91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines I have been honored to serve as the chairman of the board since 2016. By treating everyone with kindness and love. In order to maintain decorum, political literature and signage will not be allowed in the room. Email: Giving them the support and structure to help them do their job and let them do their job, Fenwick said. Time for the 2023 Watauga County Republican Party Convention! Full Time. We had to be proactive to set folks up to succeed. McLane Drivers safely deliver and unload product from our distribution centers to our customers, and they earn great pay and . Lenoir, North Carolina (February 24, 2023) - The Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation has appointed Angie Miller to fill the Watauga District Board seat that was left open when Hope Caroselli recently stepped down from the Board following a move outside the cooperative's service area. Kerley emphasized the work that needs to be done with school therapists and counselors to increase social confidence amongst children. if (window.jQuery) { Fenwick also addressed maintaining a diverse student body and keeping students safe as the are grows in population. Questions will come from audience submissions as well as suggestions from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Community and Government Committee. I was elected to the Watauga County Board of Education in 2010 and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and 2016. The role and responsibilities of the BOE are vast and many in governing a school system. I have lived in the High Country for 30 years. We hope that you will join us and show your support for our ever-growing party! Feb 25, 2023 45 . 5:00 Venue opens and seating area open to the public, 5:15 - Candidates for US House of Representatives, 6:00 Candidates for Watauga County Sheriff, 6:45 - Candidates for Watauga County Board of Education, 7:45 - Candidates for NC House (Districts 93 & 87), House District 93 (Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany), 8:30 - Candidates for Watauga County Commissioners. function widget_load_check_dom(){ Navigate to North Carolina 2022 local elections overviews: First thing that comes to mind since weve been dealing with this a lot lately is the need for improving our facilities. Use the golden rule. The men and women of Watauga County Schools provide frontline care and support to our students. We have many needs there right now across all schools and the new school in Valle Crucis. Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 1, Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 3, Watauga County Board of Commissioners District 4, Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. And create educational opportunities. The third thing I think is that were at a time now when we have to examine very carefully the forces that are trying to influence what we teach and how we teach in our schools.. Job specializations: HR/Recruitment. With virtual learning in the public school system due to the pandemic, it continues to be a challenge for students to have good Internet access during this remote school setting. Boone, NC 28607, Physical Address: The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization, and is not affiliated with any municipal or county government. Available for weddings, charters, destination tours and airport shuttles. State and local courts | State law currently prohibits local government from directly providing internet access, even in most kinds of partnerships with ISPs. WATAUGA COUNTY, N.C. Early voting began October 15 in North Carolina statewide. Not sure what address you are registered at? We have accomplished so much but we still have much to do. Showrooms with gas logs, water heaters and more are located in each Blue Ridge Energy district office. Our schools do not have the funding or infrastructure to solve these problems alone. Watauga County, out of necessity, will need to carry on with building and development as, Appalachian State University continues to grow. position Listed on 2023-03-01. Another important way to promote progress is through our recruitment and hiring practices and our efforts to prepare and retain new teachers and other school personnel. VoterInfobyState_Timeout_dom = setTimeout(widget_load_check_dom, 500); Each response will have a 90-second time limit and each candidate will have a 2-minute opening and closing statement. Should the county be encouraging building and development especially with how fast App State is expanding? For the past eight years I have had the pleasure of serving on the Watauga County Planning Board. House District 93 (Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany), 579 Greenway Rd Suite 101Boone, North Carolina 28607United States. He said he wants to make sure that the history that is being taught is not the history that America fought to get away from.. } else { Where are the barriers to creating a better pipeline of minority role models in education and how can these barriers be addressed? Ive seen and tried to come together to a happy medium and common ground, Kerley said. To do that will require action from state and local government. I work in Campus Dining at Appalachian and I was a political science major many years ago. A special thank you to each of the candidates for their participation in the event, along with our venue host Appalachian Theatre, and our media partners at SkyBest TV and High Country Radio. Matthew.Snyder@watgov.org, Board Members But I would like to get even two officers in every school, Cole said. Michael Behrent - Chair HR Assistant, Remote Recruiter, Recruiter, HR / Recruitment Consultant. Was early voting available to all voters? We will be convening at the Watauga County Courthouse, in Courtroom 1 on March 11th, 2023 to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! the whole area is safer and easier to use. Job specializations: HR/Recruitment. Fenwick emphasized the amount of personnel turnover during the pandemic. I want to see those projects through. } I plan to look into efforts of making grants available to the hardest hit businesses that have suffered the most due to the long shutdown. I have been married to my wife, Anissa, for 27 years. What are your plans for the board of commissioners if you are elected? } Achieving equal opportunity remains one of the greatest challenges throughout American life, and while it is obviously a national issue, much of the real work has to be done at the local level. Feb 25, 2023 44 . Members of the community are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing info@boonechamber.com. The university continues to admit more students, and while they are adding dorm space it still will be insufficient. Provided bio: My name is Todd Castle and I am running for Watauga County Commissioner. Yourvoter registration is linked to your residential address. I serve on the App State Staff Senate, and my wife and I participate in AppKids each year. Watauga Democrat. } Hanifan believes the best way to succeed with transitioning is by reassessing testing techniques. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. We have more school nurses, more school counselors, a PreK program, middle school and elementary day programs which have helped us significantly close the learning gap, Fenwick said. Kerley also emphasized his desire to have a resource officer in every school. We must continue to support this vital work. Apply today! All memberships are company based and individuals cannot join BACC. Watauga County Board of Elections Local internet service providers offered special packages that were more affordable. When opportunities for improvements in these and related areas are identified, the School Board can and should advocate for the necessary changes with the General Assembly and others as appropriate. Provided bio:My name is familiar to many: I have been providing health care to women in Watauga County for more than 25 years as a public health nurse, as an owner of a private medical practice, and now as an Advanced Practice Nurse at Harmony Center for Women. The founder and editor was Joseph F. Spainhour (1850-1939) who, in the first issues, also offered his services as an attorney. 163, 336-846-2421 Sign up for daily email newsletter updates Email * First & Last Name * Filing for all offices for the 2022 primary was delayed in . The growth of App State has caused development to expand outside of the Town of Boones boundaries. I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. U.S. Congress | The Watauga Democrat, based in Boone, North Carolina, originated in July 1888 as a megaphone for the Democratic Party of Watauga County. Cole supports mental health support being offered to students as needed, but believes that Watauga as a whole is doing well. I think its about hiring the best teachers out there and that we hire people who will teach appropriately and properly so that our kids can have the best education possible, Kerley said. if ($(this).next('div.vis_widget_table').is(":hidden")) { I know that our schools are having trouble being able to fill certain jobs. We are a Carolinas Accredited Chamber by CACCE and serve over 750 members across the High Country. .widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a:after {font-family: 'Glyphicons Halflings';content: '\e113';float: right;color: grey}.widget-toggle-tabs li.panel > a.collapsed:after {content: '\e080'} Id like to add that I have experience in all these areas having developed safety plans for three different schools.. Ashcraft pointed out the policies used regarding specific reading material which parents may be uncomfortable with their children reading. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Two priorities are at the top of the list: 1) Early childhood education, including increased availability of pre-kindergarten classes, especially for lower income families, and greater investment outside of the school system in early childhood services, and 2) greater progress on implementing the school systems capital improvements plan, including replacing two of the K- schools and completing major maintenance and improvement projects for most of the other. } It will be our responsibility to provide the data, support, and application to help those organizations (private and public) to see Watauga County as a favorable site to bring county-wide connectivity. Election Day is Nov. 8 and with 19 candidates on the local ballot, Watauga voters have many decisions to make. I will review proposed policies and practices with careful attention to their possible impacts on racial equity, and seek to change those which unfairly affect minority students or personnel. Continue to support them any way that we possibly can- through food programs and educational opportunities. Copyright 2023 - Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This forum is not intended to be a debate between candidates, but rather an opportunity for the citizenry to hear each candidates position on topics important to all. Obviously, I endorse washing hands and using hand sanitizer as recommended by the doctors. They have a right to know their curriculum and they should be involved and its our duty to serve them to do so, Hanifan said. We will be convening at the Watauga County Courthouse, in Courtroom 1 on March 11th, 2023 to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! President/CEO, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, 579 Greenway Rd Suite 101Boone, North Carolina 28607United States. $("div.vis_widget_title").each(function(index) { This is another area where state action and in this case, significant direct state funding is likely to be needed to make substantial progress. View My Voter Registration Information Am I registered to vote? This position will provide counseling services to our consumers. It does not matter about the journey, race, ethnicity, orientation, or affiliation. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Phone: chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-down'); 828-265-8061 The Boone Chamber (of Commerce) has done an incredible job in helping us to provide forums for us to share and help each other. Provided bio: I am a native of Watauga County and have worked for App State Athletics since 2001. There are funds available for local small businesses set up through private donations from local community members. Im on numerous nonprofit boards in the area and volunteer my time as well with OASIS, Hunger and Health Coalition and Hospitality House. The increase in housing also brings the need for various business services to support a growing population. chevron.removeClass('fa-chevron-down'); In a statement noting the removal, they say that the modems were never used. I have also taken great pride in offering open and honest government for all citizens. Im a fan of having options for kids, if somebody thinks something is not appropriate they should have options to choose from, Kerley said. This is a big need, but a necessary one as our community continues to grow and expand into the western and eastern areas of the county. They have the ability to investigate and lay the foundation for what we need to grow. Matt Walpole - Member Our members in Watauga County have endorsed a slate of trustworthy public-school advocates for the Watauga County school board. The state has a lot of resources that could help to lower the tense relationships that often lead to dangerous situations in our schools, Ashcraft said. What were the early voting start and end dates? I would want to increase funding to the school system. All questions will be asked by a moderator. James Hill- Secretary The members of BACC invite and encourage you to join! Remote Recruiter, Recruiter, HR / Recruitment Consultant, Tech / IT Recruiter. It is more important than ever to wear a mask in any public space, wash hands, and continue to social distance. Everyone should have an even playing field and the resources required, now that teleworking and online education have become the norm. 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