‘No plugs, no pedals, only bluegrass:’ Asheville Mountain Boys release new album
The Asheville Mountain Boys’ self-titled debut album drops on Feb. 12, heralding the arrival of a new era of old-school bluegrass from the Buncombe County quartet. Recorded at The Shop Studio with master bluegrass engineer Van Atkins (Doyle Lawson, Balsam Range, Town Mountain), the record blends heartfelt originals...
Anonymous cash payment raises new questions about Ramey taxes
An anonymous payment recently applied to decades-old tax bills owed by a sitting Haywood County commissioner presents the appearance of impropriety and may violate campaign finance law and the Board of Commissioners’ ethics policy. Substantial questions about the payment remain, but at least one thing is certain —...
Winter storms prompt Buncombe County Schools schedule change, frustrating parents
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Parents of some Buncombe County students are expressing frustration after the school district announced changes to next week’s schedule following multiple school closures and remote learning days. District leaders canceled an early dismissal scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, and a...
Whitewater kayak wave nearing completion might change this WNC town
WOODFIN - Just north of Old Leicester Highway, boulders have been aligned perfectly and set along the banks of the French Broad River. A structure with large, movable concrete blocks protrudes into the water and angles against the grain of the northern-flowing river. While the unusual construction in the river may...
Man masquerading as a deputy meets real deputy during traffic stop, NC cops say
A traffic stop took an unexpected turn when a fake deputy encountered a driver who turned out to be a real deputy, according to investigators in western North Carolina. It happened on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Henderson County, and the suspect not only had blue lights on his vehicle, but he “was wearing a gun, badge and...
Pless positions himself as steady hand amid slow recovery
Under a mountainside that had slipped again and again, residents of Thistle Ridge faced a grim reality — unstable ground, blocked roads and no clear path forward. For more than four years, bureaucratic delays and shifting priorities left a vital infrastructure fix stalled while families worried their homes could be...
Drivers warn of black ice as crashes close lanes across Asheville area
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Drivers across Buncombe County encountered slick conditions Thursday morning as rain and a light dusting of snow led to widespread reports of black ice, possibly contributing to at least four crashes and multiple lane closures. Motorists reported hazardous travel on major highways and...
Ingles’ Sales, Profits Surged as Grocery Prices Soared Following Pandemic
Written by Sally Kestin, Asheville Watchdog. Soaring food prices since the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled the affordability debate, but they’ve also led to a surge in sales and profits for grocery stores, including Black Mountain-based Ingles Markets. Nationwide, grocery prices increased 29 percent from 2020 through...
Costco proposal returns to Asheville planning agenda
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A proposed Costco development in the Enka/Candler area is back before Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission, renewing public interest in a project that has drawn significant attention in recent months. The proposal calls for a 160,000-square-foot warehouse with a 32-pump fuel...
Asheville YMCA to host free senior health fair
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In observation of American Heart Month, the YMCA of Western North Carolina is partnering with Hopscotch Primary Care to bring a free senior health fair to the Asheville YMCA. The health fair will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, Feb. 9 at the...
