Greenway talks continue
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484-4203
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WEEKLY
COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER
February 18 - February 24, 2010 Vol. 8 • No. 07 Woodfin • Weaverville • Barnardsville Fifty Cents
Town puts hold on sweepstakes
“I haven’t seen a proliferation of them
By Matt Tate
in the area,” Cole said.
Council members felt the issue need-
Since the state outlawed and eventu- ed to be dealt with proactively rather
ally phased out video poker machines than reactively.
in 2007, loopholes to the ban have been “My concern is that someone comes Boys clinch share
matriculating. to a vacant building and puts 40 or 50
Instead of following a darkened, machines in. I think that would be a
bootlegger-esque path of speakeasy- nuisance,” Gene Knoefel said.
era spirits, these machines have often Council will use the two-month time
popped back up in the exact place of the frame to debate a plan. Walt Currie
old poker machines. In some instances, suggested those seeking permits could of MAC crown
as is the case in nearby Hendersonville, register with the town’s police depart-
the new games have entire businesses ment. Council already decided at its
dedicated to their promotion. January meeting to raise permit fees to
By Matt Tate
They are commonly known as “In- $2,600, mirroring a similar path taken
ternet Sweepstakes” games and the ba- recently by Hendersonville.
Diving for loose balls with reck-
sic premise allows participants to buy Although a decision could have some
less abandon, Seth Fox and several
a prepaid phone card with an awarded impact Cole’s business, he supported
of his North Buncombe teammates
premium of entering what the sponsor- the town’s stance.
must have left Monday’s (Feb. 15)
ing companies are calling a sweepstakes. “It’s good to control these things,” he
game against with Reynolds with a
The Town of Weaverville is taking steps said.
few floor burns.
to control the issue. The legality of these machines has
But it’s the BlackHawks who
The council enacted a 60-day mora- been debated since their inception, but
continue to burn their opponents.
torium on granting development per- a Guilford County injunction in 2008
North Buncombe continued its
mits for these machines in a decision allowed for their continued use.
torrid tear in the regular-season fi-
Thursday (Feb. 11). Part of the legal defense against the
nale, forcing 34 Rockets’ turnovers
The moratorium does not affect sweepstakes is the pre-determined set
and turning in one of its most im-
those already in place within town lim- of prizes. Participants buy Internet or
pressive victories of the season in a
its. Weaverville Town Manager Mike long-distance phone time and in ad-
73-50 Mountain Athletic Confer-
Morgan said he does not know how dition, they are allowed to play games
ence romp.
many machines are in Weaverville. that award prizes. However, there are a
It was the BlackHawks’ 11th vic-
Howard Cole of Cole Vending in finite number of winners and the games
tory in the last 13 games and earned
Weaverville said he has machines in require no skill or element of chance.
North Buncombe a share of the 3-A
six or seven area counties but Weaver- Weaverville Town Attorney Patsy
MAC regular-season crown with
ville is not currently a hot spot for these Brison said it is akin to a soda with a
Continued on page 6 Seth Fox, left, rises up for a jumper over Cody Owenby.
types of activities.
Continued on page 8
PETE
WE INSURE MOBILE HOMES!
P
A
TTY
LAUREN
P
AUL
9 Georgia Avenue “Just off Main Street” Weaverville, North Carolina
Phone 645-6300 • Fax 645-0065 • www.brankinsurance.com
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