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Jason Sandford

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

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More of what’s going around:

-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented a passenger from bringing a loaded handgun on board a plane at a Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) checkpoint Monday morning just after 6 a.m., according to a press release. More:

The incident occurred this morning just after 6 a.m. The passenger was stopped by TSA officers with a loaded .40 caliber handgun.

The TSA officer detected the firearm as the passenger’s carry-on bag passed along the conveyor belt in the checkpoint X-ray machine. The officer immediately contacted local law enforcement, which responded to the checkpoint. The passenger was questioned and local law enforcement took possession of the firearm.

To date, TSA officers have detected 10 firearms at AVL checkpoints this year. TSA found five firearms at AVL last year.

There is a right way to travel with a firearm and a wrong way. The wrong way is to bring it to a checkpoint. Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed in a hard-side case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the firearm must be taken to the airline check-in counter.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm on TSA.gov. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition so travelers should contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

The Transportation Security Administration screens approximately 2 million passengers and their luggage every day for prohibited items, including weapons and explosives. To do this, TSA uses imaging technology to safely screen passengers for any items which may be concealed under clothing, while X-ray units screen all carry-on baggage.

-The  Mortgage Bankers Association of WNC is holding a free home loan education event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Asheville Food Park, 219 Amboy Road.

-The  Awesome Foundation of Asheville has awarded a $1,000 grant to Reynolds High School to create a clothing closet for children in need, according to a press release. More:

Senior student Addison Stovall gave an inspirational pitch to demonstrate the need for a clothing closet at the school that will both help the High School students as well as the Junior High students across the road.

Clothing will be sold at very nominal prices ($1 – $3) as well as free for students on a needs basis. From their application for a grant: “Clothing teens is not easy and especially for families struggling economically. Students who are already marginalized often feel set apart as they only know “second hand” clothing. It is one thing to choose to go to “Goodwill” but to always have your clothing be less than what is “in” is often demoralizing. Our clothing closet seeks to provide dignity to all our students.”

-The Asheville GreenWorks Root Ball, will be held from 6:30-10 p.m. on Sept. 23 at the new City of Asheville Arts and Culture Center, 14 Riverside Drive. It’s an evening to celebrate the accomplishments of GreenWorks’ 3,000 volunteers, according to a press release. Tickets are $25 at www.ashevillegreenworks.org. Kids under 12 get in free with adult admission. All proceeds benefit Asheville GreenWorks.

-Bountiful Cities, Sow True Seed, Slow Food Asheville, Organic Growers School, Southern Seed Exchange, Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies, ABFPC Resilience Cluster, and Southern Seed Legacy, in partnership with UNC Asheville, are presenting a regional Seed Swap to honor Dr. Vandana Shiva’s visit to Asheville, according to a press release. More:

Shiva is spending three days in Asheville on a lecture tour organized by UNC Asheville. She is a powerful voice on the side of the small farmer, and has campaigned throughout her career for sovereign seed and secure food systems.

The Seed Swap, which will take place at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, is intended to celebrate local diversity and offer Shiva a glimpse of WNC’s regional seeds and stories. Seed saving is culturally and ecologically important, and nothing honors that more than a traditional seed swap.

Join the seed swap with Vandana Shiva on Oct 17 2017, 3-7PM at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue. Admission is free and open to all.

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Jason Sandford

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

  • 1

1 Comment

  1. Barry Summers September 11, 2017

    The passenger was questioned and local law enforcement took possession of the firearm.

    Was “the passenger” arrested? If not, why not?

    Reply

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