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| Walk celebrates scenic highway |
Jana Nordstrand
Staff Writer
Clubs / Organizations Beat |
Laura McCarthy | The Appalachian |
The Partnership for Watauga’s
Future will be sponsoring a community walk Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. to celebrate
the new Doc and Merle Watson Scenic Highway.
Doc Watson, world-renowned musician and native of
Watauga County, will make an appearance in support of the walk.
“The purpose of this walk is to show the community
and the students what an asset and a jewel this road is,” said
Jerry Williamson a member of the Partnership for Watauga’s Future. |
The major issue surrounding
this event is the debate of whether or not to maintain the highway
as a scenic route.
Without the vote of the County Commission to maintain
U.S. Highway 421 as a scenic highway, the prohibition of the erection
of billboards will no longer stand.
“It is important that students come out and
support this event. In 20 years they will be bringing their children
to Boone and they have a chance now to determine how it’s going
to look,” said Dr. Dennis O. Grady, chairperson of the Department
of Political Science and Criminal Justice.
With elections for the County Commissioner rapidly
approaching, candidates are holding the issue as part of their platforms.
Pat Wilkie, Dave Robertson and Sue Sweeting endorse
Scenic Byway and Scenic Highway designations.
David Blust, Alan Trivett and Keith Honeycutt are
all supporting the erection of billboards in their platforms.
There is an opportunity to meet these candidates
Oct. 9 on Sanford Mall at 5 p.m.
“The scenic highway shows the beauty of this
area and if billboards are allowed, it will detract from that,”
said Grady.
The length of the new four-lane Highway 421 runs
11.3 miles from Deep Gap into Boone. The community walk will be conducted
on the 1.4 miles between Brownwood Road and Hardin Road where traffic
will be blocked off specifically for this event. |
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