Commentary The right thing to do I am not much of a President
Obama fan, but for those that are, before you start to jump on me, please understand that I wasn’t much of a President Bush fan either. I feel much more at home when govern- ment leaves me alone, so I guess that makes me more of a libertarian.
Clint Parker Te passage of President Obama’s
“heath care reform” was, for me, a defeat for self-determination and individual liberty and that comes from someone that has no health insurance. With that said, I have to praise
the President for his latest decision to drill for oil offshore. It’s crazy not
like no better than to see a gallon of gas for 50 cents because America has come up with an alternative to the combustible engine. However, until we reach that
point, we need to keep our nation’s resources open to be used by Ameri- cans and keep our economic engine topped with cheap fuel.
The Charter chatter continues I continue to hear from folks
about their Charter Communica- tion “experiences.” If you haven’t vis- ited it yet, please go to our Web site
weavervilletribune.com and click on the “I hate Charter” button at the right end of the menu bar. As most of you know, Charter has
filed for bankruptcy, and I think a lot of it is due to their poor customer service. I’d like nothing better than
to see Charter get bought out by someone who can do the job right. Anyway, this week I found not
one, but two people who had been told that Charter would contact them about service, and yet weeks later, no one has. I would think that additional revenue would benefit a bankrupt company, but what do I know. I can’t even get my company’s old phone numbers from Charter.
Odds are against it In just the three years since the
state outlawed video poker, Inter- net Sweepstakes and other similar terminals have been able to bridge the gas-station gaming gap.
Matt Tate In Hendersonville alone, there
are at least two businesses operat- ing solely on the profits of the titil- lating touch screens. Weaverville has an estimated 15
of these new machines at four busi- nesses within town limits, which could hardly be considered a pro- liferation, but town council passed stiff new guidelines and taxes last week. Town council framed this move
as pre-emptive action against a po- tentially ticking time bomb. On the other side of the table, several Weaverville owners affected by the town’s new restrictions are being forced to fold their gaming termi- nals. Te town stands to gain around
$25,000 from area owners in the next year thanks to the new licens- ing fees and taxes in place if the af- fected businesses decide it’s worth it to keep their machines.
With the financial and zoning
squeeze the town has in place, any new machines will likely be few and far between. Even though a court injunction
has allowed for their continued use, it is only a matter of time be- fore the General Assembly closes this doughnut hole and bans Inter- net Sweepstakes altogether. Zoning regulations alone, which
should have included Council- man Doug Dearth’s suggestion of keeping businesses with Internet Sweepstakes a specific distance away from other businesses hous- ing similar machines, would have been enough regulation. Te hefty tax seems a bit gratu-
itous. When combined with the ticking clock in Raleigh, it’s hard not to consider this move as being partially motivated by an opportu- nity to monetize an operation that is likely out the door anyway.
4 THE TRIBUNE - April 8 - April 14, 2010 If they stick it out, the machines
currently in place will have to be removed within a year because they will not be in compliance with the new zoning regulations.
to look for more resources that make American companies more money, put people to work and make us more independent from the oil in the Middle East. Tat’s not to say that we should
put the brakes on exploring for al- ternative energy sources to oil. I’d
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 14
The Weaverville Tribune is a publication of Tribune Papers in association with Mountain Sentinel, Inc. Publisher & Sr.Editor Editor
Graphic Design Advertising
Contact Us: Phone:
Fax:
828-484-4203 828-484-4204
Advertising: 828-712-6117 Pat Starnes 828-273-7672
Clint Parker Matt Tate Bob Leary
Patrick Braswell & Steve Jencks Pat Starnes
editor@weavervilletribune. com
www.weavervilletribune.com
Mail: P.O. Box 2293 Weaver- ville, 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.
NBHS Student of the Month North Buncombe High School’s
Student of the Month program named Jose Martin Maldonado as its top student in March. Maldonado represents North
Buncombe in World Quest com- petitions, and will go to Wash- ington, DC, this month to com- pete in the national competition for World Quest. He is a member of math team
and Mu Alpha Theta, the math honorary society. Maldonado volunteers at Memorial Mission Hospital and will attend AB Tech after graduation from North Buncombe.
He is the son of Martin and
Luz Maldonado of Weaverville. The Rotary Club of Weaver-
ville sponsors the award. * In other NBHS news, the
Odyssey of the Mind teams will compete in the state competition
Saturday (April 10) at Wingate University. * Miss BlackHawks pageant
starts at 6 pm on Saturday (April 10) at NBHS.
This special to the Tribune. 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:
Jose Maldonado plans to go to AB Tech after high school.
Check ______ Money Order ______ PO Box 2293 Weaverville, NC 28787
Phone or Fax
CONTACT US BY: Letter
Phone 484-4203 or 712-6117 Fax 484-4204
PO BOX 2293 Weaverville, NC 28787
E-mail editor@
weavervilletribune .com
www.weavervilletribune.com
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