Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Medicare cuts
The federal government is changing the way it reimburses hospitals for Medicare expenses, and that’s going to result in a loss of $5 million, according to Mission Hospitals. The hospital is the biggest health care operation in the mountains with 6,000 employees.
Frank Fraboni talked to Mission chief Joe Damore, who said the funding cut will mean 300 jobs will go unfilled. The hospital is hoping that the cuts will be restored.
Soldiers like care packages
Pat Simon, an active reserve soldier, went over to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department to talk to Det. Dana Foxx, either a national guard soldier or reservist who returned not long ago from a second tour in Iraq about how soldiers love care packages. That’s becuase Buncombe County has launched a campaign called “Christmas in September” that aims to collect all the beef jerky and hot chocolate our men and women in uniform can stomach. WLOSers hooked the local story on the national story about the big Iraq report out Monday.
Murder trial begins
The murder trial of John Beavers began with jury selection Monday. Charu Khumaria said 10 jurors had been selected by the end of the day, so they just need two more, plus two alternates, then the trial can begin.
Beavers is on trial for the shooting death of Dr. Brian Ling last year. Police say Beavers shot Ling because Beavers was upset over the medical care his son had received. Charu interviewed Beavers’ step-daughter, who said she thought Beavers should go to jail for life.
In other news…
A suspect in a federal investigation into illegal gambling in the mountains pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. The suspect will testify for the government as part of the deal he got. So far, 12 people have been indicted on illegal gambling charges involving video poker machines, including two former Buncombe County sheriff’s deputies… The SBI is investigating the death of an inmate in the Swain County jail. Police say the inmate hanged himself with a bedsheet… A Polk County woman behind on making restitution for money she embezzled from Tryon Elementary School will go to jail, a judge says… And Asheville City Council on Tuesday will take public comment on the proposed 23-story Ellington, a hotel and condo complex developers, including the Grove Park Inn, want to build on Biltmore Avenue.
In still other news…
The losing candidate in the race for principal chief of the Cherokee Indian tribe wants a recount. Chief Michele Hicks won another four-year term by 30 votes last week… Tuesday is Sept. 11. Bow your heads… UNCA students have opened their own environmental center… Downtown Hendersonville wants a branding strategy for Main Street retailers… And there’s a hay shortage in the mountains. Some cattle farmers say they’ll have to sell off parts of their herds if they don’t get food for their cows. The early freeze and summer drought have hurt hay production.
