Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Slow news day
You know it’s a slow news day when the top story at the noon infotainment report remains the top story for the infotainment reportf at 6 p.m. Such was the case today, when WLOSers led off both with Susan Mundane telling us about a “rash” of break-ins along a one-mile stretch of Smoky Park Highway out in Candler. (Don’t you hate it when a rash breaks out? Can’t they put some cream on that and be done?)
Susan said five businesses, including Shear Perfections and Peak Energy and the Miami restaurant, have been robbed. A couple of the business folks said this is the second time in recent weeks that they’ve been hit. Then Susan talked to Pat Hefner over at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department, who aw-shucked it and said there are extra patrols in the area. He said he thinks “the bad guys are watching us” do our jobs, and acting accordingly. Ya think?
Susan ended her report my mysteriously adding that deputies have some suspects in the case, and that deputies have added “special equipment” in the area to aid in their investigation. Now what the hell does that mean? Is that code for “video cameras”? Please, people. Don’t speak in code, like you might give something away. Just give us the straight scoop and be done with it. Arggghh!
Enka Middle School still vandalized
WLOSers then replayed their Sunday report about vandalism at Enka Middle School, where some windows were broken and somebody spraypainted “Crips” on a fieldhouse. Could this be linked to the break-ins? WLOSers urged us to call CrimeStoppers if anybody knows anything. Lame.
Dead inmate
Speaking of Buncombe sheriff’s deputies – one of them found an inmate dead in the county jail on Saturday, but apparently just got around to letting the news out. The 42-year-old was found dead in his cell. The official line is that the dude died of “natural causes,” but they’re awaiting an autopsy to be sure. The inmate was being held on drug and forgery chargesf, WLOSers said.
Dead trooper’s mom speaks out – again
Michelle Boudin did her best to polish a turd of a story about law enforcement officials from around the state coming to Ashvegas for something called “drug recognition training.” Nobody cares.
But Boudin found an angle – one of the speakers at a session was Brenda Cogdill (now Brenda Cogdill East), mother of Trooper Anthony Cogdill, who was killed on the side of the interstate when a trucker mowed him down back in 2004. A jury found him guilty of a misdemeanor in the death, but the driver had trace amounts of cocaine in his system, according to the Boudin story.
So Brenda was an inspirational speaker, apparently, urging the law officers to go out there and pull these people off the street so that somebody else’s son or daughter won’t get killed in the line of duty. Work it, Boudin. Work it.
Cheap beer
Sheraldo had an ill-explained story about a state House bill that allows retailers to use coupons or membership cards for the sale of beer and wine.
The bill would amend current law, which prohibits discount coupons or free beverages as a part of alcoholic advertising. The bill would allow any retailer of beer and wine to supply sales incentives to customers. The bill makes an exception to the current law by only making such discounts available when customers use a discount or loyalty card at the stores, the report stated.
Sheraldo talked to people who all said that cheaper beer or wine would be great. Duh.
In other news…
Black Mountain could be the location of a new nursing home for veterans. State House Rep. Bruce Goforth says the state has money to build two nursing homes – one down east, one possibly in our area. It would have 100 beds… Buncombe County Schools held a job fair Monday. The school system is looking to fill about 200 “uncertified” jobs, stuff like bus drivers and teaching assistants… Former Haywood County Sheriff Jack Arrington died. He was 82… Haywood County’s 911 center has some new computers and is getting a link to Buncombe’s 911 center so that emergency dispatchers can share calls and information… Middle school students in Rosman and Brevard may get randomly drug tested if the Transylvania County school board approves it at an upcoming vote… Cherub Charu says there’s a new playground going up at Williams Elementary School out in Swannanoa. They played this up like a big story, but basically the school needs volunteers Thursday, Friday and Saturday to put it up…
And Jay Seltzerwater says to watch out for yellowjackets this time of year. They make nests in the ground and can be vicious if disturbed, Jay says, so kill the bastards. And if you get stung, get an EpiPen.
I am amazed that WLOS has the gall to call their "coverage" news. The immigration issue is a huge story and one would think that any decent media outlet would develop a long-term approach to covering such issues.
The hatred and bigotry that hispanics face in WNC, the dash to build gated communities at every turn to widen the divide between the haves and have-nots, and the traditional "local versus outsider" mentality are divisive and,ultimately, socially demoralizing.
WNCs public schools don’t do enough. Social services doesn’t do enough. Government turns its head. Citizens settle into their bigotry. And the media, who are supposed to be the watchdog, sit on their asses.
I dare WLOS and the Citizen-Times to cover these issues in depth and get serious about content over fluff and stupidity.
Who really needs to hear another story about the dangers of yellowjackets?
Hola Ashvegas! Did you see Little Red Ryan’s report about the immigration billboard? She did not talk to one immigrant. As a Mexican American I know there are many of us who live here. Couldn’t she find at least one to talk on tv? She said she spoke to someone but that means nothing to me. It was insulting. Also, WLOS must not be paying her enough because all of her clothes are at least three sizes too small. She must be wearing stuff from her college intern days before she gained weight or something. Or she is shopping in the wrong size at Goodwill.