News update for now

Jason Sandford

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

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DWI does in Woodfin alderman
Sheraldo brought us the story Wednesday of Woodfin Alderman Ron Dayton, who was charge with driving while impaired back on June 1st and has resigned his seat on the board. Sheraldo said Dayton blew a .18 and was driving with an expired plate.

Dayton won re-election to a second four-year-term in last year’s elections. He been an outspoken member of the board during DiaperGate, the only member of the board who voted not to fire former police chief Pete Bradley.

Sheraldo said Dayton refused an on-camera interview, but said he quit the board because he didn’t want to embarrass the town and because he’d hoped to keep out of the media spotlight. Dayton told Sheraldo he recently suffered a mild heart attack.

Sheraldo also talked to Jerry VeHaun, Woodfin’s mayor, who said Dayton doesn’t even live in Woodfin any longer. So here’s the deal – anybody who wants to be a Woodfin alderman can go down to town hall and fill out an application and VeHaun and the crew will look ’em over and pick a replacement in July.

State crime report wrong
WLOSers said yesterday’s crime numbers for the state were wrong. Madison County’s numbers, which were on par with numbers for violent crime in Charlotte, were off because of a problem transferring them from one spreadsheet to another. At least that’s the explanation that WLOSers gave us.

Crime numbers for McDowell and Macon counties were also wrong, and the Swain County sheriff says he’s contesting his numbers. Sheesh.

Newsflash
Diva Darcel’s Health Headlines: Smoking is bad for you. That was the essence of her report today. Is this woman ever going to actually report a story?

In other news…
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department will add five new patrol deputies to the payroll after commissioners gave ’em some extra cash. Commissioners also allocated some $400,000 to the department to help it make up a shortfall, according to WLOSers… Speaking of shortfalls, the state Department of Transportation is $960 million in the red. That means some road projects will be delayed, including the next phase of work on Long Shoals Road, as well as plans to synchronize stoplights on Hendersonville Road. Constructions costs are up 30 to 40 percent and federal gas tax money is down, the DOT said… There’s still a drought… And there was a power outage in downtown Ashvegas when a transformer on Eagle Street went bad.