Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Ashvegas is back folks – just in time for the big holiday. We had to take a few days off, but we’re back. Never fear. If you’re traveling for Christmas, just check back here to see Ashvegas goodness. And if you’re sticking around the mountains, then great, hang with us.
Drive-by in da ‘hood
Carolyn “Little Red” Ryan ditched the dumb-looking smart-girl glasses and donned her best black trench coat to go over to the Shiloh neighborhood, where she said police said there was a drive-by shooting on Thursday night.
Carolyn talked to a resident of the neighborhood, who said it’s not unexpected to hear gunshots, and Thursday night, he heard three in a row, then two or three more. Carolyn said police were looking for the shooters and finally told us at the end of her report that one guy was hit in the leg.
Carolyn interviewed an older man walking around looking for his son, who he was worried about. And she talked to a white dude who said he moved to the neighborhood about eight months ago. He said yeah, this is a sketchy ‘hood.
Great video, but the chase is over
Russ “Beefcake” Bowen did an extended report on the police chase from the other night to show us how emergency workers work. But really, Russ’ story was just an excuse to show off a WLOS photographer’s great video from the end of the chase.
The chase started on Charlotte Street, went to I-240, then Hwy. 191. In the end, the guy running from state troopers hit a man driving a truck head-on, and that guy is in serious condition in the hospital.
Again, the star of the report was the video. The WLOS photographer was on the spot as troopers pulled the suspect up an embankment by the scruff of his neck and pushed the bloody-faced dude around a little. The had all kinds of video of emergency workers cutting apart the truck that was hit to get to the guy. Good work!
No Christmas for you – 45 lbs of pot confiscated
WLOSers said cops pulled over a truck on I-40 and found 45 pounds of MaryJane in the false bottom of a tool bin in the back of the truck. The weed was tightly packed and covered in motor oil to try and hide the smell.
Cops told WLOSers that increased enforcement along I-95 and I-75 has forced more drug-runners to use I-40. The truck drivers are in jail – WLOSers said the guys were illegal immigrants.
Loebig’s out. Ashvegas is named new news director. Who stays, who goes, who gets moved around?