At their Feb. 21 meeting, Buncombe County commissioners denied a rezoning request that would’ve allowed more mobile homes in Reynolds and approved $50,000 for a job training program. Dr. Milton Byrd also announced that he’s going to try to unseat incumbent Board Chair David Gantt by running against him in the May 8 Democratic primary.
The city of Asheville will examine an offer from McKibbon hotel group for property near the Basilica of St. Lawrence, city staff said at a meeting of City Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee today, and bring forward more information in March. However, Council members are far from set on the hotel plans: one called the city’s approach “testing the waters.” Photo by Bill Rhodes.
Topping the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 21 agenda is a rezoning request to allow more development of a 4.45-acre parcel along Bee Ridge Road in Reynolds.
Enforcing a new city ordinance, the Asheville Police Department cleared tents from the Occupy Asheville campsite — one of the last public Occupy encampments in the country — in front of City Hall late yesterday evening. Three protesters, claiming the rules infringe their rights, were arrested for ordinance violations. Photo by Bill Rhodes.
With a noon eviction deadline, Occupy Asheville campers make preparations for what comes next.
(Photos by Bill Rhodes)
About 75 department heads, staffers, elected officials and others gathered Feb. 15 to celebrate recent renovations to the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Department building in downtown Asheville.
(Pictured here: Board chair David Gantt and Commissioner Carol Peterson try out a new kids play area in the building’s lobby. Photos by Bill Rhodes)
In a Valentine’s Day meeting, Asheville City Council voted to evict the Occupy Asheville encampment in front of City Hall, one of the last remaining in the country, on Feb. 17. Council also unanimously backed a resolution supporting the city retaining control of the water system in the face of a state study. (Photo by Bill Rhodes)
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Instead of candlelight dinners, the members of Asheville City Council (and any staff and members of the public who happen to be in attendance) at tonight’s meeting will spend a Valentine’s evening in City Hall. A resolution supporting the city’s control of the water system and ordinances ending the Occupy Asheville encampment top the agenda.
At a sometimes tense Feb. 2 meeting, representatives of more than a dozen local publications (including Mountain Xpress) met with city staff concerning possible restrictions on newspaper boxes in downtown Asheville. The meeting, held at City Hall, was called by city staff and members of the Downtown Commission, who claimed they’d received many complaints, both […]
The upcoming budget year, a raise for city employees and sending a lobbyist to Raleigh were key topics in the wide-ranging discussion at Asheville City Council's annual retreat. Held Feb. 3 in UNCA's Sherrill Center, this year’s session gave Council members a chance to hear briefings by staff and ponder goals for 2012. The budget: […]
A sacred topic attracted more than 200 people who crammed into the pews of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Monday night: the Asheville water system. Hosted by the Asheville-Buncombe League of Women Voters (and co-sponsored by Mountain Xpress and Urban News), the Feb. 13 forum served as an informational session to the public about the water system, its history and its possible future. These are the highlights.
Kicking off what’s likely to be one of the most contentious local campaigns this year, former Democratic Rep. Jane Whilden announced Feb. 13 that she will challenge incumbent Republican Tim Moffitt to try to take back the N.C. House seat she lost to him in 2010.
Kevin King, a 24–year–old staff writer for the Tribune Papers of WNC, is planning to run for a seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in District 3, which stretches from Arden in the south to Sandymush in the northwest.
Democrat Terry Van Duyn announced Feb. 10 that she’s running for a seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in District 3, which stretches from Arden in the south to Sandymush in the northwest.
Democrat Ellen Frost announced Feb. 9 that she plans to run for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in District 2, which encompasses much of the eastern part of the county.
Democrat Hayden Rogers, the longtime chief of staff to Rep. Heath Shuler, announced Feb. 8 that he plans to run for congress, hoping to gain the 11th District seat currently held by his boss.
According to the results of an open records request from Xpress, Marsha Stickford, the city of Asheville’s neighborhood coordinator, only received one email about the state of newspaper boxes during the past year, and that wasn’t a complaint. At a Feb. 2 meeting with newspaper publishers discussing possible restrictions on the boxes, Stickford claimed that she received numerous complaints, but couldn’t produce them because she deleted the emails.
(photo by Bill Rhodes)
After months of denying speculation that he wouldn't seek another term in Congress, Rep. Heath Shuler reversed course Feb. 1, saying he’ll retire from office when his term ends in January. “I have always said family comes first, and I never intended to be a career politician,” the Democrat said in an email statement. “I […]
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 […]
The water system wasn’t on the agenda, but east Asheville residents flooded City Council members with concerns and comments about it during a Jan. 31 community meeting. About 50 people showed up for the meeting, held in the theater at Haw Creek Elementary. All Council members were present except Gordon Smith, who was sick. It […]
