Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s some of what WLOSers were up to at 6 p.m. on Friday:
Clean up the trailer trash
Neighbors of the Lazy Acre Mobile Home Park want somebody clean up the abandoned trailers on the West Asheville property. Sheraldo filed a complete report.
First, he talked with neighbors who said homeles people live in the trailers and burn candles at night for light. The neighbors are afraid the bums will burn everything down, including the “tattered shells of trailers,” as Sheraldo described them.
Sheraldo talked to Robert Griffin, who used to be a firefighter and is now housing safety director for the city of Ashvegas. Griffin said the city just took over jurisdiction of the land from the county last year, got a complaint several months ago and sent a letter the property owner in December demanding clean-up. The city gave the property owner four months. Still nothing. Now the city is getting ready to do some sort of hearing, Sheraldo said.
Sheraldo said he talked to the property owner, who said he plans to clean up the lot but has no timetable. A nice report.
Btw, has anybody noticed the building in the Woolsy Gap on Merrimon Avenue that was wrecked more than a year ago when a car hit it? That debris has finally been cleaned up.
No to no-kill shelter
Neighbors of a proposed no-kill animal shelter in Waynesville don’t want it in their neighborhood because it will bring noise and traffic. Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation wants to buy five acres, and the town board initially approved it. But after the neighbors’ complaints, it’s back to the drawing board.
In other news..
Biltmore Lake residents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Ashvegas to stop planned annexation of that neighborhood… Police in McDowell County are looking again at the death of a 41-year-old woman after an autopsy found the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head. The woman’s boyfriend reported to police that he found her dead… A Tennessee man has been charged with soliciting sex of a minor by computer in a sting operation here… The Transylvania County Courthouse now has metal detectors... And the Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department hosted a child safety program at the Ashvegas Mall.
New newspaper publisher
WLOSers noted that the Asheville Citizen-Times has a new publisher. On Friday, Randy Hammer of the Louisville newspaper was announced as the new pub, replacing Jeff Green.
Peak weekend for fall color?
Most everybody says their either this weekend, or maybe last weekend, was the peak of the fall color season here in the mountains. Kassandra Pride did a story about how everybody loves the fal, and the fall tourism season actually extends into December regardless of the leaf color.
Le story of the day
John Le did a story on the annual Fiber Fair. He said something about it being a hair-raising experience.
Here’s some of what WLOSers had on Thursday:
APD recruitment program
Charu Khumaria spent some time on a thorough report about the Asheville Police Department’s new community recruitment program. Charu said the department is looking to attract more minority job candidates to help address criticisms that the department is insensitive to blacks on the police force and in the community.
Charu said once people sat down and listened, they were impressed with what the department is doing. About 20 people showed up, and the department hopes next time there will be more.
Green film festival
John Le did a story about the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival at Asheville Pizza & Brewing on Thursday. Six films were screened, including a flick about ongoing pollution in the Pigeon River. The movies are made to raise awareness, not money, Le said.
Fugitive Files return
Holly Headrick brought back the Fugitive Files in a big way, profiling 10 people wanted in Henderson County. At the end of the night, WLOSers said they’re reports had brought in tips leading to two or three arressts, if we’re not mistaken.
In California fire news…
Local Hot Shot firefighters say they know what firefighters in California are facing. The local dudes say they’re standing by to help. Also, a couple of UNCA students told WLOSers they had family living in areas threatened by fires, but so far, everybody is OK.
In other news…
Gov. Mike Easley went to Washington to talk about the drought… *Jeremy Butterfield said if you drop out of high school, there’ always beauty school… And a bunch of Jackson County parents said they’re concerned about a long-time bus driver who leaves kids unattended to visit with friends and generally isn’t a good driver. The school system is looking into the situation at Cullowhee Valley School, WLOSers said.
