NBACC files cont... Continued from page 1 “Tis case raises important is-
sues of free speech and of a citizen group’s right to advocate on matters of public interest,” said Frank Gold- smith, one of a group of attorneys representing NBACC and Pohl- Zaretsky, said in a NBACC release. “Reasonable people can take differ- ent positions on whether a concrete plant is appropriate for the Murphy Hill Road neighborhood north of Weaverville. What is indisputable, however, is that people should feel free to express their opinions on that issue, whether they are for it or against it.” NBACC members felt the suit
was intended to restrict their right to speech in a debate about the plant that has now stretched into three years. In Blue Ridge Concrete’s suit, concrete officials claim statements issued on the NBACC’s Web site about violations at other concrete plants run by Blue Ridge Concrete owners were false. Blue Ridge also
opposed a cartoonish image on the Web site depicting a concrete truck striking a school bus. Gulden declined comment on
the current litigation. Pohl-Zaretsky said Blue Ridge
Concrete’s libel lawsuit was with- out merit. “We intend not only to fight it
vigorously, but to show BRC and [BRC President Mark] Turner, through our own claims, that the North Buncombe Association of Concerned Citizens and its lead- ership will not be bullied,” Pohl- Zartesky said in the same release. Te NBACC will also soon file its
appeal to a decision by the Western North Carolina Regional Air Qual- ity Agency to grant the plant an air quality permit, the last permit the plant needed to begin produc- tion on the 14-acre site. Te WN- CRAQA will select a hearing exam- iner to review the appeal. Te next step would be an appeal to a Bun- combe County Superior Court.
CONTACT US BY: Phone or Fax
Letter
Phone 484-4203 or 712-6117 Fax 484-4204
E-mail
editor@weavervilletribune.com weaverville Subscription
$24.99 in Buncombe County $25.99 outside Buncombe County
$26.99 outside North Carolina for one-year subscription Less than 50¢
an issue delivered
Name __________________________________________ Address _____________________________________ City ___________ State __________Zip___________ Phone ______________________________________ Method of payment:
Check ______ Money Order ______ PO Box 2293 Weaverville, NC 28787
4 THE TRIBUNE - July 29 - August 4, 2010
PO BOX 2293 Weaverville, NC 28787
Letters to the Editor
Questions remain about Riverside Drive water lines
Dear Editor, I don’t know if I’m happy or not
to read your story about the Wood- fin Water District’s plan to replace a sizable segment of water pipe on Riverside Drive. If they’ve found the money to do it, that’s fine. But I wonder. Last year, the project was con-
sidered and in the end was turned down unless stimulus money was obtained from the Federal govern- ment. It was considered a long-term project; no need to do it now unless we got the Federal money. We just didn’t have the money in
our budget. It’s an expensive proj- ect. And based on the frequency of repairs, the cost of the repairs, the options available, and other projects that were more urgent in nature, we put it on the back burner. Now, it appears to be on the front burner. What happened?
I guess Joe Martin is able to lead
the present Board by the nose. He’s always been pushing for the project. But the project failed to satisfy the Board last year based on the facts available. I think I know where the money
is coming from this year. Martin speaks of “reserves.” He thinks the Conservation Fund we got, in ex- change for signing away our rights to log the watershed, qualifies as ordinary “reserves.” But the agree- ment, and the money obtained thereby, was IN PERPETUITY. Tat means FOREVER. Te $4 million was put into in-
vestments. Te informal agreement we had was that our use of it would be limited by the interest obtained. In recent years, the amount of in- terest has declined. Tat was another factor in shelv-
ing the Riverside Drive project. We just didn’t have the money coming in from the Fund. Wait until the in- terest rates picked up. Tat was the way we looked at it. If the project didn’t call for im- mediate repairs, why spend the
Guest Commentary Buy local, reap benefits
By Marilyn Payne In becoming acquainted with
the North Buncombe area, I’ve found it apparent that the term “small-town America” fits rath- er perfectly. From Main Street Weaverville and its businesses to Woodfin’s business corridor on Weaverville Road, the area re- mains populated with many local- ly owned and unique businesses. What is most outstanding to me
is that the local merchants truly care about their customers. Tis isn’t to say that every merchant around the nation, especially in the economy’s current state, doesn’t try to follow the “custom-
Our Mission
Our mission at The Weaverville Tribune is to deliver fair and accu- rate articles on the people, places, and events in North Buncombe. We hope to help further a sense of commu- nity and understanding for the residents of the area..
PO Box 2293 • Weaverville, NC 28787 Volume 8, Issue 30
The Weaverville Tribune is a publication of Tribune Papers in association with Mountain Sentinel, Inc. Publisher & Sr.Editor Editor
Graphic Design Advertising
Clint Parker Matt Tate
Patrick Braswell Pat Starnes
er’s always right” axiom, but busi- nesses around here seem to really know their markets. While the managers of the lo-
cal national stores may very well be in touch with their clientele, the way that the local North Bun- combe business owners interact with customers trumps any level of service that a franchised opera- tion can provide. I’m not trying to bash anyone who works for a non-local business; it’s just that in every conversation I’ve had with a local business owner, I’ve found more and more truth to the popu- lar belief that local businesses are better. I’ve been convinced the area is a wonderful, supportive community
for both the merchant and the pa- tron, in part because both parties truly seem to care. Even though none of the business owners that I’ve spoken with are area natives, they all seem to be in love with the area and want the best for every- one involved. All I can say is this: Support
your local businesses. Tis area is fortuitous to have so many busi- nesses that strive to specialize and cater to the people they serve. I see the bumper stickers around Asheville all the time, but never totally and completely understood why my local purchase mattered. But in North Buncombe, I get the urge to buy local and so should you.
Contact Us: Phone:
Fax:
828-484-4203 828-484-4204
Advertising: 828-712-6117 Pat Starnes 828-273-7672
editor@weavervilletribune.com www.weavervilletribune.com Mail: P.O. Box 2293
Weaverville, NC 28787
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 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.
www.weavervilletribune.com
PRINCIPAL of the Conservation Fund down when we didn’t have to? So that’s where the “reserves” are coming from. If the voters of the Water Dis-
trict want to spend the principal of this fund, they have that right. But they need to know what they are doing. Tey’re spending that is meant to last for a long time-- i.e., forever. . When the principal is gone, it doesn’t matter what the interest rates do. Tere’s no income. And there’s no watershed to log for capital improvements. I hope next year’s race for the
Board will include aspirants who are more inclined to ask questions and think for themselves than members of the present Board. And it may be time for a new Director.
James Latimore Woodfin, NC
Editor’s note: James Latimore
served on the Woodfin Water Board from 2003-2009.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20