WLOS dailies TUES 1122

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

First snow
WLOSers were out in force to declare the fact that it snowed (something that happens every year when it gets cold) the big story of the day.

The WLOSers did go out of their way to note that they had to travel up to the high mountain peaks to get the video of wet snow weighing down pine bows. The best report came from Russ “Beefcake” Bowen who treated the story just right, noting the excitement that lots of people felt at seeing some flakes just a few days before Thanksgiving (although exactly why that is exciting is beyond me.)

Sheraldo gave us his normal snow shout report. “I’m interviewing kids making snow angels in snow,” he screamed. Well that’s good Sheraldo. I’m glad their not making snow angels in poopy.

Russ interviewed some boarding school girls playing in the snow, including one girl who said she was from Florida and that Tuesday was the first time she’d ever seen snow. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first day she’d ever seen a donut. But that’s another story.

WLOSers also got a two-fer out of a propane truck driver. First, it’s scary driving a truck on roads where snowflakes fell. Second, people start ordering more propane and heating fuel when they see snow. Thanks Junior.

At 11, Cherub Charu stood out along I-26 to warn us some more. “It was like a parking lot out here at rush hour,” said Charu, as vehicles zipped by along the desolate interstate. Guess all those holiday travelers leave at once. Charu also teased us about delays at airports, but her story didn’t back it up. She never told us about any airport delays. She did interview on little grayhair who said she never, ever travels at Thanksgiving, but is this year, for some unknown reason, she was. Go figure.

Gonzo for a burger
Michelle Boudin had a crazy report about some high-on-meth nutball who went berserk at the Backyard Burger restaurant down on Patton Avenue.

The guy was apparently desperate for more cash for more crystal meth. He stomped around on the buildings roof, trying to find a way in. When he couldn’t, he just started tearing shit up. From the video, it looked like he ripped out the entire heating and cooling system and its ductwork and threw it to the ground.

The freak finally got inside through the drive-in window. A helpful Backyard Burger employee told Michelle that the guy stole a Backyard Burger cap, somebody’s scarf and a pack of crackers. Oh yeah, and a gift certificate, “probably so he could come back for some more burgers,” the employee joked.

All the damage is going to take days to fix. So no burgers for Thanksgiving.

Oh Christmas Tree
Jon “Punnyman Le did his annual report on the aluminum Christmas tree museum. It was a yawner.

Year in and year out, we get treated to the same story about some guy who has a collection of 50 or so metal Christmas trees. He pulls them out of the basement each holiday season and puts them up somewhere for people to see. This year, the trees stand on display at the Smith-McDowell House near the A-B Tech campus in Ashvegas.

The aluminum Christmas trees have the potential for fun, though I’m skeptical. Le ended his report by warning us not to stand under the “missile toe,” and showed corresponding video of a plastic rocket hanging from a mannequin’s foot at the tree display. Shoot me now.