Last Updated on May 3, 2026 4:33 pm A longtime local journalist has passed away. Sandra “Sandy” Gail Shook, who dedicated more than 40 years of her life to the Watauga Democrat, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, surrounded by family. She was 75. Sandy called Banner Elk home, and her editorial talent and steady presence shaped the Watauga Democrat and the journalists who had the privilege of working alongside her for more than four decade…
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