Back to the news

Ashvegas had to take a break from the news last week. As usual, there was a lot happening. Pat “Smirkin’ Simon referred to Buncombe County as “Bumpkin County.” (Thanks to a loyal reader for that one!) We learned that WLOSers Michelle Boudin, a reporter, and news director Tom Loebig, are leaving the station. And the weather-guessing continued apace. So, moving on…

Cold air grips the mountains
Julie Blunder told us that people are “looking ahead” to winter as the high temperature in Ashvegas only got to 39 degrees on Monday. Blunder said winter predictions say this season may be wetter and colder than average. Which all adds up to SNOW!

Then Blunder went out and talked to Jerry VeHaun, emergency services director in Buncombe County, who said everybody needs to watch WLOSer weather-guessing and heed their storm warnings. Crank up the snow sirens!

Mumpower hates bums
WLOSers did a story on how panhandling is still a pain in downtown Ashvegas, all because Ashvegas city councilman Carl “The Power of Mum” Mumpower, who can’t shut up when it comes to WLOS, told Cherub Charu that he’s getting complaints.

Charu found a guy downtown who told her that he doesn’t beg. Then Charu talked to a woman who works downtown, who said she gets panhandled every night when she leaves work and walks to her car.

Then Charu got to Mumpower, who said he almost got into a fight with a bum who confronted he and his wife. A fight? Really, Carl? Yeah, a fight, said the councilman who famously bought some smack awhile back to get a bead on the drug problem in public housing. “I’m tired of these needleheads” messing with the citizenry, Mumps said.

Then Charu talked to Bryan “Freebie” Freeborn, one of two or three hippies on council who she could get to say that the bums really aren’t hurting anyone, they’re people too. Freeborn said the panhandling problem isn’t anything new, and it’s easy to say you’ll just pass another law.

Charu said police have issued 84 citations since new panhandling laws were put in place. Asheville police also say they conduct undercover operations, apparently posing as well-heeled tourists with bleeding hearts ready with a handout.

There’s a new sheriff in town – argghhhhhh!
How many times can WLOSers say “There’s a new sheriff in town” when covering new Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan??? Let us just tell you – about a million frackin’ times. Get a new line!

Duncan was sworn in as sheriff Monday after Bobby Medford lost his ass in the November election. So Duncan says he’s going to put more deputies on the streets with a new shift system, and he’s going to work more closely with the Asheville Police Department with bi-weekly, joint roll calls.

Short-timer Michelle Boudin brought us these interviews, by the way. When is Michelle’s last day?

In other news…
Some dude named Terrell Garren, in a new book, says Western North Carolina was not a stronghold of Union sentiment during the Civil War… Ingles reported that it made a lot of money in its most recent earnings report… Volunteers for CarePartners are wrapping gifts at the mall and taking donations… Jay Seltzerwater showed us some diabetic feet and says you need to prevent diabetes… There’s a big production of “Peter Pan” at Jones Elementary School… A Hendersonville woman says she saw John Lennon come up with the idea for a classic tune… Jury selection in a second-degree murder trial started Monday, with suave Sean Devereaux defending. Look for him to work his magic once again… Meals on Wheels is looking for drivers… Somebody fired shots into an Erskine Street Apartments building on Sunday and hasn’t been caught yet… And some group called Sperling’s says Ashvegas has high property and violent crime, but police chief Bill Hogan says that ain’t right.