Commentary
Our Mission Contact Us:
Phone: 828-645-8911
Perils of annexation
Our mission at
PO Box 2293 • Weaverville, NC 28787
Fax: 828-645-8912
The Weaverville Tribune
Volume 7, Issue 31
Advertising: 828-712-6117
is to deliver fair and accu-
Pat Starnes 828-273-7672
rate articles on the people,
The Weaverville Tribune is a publication of
For some that it affects, the words I have no reason to doubt Walt
Tribune Papers in association with Mountain
places, and events in North
editor@weavervilletribune.
involuntary and annexation are the Currie when he said that the de-
Sentinel, Inc.
Buncombe. We hope to help
two longest four-letter terms in the cision to annex is the toughest he
Publisher & Sr.Editor Clint Parker
com
further a sense of commu- Editor Matt Tate
dictionary. has had in his two years serving the
www.weavervilletribune.com
nity and understanding for
Graphic Design Bob Leary
The state law has been on the town.
the residents of the area..
Patrick Braswell & Steve Jencks
Mail: P.O. Box 2293 Weaver-
books for 50 years. Back during The secret ballot poll in High- Advertising Pat Starnes ville, NC 28787
the Eisenhower administration, lander and several calls fielded here
the state took the power out of the at the Weaverville Tribune office in-
The Weaverville Tribune is published weekly by The Asheville Tribune and Mountain Sentinel, Inc. at 113 North Main Street, Section B,
Weaverville, NC 28787. It can be picked up at 113 North Main Street and many other locations throughout Buncombe County.
Periodical postage USPS permit No.023736 at the Weaverville, NC Post Office. POSTMASTER send address changes to The Weaverville
Matt Tate
Tribune, PO Box 2293, Weaverville, NC 28787. Subscription price $24.99 a year in Buncombe County, $25.99 a year outside
Buncombe County, $26.99 a year outside North Carolina.
General Assembly and gave it to the dicate there was, at the very least, Letters to the Editor
municipalities. a modicum of support for the ini-
Proponents of forced annexation tiative. Affirmative voices are often
years to come. every town, city and county of
argue that it allows for healthy mu- snuffed out in this issue because
350 global movement
So, please! Let’s Get Together! North Carolina is affected by the
nicipal growth without increasing of the passionate anti-annexation
We are ONE! managers the elected officials hire.
the tax burden on the current citi- base.
Dear Editor,
The cities have their League of Mu-
zens. Anti-annexation crowds re- Detractors may feel helpless, but
Sincerely, nicipalities and the counties have
main steadfast in their resolve that even in their disdain, they should
Over the past few weeks, I have
Christopher Chemsak their NCACC, which are organiza-
it is the ultimate form of taxation not single out the Weaverville town
been working with some folks in
Asheville tions that receive salaries from us
without representation. government, much like the Wood-
town that have declared ourselves to
taxpayers.
No matter what side you come fin town government earlier this
be the Asheville 350 Steering Com-
down on, it’s hard to ignore the fact year in its effort to annex the Erwin
mittee. Asheville 350 is a compo-
Stand up to city
The hired hands of these orga-
nizations that are supposed to help
that forced annexation is a harsh Hills and Leicester areas.
nent of a global movement to sup-
managers
the public, use registered lobby
representation of local governments They are simply acting in what
port an international agreement at
rights, to our detriment.
exercising their power on private they deem as the best interests of
the U.N. meeting in December to
Dear Editor,
In my studies of annexations
property owners. That’s not to say their towns given the parameters of
reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere.
forced on outsiders, almost always
that sometimes it is not the right the laws, no matter how iniquitous
350 parts per million is the num-
I have reached a conclusion that
Continued on page 5
decision for a municipality, but it is you may believe those edicts to be.
ber that scientists have declared to
not always a just decision, either. The N.C. Supreme Court defends
be a safe level to maintain human
However, painting a broad nega- the constitutionality of forced an-
life on Earth (right now we are at
weaverville
tive stroke across these local gov- nexation, and the General Assem-
390ppm).
ernment representatives is an unjust bly appears in no hurry to amend
Meeting this goal will require
action as well. the laws.
nothing less than a revolutionary
As for the latest example, I have If reform is sought in annexation
grand transformation in the way
no reason to doubt the members of law, the fight must continue at a
that we live as a “developed nation”
the Weaverville Town Council took state level. Local officials are easy
and from an economist’s standpoint
Subscription
the feedback from Woodland Hills to attack because of their visibility,
it’s matter of continuing to make
residents, both negative and posi- but to do so is to overlook a path to
money now or “investing” for the
tive, to heart. change.
sake of future generations.
The ultimate purpose of Asheville
$24
.99
in Buncombe County
350 is to help our city participate in
Change in letter writing policy
the global Day of Action on Satur-
$25
.99
outside Buncombe County
day (Oct. 24), but it’s going to take
I've been wondering when it was someone wrote in and put a fake
much more than a portion of the $26
.99
outside North Carolina
going to happen and this week it name on a letter, so after that in-
city coming together for one day
for one-year subscription
did. I received a letter to the editor cident we also now ask for phone
to have a significant impact. This
about the North Buncombe Head and street address, not for publica-
whole movement is about coopera-
Less than 50
¢
an issue delivered
Football Coach Carey Metts. tion, but for verification.
tion: creating/manifesting/becom-
A couple of years ago when the The second reason is because of a
ing a part of cooperation between
Name __________________________________________
national leaders, industries, and in-
dividuals all to take care of planet
Address _____________________________________
Clint Parker Earth. City ___________ State __________Zip___________
And there is a definite empha-
Phone ______________________________________
team was floundering on hard policy that I put in place two years
sis on cooperation among young
Method of payment:
times, we were overwhelmed by ago that said that the Weaverville
people, for it is, in fact, our future
Check ______ Money Order ______
letters to the editor and advertise- Tribune would not print letters to
and our children’s future. With us
ments coming from both support- the editor that showed the North
coming together for one day we can
PO Box 2293 Weaverville, NC 28787
ers and detractors. Last year when Buncombe BlackHawks athletic
create more awareness and bring
the team had a pretty good year, teams and coaches in a negative
more people to action for days and
there was nothing but silence from light while they were in their re-
letter writers. No letters of praise spective seasons.
(with one exception) for the season While the first reason is and will
CONTACT US BY:
or notes to commend the coach. continue to be a policy of the pa-
But now that times are tough per, I have re-thought the second
again, letter writing has once again policy about the letters to the edi- Phone or Fax Letter E-mail
started. tor and as of the end of football
This one will not make the news- season this year this policy will no
paper. Why? Two reasons: First it longer be in effect. Does this mean
has no name to attribute it to and that we will print every letter that
Phone 645-8911 or PO BOX 2293
editor@
we've always had the policy that if comes in about the team? No, we
712-6117 Weaverville, NC
weavervilletribune
it's not important enough to sign, still have to consider if the letter
it's not important enough to print. is libelist and they still have to be
Fax 645-8912 28787
.com
We also had an incident where signed.
4 THE TRIBUNE - October 22 - October 28, 2009
www.weavervilletribune.com
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