Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
‘Go hog wild’ at the Mountain State Fair
That’s what WLOSers did in covering the opening of the Mountain State Fair on Friday. Pat Simon and Tallahassee Tammy Watford anchored the fair coverage as they porked out on funnel cakes, poked weird looking vegetables and loved on llamas.
A few other lowlights:
John “Punnyman” Le trying to interview some kids, who said nothing, then doing a profile of a giant motorized shopping cart that the state agricultural department uses to promote N.C. food.
Tammy “getting friendly” (those were her words) with a Brahma bull.
Holly Headache totally throwing like a girl while trying to win a carnival game.
Purse snatchings
Cherub Charu brought us a story about some brazen purse snatchings at the Earth Fare grocery store.
The thefts were caught on in-store video and showed that the women – two or three – would come and walk around quickly, searching for an easy target. As soon as they spotted a woman not paying much attention to her cart and her bag in it, they would grab it and go.
The women also apparently hit three Ingles grocery stores and another store. Whatever you do, hang onto your dang bag.
Child death remembered
Sheraldo was down in Henderson County to recall the death of baby Naomi Ruth, the name given a newborn found dead in a pile of cardboard boxes at an Ashvegas recycling center. It’s been a year since she was found dead, and police still don’t have any leads. But people who banded together to buy her a headstone recalled her death.
New golf course
The Cherokee Indian tribe is going to build a $15.5 million golf course on 280 acres of land near U.S. 441, WLOSers said. The golf course is slated to open in 2009 and will somehow reflect the Cherokee heritage. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino will shuttle people between its hotel and casino and the golf course, WLOSers said.
Amazing what that gambling money can buy, huh?
Bears are active
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is alerting visitors and neighbors that bears will be more active than normal this fall. That’s because the berry crop of summer, and the fall acorn crop, have fallen a little short. So the hungry bears will be looking for any leftovers, any tasty garbage.
Edwards considers presidential run
John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, will consider another run for president in 2008, WLOSers said. Edwards made the comment at a stop in Greensboro.
In other news…
A U.S. Cellular tower will go up on Rich Mountain in Madison County… Western Carolina University will allow the sale of beer and wine at its Fine and Performing Arts Center… Michelle Boudin found an e-mail that showed people have been complaining about the lack of security at the Swannanoa Valley Youth Center for a long time. But that didn’t stop WLOSers from calling her story a “News13 investigates exclusive,” whatever the hell that is. Somebody send me an e-mail so we can claim an exclusive… And developer Alexander Reagan Co. plans to build a 160-condo unit in downtown Ashvegas to offer affordable housing. Zona Lofts at the corner of Coxe and Banks will go for about $120,000 each, but they’ll be small – 650 to 900 square feet each.
Hey, I have lowlights too!
What’s wrong with throwing like a girl?