Full announcement (in all caps, no less), from the Council of Independent Business Owners: ALL CIBO MEMBERS WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE NEXT CIBO POWER LUNCH FRIDAY, JUNE 21st AT MAGNOLIA’S RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW…
News Bulletins
Marion woman turns 102
From Hickory Daily Record: Reaching 102 was never really something Dorthy Chrisawn thought about as she grew older, but on Tuesday she celebrated just that at Autumn Care in Marion.
State not in drought for the first time in three years
Press release from N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources: North Carolina is not experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions for the first time in three years, thanks to recent rainfall from Tropical Storm Andrea and several other storm systems. The rainfall from Tropical Storm Andrea helped eliminate lingering abnormally dry conditions in eastern North […]
House gives a tentative green light to $20.6 billion budget proposal
From WRAL: After more than seven hours of debate, the state House voted Wednesday night to give tentative approval to its $20.6 billion budget proposal.
Strong storm system threatens the Appalachians
From The Weather Channel: Damaging straight-line winds and heavy rainfall are the main threats farther south Thursday from the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley to southern Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia.
AC-T: Kearfott lays off as many as 96 workers at Black Mountain plant
Here’s an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article: A local maker of navigation systems for drones and other military equipment laid off as many as 96 people, former employees said. Kearfott, which employed 428 people making high-tech parts for unmanned aircraft, satellites and other military and civilian systems, let the workers go last week, employees […]
Associated Press: Duke gets OK to raise rates
Here’s an excerpt from the Associated Press article via the Asheville Citizen-Times: Duke Energy Corp. said Wednesday it is willing to take less than half of the rate increase it sought in February for electricity customers in Western North Carolina under a deal with a state regulatory division responsible for representing consumers. The power company […]
Locals recognized in Blue Ridge Country for making a difference
Here’s the press release from Blue Ridge Country magazine: ROANOKE, Va., June 12, 2013—Three Asheville locals have been recognized in Blue Ridge Country for making a difference in the region. Gwynne Rukenbrod, Thomas Watson and Leah Wong Ashburn are three of 25 individuals featured in the article “The Future of the Mountains: 25 Gen-X & […]
Dr. Bobbie Short named interim superintendent of Asheville City Schools
Press release from Asheville City Schools: The Asheville City Board of Education has chosen Dr. Bobbie Short to serve as interim superintendent of Asheville City Schools effective August 1. Short is a veteran educator who began her career as an elementary teacher in Buncombe County Schools and most recently served as the superintendent of Watauga […]
Mills River to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
Mills River will celebrate its 10th year as an incorporated town on Friday, June 21 from 4-7 p.m. at Mills River Park, located at 124 Town Center Drive. Festivities will include free food, live music and games for kids. From the Hendersonville Lightning: Indeed, the Town has been busy in the last ten years developing […]
Asheville Chamber announces details of annual meeting
Here’s the information via the Asheville Chamber of Commerce email newsletter and website: Date: Thursday, June 27th 2013 Time: 5:30pm to 9:00pm Description: Join us in celebrating a year of progress – for the Chamber, our members, and our community! During the event the Chamber will recognize outstanding leaders of our business community, welcome new […]
Director of NCDOT Bike division to join Asheville task force
Here’s the message from Asheville Transportation Planner Barb Mee via the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force email newsletter: Special meeting: Thursday, June 13th. Lauren Blackburn, Director of NCDOT Bike/Ped Division in Raleigh will be here to meet and talk with the task force. We will be in the Asheville Fire and Rescue Training Room, 4th […]
REMC pushes to build new power line, Box Creek Wilderness community opposes
Press release from Box Creek Wilderness: Despite a sharp decline in electricity use in the Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation’s (REMC) service territory in recent years—including a 12 percent drop in residential consumption—REMC leaders insist they must build a power line through two miles of one the state’s largest Registered Significant Natural Heritage Areas to satisfy […]
Times-News: Paddlers, sportsmen concerned about state cuts to Wildlife Resources
News report from the Hendersonville Times-News Local sportsmen and paddlers are among those decrying a Senate budget that would slash state funding for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission nearly in half. The specter of cuts has stalled three local projects along the French Broad River. …
Air Quality forecast: MODERATE for Friday, May 17
Thursday, June 13, 2013 is a code YELLOW air quality forecast day for the valleys and ridge tops of Buncombe County. This means that unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. For more information, contact: WNC Regional Air Quality Agency Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 250-6777
Asheville photographer Taylor Johnson to open Mandala-inspired exhibit June 20
Press release From OM Sanctuary: Who: Artist: Taylor Johnson What: Art opening of ‘Fine Art Mandala of Nature’ When: Thursday, June 20, 2013 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Where: OM Sanctuary – 87 Richmond Hill Dr, Asheville, NC 28806 Join Asheville photographer Taylor Johnson, from Taz Digital, for his opening of ‘Fine Art Mandala of Nature’ […]
NASA works with state geologists to make sense of WNC landslides
From Smoky Mountain News: By Andrew Kasper: Mitigating the deadly and damaging effects of mountain landslides might be as simple as understanding them. With that goal in mind, state geologists — in conjunction with National Aeronautics and Space Administration and a consortium of researchers — are launching a project that hopes to shed light on […]
Best-selling novelist Ron Rash to speak at A-B Tech’s GED recognition ceremony Saturday, June 13
Press release From A-B Tech: Poet, short story writer and novelist Ron Rash will be the community speaker at A-B Tech’s annual GED recognition ceremony at 7 p.m. June 13 in Ferguson Auditorium on the Asheville campus. Rash is the author of the 2009 PEN/Faulkner finalist and New York Times bestselling novel, Serena, in addition to […]
PARI gets new scientific instrument to perform precise measurements of stars
Press release From Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI): (June 11, 2013) – A highly sophisticated new scientific instrument has been added to the research capabilities of the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). The Astrometric Measuring Instrument (AMI) is now fully functional and performing precise measurements of stars from photographic plates in the Astronomical Photographic Data […]
Feeding America releases new study that shows 14.9 percent of WNC is at risk of hunger
MANNA FoodBank highlights WNC-focused results of Feeding America’s nationwide hunger study. A new study finds that more than 104,000 people in MANNA FoodBank’s 16 county service area – including 38,000 children – do not always know where they will find their next meal. In all, 14.9 percent of the population in Western North Carolina confronts […]
The Mountaineer: Haywood County to consider consolidating dispatch centers
From The Mountaineer: By DeeAnna Haney In an effort to increase emergency response times and improve information sharing, emergency service officials have proposed to consolidate two separate dispatch entities in the county.