“Sold French Broad to Asheville Man,” reads the headline of a Sept. 15, 1905 article in the Asheville Citizen.
Tag: Buncombe
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Commissioners to review county fire and emergency service districts
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will be flooded with public hearings regarding the county’s fire and ambulance service districts at its Tuesday, Oct. 20 meeting.
Little Big City Blues: Asheville’s growing housing crisis
Surrounded by mountains and crammed into a 45-square-mile valley, the city of Asheville is bursting at the seams, suffering from a severe housing shortage, skyrocketing rents and home prices, overcrowded streets with no place to park, and an abundance of lower-paying, tourism-based jobs.
ASAP holds its Community Supported Agriculture Fair this Thursday
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, residents will get to shake hands with the growers responsible for the region’s farm-to-table cuisine, learning more about CSA programs and products. Afterward, fairgoers will gather at Early Girl Eatery for a buffet-style dinner of small portion local foods.
Asheville Metro Area shows lowest unemployment numbers in the state
According to the October County and Area Employment Figures, released Dec. 9 by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Asheville area shows the fewest unemployment cases for any metropolitan statistical area in the state. Buncombe County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.4 percent in the spring to 4.0 (4.1 when grouped with other counties included […]
Urban bear study wraps up its first year in Asheville
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and NC State University have wrapped up the first year of urban bear study in Asheville. “While it is too early in the study to make any conclusions, we were impressed by the size and health of the yearling bears we handled,” reads a passage from NC Wildlifer.
Passing Judgment: A word with the 28th District Court candidates
In the May 6 primary, two of the three candidates for district court judge will move on to the fall election. 28th District Court Judge Ed Clontz faces two seasoned opponents: J. Matthew Martin, a former associate judge in the Tribal Court in Cherokee, and Thomas Amburgey, a Buncombe County assistant district attorney.
Buncombe County District Attorney debate: Challenging questions before May 6 primary election
In front of a crowded, chandeliered courtroom on the fifth floor of the Buncombe County Courthouse, incumbent District Attorney Ron Moore fought for the continuation of his elected position in a debate with challenger Todd Williams on Friday, April 11. Three debates were held during the evening: a debate between Moore and Williams for District […]
Crossover stampede hits the Statehouse
With two weeks left before the North Carolina General Assembly’s May 16 crossover deadline, Asheville-specific legislation remains in focus among the more than 1,700 bills and resolutions entered in the 2013 session. And everything must now compete for time with the nearly $50 billion budget recently proposed by Gov. Pat McCrory.
Health officials: Measles outbreak reported in NC
With eight cases of the measles confirmed to date, officials from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced they are working with local health departments to investigate and control an outbreak. Though nothing can get rid of a measles infection, health officials say it can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
Let me represent you: Legislative candidates spill backstories, views on state
To provide a glimpse of the more personal and philosophical sides of the Buncombe County candidates for N.C. House and Senate, Xpress asked each candidate (by phone or in person) the same handful of questions.
The long and the short of it: Buncombe County retools longevity pay
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Aug. 7, 2012 meeting New Belgium to get $8.45 million in incentives Commissioners approve early property revaluation During a tense five-hour Aug. 7 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners tackled various issues, including changes to the county's personnel ordinance, an economic-incentive package and the date of the next property […]
Let Buncombe be a beacon against Amendment One
In the wake of Amendment One's approval, I am so embarrassed to be a North Carolinian. It is a shame to all of us that our state felt it appropriate to hold a vote on the rights of a segment of our population. It is even more shameful that we voted to deny people those […]
An opportunity wasted
A meeting was held April 30 at the Westwood Baptist Church in West Asheville, ostensibly to address the issue of voter disenfranchisement and the new Voter ID laws being promulgated by the tea party and Republicans. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum: The disenfranchised population of Buncombe County, those most […]
A new hotel?
More commercial development is on the way for a spot in Oteen, thanks to a unanimous rezoning decision by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners at its May 1 meeting. At the urging of property owner H.P. Patel, a vacant 1.78-acre parcel at 1501 Tunnel Road was rezoned from R–2 (Residential District) to CS (Commercial […]
Michelle Pace Wood, Democrat, candidate for District 3, Buncombe County Commissioners
Party Democrat Slogan Your Voice For Jobs Profession Small Business Owner Residence Candler Funding Report to be filed soon. Top donors are Ben Pace ($1,000) and Jamie Pace ($1,000). Endorsements None 1. Do you favor A) creating a regional water authority, B) giving the existing system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District or C) leaving it […]
Six for two: Three Democrats, three Republicans vie for District 2 commissioner seats
The six candidates in the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ District 2 races appear to be contesting a political no man’s land. Although the district was created only last year, the areas it encompasses (from Leicester to Black Mountain and Barnardsville to Fairview) haven’t consistently favored either party. In the May 8 primary, three Republicans […]
Mad about Drew
Drew Reisinger, our Buncombe County Register of Deeds, is my dear friend. He is also a former Obama organizer, statesman, outdoorsman, hiker, rafter, runner, gardener, compost maker, equality ally, labor ally, environmental ally, fairness ally, business ally, West Asheville resident, Boone graduate, rib-eye grillmaster, young professional, Ford driver (manual), technology geek, bluegrass dancer, loving husband […]
Buncombe commissioners: Retreat and advance
Jones urges Asheville Middle School renovation Mandatory trash pickup discussed The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners huddled with staff Jan. 31 to discuss past accomplishments and current priorities. Here's a look at some of the considerable ground they covered during their four-hour retreat. Where we’ve been County Manager Wanda Greene began by handing the commissioners […]
Pay to stay
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Jan. 10, 2012 meeting Jones questions two-tiered benefits Emotional meeting abruptly concluded Tensions ran high as the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 10 to consider employee-compensation policy. In a memo to the commissioners and the county manager last month, as well as an email newsletter to supporters, Commissioner […]
Holly Jones blasts county budget process and personnel policy
Buncombe County administrators failed to inform commissioners of a half-million dollars paid out for “longevity pay,” says Commissioner Holly Jones. What’s more its new-hires policy is impairing public health and safety, she said today.