In an attempt to raise
awareness about the upcoming elections, “Rock the Vote”
will be held Wednesday, Oct. 9 on Sanford Mall from 5 p.m. until
about 10 p.m.
Snake Oil Medicine show will perform two 90-minute
sets on the mall in support of the “Rock the Vote for the Doc
and Merle Watson Scenic Highway” rally.
Candidates in support of keeping the new four-lane
Highway 421 billboard-free will attend and provide information about
their platforms, including Sue Sweeting, Pat Wilkie and Dave Robertson.
There are 42,000 people in Watauga County and 135 landowners who
live on the Doc and Merle Watson Scenic Highway, according to a
press release.
Some of the 135 landowners want the ablility to give businesses
permission to erect billboards by the road on their land, but the
current laws prohibit such business right now.
The rally is an effort to keep the law that prohibits the erection
of billboards and to work to make 421 a state scenic byway so the
county cannot change the law.
Students who attend will be given a chance to register to vote for
the Nov. 5 elections.
The last day to register to vote is Friday by 5 p.m. at the Board
of Elections building located behind the courthouse.
“The lowest voter turn out is college students,” said
Dr. Dennis O. Grady, chairperson of the Department of Political
Science and Criminal Justice.”
“Many students vote by absentee ballot, but it is a lot more
work than registering in Watauga County and they will more than
likely not vote if that is the case,” said Jerry W. Williamson,
a member of The Partnership for Watauga’s Future.
“The ordinances affect the lives of college students just as
much as they effect the people that have lived in this county for
40 years,” said Grady. |
