APD conducting rapid deployment training at Isaac Dickson School

The Asheville Police Department, in partnership with the Asheville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS, are participating in a rapid deployment exercise at the current Isaac Dickson Elementary School (90 Montford Avenue) today, July 12th, and tomorrow, July 13th, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During this exercise officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians will be using radio channels to communicate.

Jackson County touts location as prime spot for August’s solar eclipse

Jackson County, North Carolina, is one of the few areas in North Carolina where visitors and residents can experience next year’s extremely rare celestial phenomenon—a total solar eclipse. All of the county’s towns—including Sylva, Dillsboro, Cullowhee and Cashiers—are in the direct path of The Great American Solar Eclipse. On August 21, 2017, the towns will have a stellar view of one of nature’s most visual displays followed by a few minutes of complete darkness.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts community wildfire preparedness meeting

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in partnership with Americorps and FireWise, will host a Community Wildfire Preparedness meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the Oconaluftee Administrative Building adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC. Park Fire Information Officer, Katie Corrigan, will discuss wildland fire management practices and present an overview of recent wildfires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Buncombe County taking applications for emergency food, shelter program funding

Buncombe County has been awarded $90,273 of Federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs. The funds were made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Buncombe County was selected by a National Board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency along with nonprofit partners.

The Omni Grove Park Inn says “Goodnight to Hunger”

Just as The Omni Grove Park Inn and Omni Hotels & Resorts say goodnight to hundreds of thousands of guests every year, they will now Say Goodnight to Hunger! For every stay now booked directly on OmniHotels.com, the company will make a donation to Feeding America® to provide a family of four dinner for an entire week.* Donations will benefit Feeding America and local members in the 42 communities where Omni Hotels & Resorts’ 60 properties are located, with MANNA FoodBank being the local recipient in Asheville for The Omni Grove Park Inn.

UNC Asheville Summer Buzz Breakfast continues July 21

The Leadership Asheville Summer Buzz Breakfast Series continues July 21, with a panel discussion, Asheville’s Direction, featuring Mayor Esther Manheimer, UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. Grant and The Collider CEO Bill Dean. Jim Stokely, president of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy, will moderate the panel. The Summer Buzz Breakfast Series is presented by Ward and Smith, P.A. as a way to explore Asheville’s issues, meet community leaders, and get a taste of the Leadership Asheville experience.

APD seeks help identifying female

The Asheville Police Department would like to request public assistance in identifying the female in the photo below. She is not a suspect in a case but we believe she can provide valuable information on the identities of individuals responsible for multiple motor vehicle breaking and entering cases, as well as an Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle case (16-016126) that occurred on June 30, 2016 along New Leicester Highway.

Hands On! receives grants for portion of new roof

ands On! – A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum located on Main Street, has been working to cover the cost of capital expenses that include a new roof, work on a high wall on the roof and a new facade. As one of four members of a condo association of Rosdon Mall, Hands On! needs $35,000-$40,000 to cover their portion of the capital improvements.

Pat Benatar, Melissa Etheridge among An Appalachian Summer Festival events

For over three decades, Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer Festival, has offered unique and enriching arts experiences to audiences across the Southeast, combining world-class performing and visual arts programming, and a spectacular mountain location in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

SBA Disaster Loan deadline in North Carolina is August 2

The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties in North Carolina of the Aug. 2, 2016 deadline to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) as a result of excessive rain and flooding that began on Oct. 1, 2015.

Warren Wilson College named “best buy” by Fiske Guide

With “quality academic offerings and affordable cost,” Warren Wilson College is, for the 11th time, a “best buy,” according to the “Fiske Guide to Colleges 2017.” Known as the “top independent voice in college admissions,” the “Fiske Guide” identifies environmental studies, outdoor leadership, global studies, art, creative writing and social work, among others, as top programs at Warren Wilson, a private liberal arts college.

Asheville planners to host meeting about infill housing

Like many areas of the state, Asheville is experiencing unparalleled growth. This has resulted in increased costs for both rental and for-sale housing units. Up to 43% of renting households are rent burdened, which is defined as spending 30% or more of household income on housing expenses. In addition, there is a 99.1% occupancy rate for rental housing in the city.

UNC Asheville’s NEMAC honored for special achievement in GIS

Esri, a world leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, presented UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC) with a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award June 29 at their annual User Conference. Selected from over 300,000 eligible candidates, NEMAC received the award for its innovative application of technology, data collection, geospatial information visualization, and thought leadership through GIS in the fields of environmental science, climate, and sustainability and resilience planning.

Front Country to perform at Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center July 9

“An Appalachian Evening” Summer Concert series will feature Front Country Saturday, July 9th at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center. Front Country has a sound with the body of a bluegrass ensemble, the soul of a rock band and the mind of a classical chamber group. What started as a reluctant band of some of the hottest young pickers in the SF Bay Area has transformed into a hard-touring powerhouse Roots-Pop ensemble that is stretching the boundaries of Bluegrass and Americana until they break.