News for another day

Cracking down on the Picnics chicken
John “Punnyman” Le lived up to his name after getting an assignment that was right up his alley – the story of the city of Asvhegas cracking down on the Picnics chicken.

Picnics is a little eatery on Merrimon Avenue that’s been around now for awhile and has earned a reputation for some yummy pies and stuff. And for the last dozen or so years, Picnics has had someone dress up in a chicken costume and jump up and down in front of the store on Merrimon.

Not any more.

A stiff city of Ashvegas inspector dropped by the store a couple of weeks ago and told the store that the chicken violated the city sign ordinance. The city said it considered the mascot an actual sign. It’s distracting and a violation that could cost the store a fine.

Le said the “finger-licking-good” salesman of a chicken was stopped in its tracks. The decision “ruffled some feathers.” One of the WLOSer anchors said the city “had a beef with a chicken.”

Le interviewed the chicken (aka Jason Martin) who implored listeners to understand that he’s not a sign at all. He’s a chicken.

We haven’t heard the last of this story.

New MANNA warehouse
MANNA Food Bank has finished buying a renovating a new warehouse that will help them to continue work to feed the hungry, WLOSers said. There was a big party, where people ate a lot, to celebrate.

Boys and girls are different
That was the gist of a Cherub Charu report about the government announcing Tuesday that it would make it easier for public schools to create same-sex classes for students. Teaching boys and girls separately works well at Carolina Day School, where seventh- and eighth-graders are separated, Charu said.

She quoted teachers who said the brains of boys and girls are wired differently, so they learn differently. Boys fidget, while girls like it quiet and like to read, she said.

In other news…
Ghost Town is still trying to be ready to open up in May. Terrie Foster does a story a week on the old Maggie Valley amusement park that is getting a major facelift and plans to reopen next year. Everything is being updated and refurbished, from store fronts to rides to the incline railway that gets you to the top of the mountain… PSNC Energy got approval for a rate increase. Your bill will go up about $2.24 a month per customer and will show up in you November bill, WLOSers said… There’s a new Country Inn and Suites coming to Brevard. It will have 70 rooms… There’s a new Wal-Greens coming to Hendersonville. The Asheville Highway location got approval the other night… A Maggie Valley man missing for a few hours was found dead in a creek Tuesday… First Lady Laura Bush will be in Ashvegas on Tuesday to stump for U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor… Michelle Boudin, still on the trail of any and all child sex predators, said an expert says we need tougher laws to protect children… U.S. Sen. Richard Burr was in Western North Carolina to stump for Taylor. WLOSers said John McCain has mentioned Burr as possible vice presidential material, and Burr said he was honored but he’s concentrating on the upcoming election.