Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
The Jackson County shooting
Russ “Beefcake” Bowen, the King of Sweeps so far this year, once again got the hot story of the day handed to him on a silver platter. Unlike his excellent reporting on this summer’s Democrat-hating pastor, though, Russ fumbled.
Wednesday at 6, Russ followed up on the story of Jackson County deputies shooting a suspect to death following a manhunt and a restaurant shooting. The hunt ensued in Cullowhee after someone barged into the China Dragon restaurant and popped three people, seriously wounding them.
Russ covered the “press conference” held by the slain suspect’s family, who called what the sheriff’s deputies did murder. The family even questioned whether their dead loved one had anything at all to do with the restaurant shooting.
Russ talked to a neighbor at the apartment complex where deputies blasted the suspect. The witness said three or four deputies burst in and didn’t wait before firing four shots.
Russ also talked to the sheriff, who defended his deputies. They were threatened by the suspect, who had a knife and jumped out of a closet. The sheriff, Jimmy Ashe, said he’ll offer more of an explanation once the investigation is complete.
That was the extent of Russ’ reporting. Russ, how about doing some work? Did the dead suspect have a criminal history? What led deputies to the dead suspect’s apartment? What about the restaurant shooting victims – have they identified their attacker? Could you talk to one of them? What was the motive for the restaurant attack?
This is a hot story Russ. Don’t let it go.
Footnote
By the way, Ashvegas was right on guessing that the dead suspect in Jackson County was a brown-skinned man. The Jackson case was an interesting juxtaposition to the Buncombe County murder earlier this week in which a white redneck gut-shot his girlfriend of 20 years, then hid in a shed out back.
Buncombe deputies simply went out and arrested him – no shooting involved. Do you think if he were a black man that he would have gotten off quite so easily?
Best quote of the week so far, comes from the local newspaper’s story on this case:
“Why, they were as sweet together as pie,” she said, “but when they got drunk … they were mean and fought each other.”
Isn’t that so true of us all?
Church break-ins
Cherub Charu also phoned it on Wednesday. At 11, she had a lead report about church break-ins.
There have been more break-ins than usual, Charu tells us. She interviews the pastor of an Emma church that was robbed of some pennies and candy recently. She interviews a Buncombe County investigator. I think that’s it.
Charu, let me give you some questions to ask: Mr. Investigator, why do you think church robberies are up? Is there a gang working? Is it the time of year for crooks looking for Christmas cash? Exactly how many more break-ins are we talking about? How big of an increase is that? Where are the churches being hit – scattered all over the place or in certain neighborhoods?
Big sigh.
Anchorman works while the Diva doesn’t
Lead anchor Larry Blunt, since the day he arrived in Ashvegas a month or two ago, has been hitting the streets to cover and report stories. Wednesday, he had a story about the Eastern Band of the Cherokee working to preserve its native Cherokee language. He also had an “Energy Savers” report about the city of Asheville’s first car that works off of compressed natural gas. Cool.
Here’s my question – when is Diva Darcel going to get off her ass, out from behind the anchor desk and actually do some work? Every other anchor that has served beside her has gotten out and actually done some work. Meanwhile, the Diva has been sitting in the office, filing her nails and touching up her weave.
Hey Diva, I don’t think you’ve got the skills. I don’t think you actually know how to report. Prove us all wrong. I dare you.
Le’s pork report
“It’s a potbellied pet with no place to call home.” That was Jon “Punnyman” Le’s tease to his story Wednesday night. Was he talking about himself?
No. Le was talking about “Suki” the pot-bellied pig in Leicester that, according to Leicester folks, got put out after the domestic break-up of his owners. Poor guy. Suki’s been hanging out with a family dog and living the good life.
Unfortunately for us, Le ruined the good life with references to “the other white meat,” “pig tale” and a few others. But then Larry made it all good when he actually copped to owning, and loving, a pig named “Pansy” when he was a kid.
O, Larry. Larry. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We’re gonna have fun with that one.
Cuevas prediction
Cuevas used the “snow” word during his weather forecast Wednesday night. He had a little graphic with snowflakes down for Tuesday. He hedged his bets by saying it was a “question mark.” Now that’s some weather forecasting.
Disaster drill
That’s the story WLOSers will bring us Thursday. I’m scared…
Uhhh, Jeff. Why would you make the assumption that because the women mourning the victim were black, that he was black as well? That’s just not necessarily the case, thank you very much.
If you saw the original story two black women were crying in the video, I like most people would have quessed the suspect was black…but you go ahead and take the credit!
Hey Ash,
Have you ever met Beefcake Bowen before? I haven’t but heard he’s a nice guy, better looking in person, and short! I thought he was tall, he looks very tall on teeveeland.
I recall Russ said Tuesday the guy was wanted in Fayetville on drug charges.
ash, that pig is probably not living it up outside at this time of year given that pot-pollieds are from vietnam, a tropical country. and hoorah for larry for opening up. i had a cool pig as a youngster, too, and i’ll bet that one is none too pleased about the loss of home and family.
more on pigs:
http://goveg.com/f-hiddenlivespigs_prowess.asp
yeah, i saw that on the front page this morning. good call. unfortunate, but good call.
to paraphrase william s. burroughs, whose life is worth more? the man in cullowhee, or that evil piece of white shit?
man is a bad animal, indeed.