From the News & Observer Written from staff reports: On March 8, Gov. Pat McCrory told state agencies to hold off giving raises because the state needed money to pay for Medicaid. About five weeks later, the budget director at Department of Health and Human Services received a $30,660 raise. Jim Slate’s salary jumped to […]
News Bulletins
Free admission to U.S. Forest Service sites in WNC on Saturday, June 8 (Get Outdoors Day)
Press release from the U.S. Forest Service
Rep. Mark Meadows gets appointment to Congressional-Executive Commission on China
Press release from the office of Rep. Mark Meadows Washington, D.C. – Representative Mark Meadows (NC-11) released the following statement after Speaker of the House John Boehner appointed him to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. This bipartisan delegation of nine Congressmen, nine Senators, and five senior administration officials monitors human rights abuses and the development […]
ECO to hold backyard chicken rearing workshop
Count Your Chickens FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Hendersonville, NC)- ECO, the Environmental & Conservation Organization, will be hosting its first summer Sustainable Living Workshop on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 pm. “Raising Backyard Chickens” will be taught by Knox Crowell, a local sustainability expert with a strong interest in growing and raising his own food. […]
FBI investigation approaching one year, still not completed
From Hickory Daily Record: Airport Manager Alex Nelson and operations manager Brad Adkins pleaded guilty to engaging in a public corruption conspiracy and embezzlement. Nelson also pleaded guilty to money laundering. Yet neither man has been sentenced for their crimes and no one else has been charged with wrongdoing, even though federal court documents say […]
Budget cuts could impact Wildlife Resources Commission
From Mountain Times: The agency responsible for stocking hatchery-supported public trout waters in North Carolina’s mountains faces a significant funding cut in the Senate’s proposed budget. The N.C. Senate budget bill — which passed last week and is now under consideration by the House of Representatives — proposes $9.5 million in state appropriations to fund […]
Spruce Pine man pleads guilty in state’s largest real estate scam
From WRAL: A key figure in one of the largest fraud cases in North Carolina history has pleaded guilty in connection with the $100 million real estate scam.
Local instructors invite community to attend mindfulness retreat for ADHD
Press release From ADHD Center for Success: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – ADHD is the most common behavioral disorder diagnosed in children. But it’s not just a diagnosis that is given to children anymore. It is estimated that 85% of adults go untreated and misdiagnosed. One can experience symptoms such as depression, lack of sleep, inattentiveness, inability […]
Students and adults from Clyde A. Erwin Middle School honored
Press release from Buncombe County Schools: Great gains in literacy skills deserve a celebration, and that is what students and teachers from Clyde A. Erwin Middle School did Monday, June 3, 2013 in the school’s library media center. During the National Literacy Achievement Awards Ceremony, around 30 students and adults from Clyde A. Erwin Middle […]
C-T: Buncombe Planning board splits 4-4 on racing designation
A split vote will send a rezoning case before the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on June 25. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, Buncombe’s Planning Board split 4-4 this morning [June 3] on whether to recommend that race tracks and motorcross facilities be allowed in parts of the county zoned for retail businesses, manufacturing and […]
Bothwell will host June 15 city council re-election kickoff event
Here’s the message from incumbent Asheville City Council candidate Cecil Bothwell, via his email newsletter: I’m running for re-election to Asheville City Council. And I want you to join me at our Campaign Kickoff Party at the Bywater from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. The entire family is welcome to join the […]
Tsali Manor Senior Care honors elders
From Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort: Cherokee, N.C., June 3, 2013 – Each May, Tsali Manor Senior Care on the Cherokee Indian Reservation honors elders across the region at the annual Senior Celebration. The celebration, now in its 22nd year, acknowledges the value seniors bring to their communities by applauding recent achievements of local elders and […]
Battery Park Book Exchange to host “Secondhand Stories” tonight, featuring David Ostergaard
Oh Bookish Ones, Being that we are purveyors of gently-used literature (books, for the laymen) it is high-time that we lend an overly-audible voice to these noble words. A voice of the type that will herald a new aura, era of bibliophic prowess into these walls. And couches, carpets and whatnot. And the moose, of […]
Mission Children’s Hospital to open pediatric program to help children with hearing loss
Press release From Mission Health: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (June 3, 2013) – Mission Children’s Hospital is partnering with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to provide the Asheville area with expert-level care of children with hearing loss. In June 2013 Mission Children’s Hospital will open a Pediatric Audiology Program to serve an unmet need […]
Downtown Hickory Farmers’ Market hosts 10th year anniversary events
From Hickory Daily Record: To celebrate the market’s 10th year, it is hosting a week-long event to thank the local community and the vendors for their support. Starting Monday, June 3, the market will have special events planned for each operating day, ending with a family-friendly event on June 8.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosting Birds of Prey program
From The Mountaineer: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is teaming up with the Balsam Mountain Trust for a special program on Birds of Prey at the Oconaluftee Multipurpose Room on Thursday, June 6.
Leadership changes coming to Lake Lure Classical Academy
From Tryon Daily Bulletin: Following the resignation of Caroline Upchurch last week from Lake Lure Classical Academy (LLCA), curriculum director Jess Boland, has been named acting school director. In August, the school will embark on its fourth year and will add 10th grade. More than 320 students are enrolled with the number continually increasing.
Mechanical Eye screens cameraless films at the Asheville Art Museum
Here’s the press release from Mechanical Eye Microcinema: Asheville, N.C. – Mechanical Eye Microcinema is teaming up with the Asheville Art Museum to present a series of cameraless film screenings from June 7th through June 9th. A cameraless film is made by creating images directly on film stock. This can be done by painting and/or […]
League of Women Voters: legislature’s tax plans “unfair, unwise”
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina, meeting in Charlotte for its 34th biennial convention, announced its opposition to tax plans now being considered in the General Assembly which promote unfair and regressive tax policies, including House Bill 998. This opposition is in line with long-standing positions of the non-partisan organization. The League, which […]
N.C. League of Conservation Voters: Fisher recognized as ‘Representative of the Year’
The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters honored Buncombe County Rep. Susan Fisher for her environmental work by designating her as the group’s 2013 Representative of the Year. Here’s the press release from the N.C. League of Conservation Voters: RALEIGH – North Carolina League of Conservation Voters honored three members of the North Carolina General […]
AC-T: State legislators making changes in Asheville
Here’s some excerpts from the Asheville Citizen-Times article: City Council has seven members, but on some issues two other people count most — and their offices are in Raleigh. State Reps. Tim Moffitt and Nathan Ramsey, both Buncombe Republicans, have sponsored more than 30 bills this year that would affect local governments’ powers and finances. […]