Here’s a check of the latest from WataugaOnline.com.
In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 general election began Thursday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Watauga County has six sites: the Watauga County Administration Building and the App State Student Union in Boone, the Blowing Rock American Legion, Deep Gap Fire Department, Meat Camp Fire Department and the Western Watauga Community Center in Sugar Grove. All are open 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 30, and 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, with no weekend voting before then. Voters who missed the Oct. 9 registration deadline can register and vote the same day at an early voting site with proof of residence. Absentee ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Peak leaf-viewing weekend, the Valle Country Fair and the Woolly Worm Festival all land on the same weekend, and officials expect the largest influx of motorists of the year, with Saturday the busiest day. The Valle Country Fair runs 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday only, near Valle Crucis along N.C. 194; admission is free and parking is $10 per car. The 49th Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk runs 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. Plan extra time and expect jam-packed High Country roads.
Friday Night Football: Watauga Hosts Alexander Central; App State Visits Coastal Carolina
Watauga vs. Alexander Central: Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. at Watauga High School, 300 Go Pioneer Dr., Boone, on Pink Out night. The Pioneers (2-5, 1-1 Northwestern 6A/7A) are coming off a 49-14 win at South Caldwell that snapped a five-game losing streak, running for 388 yards. Alexander Central is 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play after a 47-21 win over St. Stephens; its only loss was 42-7 to Hickory.
App State at Coastal Carolina: Friday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. ET at Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. (ESPN2). The Mountaineers (3-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) look to bounce back from a 10-3 home loss to Old Dominion, their second straight defeat. Coastal quarterback Deuce Bailey leads the Sun Belt with 13 touchdown passes, and the Chanticleers have allowed about 190 rushing yards per game.
QUICK HITS
Sold-out game: James Madison visits App State next Thursday, Oct. 22, and the game is sold out.
WEATHER
Check the current Hazardous Weather Outlook, live weather radar, and forecast for Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties on our Weather page. Forecast courtesy of the National Weather Service.
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Thanks for reading — see you tomorrow.
— WataugaOnline