Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Spotted: WLOSer Terrie Foster and her photog chowing down at Wild Wing Cafe for lunch on Monday afternoon. Terrie needed some heavy fuel on the last day of 2007 to prepare for getting up early and handling desk duty Tuesday morning.
Here’s what the WLOSers put on the teevee box Monday night:
DOT does it job, prepares for snow
WLOSers said state DOT workers were preparing for an expected winter storm Tuesday night and into Wednesday. They showed crews in Madison County putting chains on trucks and getting ready to spread some salt brine on the roads.
While they were in Madison County, they also stopped by Wolfe Ridge ski resort, where the folks said they’re eager for some cold weather and snow.
Over in the weather center, Mike Cuevas confirmed that a snowstorm was on its way.
Vandals hit Waynesville Middle
Heather Graf, always delivering the news with a smile, said that two punks trashed Waynesville Middle School. They broke window panes on inside doors, smashed three drink machines, three overhead projectors and took a hammer to 22 computer monitors in the school’s computer lab.
But school officials had the last laugh, because they got the juveniles on video tape. Heather finished her report by telling us that one suspect had been identified.
Graffiti arrests
Pat Simon hit the streets to do a touching story on how graffiti really messes up the lives of some local business owners. Pat profiled Craig Culbertson, who owns an antique warehouse somewhere, who said he was fed up with all the tags.
Pat showed some tags from around town, mixed in some street musicians, and said a couple of juveniles had been arrested and charged.
In other news…
There was a house fire on Arnold Road in Oteen. Nobody was injured… A hiker in McDowell County twisted her anke and had to be carried off of Old Fort Mountain… And State Rep. Charles Thomas said he’s not going to run for a second term. Thomas said he’s too busy with family and work to do lawmaking, too.
Top stories of 2007, according to WLOSers
Russ Bowen delivered what WLOSers deemed the top stories of 2007. Here’s the run-down from Russ:
-Heath Shuler gets sworn in as congressman for the 11th Congressional District
-Van Duncan takes over as sheriff of Buncombe County
-Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobb Medford is investigated for missing evidence in his property room and for connections to illegal gambling
-23-year-old Josh Williams, a cop in McDowell County, is killed in car wreck
-McDowell County Deputy Deputy Brandon Watson causes a crash that kills two-year-old Kennedy Frye
-The Easter freeze. It hurt apple crop and other crops
-The Billy Graham library is dedicated in Charlotte, and former presidents are on hand
-Ruth Graham dies in June
-Weather-guesser Bob Caldwell retired after more than 40 years on local TV
-Fire in Spruce Pine destroys historic downtown
-Fire in mountains, and fire at Ashley Furniture, and fire at a N.C. beach house (why is that a top story for us?)
-Search for missing Henderson County couple; Irene Bryant found dead, husband John Bryant still missing
-Medford indicted on charges related to illegal gambling, at least 10 others indicted too
Russ ended his story by noting, “From Charles Taylor to Bobby Medford, the old guard was relieved of its duties…” How poignant.
But were those really the top stories of the year? What about the impact of growth and development on the mountains? The Ellington? The drought is not listed. Local city council elections? How about the rise in gang-related violence in our city? All these, and more, deserved mentioning.
In still other news..
Kids make resolutions like “win a swim contest” and “study harder.”… Western Carolina University hires a new football coach after near two months. It’s Dennis Wagner, a former Nebraska offensive line coach.. And the UNCA men’s basketball team whupped up on Montreat.
