McHenry announces $1 million Homeland Security Grant to Buncombe fire departments

Here’s the press release from the office of Rep. Patrick McHenry: U.S. Department of Homeland Security awards Assistance to Firefighter Grant funds to local departments WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced $1 Million in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant to local fire departments in the Tenth Congressional District. The Skyland […]

Conference of Superior Court Judges convenes in Asheville

Here’s the press release from the Conference of Superior Court Judges: The North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges met in Asheville for three days, beginning Wednesday, June 19. Approximately 127 regular judges, special judges, emergency judges, retired judges, and appellate court judges and justices attended the meeting. The chief justice of the Supreme Court […]

Buncombe commission­ers split over culture authority, likely to delay budget vote

Buncombe County commissioners may likely delay their vote today on a $337 million budget. The source of the postponement appears to be the contentious behind-the-scenes debate over state legislation that would allow them to create an independent Cultural and Recreation Authority that consolidates services offered by the county and municipalities within Buncombe. Some commissioners say they weren’t consulted about a recent amendment to the CRA bill, and it’s unclear whether a majority of commissioners supported the amendment.

Civitas: Anatomy of ‘Moral Monday’ protesters

Here’s the press release from Civitas: Civitas Reveals Who Arrested Protesters Really Are RALEIGH – The Civitas Institute has posted an online analysis of who is being arrested at the recent “Moral Monday” demonstrations outside the North Carolina General Assembly. Civitas analyzed arrest records and other public documents about the people arrested recently for disrupting […]

Mars Hill College athletic training presents service award to Jansen

Here’s the press release from Mars Hill College: Mars Hill College Athletic Training Department recently presented a service award to Dr. Jay Jansen for 15 years of service to the department and the college’s athletic teams. Jansen is a sports medicine fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon at Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic in Asheville. Dr. […]

Executive at Blue Ridge Food Ventures announces resignation after 10 years

Here’s the press release from AdvantageWest: (CANDLER, N.C.) June 20, 2013 – After 10 years as founding executive director of Blue Ridge Food Ventures, helping launch more than 230 food and natural products businesses and counseling hundreds more, Mary Lou Surgi has announced her resignation effective June 30. Surgi, named 2012 WNC Woman of the […]

Meadows hosts field hearing in Bakersville on mine safety

Here’s the press release from the office of Rep. Mark Meadows: Washington, D.C. – Representative Mark Meadows (NC-11) hosted a field hearing at the Historic Mitchell County Courthouse in Bakersville, N.C., June 21 entitled “Building a Better Partnership: Exploring the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Regulation of Southern Appalachian Mining.” This field hearing was […]

Local conference highlights renewable energy economy

Of the 30 utility-scale solar projects built in the Southeast last year, 21 were in North Carolina. That’s the kind of good news business leaders heard when they gathered June 19 in Asheville to celebrate the successes and discuss the challenges facing the rapidly growing renewable energy industry. (pictured: Ivan Urlaub of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association; photo by Max Cooper)