Happy Monday! Here’s some of what’s hot:
-A massive weekend manhunt for a suspect initially wanted on a breaking-and-entering charge moved into a third day. It all started on Saturday when the suspect was spotted and fled from police. Phillip Michael Stroupe II ended up in Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, a popular spot for visitors looking for some mountain biking, swimming, fishing and hiking fun. Police have shut down some roads and trails in the area as they continue their search. Check Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine from some great spot coverage.
-An alert from Friends of Big Ivy:
The Big Ivy section of Pisgah National Forest needs your help this coming Tuesday, July 25. The Forest Service will be hosting a meeting about their preliminary forest plan draft at Mars Hill University (Bentley Fellowship Hall, 265 Cascade Street, Mars Hill, NC) from 3 p.m to 6 p.m. Can you stop by any time between 3 to 6 p.m. to voice your support for protecting ALL of Big Ivy?
NOTE THE NEW LOCATION: THE FOREST SERVICE HAS MOVED THE MEETING TO MARS HILL UNIVERSITY.
Big Ivy is one of the largest old-growth forests and most cherished wild places in the East.
At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to talk directly one-on-one with Forest Service leaders. Here is some important information:
The Forest Service’s preliminary draft plan leaves one-third of Big Ivy open to logging, including 1,000 acres of old-growth forest on Coxcomb Mountain and Snowball Mountain. The Forest Service has placed both the Coxcomb Mountain and Snowball Mountain sections of Big Ivy in management areas that emphasize logging.
-Last week’s heat wave broke today. Last Tuesday hit 88 degrees, Wednesday and Thursday hit 89 and Friday and Saturday temperatures reached 91, with Sunday dropping back to 89, according to AccuWeather. Usually the dogs days of summer come in August. Monday’s high was predicted to reach 86, and temps will drop through the week, with next Saturday’s high predicted at a lovely 78 degrees.
-A lawsuit filed by a former Asheville City Councilman and a retired attorney against the city of Asheville regarding last year’s bond referendum has been amended in an important way, the Mountain Xpress reports.
–Beer City Bicycles has moved from Biltmore Avenue in Asheville to 897 Riverside Dr. in Woodfin, for now, at least. Here’s the announcement:
MOVING!!!! Yes we have outgrown our shop, so we are moving to a NEW location. In the meantime you can find us at 897 Riverside Dr., until the final space is complete. Our approximate opening date is July 6th, but we will update our status daily. Please stay tuned for our Grand Re-opening! Thank you for your continued support.
-The Asheville Area Arts Council has launched a new arts and wellness program for wounded veterans.
-If you’re looking for some great homegrown music this weekend, put this Orange Peel concert on your calendar: Saturday, it’s GFE and Yo Mamma’s Big Fat Booty Band.
-The annual Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure is coming up Aug. 18-19.
-The Asheville Art Museum has received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of the reinstallation of its permanent collection in the museum’s renovated building, scheduled to open in late 2018, according to a press release.
-Cornerstone Restaurant on Tunnel Road is undergoing a massive renovation, WLOS reports.