Made in the High Country 2019

AEV

High Country Timberframe

Sexton Farms

McFarland INDUSTRY • CRAFTSMEN • INNOVATORS • ENTREPRENEURS

2019

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF

2 - Mountain Times Publications

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Goodnight Brothers: remembering the past and keeping pace with the present

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FILE PHOTOS Employees at Goodnight Brothers debone hams. The company receives hundreds of thousands of pounds of ham each month.

he Goodnight Brothers is a local business that began in 1948 and has now grown into a nationwide distributor of its dry-cured ham.

Now, with cousins Jim and Bill Goodnight in the roles of president and vice president of the company and contracts with retail stores and restaurants, the business is more well-known and widespread than ever.

With headquarters located at 372 Industrial Drive in Boone, the Goodnight Brothers hams are shipped all over the country, branching out from the roots from Maryland to northern Florida and spreading outward to Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Goodnight sells directly to Harris Teeter and Food Lion in North Carolina and has other food service and retail connections for its other products, which include all-natural ham, snack sticks, various types of bacon and pork skins.

The team at Goodnight dry cures about 280,000 pounds of pork per week in its environment rooms that simulate winter, spring, summer and winter. This process speeds a year’s worth of flavor into 72-90 days.

The Goodnight Brothers is still family-owned and-operated, just as it was in 1948, and it is heavily involved with the Appalachian State University Sustainable Development Department. It employs around 130 individuals with mostly manufacturing jobs.

“Our employees are our greatest asset,” said Bill Goodnight, vice president and general manager of Goodnight Brothers.

Goodnight recalls that the company hasn’t always been a curing facility.

“We started as a produce supplier,” he said. “But, the ham gives our employees full-time work, where produce is just seasonal.”

Goodnight also said that tourism of the High Country affected their growth in the first few years. The more tourists, the more country ham Goodnight Brothers would sell.

The company moved to the Industrial Park in Boone in 1994, after there was a second facility operating in Charlotte.

Along with blossoming tourism in the area, this move helped to boost Goodnight Brothers into a new area for their business.

“That really gave us the automation that we needed at the time. We could pick up a lot more customers,” said Goodnight.

In the future, Goodnight Brothers plans to keep listening to their customers. As the Farm to Table movement has kicked off, the company is turning to a more natural approach to some of their hams and other products.

“Pigs are raised on family farms, and in turn, we don’t use synthetic nitrites, we use celery powder, which lets us cure all-naturally,” Goodnight said.

“Supporting local businesses is really important to us since we are one,” said Heather Messer, office administrator, who also highlights customer service as one of the aspects that sets Goodnight Brothers apart from other companies.

Goodnight Brothers’ legacy in the High Country is spreading from statewide to nationwide as it enters its 71st year of business. Despite adapting to tourism, growth and demand, Goodnight Brothers still offers consistency and a taste of dry-cured country ham.

Jim and Bill Goodnight are president and vice president, respectfully, of Goodnight Brothers located in Boone. They are the second, almost third, generation that has worked at the family-owned and-operated company since its inception in 1948.

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Mountain Times Publications -

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Tyson Foods: nationally recognizable and trusted brands Today’s Tyson Foods is a modern, multi-national, protein-focused food company with more than 122,000 employees. We produce one in five pounds of all chicken, beef and pork in the United States, making us the market leaders. We’re behind some of the most recognized brands on grocery store shelves today. Our portfolio includes the Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright® Brand, Golden Island®, Aidells® and State Fair® brands.

Since 1935, Tyson Foods has been committed to making great food and a difference within our industry. As one of

the world’s largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, we have a great opportunity to do so. This means our team members have a chance to make a real impact. They have access to a vast network of resources that enables an entrepreneurial spirit to flourish. Opportunity for advancement is within reach for those who are willing to take up the challenge of being number one.

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MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

4 - Mountain Times Publications

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Baldridge Bridge in Deep Gap open for US 421, 221 traffic

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EEP GAP — Drivers going east from Boone to get onto U.S. 221 North from U.S. 421 in Deep Gap will have to change their habits as the traffic ramp and overpass bridge, named after Sgt. Dillon C. Baldridge, opened to traffic around 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

“Today is a big day because the interchange is a very important part of accomplishing the safety component of the purpose and need of the project — to improve safety and mobility,” Division 11 Construction Engineer Trent Beaver said in a statement, Sept.

11. “The interchange eliminates a traffic signal and separates traffic in an area that is very prone to foggy conditions.”

“It’s good to have (the Baldridge Bridge) open and be able to continue with construction,” said Ivan Dishman, district supervisor for the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Boone office. “The interchange there was a milestone to reach ... now we can concentrate to get the rest of the project finished.”

The transition is part of the ongoing $224 million U.S. 221 project, which runs 16.1 miles from Deep Gap to Jefferson.

The interchange redevelopment and widening of U.S. 221 from Deep Gap to just north of the South Fork New River, part of section A of the project, cost $46 million, according to the NCDOT’s Sept. 11 statement.

“This interchange has been a priority from the conception of the project,” Beaver said. “We are pleased to see it open today.”

Traffic heading from Boone to West Jefferson will exit U.S. 421 South and drive on a bridge over U.S. 421 to join U.S. 221 North.

Traffic driving from Wilkesboro to West Jefferson will take a new offramp from U.S. 421 North to U.S. 221 North.

Drivers heading from West Jefferson to Wilkesboro (U.S. 221 South to U.S. 421 South) will use separate lanes of the new bridge to cloverleaf onto U.S. 421 South. The only remaining movement — from West Jefferson to Boone (U.S. 221 South to U.S. 421 North) — will remain in its existing pattern until that ramp is complete later this year, according to the NCDOT.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL The now-open Baldridge Bridge is what drivers now use to enter or exit U.S. 221 onto U.S. 421 in Deep Gap.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL The sign for the Sgt. Dillon C. Baldridge Bridge greeted travelers who drove on the overpass in both directions on Sept. 11, the first day it was opened.

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL Vehicles use the ramp on U.S. 421 South to access U.S. 221 North, and vice-versa, shortly after the Baldridge Bridge was opened on Sept. 11.

Concrete barriers prevent a left turn at the old intersection.

Dishman said the new ramp will be near where the current turn is located and said it will incorporate part of the current ramp. Interim traffic patterns will be established during the construction of the ramp, Dishman added.

Watauga County Communica-

stated.

Baldridge, a Ashe County native who lived in Youngsville, died June 10, 2017, along with two others, while taking part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan at the age of 22. The bridge was dedicated in Baldridge’s honor in June 2019.

The entire project is set for final

tions warned drivers of the impending traffic shift in a morning Facebook post on Sept. 11.

“Please be aware that it may take time for commuters to become accustomed to the new flow of traffic at this intersection, so please use caution while traveling through this area,” the Watauga County Communications’ Facebook post

completion in 2023. Most of the project in Watauga County has been finished, with final work in the Deep Gap area expected to be finished by 2020.

“We don’t put down the last layer of asphalt until everything else is done,” Dishman said.

“There’s still quite a bit of work to get done.”

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

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Panelized Home Construction Is Available in the High Country Nationally Known Timber Frame Company With Roots in Boone Embraces the Future of Building

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igh Country Timberframe & Gallery Woodworking Co. has achieved national recognition through its innovative experience in the craft of timber frame and home construction techniques. Founded in Boone in 1997, the company’s work includes projects throughout the United States, such as, the New York Botanical Gardens, The Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Ohio, and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the campus of Duke University, just to name a few.

Co-founded by Tom Owens and Pete Jankowski, who met in 1994 while working for other carpenters in the area, High Country Timberframe is a nationally known timber frame company that also provides full design and build services for high-performance homes, offering turn-key construction services in the High Country and surround-

PHOTO BY KAYLA LASURE High Country Timberframe & Gallery Woodworking Co. is based in Boone. Left to right: Alan Frye, Pete Jankowski (co-owner), Pamela Lunceford and Tom Owens (co-owner).

ing counties, including northeast Tennessee.

In the early 2010s, High Country Timberframe invested in upgrad-

ing their facility to continue to design and fabricate beautiful timber frames, and to incorporate the manufacturing of panelized walls, a prefab building system, that allows high-quality new custom homes to be constructed faster, more energy efficiently and with lessened environmental impact when compared to conventional building methods.

If you have never heard of a panelized wall panel, perhaps you share a common misconception that panelized homes are the same as a “modular” home, meaning reduced quality of construction.

Nothing is farther from the truth.

“The fact is,” Owens says, “a panelized home is NOT a modular home. A panelized home is just like a traditional stick built home – except that a large portion of the homebuilding process takes place in the controlled environment of a manufacturing facility.”

ShopBuilt™ Panelized Walls are

engineered and designed to meet or exceed local building codes and are constructed with the same or greater quality materials used in stick-frame construction, which makes them completely customizable. They are also built with the client’s design, budget and schedule in mind. They work well with SIP (structural insulated panels) roof panels and can be incorporated with conventional or timber frame construction. ShopBuilt High Performance Wall panels are inspected twice for quality assurance — once during manufacturing by a third party structural engineering firm and once on site after they are set in place.

“Panelized construction also offers some distinct advantages over site-built construction,” Owens says. “A panelized home can be built faster than a site-built home, SEE TIMBER ON PAGE 13

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MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

GE Aviation: Powering commercial jet engines across the globe

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very two seconds, an airplane powered by GE technology is taking off somewhere in the world, according to GE Aviation. In other words, at any given moment, more than 300,000 people are depending on their engines.

GE Aviation in West Jefferson employs 350 skilled, hardworking team members who produce high pressure turbine disks and high pressure compressor spools used in commercial jet engines around the world.

GE Aviation places a high value on the workforce it has. According to GE, its competitive advantage is its employees.

They believe their success stems from a collaborative work environment. With an empowered workforce, they say teams become more efficient and more effective at a lower cost.

The GE Aviation plant at West Jefferson continues to expand, nearly doubling

in size to a total of 196,000 square feet.

Representing a $153 million investment, the expansion broke ground in June 2014, and the new building was officially opened in July 2015.

GE Aviation’s West Jefferson team is always looking for talented team members.

Candidates should have at least one year manufacturing experience in set-up and operations of any of the following machining processes: drilling, milling, grinding, turning or broaching — or one year education in a relevant field such as machining and engineering.

Interested candidates can apply at www. gecareers.com using the keyword, “West Jefferson Machinist.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED A graphic shows the high pressure compressor spools and turbine disks produced by GE Aviation’s employees in West Jefferson.

GE Aviation is proud to be part of the High Country Industrial Community

400 The Professional Drive, West Jefferson, NC 28694 | (336) 246-1721 | www.geaviation.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED The West Jefferson GE Aviation plant added a 90,000-square-foot expansion to its facility and continues to add to its workforce, currently employing 350 people.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

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High Country publisher McFarland nears 8,000 published books Celebrates 40 years

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s one of the leading publishers of academic nonfiction works in the United States, McFarland & Company Publishers represents the High Country well as it publishes around 400 new books on varying topics each year.

Located in Jefferson, McFarland specializes in nonfiction works, such as histories, biographies and academic books, but beyond these are a vast variety of topics covered, according to Karl-Heinz Roseman, McFarland’s vice president of sales and marketing.

“I’ve been here 21 years and still get surprised about some of the interesting, cool things that are covered,” Roseman said.

Among librarians, McFarland has a reputation for taking on unique slices of history or upcoming trends in society and culture, according to Roseman. As an example, Roseman said that McFarland published a book about zombies in pop-culture well before the television series “The Walking Dead” rose to popularity.

“At the time, there weren’t too many other publishers confident enough to put out a serious treatment of a seemingly quirky topic,” Roseman said.

McFarland is also known for publishing works on social topics well before they reach the public spotlight, Roseman said, such as titles about anorexia in 1984, one about the lives of women living under the Taliban in 2001 before the attacks on 9/11, and one about cannibidiol — popularly known as CBD — in 2015.

McFarland’s best-selling categories include true

crime and titles about the Vietnam War, particularly combat memoirs from U.S. Marines and soldiers, Roseman said. Currently, their bestselling titles are “Longstreet at Gettysburg: A Critical Reassessment”

by Cory M. Pfarr and “The Making of Tombstone” by John Farkis.

Although McFarland is not technically a regional publisher, Roseman said that so many of their employees have such a strong personal interest in local history that they have published titles on Ashe County and the surrounding area, including books about Ashe County history, nature, art and music.

Roseman said McFarland is fairly well known in the community for its involvement in supporting local arts and theater, but is less known for its involvement in education.

“We make room for interns in several departments each semester, and have a training program to expose them to anything from technical job skills to just what it means to work in a professional environment,” Roseman said.

Interns for McFarland are actively enrolled college students, although Roseman said they have also had high schoolers shadow their staff and have participated in career days at the middle school.

McFarland has also worked with famous authors, including James Arness, known for his role as Marshall Matt Dillon in the famous television series “Gunsmoke,” as well as forewardists for their published titles, including Eric Clapton, Burt Reynolds, Prince Charles and President Jimmy Carter.

The company’s founder, Robert McFarland Franklin, was born in Tennessee and spent much of his early life in the midwest. After finishing his service in the

FILE PHOTO Mike Grubb (on right) shows visitors a tour of the McFarland Publishing printing presses, where as many as 4,000 books can be printed and bound in one week of work.

U.S. Army, he found a job at a publisher up north, Roseman said. While working there, he visited friends that lived in Ashe County and fell in love with the area and community. Franklin ultimately decided to relocate to Ashe County and found his own publishing company in 1979.

“We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the people of Ashe County,” Roseman said.

In addition to Franklin, Roseman said president Rhonda Herman is instrumental in McFarland’s success.

After working with thousands of authors, publishing just shy of 8,000 books and working four decades in the publishing business, McFarland recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in June. Authors from as far as California and New York flew to Ashe County to join the community in celebrating their service to the literary world.

The company has changed with the times during its 40 years, making slight alterations in its business model to meet newfound demand for

e-books and online retailers, such as, Amazon, helping to stabilize the compa-

ny for the years to come, according to Franklin.

To browse the McFarland

& Company Publishers catalogue, go online to www. mcfarlandbooks.com.

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

8 - Mountain Times Publications

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

U.S. 221 widening Leviton engineers project continues to thoughtful make steady progress solutions

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ur history of ingenuity: After immigrating from Russia to the United States, Isidor Leviton opened a small tinsmithing business in 1906, where he produced mantle tips used for gas lighting. With the rise of Edison’s light bulb, Leviton shifted to manufacture a single electrical product: the pull-chain lampholder.

From that one electrical device, Leviton has paved the way for generations of people around the world to live and work with greater ease and security.

Diverse solutions to meet rapidly changing needs: Investment in innovation and expansion of capabilities continue to be our hallmarks. Recent product developments such as Decora Smart™, Wi-Fi and Apple HomeKit product lines, DecoraŽ, Digital Controls, the industry’s first SmartlockProŽ Dual Function AFCI/GFCI outlet and the Atlas X-1 Category 8 Cabling System showcase our commitment to helping

customers and contractors enhance spaces through functionality and eďŹƒciency.

From electrical to lighting to networking, Leviton is engineering thoughtful solutions. Coupled with recent acquisitions, we are poised for even greater success as we deliver smarter, safer, more reliable products to a rapidly changing world.

With a continued focus on using our ingenuity, experience and global resources to deliver more eďŹƒcient and more intelligent solutions, we aim to create a positive dierence in environments and communities around the world. “We Make It Happen.â€?

EVERY HOME IS ALIVE!

ASHE COUNTY — Progress on the widening of U.S. 221 to four lanes between Deep Gap and Jeerson has been steady throughout the summer months, according to NCDOT Division 11 Construction Engineer Trent Beaver.

As follows is a breakdown of progress on the U.S. 221 widening project as of July 31: Sections A and B — starting from the junction of U.S. 421, continuing past Idlewild Road and across South Fork New River — are clustered into one contract handled since December 2015

by James R. Vannoy & Sons of Jeerson, according to Beaver.

The 4.6-mile stretch of road is worth $46.4 million in estimated construction costs, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, according to Beaver.

The project is approximately 90 percent complete. “The contractor is paving, installing curb and gutter and concrete medians in several areas,� Beaver said in an email. “They are also milling and paving along U.S. 421 as they work toward placing traffic on the interchange next month.�

Section C — past the bridge over South Fork New River to the N.C. 194 junction at Baldwin Road — is contracted for $53 million to Vecellio and Grogan of Beckley, West Virginia, who began work in February 2017, according to Beaver.

The 4-mile stretch of widening highway is approximately 70 percent complete and scheduled for completion by early 2021, Beaver said. “Approximately 3.2 million cubic yards of the total 3.4 million cubic yards of

unclassified excavation has been performed,â€? Beaver said. “Currently the contractor is concentrating on constructing subgrade and paving north of the Fleetwood Fire Department in an eort to substantially complete the northern section of the project as soon as possible.â€?

Section D — from N.C. 194 to the four-way stoplight in West Jeerson — was completed by Vannoy & Sons between March 2015 and January 2019.

The four miles of four-lane highway still need some slope repair work, but are otherwise completed and open to traďŹƒc. The $21.3 million contract price for Section D went over-budget by about $1.3 million.

Section E — North of the four-way stoplight in West Jeerson to U.S. 221 Business and N.C. 88 in Jeerson — is 3.5 miles long with an estimated cost of $32.2 million. Project letting for this section has been delayed to September 2021.

Smarter, Safer and Faster Innovations A home is more than a place. It’s a living thing with senses, memories and moods, and a personality all its own. It constantly evolves and grows, striving each day to create the best life for all those who live inside.

As homes have continued to progress and provide, Leviton has been the electrical ecosystem behind it all since 1906 - anticipating where the future’s going so your home will be ready for whatever happens next.

At Leviton, we make the future happen. For over a century, our extensive portfolio of breakthrough products has provided millions of users with the light, power and information they need to move forward and do more every day.

Visit www.leviton.com for information on all our products: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Lighting & Lighting Controls, and Network Solutions

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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

10 - Mountain Times Publications

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

PHOTO SUBMITTED AEV is committed to the highest quality and safety standards achievable.

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AEV: Creating jobs and ambulances for 28 years

ince 1991, American Emergency Vehicles has been producing quality emergency vehicles in Ashe County. The company, known as AEV, is still looking to grow and develop according to production supervisor James Reed.

AEV currently produces 1,400 emergency vehicles annually — roughly 26 per week. Reed said it’s not easy to maintain those numbers, but AEV has been able to do it.

“Obviously we have to sustain

orders and we’ve been able to do that. Manpower is pretty big. So orders and manpower, if we can keep those, we can sustain those numbers,” Reed said.

Reed said this has helped the company become a go-to brand for manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, International, Freightliner and Ram. It has also led to the company’s dominance in the field, with two out of every five ambulances on the road in America having come from the Ashe County company.

The company operates two

plants in Jefferson, the REV Remount Center on Gates Road and its headquarters on Don Walters Road. The 210,000 square feet REV Remount Center focuses on remounting vehicles, putting an old “box” onto a new chassis.

“The box will essentially last a lifetime,” Reed said. “Over time with a bunch of miles on it, the chassis has to be replaced.”

The building cost $2 million to renovate and was mostly completed through the work of local contractors. Being an

Ashe-based company, Reed says a majority of the company’s 502 employees come from the county. The company’s schedule of four 10-hour days allows for the employees to have the weekends for themselves and their families, Reed said.

The company is also one of only two in the county, along with United Chemi-con, that is certified through the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Star Program. The program is designed to recognize employers and employees who have

implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates that meet the criteria for participation. Reed said it’s important that the company looks out for the employees and keeps them safe and secure.

As for the future, Reed said it’s all about continuing to do what they’ve done.

“Steady growth, that’s what (the future’s) looking like,” Reed said. “At the end of the day, all that matters is we keep going and doing things right.”

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Mountain Times Publications -

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Global Manufacturing: At the forefront of global industry

S PHOTO COURTESY BLUE RIDGE ENERGY Blue Ridge Energy’s under-construction solar garden in Kings Creek in Caldwell County.

Blue Ridge Energy building fifth solar garden

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new 432-panel solar garden in the Kings Creek community of Caldwell County is scheduled to go online with a reduced subscription rate to follow in September, according to Blue Ridge Energy spokeswoman Renee Whitener.

“Community solar gardens offer Blue Ridge Energy members easy access to renewable energy without the upfront cost and ongoing maintenance of rooftop solar, or for those living in locations that are too shaded,” Whitener said in a July 25 statement. “The program allows members to subscribe to one or more panels and receive a bill credit for the energy they produce.”

According to BRE, members can

subscribe to as many as 10 panels at the cost of $4.50 per panel per member, but Whitener said that due to savings the cooperative has experiences in 2018, the monthly subscription cost will drop to $3.75 starting in the September billing period.

“Blue Ridge Energy is able to pass along this member savings due to the economy of scale in adding the fifth solar garden,” Whitener said.

In the last two-plus years, Whitener said that members with usage of about 1,000 kilowatt hours per month on average have been able to save money by subscribing to a panel, and that many subscribers are participating more for the environmental aspects than for the savings.

Charleston Forge promotes Minor to president

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harleston Forge, a furniture manufacturing company based in Boone, recently promoted two members of its management team. Dan Minor, formerly vice president of sales, is now the company’s president.

Andy Beekman, formerly general manager, is now the vice president of the company’s newly created Contract and Hospitality Division.

Minor joined Charleston Forge as vice president of sales in 2014 after starting his career in 1995

at Boyles Furniture.

“Dan started his career in retail, Dan Minor just like we did.

We saw early on that his desire to serve the customer was the same as ours,” said Charleston Forge founders Art and Susan Barber in a statement. “Under his sales leadership, our company has experienced sustained controlled growth serving a customer base that truly

appreciates our determination to be 100 percent American made. We are very proud to have him as our company’s president.”

“To watch him grow from being a retail sales person, to taking the helm of such a dynamic company as Charleston Forge gives me tremendous pleasure,” said Charleston Forge co-owner and CEO Rick Grant. “He is a natural leader and his ‘can do’ attitude is infectious.”

Beekman will heading up the company’s new Contract and Hospitality Division.

ince 1987, Global Manufacturing Services Inc. in West Jefferson has produced printed circuit boards and LED boards on a contract basis for big-name companies all around the world. The company was founded by Arlie Keith, who now works as a consultant and advisor to Andria Robbins, the current CEO and president, who also happens to be Keith’s daughter.

“It’s been another great year we have continued increasing efficiencies,” Robbins said. “Last year’s capital investments nearly doubled the capacity of our surface mount department and this year’s investments added support equipment improving efficiencies in other areas.”

Global continues to support the local community by actively participating in area STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs by opening their doors to student groups who are interested in exploring and learning about high-tech manufactur-

ing. While Global provides electronic manufacturing services for several industries, they focus heavily on LED lighting.

“Our focus on LED lighting has a two-fold purpose. We serve our community by serving great companies.

LEDs reduce energy consumption and costs by nearly 85 percent over incandescent lights,” Robbins said. “It is currently the most efficient lighting technology available, and unlike fluorescent or mercury vapor, it has no harmful gases or metal that can negatively impact the environment. So, it is rewarding to provide manufacturing services for companies that are making such a difference.

“Secondly, we have positioned our company at the forefront of one of the fastest-growing industries on the planet, and we intend to evolve as necessary to remain a prominent player in the industry. If any of your readers are interested in a high-tech manufacturing career, don’t hesitate to contact us.“

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MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Mountain Construction High Country’s premier timber-frame builders

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PHOTO COURTESY MOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION The exterior of a home near Grandfather Mountain that was renovated by Mountain Construction of Boone.

PHOTO COURTESY MOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION The interior of a home near Grandfather Mountain that was renovated

by Mountain Construction of Boone.

Building and Remodeling Extraordinary Homes

High Country staple since the mid 1980s, Mountain Construction believes that despite what you want for your mountain home, they can build it.

“We do anything anyone wants,” said Mark Kirkpatrick, founder and co-owner of Mountain Construction. “If you ask us to do it, we can do it, and do a good job.”

Kirkpatrick’s companies Mountain Construction and Heathstone of Boone offers full-service building or remodeling experience, from concept to blue prints to hammers and nails and ending with the home of your dreams.

“We’ve done houses that are modest and conservative, and we’ve done houses that are absolutely spectacular,” Kirkpatrick said.

Specializing in heavy timber but offering much more, Mountain Construction has been involved in more than 200 projects in the last 25 years from all over the region.

Most of Kirkpatrick’s customers are second-home owners and sometimes the work can take months to get every last detail correct. However, that specialization is what Kirkpatrick says separates him from anyone else.

“I try to incorporate all the things we have,” Kirkpatrick said. “We like to provide contrast as a design tool, combining different elements combine together to create beautiful work.”

Currently with 10 employees, Kirkpatrick says that many of his customers are now friends and that he values those relationships.

Certified by the National Association of Home Builders as certified green professionals, Mountain Construction builds “Energy Star” and high-performance homes that require very little energy to heat and cool.

Kirkpatrick says he fell in love with the area in 1979 when hiking the Linville Gorge and never left, then meeting his wife and co-owner, Debbie Arnold, who is an artist and has sold paintings to Mountain Construction clients.

From antique wood finishes to classic mountain stone designs, Kirkpatrick can offer customers all the options they prefer to bring their soul to life.

“I love what I do and it’s just a very powerful feeling to me to contribute to the community,” Kirkpatrick said.

To learn more about Mountain Construction and Hearthstone of Boone, visit its website at www.mountainconstruction. com. For more information, visit its office at 1345 Poplar Grove Road South, Boone, N.C. call (828) 963-8090, Fax: (828) 9638033 or send an email to info@mountainconstruction.com.

To learn more about Debbie Arnold’s art, visit arnoldfineart.com or email d@ arnoldfineart.com.

WE HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN CREATIVE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TIMBER WORK. Please Visit Our Websites MountainConstruction.com | HearthstoneOfBoone.com

1345 Poplar Grove Road, South | Boone, NC 28607

PHOTO COURTESY MOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION The exterior of a home in the Tynecastle region that was renovated by Mountain Construction of Boone.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Mountain Times Publications -

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New water intake, treatment plant dedicated Town dedicates new water intake, renovated water treatment plant

I

n two separate ceremonies more than a dozen miles apart, the town of Boone cut the ribbon on what officials called the largest public works project in town history, as the Greg Young Water Intake and Ricky L. Miller Water Treatment Plant were dedicated on Friday, Sept. 6.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the staff that I get to work with and the elected officials that moved this project forward, (with) some difficulties, but celebration at the end,” Boone Town Manager John Ward said. “I think in the end, there will be more appreciative people as we move forward with this very important project.”

More than $42 million was used to construct the Young Water Intake facility alongside the South Fork New River near Cranberry Springs Road and Todd Railroad Grade Road in the Brownwood area and to make improvements to the water treatment plant off Deck Hill Road.

“I see a lot of rural communities of your size aren’t taking a look at what they’ll look like five, 10 and 15 years down the road,” said Robert Hosford, state director for the North Carolina branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Y’all are taking a step in that direction.”

Speaking after the ceremony, the now-retired former Boone Town Manager Greg Young thanked the town’s employees and elected officials for their support over the years, saying this project will set up Boone for the future.

The naming of the center after Young was a no-brainer, according to former Boone mayor and current Council Member Loretta Clawson.

“I will say that Greg is absolutely the ultimate professional,” Clawson

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as it reduces or eliminates costly delays due to weather or late material deliveries. There is virtually no exposure of the framing members or other structural components to weather damage during construction. In addition, because of our raw material optimization we have reduced the amount of framing material waste and debris that enters landfills from an estimated industry standard of 20 percent for on-site

said.

Young served as Boone town manager from 1991 to 2014, when he retired. A native of Gastonia and 1974 graduate of Appalachian State University, Young served as assistant city manager of Belmont, then as town manager in Mount Holly and in Georgia before coming to Boone.

Clawson spoke of the challenges Young faced during his time, saying he demonstrated “a calm demeanor and a steady hand.” In 2012, Young was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.

“One of Greg’s lasting and most important accomplishments is the development of the town’s new water intake,” Clawson said. “This project was complex from the beginning.”

Current Boone Public Works Director Rick Miller has been active in the water intake process since it started in 2004 and while noting

it was frustrating, Miller is pleased with the end result.

“I’m humbled and honored,” Miller said. “Now that it’s done, it’s very satisfying; I know I’ve done my part to make sure the citizens have drinking water.”

A Watauga County native of the Meat Camp community, Miller started as a part-time employee with the town of Boone in 1985, then full time in 1987. Miller worked his way up in the town utility department to director of public utilities in 2003 and then director of the newly consolidated Public Works Department in 2015.

“Rick has weathered many storms, both professionally and personally, staying the course all along,” Clawson said. “If Rick’s tenure with the town of Boone can be summed up in one word, it would be with perseverance.”

The water treatment plant can now handle up to 4.5 million gallons per day, up from the 3 million gallons per day previously possible.

The new water intake facility can withdraw up to 4 million gallons of water a day. The town will continue to use its current water intake sites at Winklers Creek and the South Fork New River in Boone, but the new site will account for the majority of the town’s water supply going forward, Ward said. Previously, Boone’s two raw-water intakes were permitted for a combined capacity of 3 million gallons per day.

The water withdrawn from the South Fork New River at the intake will travel along 12 miles of a 24inch pipe to existing infrastructure in the town.

In his speech, Ward focused on the growth of the town and Appalachian State University in recent decades necessitating planning for future water needs, as well as the incoming work population. ASU has its own water intake, but has an agreement with the town to use its water intake in the case of an emergency, Ward said.

“The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that we have a daytime spike in population of 10,200 additional people who commute into Boone for work,” Ward said.

The need for additional water supply was initially identified in 2004, Ward said.

“Twenty-seven different source locations were evaluated all the way from the Watauga Lake to the Yadkin Valley, with this site being selected as the most suitable and able to meet Boone’s 50-year projected raw water supply needs,” Ward said.

The intake’s infiltration gallery was designed to minimize any negative impacts to the river and is the first of its kind in the region and state, Ward said. If the water intake is operating at full pumping

construction down to 2 percent for our ShopBuilt™ Panelized Wall Systems.”

Some builders have not yet embraced the idea of panelized construction, continuing to pursue traditional on-site building methods. However, High Country Timberframe has recognized the growing demand in the U.S. and the rest of the world for high-performance panelized home construction.

Owens says, “Panelized home building retains the best aspects of “stick” frame construction and

combines them with modern technologies and materials to deliver customizable, energy-efficient, beautiful new homes, which minimize environmental impact and maximize energy efficiency. We look at our time on site as assembly time rather than manufacturing time. The place to manufacture is not out in the elements.”

Jankowsksi notes, “As construction professionals, we understand and support the fact that sustainable building practices are not just a passing trend but a long overdue

change in attitude, methods and materials. From the beginning of any of our projects, sustainability is an emphasis, not just a secondary aspect of a job. Building science is constantly being developed, so it’s important to stay up to date and evolve to incorporate things that will make a big difference.”

Homes that have been designed and constructed with the High Country Timberframe ShopBuilt™ Panelized Walls have proven to be extremely energy efficient, with one completed project receiving both

PHOTO BY THOMAS SHERRILL Boone’s water treatment filters, where sediment is settled out of the raw water supply, was upgraded as part of the more than $42 million in improvements done by the town of Boone.

capacity, Ward said the water levels of the South Fork New River would remain the same within less than a quarter of an inch due to the flow.

The project, specifically the water intake site, has been the subject of criticism and challenges from neighbors, officials in neighboring Ashe County and former N.C. Rep. Jonathan Jordan, who sought to block construction.

At the intake, two American flag art pieces don each side of the building, made from reused materials from a onsite collapsed barn materials by locals Richard Prisco and Cheryl Prisco.

The treatment plant, which was originally completed in 1983, saw upgrades in order to handle the increase from 3 to 4.5 million gallons per day of water by increasing filter rates and making necessary operation and deferred maintenance upgrades.

The additions also include upgraded and modernized technology so staff can operate the system remotely all the way to the new intake site, more than 12 miles away.

The funding for the projects was made possible by two grants, one totaling $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and the other of $450,000 from the N.C. Rural Center, Ward said.

Additional funding came from a 40-year, $20.5 million general obligation bond loan from the USDA and a $12 million revenue bond loan from the USDA. Construction started in February 2017 and was completed in February 2019 by Harper Corporation, who did the installation work at both sites. Garney Construction Company installed the water transmission line, finishing its work in fall 2018.

Energy Star 3 and NC Green Built Certification.

High Country Timberframe is an active supporter and sponsor of Watauga County Special Olympics and Watauga County Farmers’ Market.

The business is located in a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 689 George Wilson Road in Boone, N.C. For more information, call (828) 264-8971 or visit www.highcountrytimberframe. com and www.highperformancehomebuilding.com.

14 - Mountain Times Publications

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

High Country Realtor report

GRAPHIC SUBMITTED Local Realtors sold more homes last month than all but one other month in the past 14 years; August of last year. The activity occurred as interest rates continued to fall and new inventory was added.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Ashe accepts grant to study feasibility of regional livestock facility JEFFERSON — The Ashe County Board of Commissioners approved a $27,500 grant from the N.C. Agricultural Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund aimed at studying the feasibility of an Ashe County regional livestock facility during its regular meeting, Sept. 3.

The county applied for the grant in early 2019 with assistance from High County Council of Governments Master Planner Kelly Coffey, according to Interim County Manager Adam Stumb. The initial application was intended to seek funds for the development of the proposed agricultural facility, but Stumb said that members of the ADFP Trust Fund suggested that the county amend the application to instead focus on a feasibility study for the project.

After amending the application according to the ADFP Trust Fund’s suggestions, the county was awarded the grant in August, Stumb said, totaling $27,500 with a $4,125 match from the county. The contract timeline will be from Oct. 1 until Sept.

30, 2021, according to the approval letter from the ADFP Trust Fund.

Ashe County Farm Bureau President Judy Bare, who also serves on the agricultural center’s development committee, provided some context regarding the project. Bare said the study will focus on a number of aspects related to the proposed facility, such as suitable locations, the size and design of the facility, operational costs

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and educational uses.

“We need an ag center that will meet the needs of the agricultural community in Ashe County,” Bare said.

To determine the value of livestock, an animal is weighed before being sold, but with nowhere for Ashe County farmers to weigh their livestock, they currently have to transport their animals off of the mountain. During transit, a load of 15-18 cattle can lose up to 300-360 pounds, losing as much as $500 per load at a selling point of $1.40 per pound of beef.

With a new livestock facility, which would include scales to weigh animals, local farmers would no longer have to transport their animals out-of-county.

“Our hope is to keep more money in the county,” Bare said. “We think it would be beneficial for the county as a whole because more money would stay here, and maybe even bring money from outside of the county here.”

With the board’s unanimous approval, the next step for the project is finding an organization to conduct the feasibility study. Bare said the committee has interviewed a few groups and should be selecting one by the end of the month.

Once started, the study is expected to take around 20 weeks to be completed, she added.

“We’re glad to see the ball rolling forward,” Chairman Todd McNeill said.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Mountain Times Publications -

15

FILE PHOTO Christmas trees from Sexton Christmas Tree Farm line the mountainside in the High Country.

Making memories during the holiday season at Frosty’s Choose and Cut

D

otted across the hillsides of the High Country are the seemingly never ending rows of Fraser fir Christmas trees, and hundreds of families travel to the High Country each holiday season to take part in the chooseand-cut experience.

The Sexton family, owners of Sexton Christmas Tree Farm and Frosty’s Choose and Cut, has been growing Christmas trees since 1960, according to co-owner Matthew Sexton.

Sexton, along with his two brothers, are fourth-generation

Christmas tree farmers, and he said each of them enjoys providing families with a one-of-akind memory during the holiday season.

“We take pride in doing it,” Sexton said. “We just want to keep it going and hopefully have a fifth, sixth and seventh generation.”

Frosty’s Choose and Cut, located at 2152 Beaver Creek School Road in West Jefferson, offers about 250 acres of Fraser fir trees for families to choose from, according to Sexton.

At Frosty’s, families can pick out their own tree to take home

with them for display as the centerpiece of their homes during the holiday season.

“It makes it just that much more memorable as far as putting up a tree in your house that was selected just for you,” Sexton said.

Frosty’s also brands a piece of the stump as a souvenir for families who participate in the choose-and-cut festivities. The stump souvenir doubles as a tree ornament. The business also offers custom wreaths, other ornaments, live music on the weekends and more. Frosty’s Choose and Cut opens to the

public Friday, Nov. 22.

Before the winter season comes, Sexton Christmas Tree Farm is hosting a Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival opening Friday, Sept. 27. This will be the fourth year the farm has held the festival.

The corn maze stretches five acres, and the festival offers food, drinks, inflatables, disc golf, knockerball, face painting, pickyour-own pumpkins, live music on Saturdays and Sundays, hayrides, a hay-bale maze for young children, a fire pit, cornhole and more. There is a fee for general

admission, as well as an activity pass that allows access to most of the activities included at the festival.

This year’s festival also includes new additions, including enhancements to the grounds and an addition to the barn, Sexton said.

Whether it’s an autumn celebration or a Christmas centerpiece for households across the state, Sexton Christmas Tree Farm provides an opportunity for experiences with family and friends to be made in the High Country.

MADE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

16 - Mountain Times Publications

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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