Temporary Fix
08/31/2006
Mitchell County residents are still voicing their concerns about the
safety of the Upper Street Retaining Wall in Spruce Pine but Mitchell
County Manager Ryan Whitson says that engineers are on the job. The
temporary fix is in place and the wall is safe. Walter Birdsong the
senior engineer with S&ME has been in contact with The Mitchell County
Manager to say that new blue print designs are being designed and the
wall will be fixed. A plan of action should be decided on with in the
next 3 to 4 weeks. Ryan Whitson comments (click audio button above)
Avoids Possible Life Sentence
08/31/2006
Avoiding a possible
life sentence in prison, Marty Lee Thompson, of Durham, has pleaded
guilty to second degree murder in the shooting death of Appalachian
State University student Joseph McClure in October of 2004. According to
assistant DA Charlie Byrd, the shooting occurred after Thompson came to
Boone to buy marijuana from McClure. The judge sentenced Thompson to
18-and-a-half years in prison.
Troopers Cracking Down
08/31/2006
The Labor Day holiday
weekend marks the end of a busy summer vacation travel season and heavy
traffic is expected statewide this year. Speed is the leading cause of
traffic deaths on the state’s highways. Troopers will be cracking down
on speeders and aggressive drivers during the holiday weekend. There
will be an increased presence of Troopers on all interstates in North
Carolina. Last year, there were 1,071 crashes, 565 injuries and 13
fatalities investigated by the Highway Patrol statewide during the
holiday period. The Labor Day holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00
pm tomorrow, Sept. 1st and ends at midnight, Monday, Sept. 4th. Citizens
can report highway problems to the Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their
cellular phones. The toll free call goes directly to the nearest Highway
Patrol communication center.
AMY Library Director Resigns
08/30/2006
Patti Bowers has resigned her post as Regional Library Director of the
Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library. In her letter of resignation she
said working with the library staff, Board members and local residents
has been one of the great joys of her life. She said, reading from her
resignation letter: “however, whenever I accepted the position of
Regional Library Director, I did not anticipate that my predecessor’s
presence in the Library Office and influence on the Yancey Library Board
would continue indefinitely. I have reluctantly concluded that I cannot
lead the library into the future while it is so firmly rooted in the
past." The position of Director has been filled on an interim basis by
Daniel Barron who, for 30 years, has been a faculty member and Director
of the Library School at the University of South Carolina. He says the
entire community is better off when you have a strong library system.
Daniel Barron comments. (click audio button above)
Yancey BOE Special Meeting
08/30/2006
The Yancey County Board
of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, August 31, at 5:00
PM for the purpose of considering personnel matters. The meeting will be
held at the Board of Education office, 100 School Circle, Burnsville.
The next regular meeting of the Yancey County Board of Education will be
held on Monday, September 11, at 4:30 PM at the Board of Education
office, 100 School Circle, Burnsville.
Wanting a Roll-Back and a Refund
08/29/2006
The heat is being
turned up on the Toe River Health District following their recent
decision to increase septic fees. At the conclusion of their August
meeting last Thursday, the board voted to approve a meeting of the three
county managers and their finance officers with TRHD Director Tom
Singleton and their finance officer for the purpose of coming up with a
reasonable fee schedule. This move followed an outcry by citizens who
attended the board meeting. That was last week, yesterday the Yancey
Commission, meeting in special session, adopted a resolution opposing
the fee increases and calling for a roll-back and any permit fees
charged based on the new rate should be refunded to the permit holder.
The Health District also instructed their attorney to determine the
legality of increasing fees without approval of all three of the County
Boards of Commissioners. The fees implemented on July 1st were not
approved by the three Counties. Yancey Commissioner Nathan Bennett
comments (click audio button above)
Yancey Deputies and SBI Seize
Marijuana Plants
08/29/2006
Yancey Sheriff’s
Deputies and SBI Agents spent the entire day last Thursday locating and
seizing marijuana planted by growers in several sections of the County.
At the end of the day almost 80 marijuana plants were seized. Chief
Deputy Gary Banks said plants were found in the Newdale, Fox Creek and
Bald Mountain Communities. The SBI’s aviation unit assisted deputies on
the ground locate the plants. Banks said some of the individuals who
were found to be growing the marijuana have been made and other arrests
are likely. No arrest details have been released as the Sheriff’s
Department continues their investigation.
Another Rabies Case
08/28/2006
A positive case of
rabies was confirmed last week in a raccoon in the Newdale area of
Yancey County Fortunately there was no human exposure, but two domestic
dogs were exposed. Toe River Health District Health Educator Katrina
Riordan said it’s reasonable to believe that positive rabies cases will
continue to appear in wild animals around the area as approximately 70
cases have been confirmed in Yancey County to date. Other counties in
the region serve as examples of how cases continue to grow once rabies
is discovered in an area. Rabies cannot be cured and is almost always
fatal to animals and people once signs of the disease appear. With facts
as black and white as these, there is good reason for residents to be
concerned. In rabies, prevention is the key. Vaccinating your pets, and
having the vaccine boostered on a regular basis, is still the number one
way to protect yourself, your family and your pets from exposure to the
rabies virus and to decrease the spread of the disease between wild and
domestic animals. Call the Yancey County Health Department at 682-6118
with questions or to report an exposure. If you need help capturing an
animal, contact Yancey County Animal Control at 678-9463.
Byrd says it’s Land Use Control
08/25/2006
As Mitchell
Commissioners look at a “Subdivision Ordinance,” one Commissioner says
it’s just more regulations and it is land use control. Phil Byrd is a
Mitchell Commissioner Phil Byrd. A subdivision advisory committee is
being formed and its hope they will meet around the first of September.
These meetings will be open to the public. The time and location will be
announced. Byrd comments. (click audio button above)
TRHD Responds to Citizens
08/25/2006
Toe River Health
District Board of Directors met last night at Mayland Community College
in Spruce Pine, also there were citizens of Avery, Mitchell & Yancey
Counties plus local business representatives. They were there to address
the recent action taken by Toe River Health District of increasing
septic fees. According to Tom Singleton the TRHD Director, the board,
which is made up volunteers who have been appointed by their local
county commissioners, requested proposals to make environmental health
programs self sup portative. In June of this year, the board approved a
plan recommended by the Health Director that increases wastewater system
permitting fees by charging by the square foot instead of bedroom size
plus an additional flat fee of $720 for the perk if the building plans
are not yet finished and the square foot of the building is not known.
The approval of this fee structure was incorporated into the THRD’s
budget and is currently being collected. TRHD Spokesman Mike Lacey, of
Avery County, said “last year 40 jobs were lost and $1.4 million dollars
was cut from the budget. He says revenue can never be self sufficient
because of so many free services the TRHD provides. The total
contributions for the Toe River Health District are about 8% but the
budget shortage comes because they are actuating using 40%.
Wanda Profit of Carolina Mountain Reality, in Burnsville, addressed the
board with a response from North Carolina Representative Ray Rapp’s
office. The question was raised as to whether the board has the legal
authority to access increased fees. A part of Rapp’s statement stated”
The fact that the fee increase has not been approved by all the boards
of Mitchell, Avery and Yancey County Commissioners as required raises
question.” (by G.S.103A-39(g) Tom Singleton TRHD director responded by
saying: “I spoke to the Attorney Generals office and for 26 years the
Commissioners have never given approval but I know that does not make it
right”
Mitchell County Manager Ryan Whitson, speaking on behalf of the Mitchell
Commissioners said that the three county managers along with their
finance officers should meet with the Toe River Health Board and their
finance officers and look at the financial situation of the Toe River
Health District Board.
THRD Fees Anger Many
08/24/2006
Toe River Health
District Board of Directors will meet tonight at 7, in the Board room at
Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. The room could be filled with
angry citizens over a recent decision by the board to increase septic
tank fees. TRHD septic permits are now based on a home’s square footage;
previously it was based on a homes gallon flow. Other area counties have
a flat rate, Madison’s fee is $250, and McDowell charges $200. According
to TRHD Officials the reason for the change is economics, they’re trying
to offset budget woes by increasing fees. They say it costs around $400
thousand to run their environmental health department. The greatest
impact will be to builders who must pay a flat rate of $720 if they do
not have structure plans when they apply. And when they begin
construction they must also pay 60 cents per square foot of heated
space. Using a three-bedroom, 3,000 square-feet heated building, as an
example; before July 1, 2006, it would have cost $360 for a septic
permit. Now, with the $720 flat rate and 60 cents per square feet, the
price for the permit would total $2,520.
It’s a Good Thing
08/23/2006
A proposed “Subdivision
Ordinance” for Mitchell County has sparked concern from some residents,
but Commissioner Jim Saylor says it's a good thing. The subdivision
advisory committee is scheduled to hold meetings in the next few weeks
and these meetings are open to the public. The time and location will be
announced. Saylor comments. (click audio button above)
Charged with Several Crimes
08/23/2006
Yancey Deputies have charged a Burnsville man with several criminal
offenses after he allegedly entered a residence and vehicle without
consent and stole items of value. Charged is Adam Royce Banks, age 27,
of a Mine Branch Road address. The arrest was made after a lengthy
investigation of events that occurred at two separate residences off of
Mine Branch Road on the evening of August 8th. According to Lt. Tom
Farmer of the Sheriff’s Department, as officers arrived at a residence
to investigate a burglary, they were advised that a vehicle parked at
another location in the community had been stolen. The investigation
concluded with the officers arriving at the suspect’s residence where he
was found to be in possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug
paraphernalia. Banks was linked to the property crimes as-well-as the
drug possession. He was released after posting a $24 thousand secured
bond. Some of the personal property including the Honda passenger car
was recovered. Lt. Farmer said illegal drugs contributed to Banks
committing the offences. He is scheduled to appear in Yancey District
Court on September 6th. Sgt. John D. Robinson and Deputies Mark A.
Letterman and Ronnie J. Whitehead were the investigating officers.
Murder Charge in Avery
08/22/2006
On August 20th, Avery
Deputies answered a call that there had been gunshots at the residents
of Dana Keith Blankenship & Elizabeth Palmer on 19E in Cranberry. When
they arrived, they found Dana Keith Blankenship, age 29, lying face down
in the kitchen. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene. The suspect,
Derrick Donnell Palmer, age 16, son of Elizabeth Palmer, had fled the
scene on foot. Officers search for Palmer for hours but were unable to
locate him. Sheriff Edward Gwyn received a call from relatives of Palmer
that he wanted to turn himself in. Palmer turned himself in at the Avery
Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with murder. His first court appearance
was Monday; he remains in jail under no bond.
Burnsville Woman Charged
08/22/2006
Yancey Deputies have
charged a Burnsville woman with stealing, forging and passing bad checks
at several businesses throughout the county. Shannon Marie Byrd, age 22,
of a Town & Country address, in Burnsville, was served with 42 felony
warrants for her arrest. Yancey Sheriff Kermit Banks investigated the
incident after an 82- year old woman told him her bank statement had
revealed thousands of dollars being withdrawn by numerous checks being
written on her personal account. Banks said his investigation revealed
Byrd had stolen the victim’s checks while working in her home. She then
passed the checks at several business locations and obtained goods and
other monetary services. Byrd was charged and released after posting an
$85 thousand bond. She is scheduled to appear in Yancey District Court
on September 6th.
Subdivision Advisory Committee
08/22/2006
Mitchell Commissioners
met in special session Monday night to discuss a “subdivision ordinance”
that has been proposed by commissioners. The purpose of the meeting was
to name members to an advisory committee and to map out a time line to
eventually have a public meeting on the subject and a vote by
commissioners of whether to implement the ordinance. Audience members
said the ordinance was a first step for some type of land use plan or
zoning. Commissioner Saylor said the ordinance would have nothing to do
with zoning and nothing to do with private property rights. County
Attorney Lloyd Hise describes the difference in this ordinance and
zoning. The first meeting of the subdivision advisory committee will be
near the 1st of September and will be open to the public. The time and
location of the meeting will be announced. Hise comments. (click audio
button above)
CSX Investigates Derailment
08/21/2006
Officials with C-S-X
Railroad are investigating the cause of a train derailment last week.
The derailment, of a 25 car coal train, traveling from Kentucky occurred
along the Tennessee and North Carolina line inside Mitchell County.
Officials say some of the coal spilled into the Nolichuckey River, but
they say coal is generally not a hazardous substance. All appropriate
agencies were contacted. The company said they do not believe any water
sources were contaminated.
Kates Reappointed to MCC Trustees
08/21/2006
Gov. Mike Easley has
reappointed Ronald Kates of Burnsville to the Mayland Community College
Board of Trustees. Kates is a retired school principal. He received his
Bachelor’s degree in math and physical education and his Master’s in
administration from Appalachian State University. Board duties are to
elect the president, employ personnel, purchase land necessary for the
operation of the college, apply standards for admission and graduation,
receive gifts and donations, provide for the administration of all
educational and occupational services and to establish or enter into
public or private partnerships for the support of the institution. The
board has 12 members, each serving a four-year term. The governor
appoints four members. The local board of education and county
commissioners each appoint four members.
Special Session in Mitchell
08/21/2006
Mitchell Commissioners
will meet tonight is special session to discuss matters related to the
“Subdivision Ordinance.” The purpose of the meeting is to appoint an
advisory committee and approve a timeline. This meeting follows
recommendations from county attorney Lloyd Hise at the August
Commissioners meeting that before setting a date for a public hearing on
a possible subdivision ordinance, the board might want to set a planning
meeting to hear recommendations from the public and if they want a
sub-division ordinance to discuss what should be in it for the good of
Mitchell County. The meeting is tonight at 6 pm, in the Commissioners
meeting room, in the County Administration building in Bakersville.
Helping People
08/18/2006
Yancey County’s Rescue
Squad—helping people. Randy Ollis, the Chief of the Yancey County Rescue
Squad says while some members have more than 15 years experience and
training, most have 3 years or less. Ollis says volunteers are always
needed and he would welcome a call. Randy Ollis comments. (click audio
button above)
Marijuana Seizure in Mitchell
08/17/2006
Mitchell County
Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search of a residence located at 1763 Snow
Ck Rd, Bakersville on August 7, 2006 and found a marijuana grow
operation. They confiscated 6 plants and over five pounds of marijuana
being stored in prepackaged bags, digital scales and assorted
paraphernalia. The investigation began after receiving information from
the Avery County Sheriff’s Office that marijuana was being manufactured
there. Deputies arrested the property owner, James Reese, 43, and
charged him with manufacturing marijuana, felony possession of
marijuana, possession with intent to sell marijuana, maintaining a
dwelling for controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Reese cooperated with investigators and admitted to his involvement with
drug activity. Reese received a $20,000 secured bond. Lt. Chris
Gillespie was the charging officer.
Governors Crime Commission Grant
08/16/2006
The Town of Spruce Pine
has received a grant from the Governors Crime Commission to buy
computers for the police department. Richard Canipe, Spruce Pine Town
Manager, comments. (click audio button above)
Mitchell County Officers Injured
in Meth Lab
08/15/2006
On Tuesday August 8,
2006, five Mitchell County Deputies and a NC Probation Officer where
injured during a search for drugs at a residence in Bakersville. The
investigation began when deputies received information about possible
drug activity occurring at 381 Mine Ck Rd. They had also received
information that two people who where on probation for Methamphetamine
charges in late March of this year would also be at the residence.
Deputies responded to the residence to investigate the complaint. As
they knocked on the door, suspects inside were manufacturing
Methamphetamine and when they attempted to hide the production by
pouring and mixing chemicals together the mixture reacted and spilled
inside the residence. A suspect inside the residence opened the door and
invited officers inside. That is when four officers where injured by the
chemicals. Two other officers encountered another suspect as he
attempted to flee from another door of the residence where the officers
had to subdue him therefore being directly exposed to the harmful
chemicals. Mitchell County EMS transported five deputies and a probation
officer to the Spruce Pine Community Hospital. They were treated and
released. Deputies arrested and charged Kathy Lynn Goldberg, 45, 381
Mine Ck Rd, Bakersville, James Woodrow Vaughn, 54, 118 Stonewood Dr.,
Spruce Pine, and Norma Jean Huskins, 39, Jay Young Rd., Burnsville with
Manufacture Methamphetamine, two counts of Conspiracy to Manufacture
Methamphetamine, Possession Methamphetamine, Possess with Intent to Sell
Methamphetamine, Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance, four counts
of Possess Immediate Precursor Chemical with Intent to Manufacture
Methamphetamine and six counts of Felony Assault on a Government
Official. Vaughn and Huskins are currently on Probation for similar
charges stemming from an investigation in Mitchell County in late March
of 2006. After the Lab was dismantled over 80lbs of chemical waste
was seized and destroyed. Mitchell County Sheriff Ken Fox said, “This
incident is a reminder of how dangerous our job is and how more
dangerous our job will become as the Methamphetamine epidemic evolves.”
All three received a $211,000 bond and remain in custody.
Burnsville’s August Meeting
08/15/2006
Burnsville Council, at
their August meeting, voted to award a business incentive grant of $5
thousand to Glen Raven, in previous years these funds were used as
beautification grants for existing businesses. The grant was awarded to
Glen Raven after Wendall Wilson spoke to the board asking for some type
of business incentive. The board also heard a presentation by Andrew
Gall with the Parkway Playhouse who said the playhouse wanted to put on
a Christmas production in the Town Center, he ask the Town to wave their
policy of getting 10% of ticket sales, the board agreed. Parkway will
pay a rental fee for the building. And the board heard from Fire Chief
Niles Howell who talked about Town owned vehicles used by Fire
Department personnel. He said a policy would be presented to members of
the fire department and then brought to the board for review at their
September meeting. And, as has happened in past meetings a somewhat
heated exchange took place between Councilman Grindstaff and Mayor
McIntosh over issues on which they disagree.
Yancey Deputies have arrested Peter Ronald Iodice Jr., age 56 of Bogart
Georgia on charges of writing bad checks to a local car dealer. The
bogus checks totaled over $20 thousand. The arrest led law enforcement
in several states including Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia,
Arkansas, Illinois and Florida to contact Yancey County about fraudulent
activity with car dealerships he may have committed in their states.
Iodice is currently being held in the Yancey County Jail under a $27
thousand secured bond and is scheduled in Yancey District Court this
Friday. When his cases are disposed of in North Carolina, he will be
turned over to authorities in South Carolina. According Illinois State
Police, Iodice may be responsible for bilking dozens of people out of
thousands and perhaps millions of dollars.
P.O. Box 744
