The Cannon Foundation, based in Concord, awarded a $50,000 grant December 18th, to Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. The grant will help the land transfer a 208-acre property adjoining the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Bear Den Overlook(milepost 323) into public ownership. The Bear Den property borders 1.7 Miles of the Parkway anD is part of the scenic vista from the popular Bear Den Overlook. Foothills Conservancy purchased the property is September 2016 and has until September to pay off the loan used to purchase the property. Once the loan is paid off, Foothills Conservancy will donate the property to the National Park Service for addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway system, according to a news release from Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina.

The SBA Disaster Loan Application is January 22nd for those counties that sustained damage from flooding and heavy winds on October 23rd. Low-interest disaster loans are available in Watauga County and the contiguous counties of Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Wilkes. Applicants may apply online unsing the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the Small Business Administration's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.