Photo by Bill Rhodes

Bridge of sighs

If the Buncombe County commissioners get their way, one of Asheville's most-traveled landmarks may get a new name. During their Jan. 3 meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved asking the North Carolina Board of Transportation to dedicate the Smoky Park Bridge in honor of Capt. Jeff Bowen. The bridge crosses the French Broad River just west […]

Erwin High students feeling the pinch

Recent budget cuts have left North Carolina’s public schools short on cash. According to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, 2,418 public-school educators were laid off this year due to the tight state budget. Buncombe County has been hit especially hard: It ranked eighth in the state for total educator jobs lost last school year, […]