| Title |
Excerpt |
Author |
Date |
| Carl LaBove: ‘Outlaw’ comedian reflects on comedy’s resurgence |
One can slay a thousand, but two can slay 10,000. It’s an old biblical reference that comedian Carl LaBove says he and his buddy Sam Kinison used as a guide after they befriended one another more than 20 years ago. “He was a preacher. I was a preacher’s son. We… |
Jason Sandford |
11/19/09 |
| Online community rallies around Atlanta mom blogger who suffered stroke |
From Asheville blogger Kelby Carr: The entire mom blogging (and blogging) community is saddened by the news that Anissa Mayhew has suffered a stroke. ... Anissa is a beloved member of the mom blogging community. Always ready with a clever quip or insight, she started blogging when her child got… |
Jason Sandford |
11/18/09 |
| Pack Memorial Library gets makeover |
The $3.1 million renovation to the beating heart of Buncombe County's library system — Pack Memorial Library — is speeding along ahead of schedule. On a recent tour of the work underway at 67 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville, Ed Sheary, director of the Buncombe County Public Libraries system, says… |
Jason Sandford |
11/18/09 |
| Veteran's memorial |
In a rain-drenched, somber ceremony, a group of about 300 people gathered at Pack Square Park on Veterans Day to dedicate the new Western North Carolina Veterans' Memorial. Darlene and George Houghton of Candler participated in a wreath-laying at the memorial, which honored their son, Capt. George Bryan Houghton, a… |
Jason Sandford |
11/18/09 |
| News obit: Luke Atkinson, businessman and politician |
From his obituary published in the Asheville Citizen-Times: In 1955, he established Luke Atkinson Furniture Store on the corner of Haywood and Brevard Roads in West Asheville, where it is still doing business, managed by his son. The building was constructed in 1917 and is a unique part of historical… |
Jason Sandford |
11/14/09 |
| UPDATED with clips from: Live video of Shuler speaking on health care at WCU |
Blogger Thunderpig provided a live video feed of Rep. Heath Shuler speaking at Western Carolina University Nov. 12 on health care issues. After the event, Thunderpig edited Shuler's comments down and posted them on YouTube. Below are the clips. (The entire feed is also viewable at the bottom by clicking… |
Jason Sandford |
11/13/09 |
| Mission Hospital to begin search for new CEO |
The president and CEO of Mission Hospital and Mission Health System, Western North Carolina's key health center and the region's largest employer, resigned recently amid tensions between hospital administrators and some staff members and physicians. Joe Damore notified the hospital's Board of Directors on Oct. 27 that he would resign… |
Jason Sandford |
11/11/09 |
| Developer prevails in lawsuit over public land in downtown Asheville |
Buncombe County officials were within their rights to sell a piece of public land to a developer, the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled on Nov. 3. The decision reversed a lower court ruling and leaves the land in the hands of Stewart Coleman. The decision also leaves open the chance… |
Jason Sandford |
11/11/09 |
| Video: U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler on why he voted against health care reform |
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler tells Mountain Xpress why he voted against a sweeping health care reform bill in the U.S. House on Saturday, Nov. 7. The video was shot Sunday afternoon before a charity football game at Owen High School in Swannanoa. |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Sunday brunch and Wednesday event to benefit Asheville boy with disease |
On Sunday, Nov. 8, Laurey’s Catering will hold a $10 pancake brunch from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to benefit 14-month-old Henry Thome. The boy has a rare genetic condition that causes anemia and immune system deficiencies. His family has health insurance, but bills for costly treatments are rising. On… |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Children’s film festival continues today with screenings |
The Asheville International Film Festival continues today at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. From the Mountain Xpress: “These are noncommercial, thought-provoking films,” says Tim Arem, the event’s creator and artistic director. With festival curator Elizabeth Shepherd of the Northwest Film Forum, Arem will present two days of eight screenings at… |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Shuler votes no on landmark health care reform bill |
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a Democrat representing Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, voted against a landmark health care reform bill Saturday night. Shuler was one of 39 Democrats to vote against the bill, which won passage 220-215. From the Washington Post: Hours after President Obama exhorted Democratic lawmakers to… |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Sunday charity football game to feature Shuler, Johnson |
From an Asheville Police Department press release: At 3 p.m. on Nov. 8, employees of the Asheville Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol will face off at Owen High School’s Warhorse Stadium in a football game to raise money for Eblen-Kimmel Charities. Celebrity quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Heath Shuler… |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Blogger: Artimus Pyle involved in barroom brawl |
From the Ashvegas blog: An Ashvegas reader writes in to tell me that he witnessed one hell of a bar fight Saturday night involving Artimus Pyle. As you all know, Pyle is the 61-year-old former drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Pyle was aquitted in a Florida court in August on charges… |
Jason Sandford |
11/08/09 |
| Blogger: Having fun hanging with conservatives in Asheville |
Here’s a snippet from the post at The Wild West blog: I got to attend thanks to the nice people at the Asheville Tribune and the John Locke Foundation who slipped me in as a poser when Bill Fishburne announced he couldn’t attend. I always appreciate hanging out with the… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| RENCI, A-B Tech to celebrate GIS Day on Nov. 12 |
Press release here: –RENCI at UNC Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) announce the third annual celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day in Western North Carolina. The community drop-in event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the RENCI at UNC… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| West Asheville welcomes new ‘divey little bar’, the Desoto Lounge |
From the She Who Eats blog: There’s a new classy joint to shoot pool, drink local brew and chill low-key with your friends. While walking my dog on Haywood Rd. last night, I came upon a brand new, dimly lit venue, the Desoto Lounge! In the kitchy El Dorado building,… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Blogger: Cohen set list from Asheville show an amazing piece of ephemera |
From the Ephemera blog: It was a such a wonderful treat to see Leonard Cohen live in Asheville on 11-1-09. Hearing the legendary Cohen sing Hallelujah was awe-inspiring. He was brilliant throughout the three-hour show, and his band is outstanding. Here’s the actual set list—taped to the floor in front… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Man shot three times at Pisgah View Apts. in West Asheville |
A man was shot early Saturday morning at Pisgah View Apartments, according to an Asheville Police Department press release. Police say they’re investigating. According to the release, the victim was shot three times in front of building 27 at Pisgah View. Police received a call at 2:40 a.m. regarding the… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Leaf collection starts Nov. 9 in Asheville |
Press release here: The City of Asheville is preparing for leaf collection which will begin Nov. 9. The Sanitation Division collects bagged and loose leaves separately according to schedules based on trash collection days. Residents using either bagged leaf collection or loose leaf vacuuming collection should separate their leaves from… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Caped crusaders of running will hit streets today in Superhero 5k |
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. is once again sponsoring the Superhero 5k race through downtown Asheville today at 4:30. The race starts on Coxe Avenue. Afterward, there’s plenty of beer and pizza. |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Artist’s colorful mural for Craggie Brewing coming together |
Check out artist Alex Sacui’s colorful mural that he’s painting now on the side of Craggie Brewing’s building at 197 Hilliard Avenue in Asheville. If you can’t stop by the building, check out the photos posted on Craggie Brewing’s Facebook page. (You’ll have to be signed in to Facebook to… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Keever to kick off campaign for state House on Monday |
Patsy Keever, a former Buncombe County commissioner, will kick off her campaign for the N.C. House District 115 seat in Buncombe County on Monday. Keever, a Democrat, left the county board after serving 12 years. She launched an unsuccessful bid against U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor in 2004. Keever’s web site… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Local artists on display in Weaverville Art Safari |
From the MyWeaverville.com blog: The Fall edition of the Weaverville Art Safari is this weekend, November 7-8, 2009, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. They have 44 artists participating in the self-guided tour this time, and they’re also “thinking green” and encouraging people to carpool. Links: http://www.weavervilleartsafari.com/ http://www.weavervilleartsafari.com/artists/ http://www.weavervilleartsafari.com/tour/fall09/2009FallBrochure.pdf |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| Chili cook-off today will benefit Asheville Humane Society |
Press release here: COME EAT CHILI AND HELP HOMELESS ANIMALS AT THE SAME TIME! November 7th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Windows on the Park. A $5 donation or $5 pet supply donation (treats, toys, etc.) buys a raffle ticket for door prizes and a beverage. Grand prize: Gift Certificates… |
Jason Sandford |
11/07/09 |
| H1N1 flu shot clinic set for Saturday |
Press release here: Buncombe County Health Center has received additional H1N1 flu vaccine and will hold a vaccine clinic this Saturday, November 7th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. H1N1 vaccine will be available for Buncombe County residents in the following groups only: · Pregnant women · Children… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| Asheville looking for volunteers to help enforce handicapped parking rules |
Press release here: The City of Asheville is looking for volunteers to assist in the Volunteer Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program. Interested volunteers will be responsible for assisting in public education and the enforcement of handicapped parking spaces in the city. The program is administered by the Parking Services Division with… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| Saturday is last day for bus route 54 to Weaverville |
Press release from the city of Asheville: “Asheville Transit would like to remind riders that Saturday, Nov. 7 will be the last day of service for Route 54 to Weaverville. Passengers that have relied on the Route 54 bus are encouraged to visit http://www.blueridgecommute.org to explore alternative commuting options.” Alternatives… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| Big year for Balsam Range |
From the Southern Highland Reader: Popular regional bluegrass act Balsam Range has had a breakout year. Editor Kelly Donaldson at the Cashiers Crossroads Chronicle sums it up in this nice feature. (Link here: http://www.crossroadschronicle.com/articles/2009/11/03/news/04balsam.txt) Here’s an excerpt: The five-man band is wrapping up a phenomenal year that included touring, a… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| Sylva McDonald’s will make its sign smaller |
From the Southern Highland Reader: Sylva’s McDonald’s restaurant — the oldest franchise in town — will close for three months in early 2010 to replace its current structure. The local owners will completely remove the current building and replace it with another. An upshot of the closure is that McDonald’s… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| SART finances improve |
From the Hilltop newspaper: Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre has improved its bottom line in the last few weeks in the face of major financial struggles. As of the last week of September, SART had raised just under $45,000 of $100,000 needed to make up for a budget shortfall due to… |
Jason Sandford |
11/06/09 |
| Possible development action along Merrimon Avenue |
From the Ashvegas blog: A few more tips from loyal readers and what they’re seeing: - Work has been going on at the old location of the hop on merrimon- would love to know whats being planned for that space. |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Asheville satellite antenna maker to move to Woodfin |
From the Ashvegas blog: AvL Technologies, a real success story on the Asheville manufacturing scene, plans to consolidate its offices and facilities in the Reynolds Village development in Woodfin, the Weaverville Tribune is reporting. AvL makes satellite antennas. Just last month, a board approved AvL Technologies’ request for $6.5 million… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Incumbent mayor in Highlands defeated by 3-1 margin |
From the Highlander: David Wilkes defeated incumbent mayor Don Mullen by more than a 3-to-1 margin in Tuesday’s election. Wilkes received 385 votes to Mullen’s 108 votes. Voters also elected Gary Drake and incumbent Amy Patterson to the two vacant seats on the town board, defeating incumbent Hank Ross. Drake… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Voters return familiar faces to seats on Sylva, Dillsboro town boards |
From the Sylva Herald: Town elections are over, and voters in both Sylva and Dillsboro Tuesday (Nov. 3) returned former officials to their boards. Unofficial results have former Sylva board member Danny Allen and incumbent Stacy Knotts winning the two open seats on Sylva’s town board, and Mike Fitzgerald winning… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Officials in Clay County look to restrict ‘adult entertainment’ |
From the Clay County Progress: A recommendation headed to the Hayesville Town council will restrict adult entertainment businesses from commercial zones in the town’s jurisdiction. The Hayesville Planning and Zoning board voted to suggest that a section on permitted uses be changed. The broad term of entertainment facilities will be… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Voters shake things up in Marion, Old Fort |
From the McDowell News: On Tuesday, voters in Marion selected Steve Little to be the next mayor of Marion. Juanita Doggett became the first woman elected to the Marion City Council. Outgoing Mayor Everette Clark will return to his old council seat, and longtime incumbent Councilman Mike Edwards was defeated… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Polk County moves ahead with $1.6 million purchase of Lake Adger |
From the Tryon Daily Bulletin: Polk commissioners are moving ahead with the purchase of Lake Adger after receiving reports on estimated costs of repairs the dam could need in the future. The county could close on the purchase of the property as early as Friday, Nov. 13. Commissioners Monday approved… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Former Saluda police chief says he’ll run for Polk sheriff in 2010 |
From the Tryon Daily Bulletin: Kevin Phelps has announced he will seek the office of Polk County Sheriff in 2010. The former Saluda Police Chief says North Carolina general statutes state that a sheriff has three duties; to operate and maintain a jail facility, to serve civil process and to… |
Jason Sandford |
11/05/09 |
| Rock slide hits area at peak of fall tourist season |
When tons of dirt and rock came sliding down a Haywood County mountainside, it closed off 20 miles of a vital regional highway, opened a flood of concern for Western North Carolina's tourism industry and sent politicians scrambling for cleanup money. Rockslide repercussions: The Oct. 25 rock slide in Haywood… |
Jason Sandford |
11/04/09 |
| Asheville 350 |
Photo by Jason Sandford Strength in numbers: More than 200 people stood together to form the number 350 on Oct. 24 at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville to take part in the International Day of Climate Change. Thousands of people around the world participated by doing the same thing… |
Jason Sandford |
11/04/09 |
| Asheville Transit System proposed changes |
In April 2009, the city of Asheville presented the results of a consultant’s study of the Asheville Transit System. Click here to download a PDF of a document showing the proposed changes to the city’s transit system. Click here to download a PDF of the executive summary of the consultant’s… |
Jason Sandford |
11/02/09 |
| Get your Best of WNC badges here |
Mountain Xpress readers have spoken, choosing the creme of the crop for this year’s expanded, purple-wig clad Best of WNC. Let your friends know who they picked. Simply copy and paste the code on the web page linked below to your website and your badge will be linked back to… |
Jason Sandford |
10/30/09 |
| What would you name the Orange Peel’s new basement venue? |
From the Ashvegas blog: The Orange Peel is all but finished with some major renovations which will increase the capacity of the small club by several hundred people and provide a new “smoking porch,” as well as a new downstairs lounge-type space that’s supposed to be pretty swank. The basement… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| Shuler’s brother files for bankruptcy |
From the Knoxville News: A local businessman who is the brother and onetime business partner of a member of Congress has filed for bankruptcy protection. Benjie Shuler filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last week. A filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Knoxville indicated that his assets are valued… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| What happened to Buncombe County’s Web site? (UPDATE: It seems to be working) |
UPDATE: At 7 p.m. Thursday, the site is functioning. From the Ashvegas blog: I’m getting reports that the web site for Buncombe County - http://www.buncombecounty.org - has gone blank. Some people who go to the site now just get an ad for register.com. (See screen capture above.) I’m still getting… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| Haywood County businesses react to I-40 rockslide |
From The Mountaineer newspaper: County tourism leaders and business owners who expect to be affected by the closure of Interstate 40 due to a rockslide Sunday said the recent disaster is a setback forcing them to work harder and smarter, but business will go on. Closure of the interstate could… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| Jackson County towns set for Tuesday’s elections |
From the Sylva Herald: Residents of the county’s four municipalities – Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster and Forest Hills – will decide who will govern their towns Tuesday (Nov. 3). Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. that day. Polling places for Sylva are the Justice Center (North Sylva),… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| Waking Life Espresso preparing to open in West Asheville |
From the Ashvegas blog: Waking Life Espresso, which describes itself as a new “microcafe,” is gearing up to open in West Asheville. I don’t have any other details. Can anyone offer more? From the Waking Life web site: Waking Life Espresso is a startup West Asheville microcaf�© dedicated to serving… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
| Melting spittoon douses flames, saves Madison County home from fire |
From the Madison County News Record & Sentinel: Madison officials say a disgruntled ex-wife tried to burn her former husband’s home down, but the flames were extinguished by the contents of a melting spittoon. The woman faces charges of attempted arson, breaking and entering and burning personal property. The fire… |
Jason Sandford |
10/29/09 |
