Convicted Felon Charged with Weapons
Possession
02/28/2007
According to a news release from the Yancey County
Sheriff’s Department, Deputies have arrested David Lamont Henson, age
53, of a Lester Lane Burnsville Address and charged him with possessing
weapons while being a convicted felon and with possessing a weapon of
mass destruction. According to Lt. Tom Farmer of the Sheriff’s
Department, Henson was taken into custody at his residence February
7thfor drug & weapon offenses previously committed. At the time of his
arrest Henson was found to be in possession of numerous weapons which he
is prohibited from having. He was taken before Magistrate’s in Buncombe
& Yancey Counties and released from the Yancey County Jail after posting
a $17,500 secured bond. Henson is scheduled to appear in Yancey County
District Court on March 9th.
Making it Safer
02/27/2007
A heavy traffic area in Spruce Pine that has seen many
accidents will be getting some help.Richard Canipe, Spruce Pine
Town Manager comments. (click audio button above)
Marshall under Voluntary Water Conservation
Order
02/27/2007
Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water are
disappearing every day from the water system in Marshall and town
officials don't know where it's going. Engineers believe there is a
severe break in a line that could be located under the French Broad
River or a creek. The mayor says the problem started a week ago.
Currently, the town is losing 200,000 gallons a day which amounts to
about $6,000 down the drain. If the leak is not fixed by Thursday, town
leaders say the voluntary conservation order could become mandatory,
meaning businesses and even schools might be shut down. A water leak
detection team is scheduled to come to Marshall today!!
An improperly extinguished brush fire
started the fire
02/26/2007
An improperly extinguished brush fire started the fire
that scorched more than 700 acres in McDowell County. Forest Service
officials say the high winds re-sparked the fire, spreading it to the
hundreds of surrounding acres. The fire stated late Thursday afternoon
and it took 3 days for firefighters from 15 fire departments to get the
blaze under control. Several residents in the Woodlawn Community, north
of Marion, left their homes as the flames came close to their property.
Mitchell’s Pay Plan Fully Implemented
02/26/2007
Mitchell Commissioners have fully implemented the
County’s “merit with experience” pay plan. Mitchell Commission Chairman
Phil Byrd says the way the “pay plan” was being used was the reason the
County was taken to court and by implementing the plan for everyone;
they have solved that legal issue. Phil Byrd comments. (click audio
button above)
High Wind Fuels Fires-Red Flag Warning
02/23/2007
15 fire departments continue to battle a 300 acre forest
fire in McDowell County, The fire, about 10 miles north of Marion in the
Woodlawn community, forced several residents from their homes. Highway
226-A/Coxes Creek is open but authorities closed the road most of last
night and early this morning to keep sightseers away. Brush fires also
hit the Fairview community in Buncombe County. The National Weather
Service has posted a red flag warning and fire watch because of the high
wind and low humidity.
Yancey Investigates Baby’s Death
02/23/2007
Yancey County Deputies continue to investigate the death
of a 23 month infant found dead in his crib on February 11, 2007.
According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Department, at
approximately 8:30 a.m. on Sunday February 11, 2007 Yancey County EMS
and Sheriff's Department Personnel arrived at the residence of the
child’s biological mother off of Prices Creek Road. They found the 23
month old male dead. Lt. Tom Farmer confirmed the child had a documented
history of medical problems but would no elaborate on what may have
caused the infants death. The infant was taken to Watauga Medical Center
in Boone, N.C. where an autopsy was performed. Farmer said the
investigation into the incident is continuing and the Sheriff's
Department is awaiting the arrival of medical records and autopsy
results.
Historic Courthouse Resolution
02/23/2007
Mitchell Commissioners have approved a resolution in
support of the preservation of the Historic Courthouse in Bakersville.
Mitchell County Commissioner Lisa Sparks comments. (click audio button
above)
Deyton Sentencing Continued until April
16th
02/22/2007
On January 19th, Phillip Deyton, a former teacher at
Clearmont Elementary School, in Yancey County was found guilty on 3
counts of asault on a child under age 12. His sentencing was scheduled
for this past Tuesday, but was continued until April 16th. It was
indicated he may be tried on more charges against him at that time. Mr. Deyton was originally charged in January 2006.
Mitchell Settles with DSS Employees
02/22/2007
Mitchell County has settled a lawsuit with 4 employees of
the Department of Social Services who had sued the county saying they
were not given raises while all others in the department were: The suit
was brought by Shawn Boone-Burleson, Larry Deyton, Paula Holtsclaw and
Brenda Glen-Woody. The settlement amount is $2,382.78. Mitchell County
Attorney Hal Harrison comments. (click audio button above)
Burn Victim Flown to Bowman-Gray
02/21/2007
According to a news release from the Yancey County
Sheriff’s Department, Martin Wilson Jr., age 69, of Seven Mile Ridge
Road, Burnsville, was flown to Bowman-Gray Medical Center in
Winston-Salem on Monday morning after suffering 2nd & 3rd degree burns
to his body. Yancey County EMS Personnel, Newdale Fire Department
Personnel and Yancey County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene
just after 11:00 am, located off of Hickory Springs Road. It is believed
that Wilson had just left the Solid Waste Convenience Center on Hickory
Springs Road and was traveling back toward Highway 80 in his 1992
Mercury when he accidentally ignited a container of gasoline he was
transporting in his car with a cigarette or cigarette lighter. Special
Agent Shawn Smith of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation,
who specializes in fire investigation, was on the scene assisting local
authorities. Wilson’s vehicle was destroyed by the fire.
Fatal Accident Report
02/20/2007
The Highway Patrol released their accident report Monday
on the wreck that killed a 2 year old Bakersville girl on February 6th.
The Highway Patrol says a McDowell County deputy appears to be at fault
in the collision that happened on Interstate 40 near Old Fort, when
Deputy Brandon Watson, age 21, was responding to a domestic violence
call. Troopers say Watson was going about 120 miles per hour without
lights and siren when he hit a vehicle carrying four people. 2 year old
Kennedy Frye died on the scene. Her sister, 6 year old Katherine, was
released from the hospital last week, their mother, Kimberly, is in
serious condition at Mission Hospitals and their grandmother, Ruth
Huskins remains in serious condition at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare
System. The District Attorney will decide whether Deputy Watson will
face criminal charges. The family had no comment on the report a family
friend, Jim Garofalo said Monday.
Taking Care of the Sludge
02/20/2007
Spruce Pine’s Council met earlier this month to talk
about wastewater and water issues for the town. Richard Canipe, Town
Manager comments. (click audio button above)
TRHD Director Announces Retirement
02/19/2007
Tommy Singleton, the Director of the Toe River Health
District is retiring effective May 1st. John Renfro, Yancey Commission
Chairman and Health District Member outlines qualifications needed for
the Directors job and explains some of the Health Districts financial
problems. (click audio button above)
Promoting Fire Safety
02/16/2007
Burnsville’s Town Council has agreed to consider
designating funds to promote fire safety for 4th & 5th grades in Yancey
County Schools. The total cost of the books is $4 thousand and the
Burnsville Council has agreed to consider $15 hundred to come from the
upcoming budget. Burnsville Mayor McIntosh comments. (click audio button
above)
A Step Closer
02/15/2007
Yancey Commissioners have moved another step closing to
selling the former OMC property. John Renfro, Chairman of the Yancey
County Commission comments. Nothing was said about any future use of the
property. (click audio button above)
Drug Arrests in a Spruce Pine Habitat for
Humanity Home
02/15/2007
Five people have been arrested for drugs
in a Spruce Pine Habitat for Humanity Home, and the owner of the home
has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Officers say thirty six year old Misty Davis was not home at the time.
They went to the residence to serve warrants on a nineteen year old
staying at the house that police say Davis was renting out. Tax records
show Misty Davis owns the Habitat for Humanity home at 95 Mckinney Road
in Spruce Pine. Detectives charged nineteen year old Kendra Calahan and
nineteen year old Diana Hughes with contributing to the delinquency of a
juvenile as well as with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Police also arrested three others on misdemeanor drug charges. Davis was
released on a five hundred dollar unsecured bond and is scheduled to
appear in court March second.
Crash Victims Condition
02/14/2007
Last week a 2 year old, Kennedy
Frye, of Bakersville was killed when the car she was riding in,
according to the Highway Patrol, was hit by a McDowell County Sheriff’s
Deputy car as he was responding to a domestic call. Three others in the
car were seriously injured. Kimberly Frye, the driver of the vehicle
remains in critical condition at Mission Hospitals and her six year old
daughter, Katherine, riding in the back seat is now in good condition.
Ruth Ann Huskins, from Marion, who was a passenger in the front seat is
at Spartanburg Regional Hospital, information about her condition is not
being released. Troopers say they will release their report on the crash
this week.
Concerns about Campground
02/14/2007
A large audience was in attendance at last night’s Yancey
County Commissioners meeting, most were there about Patience Park
Campground in the South Toe Section of the County. Yancey Commissioner
Dean Hicks comments. (click audio button above)
Spruce
Pine Awards Contract
02/13/2007
Spruce Pine
has awarded a contract for sidewalk construction to Bryant Land
Development in Burnsville. Spruce Pine Town Manager Richard Canipe
comments. (click audio button above)
Engineering Study Approved
02/12/2007
Burnsville’s Town Council has given
approval for Mountain Air Development Corporation to go ahead with an
engineering study on the feasibility of receiving water service from the
town. Danny McIntosh, Burnsville Mayor comments. (click audio button
above)
Byrd Makes Accusations against
Saylor
02/09/2007
At the Mitchell
Commissioners meeting Monday, Chairman Phil Byrd leveled accusations
against Commissioner Jim Saylor that he has not properly listed his RV
Park properly and he said Saylor’s taxes “are still incorrect.” We spoke
with Saylor after the meeting and he said: (Saylor comments) Chairman
Byrd said he will ask the state to investigate these alleged violations,
Byrd comments. (click audio button above)
TRHD Septic Fees Approved
02/08/2007
Mitchell Commissioners
have approved the new septic fees for Toe River Health District.
Mitchell The 3-2 vote by Mitchell Commissioners to approve the new
fees schedule on Monday followed approval by Avery earlier in the day
and & Yancey’s approval in late January. Mitchell Commission Chairman
Phil Byrd comments. (click audio button above)
Crash Kills 2 Year old, 3
seriously injured
02/07/2007
A 2 year old was killed and three
others were seriously injured Tuesday Night on I-40 in McDowell County.
State Troopers say a McDowell County Sheriff’s Deputy was responding to
a domestic call when his patrol car hit a 1995 Dodge Neon, driven by
Kimberly Dawn Frye of Bakersville, Her daughter, two year old Kennedy
Frye, sitting in the rear seat was killed. Also injured was the drivers
mother Ruth Ann Huskins of Marion, she was a passenger in the front
seat. A 6 year old, the daughter of Kimberly Frye, identified as
Katherine Frye was in the back seat, she was also seriously injured.
Reports indicate the children were in seat restraints. Another vehicle
involved in the crash was a 2000 Honda, the driver of the Honda was
Kayla Hall, age 19 and passenger Britney Nasworth, age 14, both of Old
Fort were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The
McDowell deputy, identified as Brandon Watson was treated and released
from an area hospital. The accident scene spanned 600 feet of road.
Troopers shut down a section of the interstate for several hours to
clean up the debris. Details about the accident remain very sketchy as
troopers try to reconstruct the accident. The incident is still under
investigation.
Charged
with Stealing a Truck
02/07/2007
Yancey Deputies have charged Christopher Ryan Stansberry,
age 21 of Hemlock Road in Spruce Pine & Rocky Lee Dale, age 17, of
Pensacola Road in Burnsville with breaking into and stealing a 1996 Ford
Truck owned by a local paving company. According to a news release, Lt.
Tom Farmer of the Sheriff’s Department says the two men walked in to the
parking lot of the paving company just after midnight on January 23rd,
they located an unlocked truck. They drove the truck to Mitchell County
and then returned to Burnsville and the hide the truck behind a local
grocery store on January 24th. Farmer said that officers from the
Burnsville Police Department located the truck and assisted in the
investigation that led to the arrests. Stansberry & Dale were charged
with felonious breaking and entering and felonious larceny; they remain
in jail, their bonds are $5 thousand secured.
Criminal Charges Upgraded to Murder
02/02/2007
Criminal charges against a Burnsville man have been
upgraded to murder!! Brian William Ledford, age 21, of Sharp Top Road,
in the Pensacola Community was served with an order for arrest today
(Friday February 2nd) at the Yancey County Courthouse by Lt. Tom Farmer
of the Yancey County Sheriff’s Department and special agent Charles
Vines, Jr. of the North Carolina SBI. Ledford was taken before a Yancey
County Magistrate and was placed in the Yancey County Jail where he
remains without bond. Ledford is scheduled to appear in Yancey County
Superior Court on March 20th. The arrest was made after a Yancey County
Grand Jury met on Monday, January 29th and heard evidence presented by
the District Attorney in regard to the May 29, 2005, shooting death of
Kristy Marie Elliott. At the timer of her death, Elliott was 18 years of
age. Authorities began the investigation of Elliott’s death on Sunday
Night, May 29th, 2005 when they were called to the residence of Gary &
Teresa Ledford on Sharp Top Road in the Pensacola Community. Elliott was
found dead of an apparent gunshot wound to the head. At the time of
Ledford’s arrest, Lt. Tom Farmer said evidence obtained suggested
Ledford was acting carelessly with a handgun while he and Elliott were
in his bedroom and the gun discharged and Elliott sustained a fatal
wound to the head. He was charged on May 31, 2005 with manslaughter, but
that charge has been upgraded to murder following evidence that was
presented to a Yancey County Grand Jury, January 29, 2007.
Water &
Sewer Needs
02/02/2007
Spruce Pine Council will meet Monday at 5:30 pm to
discuss the needs of the Town’s water & sewer system. Richard Canipe
says the town has many decisions to be made about future service needs
to the system. And, Mitchell Commissioners will hold their February
meeting at 6:00 pm in the Courtroom of the Mitchell County Courthouse.
Items on the agenda include Toe River Health District fee schedules & a
discussion on drafting a noise ordinance. Spruce Pine Town Manager
Richard Canipe comments of their water & sewer meeting. (click audio
button above)
Old
Fort Officer Killed
02/02/2007
State Troopers say 23
year old Josh Williams, an Old Fort Police Officer, lost control of his
vehicle while responding to help a McDowell County Sheriff's Deputy with
a foot chase. His vehicle ran off the road and overturned several times,
on Parker Padgett Road, just outside Old Fort City limits Wednesday
night. Rescue crews transported him to McDowell County Hospital, where
doctors pronounced him dead. Williams leaves behind a wife and child.
B & E
in Yancey
02/01/2007
P.O. Box 744
