Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
You know it’s a slow news day when O.J. Simpson news dominates the cable networks and WLOSers lead their 6 p.m. newscast with a crime that happened a week ago. O well. Whatchagonnado?
Tools stolen
Terrie Foster, who has run with a couple of stale stories recently, started off the six with a story about thieves stealing $2,000 worth of tools from a Habitat for Humanity construction site. The theft happened a week ago in Clyde.
Foster tried her best to build the outrage – there was a “In the name of Christ” sign at the job site. The loss of a laser level, circular saws and other tools was a “major setback” for families trying to build new homes to come back from the 2004 floods. Ummm, that was about it.
In other crime news…
A man was charged with stealing a $111,000 Mercedes from Skyland Automotive after it had been washed and detailed. The dude stole another Mercedes and a truck. Skyland installed new lights and security cameras… There was something about police raiding a home in Fairview and seizing some Oxy and guns and cash… And something else about somebody in Cherokee charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor.
Still no name
WLOSers said Asheville police have yet to release the name of an Hispanic man hit and killed while walking along Leicester Highway Monday night. The guy used several different names, and that’s making it hard for police to contact family, Larry Blunt told us.
CTS site clean-up
Pat Simon, who’s been reading the Mountain Xpress lately, did a story about residents and an environmental group pushing for better clean-up of the old CTS site on Mills Gap Road in south Buncombe.
CTS used to make electronic components. It closed 21 years ago. Groundwater contamination was discovered, and the EPA ordered the site cleaned up. Local residents were put on the city water system, but dangerous levels of a carcinogen are increasing in the groundwater, according to one resident and the RiverLink riverkeeper dude. They want a “full-scale” clean-up, Simon said.
Simon called CTS, who said they’re doing what the EPA is telling them to do. And Simon called the EPA, who said there’s no immediate threat.
Voting starts day
People can start voting in local elections, including the Asheville City Council election, today. In Ashvegas, go down to the Board of Elections to vote.
In a change in state law, people who aren’t registered to vote can go down to the elections board, sign up and then vote right there.
In other news…
Henderson County approved countywide zoning rules…. John Le took a spin in some electric cars on display by the Land-of-Sky Regional Council. Bleeker Motors brought the cars to show off. Le said they can only go 25 mph and get about 50 miles per electric charge. At the end of the report, Diva Darcel said WLOSers will report regularly on environmental issues in a new segment they’re calling “Going Green.”
In still other news…
Dale Junior will race under a new number next year – 88… At 11, we’ll hear about a woman locked out of her restaurant and we’ll hear from a young survivor of the Iraq war here to get medical help… Also, Charu did a story about the local chapter of the American Red Cross worried over whether people will still give money to them after their former accounting director was arrested and charged with embezzling $165,000.
