Commentary
Our Mission Contact Us:
Phone: 828-484-4203
What do I have to do?
Our mission at
PO Box 2293 • Weaverville, NC 28787
Fax: 828-484-4204
The Weaverville Tribune
Volume 7, Issue 31
Advertising: 828-712-6117
is to deliver fair and accu-
Have you ever been frustrated to up-to-date. I asked if they could come
Pat Starnes 828-273-7672
rate articles on the people,
The Weaverville Tribune is a publication of
the point that you don’t know what out the next day and install the Inter-
Tribune Papers in association with Mountain
places, and events in North
editor@weavervilletribune.
to do about a situation? I’m there. net. They said the process would now
Sentinel, Inc.
Buncombe. We hope to help
Publisher & Sr.Editor Clint Parker
com
I’ve run out of patience with Charter have to start over from the beginning
further a sense of commu- Editor Matt Tate
www.weavervilletribune.com
Communications. and it would be seven-to-10 days.
nity and understanding for
Graphic Design Bob Leary
For those who don’t know about I ended up calling day after day
the residents of the area..
Patrick Braswell & Steve Jencks
Mail: P.O. Box 2293 Weaver-
my Charter trials and tribulations trying to get the job expedited to no Advertising Pat Starnes
ville, NC 28787
allow me to give a brief overview of avail. Please note that not once in the
my dilemma with this company: It month and a half during this whole
The Weaverville Tribune is published weekly by The Asheville Tribune and Mountain Sentinel, Inc. at 40 N. Merrimon Avenue, Suite
308, Asheville, NC 28804. It can be picked up at 40 N. Merrimon Avenue 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
Clint Parker
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.
started back at the first of December ordeal did Charter ever call me except
Letters to the Editor
when I called to move the Tribune’s to say they had done the site survey. I
internet and phone lines to a new called town officials who used to have
location. They assured me they had a franchise with Charter only to find
Keep responsible
of Main Street, and was awed by the be attractive to those who live within
pristine mountains and forests that en- them.
it covered. Around the Dec. 15, they out that the state took that away from
development at the gulfed the Town of Weaverville. I can’t begin to imagine what the
called back to say that the site survey towns, cities and county and now
had been conducted and things were gave a state franchise thus removing forefront
I was not so naive as to think that the town “leaders” were thinking when they
town would not change and grow, but gave permission to destroy that beauti-
a go, but my phone lines which could any local control over these clowns.
as I drive into the heart of the town, I ful mountain with a plethora of ugly
not be “ported” to the new locations. Charter then told me during an- Dear Editor,
now realize that the development that structures. There are other examples
On Dec. 24 they said they would other phone conversation that they
took place was done more to enhance of ugly or thoughtless building around
have someone at my office Dec. 28 had never received my contract and Now that the “new” Town Coun-
the tax base and cater to developers than town and along Reems Creek Road.
to switch over the phone and I signed that I would have to sign another. I cil has settled in and taken hold of the
to retain the town’s small-town ambi- What has been lost cannot be re-
a contract and sent it via email. For finally went in another direction and reins of government, I want to ask that
ance. gained, but I beg of the Town Council
three days, no one showed up or just asked via a signed document to it tread lightly and more carefully with
The most depressing of what hap- to be more circumspect when approv-
called. On the fourth day I called allow another company to “port” the regard to developments in the future.
pened sits right over the town center, ing development in the future. I can
and it was like starting all over again phone numbers I have had for nearly When I moved into the area 20 years
like a horrible painting, namely the only urge our leaders to visualize what
from scratch with the guy on the six years. These were not Charter’s ago, I fell in love with the “cozy feel”
abominable development that the town each building and development will do
phone who could not tell me why numbers, but ones given to the office
permitted on Hamburg Mountain. to the town and look like to visitors and
someone had not been there. He said by Verizon and “ported” to Charter a
they would need to get a site survey couple of years ago when I went with Off the face...
What used to be a gorgeous backdrop residents alike.
to the town is now dotted, like a bad
done. I told him the site survey had their service.
case of chicken pox, with ostentatious Walter M. Plaue
been completed and someone needed So far, they have continued to hold
Question: If you
and unsightly mansions that can only Weaverville, NC
to come and install my internet at the my numbers hostage (by the way our
could pick a new
new location. new numbers are 484-4203 and 484- restaurant to come
This persisted into the next week 4204 for the fax) first saying that the to the North Bun-
when I called a friend of mine who numbers would be released Jan. 29. combe area what would it be?
weaverville
works for Charter to see if he could Then the told me that the number
help. He came down and said he’d see could not be “ported” to a different
Pam - Sticky Fingers
if he could get the work order moved rate center. When given the same rate
forward. The next day he called and center, they now say that the request
Heath - Golden Corral
said he could not understand why he came in the wrong company name.
was not getting any action from the However, they are now calling me.
Maureen - No more chain
schedulers to get the job moved up. It seems that they are going to inter-
restaurants! Support the lo-
Subscription
At the end of the second day he called rupt my service for non-payment of
cal restaurants.
to say they had told him that the ac- an outstanding bill, a bill that I’m
Donna - Golden Corral or
count was delinquent. (Funny, they being charged, for which I NEVER
Ruby Tuesday
$24
.99
in Buncombe County
tell my friend who has no right to GOT SERVICE! I guess it’s my turn
know details of my account, but not to waste their time. Last time they
Barbara - Olive garden
me during one of our many phone called, I laughed and said a few rude $25
.99
outside Buncombe County
conversations). It did hit me once he remarks. I think next time I’ll just put
Kaley - Cracker Barrel
mentioned that, in the move to the them on hold and go back to what I
new office, I had not seen the bill. was doing and let them waste some
$26
.99
outside North Carolina
I immediately called Charter who of their time for a while. Otherwise
e
again, during this conversation about what do I have to do to get these guys
Fi
nd u
s o
nl
in
my problem, failed to tell me the ac- to offer better service?
facebook.com for one-year subscription
count was past due and that was why All I can say is just beware. The
Also at
nothing was happening. I had to ask next time you see or hear about how
Less than 50 an issue deliv
¢
ered
twitter.com/wvltribune
about the status of the account which much Charter cares for your busi- weavervilletribune.com
they finally said it was past due. I ness, they apparently only care about weavervilletribune.blogspot.com
Name______________________________________
used a debit card to pay the account your money.
Address_________________________________
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Phone 484-4203 or PO BOX 2293
editor@
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4 THE TRIBUNE - February 18 - February 24, 2010 www.weavervilletribune.com
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