WNC News Roundup

The rain came down in bucket-loads this week, and so did the news. Along with a host of reports about the rainy storm’s effects, there was news this week about Haywood Regional Medical Center getting back on its financial feet; a land-transfer tax vote in Clay County; the end of window inspection stickers for autos; and a big celebration of apples in Henderson County.

MAIN joins Google effort to ‘Free the Airwaves’

Wally Bowen, founder and executive director of a nonprofit Internet-service provider in Western North Carolina, joined search-engine giant Google last week in launching a national campaign advocating the use of vacant TV channels as a new path for cheap, high-speed wireless Internet access. Google executives announced a new Web site, www.FreetheAirwaves.com, aimed at getting the […]

SoundTrack

That’s mostly due to the Asheville band’s haunting vocals by Anya Hinkle, who channels Gillian Welch at times with her intonations. I saw Hinkle (who also plays fiddle) and her band mates (Bryan Clendenin on mandolin, Stacy Claude on guitar and vocals, Aaron Ballance on Dobro and Greg “Stig” Stiglets on standup bass) at their […]

Keeping the dead alive, digitally

When Stan Crumley’s father passed away two and a half years ago, Crumley found himself facing one of life’s milestones—writing his father’s obituary. OB-TV: Stan Crumley looks over a sample video created by his new Asheville-based venture OB-TV, which stands for Obituary Television. The business creates broadcast-quality video tributes to deceased loved ones for families. […]