What’s the latest at the Asheville Citizen-Times? Sick time reduced, and a box of poopie

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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So what’s new at the Asheville Citizen-Times? Well, I hear that Gannett took away a bunch of sick time from employees who had some time built up over the years.

I’m unclear about the details, but this much I know: When Gannett bought the Citizen-Times back in 1996-97, it allowed employees who had accrued sick time under former owner Multimedia to “bank” that time. For some employees, that added up to months of sick leave, which they were allowed to keep and use. Now that bank is apparently bankrupt.

In other news, sources are telling me that popular columnist Susan Reinhardt received an interesting parcel through the newspaper recently. Someone mailed Reinhardt a box of poop. Yep. That’s what my peeps are telling me. I don’t know if a note accompanied the turds, and I don’t know if the newspaper reported the incident or is investigating. But that’s certainly disturbing.

Reinhardt’s columns are also popular fodder for the vile Topix commenters, who spare nothing to rake Reinhardt over the coals as she writes about her breast implants, her failed marriage, raising her children and getting back out on the dating scene.