Behind every competition door lies a mix of anticipation and shared ambition to succeed. Hundreds of students gather to compete for medals, build connections, and earn a coveted spot at DECA states. However, advancing to the state competition this year has been more challenging than in previous years.

The new school year came with a myriad of new policy changes and alterations. While most years have an issue or two that becomes the focus of the admin, this year they took up the difficult issue of reforming our absence and tardy system. The flagship of these new policies was the restriction of parking passes and the ability to attend dances after students accumulated 15 unexcused absences. However, there were other changes, most notably the decision to count every third tar

Leadership, integrity, character, and physical vigor. For the University of North Carolina, these four traits qualify students for one of the college’s most prestigious scholarships, the Morehead-Cain. Each year, students across the country compete for the chance at a full ride to UNC, as well as access to career and personal opportunities. As initial submissions for the scholarship begin, Watauga students prepare for the many application stages ahead.

The Watauga County Administration Building, one of 20 polling locations in Watauga County. On November 3, and in the weeks leading up to it, voters will gather here to cast their ballots. You could be among them, if eligible. Photo Credits: Watauga County. Andrew Larsen, Podcasting Desk Lead for The Powderhorn It’s once again time for the nation to cast its ballot and determine who it will elect to office. Across the nation, our politics are as polarized as ever. That’s not w

Campaign signs for a variety of candidates from both parties on October 18, 2026, outside the Watauga County Administration Building, where early voting is underway. Photo credit: Aspen Hickman Aspen Hickman, Junior Editor and News Desk Lead for The Powderhorn The cramped little office at the end of Boone’s King Street seems quite removed from national politics. The windows are almost entirely covered by local campaign signs, the table’s surface is obscured by informational f

In a place where black students are often a minority, finding a space to feel represented can make a difference. At Watauga, a new club is working to create that space, while encouraging people to build connections, celebrate culture and challenge the lack of diversity.

A wooden display case near the front of the school showcases roughly 50 plaques and awards. The most notable ones are glass diamonds, tinted blue with the label of State Champions. This program, having won NCTC three times out of the past eight years, has hopes to win again this year. It’s not a sport, nor a club. It’s the Watauga Playmakers.

As a state, North Carolina does not practice initiatives or referenda, instead utilizing ballot measures proposed by the legislature to introduce or make amendments to the state constitution and statutes. In this year’s midterm elections, North Carolinians may choose to vote for or against three distinct measures regarding property taxes, income taxes, and Voter ID.

The AI question has arrived at Watauga High School: ‘to use or not to use?’ It’s a hot topic in the news at the moment, and most anyone you talk to will have an opinion. Employees of major Artificial Intelligence corporations recently expressed their concern over the speed at which it is advancing and one even warned that it may kill us within ten years. On the other side are fears that China out-paces the United States in advancement, diminishing the country’s position as a

Visitors flock to the streets of downtown Boone to indulge in the novelties of every season. While this is great for the tourist-centered businesses in Boone, it results in high volumes of congestion and traffic during these times. To combat this issue the Town of Boone has recently focused on making corrections to the flow of traffic, allowing for more accessibility downtown. However, many businesses are being negatively impacted due to these changes in traffic flow. Howard

As the leaves begin to turn and the weather gets cooler, college applications are top of mind for many of Watauga’s seniors. And with college applications come application fees, often through the Common App. What many college hopefuls don’t know, though, is that many of these fees can be waived by simply checking a box.

Have you ever wanted a career in hair and nails? Cosmetology is one of the many unique programs and pathways at Watauga High School that allows students to get their state license and join the workforce directly after graduation.

They look like any other security camera. And they are, in most ways. They take pictures of license plates and track the speed of drivers. Really, it’s nothing new. What is new is the ever-growing network of these searchable cameras that can be used to track anyone, anywhere.

Students across the county are waking up and leaving for school even earlier than before. This is because Watauga County Schools have implemented more hours in the school day in both K-8 schools and at Watauga High School beginning this school year. The reasoning behind this has to do with multiple factors. The county needs to be in compliance with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in order to have enough time scheduled for early literacy in K-8 schools, and the adde

It's never too early to start preparing for your future, and this doesn't just mean applying for college. It also means preparing for the workforce. RISE does just that. RISE is a partnership between Caldwell Community College and Watauga High School that allows students to complete internships and pre-apprenticeships in a CTE field in which they are interested.

On September 4, Donald Trump announced mass importing of foreign beef into America, without triggering higher tariffs. This order was put in place to lower beef prices and make it more accessible for American consumers, who consume roughly 30 billion pounds of beef each year. Local cattle farmers and livestock agents are feeling the effects of this executive order in various ways. For some it’s a temporary inflection, for others it's a difficult addition to the already turbul

A decidedly tumultuous midterm election season is upon us. Two years into President Trump’s second term and the United States’ political climate is tense. For many, it may seem as though having a conversation with a person opposing them politically is off the table. It is out of this environment that Dr. Johnnie Lotesta, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Dr. Phillip Ardoin, Professor of Political Science, decided to work with Appalachian State University’s Civic Literacy p

Like many college towns, Boone, North Carolina has a town-gown divide between locals and the resident university. Recently, this has spilled into local election politics. Redistricting troubles and accusations of gerrymandering followed a new voting map introduced by the North Carolina Legislature in 2023. Critics contend that dividing Boone and Appalachian State University between two districts splits liberal voters and gives a significant advantage to conservative candidate

Every day teachers call roll, and every day, classrooms sit in awkward silence as the student in question fails to appear. Student absences are a chronic and growing problem for school systems across the state, especially for one like Watauga, where students miss additional days due to the winter snow and ice year after year. The district’s tendency for snow days makes students being present on the days they can even more important, forcing administration to adopt a hardline

A new year brings new teachers, new classes, and new routines. And, for Watauga High School’s administrative team, 3 new members. For Dante Binotto, Leslie Pope, and Jennifer Wilson, the 2026-27 school year will be their first full year at Watauga as assistant principals.