The item wasn’t even on the agenda, but at their March 25 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners got an earful from residents of the Mills Gap Road area, adjacent to the contaminated CTS industrial site. The residents had come out in force to oppose a proposed rezoning of land near the site, but […]
Author: David Forbes
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Two controversial businesspeople appointed to Buncombe environmental board
With little fanfare, the Buncombe County commissioners appointed seven people to the Environmental Advisory Board at its March 25 meeting. They include two who’ve been attacked by environmentalists for their pro-development stance: Robert Jolly, who’s been the focus of considerable controversy in the past, and real-estate investor (and former billboard-company owner) Mike Summey.
Buncombe County Commissioners
The third time proved to be the charm for proponents of a new Haw Creek park, as the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 at their March 18 meeting to provide $240,000—one-third of the needed funding—to buy the 9-acre site. The park will connect the east Asheville neighborhood to the Blue Ridge Parkway and […]
Buncombe Commissioners preview: March 25 meeting
A report on the county’s emergency services and a smattering of rezonings top the agenda for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ March 25 meeting.
Vicious circle
A homeless man who’d been arrested 29 times last year was found dead in his jail cell March 10. Tommy Joe McMahan, 53, topped a recently compiled list of the 25 most-arrested people in Asheville in 2007 (see sidebar, “An Arresting List”). Repeat offender: Tommy McMahan, a homeless man and the most-arrested person in Asheville […]
Medford requests plea bargain records
Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford has asked for—and will receive—the records of hearings involving plea bargains by a former deputy and a longtime political ally to help prepare his legal defense against federal corruption charges, court documents show. Through his attorney, Stephen Lindsay, Medford requested transcripts—at the government’s expense—of the plea deals and accompanying […]
The Admiral stays on deck after car crash
The West Asheville bar The Admiral will remain open for business tonight after a car crashed into the building last night. Owner Drew Wallace told Xpress that the damage would be repaired today and he wasn’t concerned.
Medford attorney moves to delay trial
Stephen Lindsay, the attorney for indicted former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford filed a motion yesterday to delay his client’s trial, scheduled to begin March 25, by 30 days. Lindsay claims that the current date does not give him enough time to review the roomful of evidence that federal authorities have gathered in the case.
Buncombe County Commissioners: March 18 meeting preview
What’s old is new again as the Buncombe County Commissioners are set to vote on support for a park connecting Haw Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway and appointing a member of the Downtown Commission. Both matters have been before the board previously.
Homeless man, most arrested in Asheville, dies in jail
Tommy McMahan, 53, was found dead in his jail cell Monday morning. McMahan, who was homeless, recently topped a list of the 25 most arrested people in Asheville in 2007.
Highway blogger exonerated
Jonas Phillips, the West Asheville man arrested for holding an “Impeach Bush/Cheney” sign over the Haywood Road/Interstate 240 overpass in August—a form of protest known as highway blogging—was found not guilty March 6 on charges of obstructing the sidewalk and endangering motorists. Photo by David Forbes District Court Judge James Calvin Hill said the prosecution […]
Clash of the downtown titans?
Developer Chuck Tessier and restaurateur Dwight Butner are both well-known figures in downtown Asheville. Tessier founded the real-estate firm Tessier and Associates, while Butner is the owner of Vincenzo’s Ristorante and a two-time candidate for City Council, last year becoming the first independent candidate to make it past the primaries. Things will be great when […]
Former sheriff’s associates cop plea deals
Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and his former reserve Capt. Guy Penland are now alone facing federal corruption charges, after former Lt. Ronnie “Butch” Davis and Weaverville businessman Jackie Shepherd, a longtime Medford ally, both accepted plea deals from federal prosecutors on March 7. The two are the latest in a string of plea […]
Nesbitt, others targeted in gambling raid
Property used by local business owner and conservative activist Chad Nesbitt was the target of a Feb. 24 raid by state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents and the Buncombe County sheriff’s office’s SWAT team. ALE officials claim that illegal poker games that have been going on at the site. No arrests were made. Raided: Conservative activist […]
Read the Davis, Shepherd plea deals
Last Friday, former sheriff’s Lt. Ronnie “Butch” Davis and Weaverville businessman Jackie Shepherd signed plea deals with federal prosecutors, leaving former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and one of his deputies the only remaining targets facing federal corruption charges.
Highway blogger found not guilty
Jonas Phillips, the West Asheville man arrested for holding an “Impeach Bush/Cheney” sign over the Haywood Road/Interstate 240 overpass in August — a form of protest known as highway blogging — was found not guilty today on charges that he was obstructing the sidewalk and endangering motorists.
Medford deputy cops plea deal
On Feb. 27, former Buncombe County Sheriff’s Lt. John “Johnny” Harrison agreed to a plea deal and confessed to being part of an extortion operation. Harrison is the first of three deputies who served under former Sheriff Bobby Medford to accept a plea bargain, though several Medford allies have signed such deals in the last […]
Read the Nesbitt raid search warrant
On Feb. 24, ALE agents, alleging that the site hosted illegal poker games, raided property maintained by Chad Nesbitt, a business owner and conservative activist who’s attracted controversy in the past. Read the search warrant for the raid here.
Chad Nesbitt, others targeted in gambling raid
On Feb. 24, State Alcohol Law Enforcement carried out a raid on property maintained by business owner and conservative activist Chad Nesbitt, which ALE officials claim targeted illegal poker games that have been going at the site. No arrests were made — and the investigation continues.
Read Medford deputy plea deal
On Feb. 27, former Buncombe County Sheriff’s Lt. John “Johnny” Harrison agreed to a plea deal and confessed to being part of an extortion operation. Harrison is the first of three deputies who served under former Sheriff Bobby Medford to cop a plea, though several Medford allies have signed such deals in the last few weeks.
Buncombe County Commissioners
The Buncombe County commissioners have given Swannanoa’s controversial incorporation drive their blessing—provided that the potential new town’s roughly 10,000 residents approve the move in an upcoming referendum. Time for a new town?: The boundaries of the proposed town of Swannanoa. Community residents are divided over incorporation. Incorporation “is certainly between the General Assembly and that […]