What’s in the news: Robo-tripping, meth lab busts, new developments and more

Jason Sandford

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

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Here’s what WLOSers had at 11 Wednesday night:

Robo-tripping
WLOSer Frank Fraboni introduced us to the latest teen-age get-high craze – abusing cough and cold medicines – something not new at all, actually.

But it’s sweeps, so Frank threw out all the slang he just picked up. It’s called “robo-tripping,” a take-off on Robotussin, I guess, and because the anonymous kid Frank talked to said when you pop a lot of these pills, it makes you walk stiffly, like a robot.. It’s called “triple cees.” It’s called “DXM,” after the drug dextromethorphan.

The craze is “sweeping the mountains,” Fraboni said. It’s also called “skittling” because kids open up a bag of Skittles, dump the red ones and replace them with the little red cold medicine pills and pass them around.

WLOSers, always in search of the perfect segue, followed Fraboni’s report up with a report on the death of Heath Ledger – he overdosed on prescription drugs, they said. They’re story should have been called: “So see, you kids, you better watch you, because this stuff can kill ya.”

In other drug news…
McDowell County, once top in the state for the number of meth lab busts, has lost the top spot. It’s now ninth in the state for meth lab busts. Police said community support and stricter laws have helped them fight back.

In other McDowell County news…
WLOSers showed some surveillance video of a dude hooking up a chain to a change machine enclosed in brick outside a Marion car wash. They ripped that sucker out and got the money. Police want to catch them.

Scam Alert!
WLOSer Larry Blunt said it’s tax time and Buncombe County deputies are warning people not to respond to emails from people posing as the IRS and seeking information. Don’t click!

In other news…
Dozens of people died in tornadoes that ripped through Tennessee, Kentucky, Arskansas and Alabama. The local Hearts with Hands group is collecting supplies for victims… All Creatures Great and Small adopted out all its animals to various people and groups. Thirteen dogs had to be put to death because they were deemed un-adoptable.

New development in Enka
WLOSers did a story on developer Tony Fraga’s plans to build something called Main Street at Enka Village, a big new development that will include apartments, condos and retail space. WLOSers labeled Fraga “Praga” in their report, but o well.

In other development news…
Zona Village, an 11-story condo and office project planned for Buxton Avenue, got the go-ahead Wednesday night at a planning and zoning commission meeting. It will have geo-thermal heating, which is really awesome, said spokesman Robin Pittman. The Zona Lofts Apartments is planned for around the corner… And the folks with the Pack Square Park project threw a party for the public with lots of food, drink and music to talk about what’s planned. The next phase of construction is supposed to start in spring, with the park slated to be complete in 2009.

FOAM night
The Future of Asheville Music event was held Wednesday night at Cinebarre. Local bands showed off videos, concert footage, video animation and more on the big screen. It was all an effort to highlight Asheville’s awesome music scene.