Wednesday in the news: Little Beaver day care fined, EPA water testing, former church leader sentenced and more

Here’s some of what WLOSers had on Wednesday’s teevee box news:

Day care fined
Frank Fraboni had a complete story about Little Beaver Day Care getting fined $500 for leaving a child unattended in a van this past summer.

Fraboni stood outside the day care and called, but nobody would talk to him. Fraboni talked to three moms of children in the day care, who said they hadn’t received a letter required by state law notifying them of the fine. Fraboni said the day care has to refine its transportation policies and have staff members attend training on “visual supervision.”

In water news…
There was a water line break in the Carriage Park subdivision that led Henderson County to issue a “boil water” advisory. The broken pipe has been fixed, but some users might still experience low water pressure. Carolyn Ryan was all over it… The EPA will test the wells of about 70 residents who live near the former CTS plant on Mills Gap Road. Results should be back in a few weeks… And Sheraldo covered a fire in Brevard at a pool supply company that forced hazmat crews into clean-up action.

Former church leader sentenced
WLOSers said former church leader Leonard Smith was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of indecent liberties with children. WLOSers first said Smith pleaded guilty to molesting three children, then later said Smith never admitted molesting anybody. Then they showed video tape of Smith talking in court, and Smith said he did cross the line with his “care and concern” for some children. He said he “went a little too far,” whatever that means.

WLOSers said there several local church leaders in court in support of Smith. The family of one victim in the case thanked the media for calling attention to the case and thanked Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower, who is also running for congress, for calling attention to it. The family initially had heard that Smith was going to receive a more lenient plea deal.

District Attorney Ron Moore said Mumpower “has and agenda” and what he did – he protested with the family outside the courthouse on Monday – was irresponsible. Mumpower said he was just doing the right thing.

In other crime news…
Three people were arrested in connection with the stabbing death of an Old Fort man the other day. The man police say did the stabbing was the victim’s roommate…. Police searched three trailers in the Locust Grove mobile home park in search of Celerino Ponce, the man wanted in connection with the two shooting deaths in a pool hall on Haywood Road on Sunday night.

Asheville police officer fired
WLOSers said an Asheville police officer involved in a shooting incident earlier this year has been fired and two other officers involved remain on administrative leave. WLOSers quoted “sources” who said the officer who as fired was let go because he left information off a police report. The other two officers are still on administrative leave, and the police department won’t say why.

Police were shooting at a suspect who was fleeing them and trying to run them down during a chase. One of the officers hit a woman who was a passenger in the suspect’s vehicle and severely injured her.

In still other news…
Hendersonville has hired a new police chief – Herbert something… Chlorox is buying Burts Bees of North Carolina for $925 million… And Public Interest Projects is talking with the city about building a 500-space parking deck on Biltmore Avenue near the location where the Ellington will be going up. Talks are still early.