Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Billboard controversy
Carolyn “Little Red” Ryan, who continues to wear clothing two sizes too small for her, had a potentially hot story at 11. Unfortunately, too many unanswered questions left it to fizzle.
The story is that two billboards opposing illegal immigration in Ashvegas have caught the attention to passersby. So the billboards are working. You can see what it looks like here – it depicts the Mexican flag waving above an upside-down American flag. The billboards are on Swannanoa River Road and Smoky Park Highway.
Here’s where the story starts to disintegrate. Carolyn said some people don’t get the billboard. Others don’t like the image but get the message. Others say “we’re all immigrants, aren’t we?” Carolyn quoted two members of “The Action Club” listed on the billboard. One was Kathy Rhodarmer. We didn’t see if Carolyn gave the name of the other woman quoted – funny how WLOSers never actually say people’s names – they just put ’em up in a graphic.
Carolyn never tells us who these people are, or what “The Action Club” is. A quick search on the Web shows that it is an arm of the Buncombe County Republican Party, but there are no details beyond that. How many members are there? Where do they get their money?
Carolyn never quotes a Hispanic person on camera. All she said was that a Hispanic community leader has gotten some calls, and debate about the issue of illegal immigration is good.
Drugs and dildos
Michelle Boudin hit us up with a grabber at 11: Madison County deputies investigating a complaint about firecrackers found $175,000 in stashed cash, a load of marijuana and boxes and boxes of “glass sex toys.”
The 911 call came about noon, Michelle said. Someone complained about an explosion, she said. When the deputies arrived, they peered through a patio window and spotted some dope. They investigated, and found hundreds of the sex toys in boxes. They also found glassblowing equipment, she said. A sexplosion!
Michelle never actually used the word “dildo,” so were guessing here. Neighbors were stunned, whatever the “glass sex toys” were. We’d be stunned to discover the set of a site like hdtubemovies next door as well.
“Mercy,” said a woman next door. “Good gracious,” said another.
The suspect is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver. No word on what the Madison County law boys will do with all those dildos.
Volunteers needed
Bele Chere is just days away, but the Ashvegas street festival still needs volunteers to work, especially volunteers in the children’s areas.
Goodbye, Jack
WLSOers said goodbye to Jack Lawrence, an employee at the station since 1947. They said he started by doing audio work. They never really said what he does now, but showed him behind a camera. So we’ll call him a cameraman. Goodbye, Jack.
Now we need a sign about assholes from new york moving here. Traffic jams in Asheville? Had enough?
Jack Lawrence is one of the few rare and incredibly gifted people who literaly put WNC’s local TV news on the air long before we bloggers existed. He is the consumate professional, who rolled with — and mastered — all the bizillion technical changes in TV news over the decades. Jack — I hope you read this. You are irreplacable. One of a kind.
The thing about Jack — is although he directed the LIVE tv shows that WLOS calls news — day after day, show after show — he never lost his very-cool, southern, bad boy edge. As snooze13 has slipped more and more into silliness over the years — Jack simply always did his job with perfection, and got whatever ridiculous bells & whistles of the day ON THE AIR — day-in,day-out — always with that sneaky, bad-boy smile on his face. He is the heart and soul of what TV news is all about — the technical part I mean. Too bad he didn’t get involved in the content. I bet he could have infused that place with a lot more creativity. But then again — why bother? Jack is not only smart as hell — he rolls with the punches and knew how to run those shows better than anyone. And I am proud to say I worked with him for many, many years.
Here’s wishing all the best to Jack from snacking cakes.
Jack was a director. He normally called the shots and worked as a technical director. I guess they wanted him to have a few easy days running camera before he retired.
Having not seen the actual WLOSer report, but being familiar with the image on the Action groups’ billboard, I thought I’d throw in a quick comment.
The image on the billboard was a picture taken during the illegals work boycott, …was that in May?
The picture of the Mexican flag over an upside down US flag was taken at a high school in California during that particular demonstration.
Not sure if the report made that clear, but it is an actual picture.
Okay, I’m done.