Have you just ever felt so good about something that you wanted to break into an impromptu version of the “Hallelujah Chorus?” … Let me tell you why I felt that way recently. … Two dear, longtime friends (who live 10 hours away) showed up at the front door. They were “in the area” and […]
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Always listening
[Editor’s note: Names and other details have been changed, except for people quoted in an official capacity.] In Ronald’s Playplace at McDonald’s on a Wednesday evening, “Joel” bounces up to his mother, “Sarai McAllister,” who’s sitting at one of the tables and asks if he can buy ice-cream sundaes for himself and his new friend, […]
Saying no to violence
Asheville Police Chief Will Annarino says he’s seen all types of domestic violence in his 28 years in law enforcement. “This is the type of crime that you constantly see patterns develop,” says Annarino. “We know from experience … that it will continue to escalate. It’s frustrating. You can get a restraining order, but that […]
The latest word
Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz (Henry Holt & Co., 2002) Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Horwitz (Confederates in the Attic) has done it again in this exploration of Captain James Cook’s 18th-century historic voyages into the “Great Southern Continent,” the Pacific Archipelagos and the Northeast Passage. Horwitz’ flair for detail makes for one interesting read — […]
In the journey
After nearly 40 years of composing, performing and recording masterpieces of the American-music canon, jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock is unquestionably a singular icon, a living legend. Hancock was a pianist for five years in one of the great jazz ensembles of all time — the Miles Davis Quintet of the 1960s. He emerged post-Miles to […]
Man of many words
“I’m no good at sound bites,” Bruce Cockburn admitted with a laugh following yet another lengthy response to a question. The esteemed singer/songwriter was taking a break from recording his 24th album of previously unreleased material — and his first for Rounder Records — to chat by phone. Except that Cockburn, 57, is not a […]
Explosive content
To opponents of land mines, the image of a single impoverished child scrounging in a minefield should be enough to sway any proponent of buried ordnance. But that’s hardly a realistic scenario, says Bruce Cockburn. “Multiply that image by millions of children like that,” he suggests. “Land mines in the modern world are a plague, […]
Equal-opportunity insults
Money.com’s “Best Place to Retire!” One of Outside magazine’s “Top 10 Best Places to Live!” Self magazine’s “Happiest City!” Rolling Stone’s “Freak Capitol, USA!” It’s enough to give a small Southern town a big-city ego. But surely there’s more to the Paris of the South than decent golf, miles of single-track, an abundance of social […]
Fountain of faith
“If you lean on the Lord, he’ll bring you out!” The first time Clarence Fountain, one-third of the triumvirate of triumphant gospel voices that is the Blind Boys of Alabama, says this to you, his buttery rasp trembling and shaking and groaning under the sweet weight of faith, you are diminished by his awe. But […]
Fruit of their labors
Only wantin’ y’all to feel all rightIf it helps you get more wild tonight … — The Cherry Valence The Cherry Valence’s second full-length album, Riffin’, revives the intensity of an era shot down by the top-40 blitzkrieg of the past decade. The group’s new album, recorded at Tim Green’s Louder Studios in San Francisco […]
House District 113
Incumbent Trudi Walend faces Libertarian hemp activist Jean Marlowe in the newly drawn District 113, which includes all of Polk County, most of Transylvania County and about a third of Henderson County. Jean Marlowe Age: 51 Home: Mill Spring, in Polk County Party: Libertarian Trudi Walend Age: 59 Home: Brevard, in Transylvania County Party: Republican […]
House District 114
The House District 114 race pits Democratic incumbent Martin Nesbitt (a veteran in the N.C. House) against two challengers, Republican Bill Porter (a semi-retired futures trader) and Libertarian Clarence Young (an Internet retailer). Martin Nesbitt Age: 56 Party: Democratic Home: Asheville Years in the community: 56 Occupation: Attorney Education: University of North Carolina (B.S. in […]
House District 117
Nine-term state Rep. Larry Justus, who died just two weeks before the general election, remains on the ballot along with Libertarian Brian Barber. District 117 includes the northern two-thirds of Henderson County (including Hendersonville) and a slice of northern Transylvania County. And even without Justus, GOP officials are anticipating another victory in heavily Republican Henderson […]
Senate District 47
Three candidates are competing to represent the 47th state Senate District. Republican state Rep. Gregg Thompson, Democrat Joe Sam Queen and Libertarian Sherry Hill (of whose candidacy Thompson and Queen were unaware) are all vying to see who will represent the district, composed of Madison, Mitchell, Avery, McDowell, Yancey and most of Haywood counties. Sherry […]
Senate District 49
For voters in state Senate District 49, the names R L Clark and Steve Metcalf are all too familiar: The Nov. 5 general election will mark the third time these two have squared off. In the past, the district was represented by two senators, but the recent redistricting cut that number to one. Clark held […]
D.C. or bust
Democrat Sam Neill wants to be your Congressman. So does Libertarian Eric Henry. Both of them will be listed on the ballot in the upcoming general election. There’s also one other guy — Republican incumbent Charles Taylor — but we can’t know for sure if he’s interested in getting your vote, because he refuses to […]
Details of the peace plan…
At the Oct. 16 Henderson County Board of Commissioners meeting, Chairman Bill Moyer passed out an outline of his peace proposal to Asheville, titled “Summary of Proposed Revised Contract.” Among its more notable elements are the following: • In exchange for the return of the Bent Creek property, “Asheville will pay Henderson County $2 million […]
Water signs
After years of wrangling over water issues, Asheville and Henderson County may be close to making peace. On Oct. 16, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to allow Chairman Bill Moyer to negotiate with Asheville on a plan he drew up that would amend the Water Agreement and settle the county’s lawsuit against […]
Editorial
Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford just doesn’t understand that he, too, must abide by the law. On two occasions, separated by more than a year, he has failed to turn over public documents that might prove embarrassing to him and his department. Most recently, after an Oct. 1 incident, Medford’s staff repeatedly denied Mountain Xpress […]
Questionable conduct?
A case of domestic violence, alleged to have occurred in Buncombe County on Oct. 1, could be just one more of too many such incidents. But contradictions and omission of key facts in official reports related to this case, plus foot-dragging by various local authorities and the allegation that Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford‘s son, […]
The timeline
Oct 1, 2002 12:13 p.m. – 911 call from northwest Buncombe County; caller describes victim as bleeding and bruised. 12:22 p.m. – West Buncombe ambulance on the scene; crew reports victim missing and arrival of Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department deputy. 12:44 p.m. – Ambulance back in service. 1:53 p.m. – Sheriff’s department reports 911 response […]