Asheville News

Long-time Times-News reporter leaving newspaper

Jason Sandford December 10, 2008

Jason Sandford

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

Ashvegas is receiving word from a loyal reader that Harrison Metzger, a 20-year reporter and editor at the Hendersonville Times-News is leaving the N.Y. Times-owned newspaper. The Times-News has been undergoing changes similar to what’s been happening at the Asheville Citizen-Times, only on a small scale.

The newspaper has moved to a smaller width, earning it the nickname the “tiny Times” from Bill Fishburne, publisher of the Asheville Tribune. And it stopped printing locally a year or so ago and has been printed at its sister newspaper in Spartanburg. (The Citizen-Times will close its Asheville printing plant in January and have the paper printed in Greenville, S.C.)

The departure of Metzger leaves the Times-News with just four local reporters to cover Henderson County. (Henderson County’s half the size of Buncombe County.) Word on the street is that Times-News Publisher Ruth Birge is also planning to leave the newspaper.

Meanwhile, there’s an active new blog on the Hooterville scene. Check out BlogHendersonville.

Jason Sandford

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

Fundraiser for Appalachian Forest Coalition and Southwings

Thinking about 2009

4 Comments

Ash December 11, 2008

i’ve deleted the offending phrase, and offer my apologies to Mr. Metzger.

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James Shea December 11, 2008

I want to echo John’s thoughts. The post on Harrison leaving was good, but the hard to get along with comment is out of line. Harrison told me he has never met you before, so how do you know this? He has worked in this community for over 20 years and played a key role in the creating of the DuPont Forest. I have worked with him for nearly two years and have found him to be professional and hard working.

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John Harbin December 11, 2008

Overall that was a nice little blog about Harrison’s departure and the state of the Times-News. Just thought it was rather rude to judge Harrison has being "notoriously difficult to get along with" Don’t know if you’ve worked with Harrison, but that comment was rude and uncalled for in my opinion.

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bb December 11, 2008

What? That stinks. I know the Metzgers and I hate to think of them and their two little girls getting this for Christmas. Hopefully, he finds an even better position somewhere.

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