Democrat Kay Hagan handily won the county in defeating incumbent Elizabeth Dole for the U.S. Senate seat.
President-elect Barack Obama beat John McCain in Watauga County by 1,200 votes, with voter turnout at 68 percent.
Goss said education was the main issue of interest to voters, especially in how it related to job creation, which he felt was the biggest between this election and his narrow victory in 2006. He got 53 percent of the district’s votes and said he looked forward to continuing to provide constituent service and addressing the economy, especially in supporting the district’s colleges and universities. Tarleton said, “I’m obviously very pleased the voters had the confidence in me and The economy is the big issue about what happened and what is happening and what impact that will have across the state. I want to make sure we look after the interest of the district and look for ways to fund education, teacher salaries and state employees and create jobs.” Boone voters passed a $25 million bond referendum by a 73 percent-to-27 percent margin, with the money going toward a new water intake plant on the New River. The proposal is still undergoing environmental review.
Members of the popular ¡¥60s bluegrass band Blue Ridge Descendants reunite at the Hayes Performing Arts Center for a special concert to be provided to the PBS network
A musical staple of 1960s Appalachia, the bluegrass band Blue Ridge Descendants was formed to celebrate and preserve the music and tradition that made mountain life and the music it begat so unique. Three of its original members - James Coffey, Bob Harman and Glenn Bolick - and a few others that were once regulars on he popular band, come together to recapture that old-time sound for generations both old and new in a special concert at the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock on Nov. 16 at 7:30pm. In addition, the show will be filmed for and broadcast on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) at a later date. The program will also include a slide show of post-Civil War era photographs detailing the roots and history of the Blue Ridge and its people. Master potter and musician Glenn Bolick is famous in these parts for preserving the history of the Appalachian mountains via music and storytelling. Well-versed in the fiddle, guitar, banjo and harmonica, Bolick, a true descendant whose family was among the first to settle in Appalachia, excels in old-time gospel, mountain ballads and bluegrass, and has been featured on radio, TV and recordings.
8th Graders' Eyes Open Wide at Vocation Day
Almost 400 eighth grade students from nine Watauga County elementary schools attended Vocation Day on Wednesday, October 29th, at the Holmes Convocation Center. Given pressure on students to choose a career path increasingly early in their schooling, Vocation Day provides eighth graders an opportunity to discover several different potential occupations, including automotive, health care, fire and rescue, audio-visual, forestry, cooking, construction, and cosmetology, among others. ¡§Historically, the priority in elementary and secondary education has gone beyond simple reading, writing and arithmetic, to prepare students for college,¡¨ noted Howard Williams, chairman of the 2008 Vocation Day spearheaded by his Rotary Club of Blowing Rock. ¡§That is a noble cause, but for a large number of young people the furthest thing from their interests and ambitions is the pursuit of a college degree. ¡§They need to know that there a number of good-paying jobs,¡¨ continued Williams, ¡§that need to be filled by competent and willing workers. This event's goal is very simple: to expose 8th graders in Watauga County to interesting potential career paths and programs at the high school level that can help them on their way. Getting the students engaged in the discovery of life opportunities - and the importance of education in every field of study - is mission critical for keeping them in school.
