Poetic mayhem at Thrashvill­e, the secret world of WNC skateboard­ing

Skateboarding’s stereotypical image hovers somewhere between Fast Times at Ridgemont High and the Sex Pistols. And while that would seem to make it a natural fit for the fringe-blender that is Asheville, there are challenges — including hefty fines. But beneath its surface madness, skateboarding girds itself with a subtle but very real prosody.

Former Asheville evidence room manager gets 10 months jail time

On June 17, former Asheville Police Department evidence-room manager William “Lee” Smith got 10 months jail time for embezzling government property. Local media outlets, including Xpress, had sued for release of an evidence-room audit tied to the case but withheld by Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore. That report will be released on Thursday, June […]

Asheville Council ponders sidewalks, Sunday bus service and stormwater

Asheville leaders could vote later this month to spend millions of dollars on sidewalks and greenways as part of a capital improvement program for the coming year. The budget also funds Sunday bus service in the city, starting Jan. 1. Yet some residents, and City Council member Chris Pelly, voiced concern during the June 10 budget hearing that such the sidewalk investment […]

Judge’s decision blocks transfer of Asheville’s water system

Last evening, June 9, the city of Asheville released the news: Judge Howard Manning has ruled that North Carolina legislators’ move to take over the local water system violates the state constitution. “The Water Act,” he ruled, “is not a valid exercise of the sovereign power of the legislative branch.” Kirk Ross, with Carolina Public […]

Asheville Council’s budget proposal maintains tax rate

Asheville’s proposed 2014-2015 operating budget maintains the property tax rate, according to documents in City Council’s agenda packet for the Tuesday, June 10, meeting. Council will review the budget and take public comment on the proposed $147.5 million proposal, which includes a 3 percent pay increase across the board for city employees but keeps the tax rate at 46 […]

Asheville officials meet with contractor­s for graffiti cleanup initiative

A $30,000 donation means that property owners won’t have to pay for graffiti removal in the city of Asheville’s summer initiative, 1-2-3 Graffiti Free, if the removal cost is less than $500. Assistant City Manager Cathy Ball announced the news at an information meeting Friday, June 6, and also passed along guidelines for
potential graffiti-removal contractors. […]

Branching out: ExchangeTr­ee links people, needs in WNC

All over the country, collaborative economies are sprouting like dandelions. In the last few months, something uniquely Asheville has blossomed. And though ExchangeTree is still in its “training wheels” phase, the site (which, at this point, is operating only in Asheville and Boston) is fully operational. Rather than couch-to-couch traveling or currency-based exchanges, however, it works via barter.