Color


Blue Mtn. serves Thanksgiving meal See story on page 5


Holiday market to feature local artists See story on page 6


weaverville WEEKLY


COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER


December 2 - December 8, 2010 Vol. 8 • No. 48


Woodfin • Weaverville • Barnardsville Leicester • Erwin Hills • Alexander • West Buncombe • Newfound


Fifty Cents


Authorities wait on sweepstakes ban


By Matt Tate Police agencies in the area are


in a holding pattern, waiting on word from the state attorney gen- eral before enforcing a ban on video sweepstakes machines. Te games began trickling into


the state shortly after video poker machines were phased out in 2007, offering players a chance to buy a prepaid phone or Internet card with an awarded premium of entering what sponsoring companies called a sweepstakes. Even though lawmakers sought


to close the loophole and ban the games starting Wednesday (Dec.


1), and a Wake County judge dis- missed a lawsuit earlier this week seeking to override the legislation, a Guilford County judge has said some games might be exempt. Te attorney general’s office was review- ing a decision as of Wednesday. Weaverville Police Chief Greg


Stephens said, “We’re waiting on what the attorney general says be- fore taking any enforcement ac- tion.” He said once his department


received guidance, he planned to send a letter to the four businesses in town limits that house the ma- chines and then take any necessary enforcement shortly thereafter. Te Weaverville Town Council


took measures earlier this year by limiting the number of machines a business could house to three and limiting where they could be located, including nowhere within 1,000 feet of schools, churches and


parks. Te council also placed a $2,600 annual privilege fee and a $1,000 per machine annual tax for owners. Proponents of the machines said it is not gambling because there are


a finite number of winners, and the games require no skill or element of chance. Participants buy Inter- net or phone time and in addition, they are allowed to play games that awarded prizes.


Town weighs pay bonus for employees


By Matt Tate Weaverville town officials will


reengage discussions in Decem- ber about distributing bonuses to town employees. Employees have not received


Motorcyclists join ‘Cops for Tots’ run


See story on page 11


a raise since the 2008-2009 budget. Te town council vot- ed earlier this year to set aside a 2 percent across-the-board raise-roughly the equivalent of $51,000-in this year’s budget that could be administered to town employees based on feed- back from a market survey anal- ysis on compensation. Weaverville Town Manager


Michael Boaz recommended that any employee not currently mak- ing the minimum of the town’s new pay grade for their position re- ceive an increase to meet the mini- mum standard. He said the deci- sion would affect several personnel members from the town’s fire and public works departments. Te pay increase would take up


$12,659 in the allotted amount, leaving more than $38,000 that Boaz said could be distributed as a one-time bonus for employees. He will meet with department heads in the coming weeks to decide how the money will be dispersed. Boaz also set a January deadline for making recommendations on


whether updates or revisions could be made in the town’s re- tirement policies. Mayor Al Root sternly dis-


missed rumors that the town was looking to alter policies to affect current veteran employees. “I want to have a plan we


can fund for the future. I want to make sure our promises are met,” he said. “I think it is just sensible government.” He said the council needs time


to review the facts before evalu- ating any potential changes to the policy. Te council will hold a work-


shop at 4:30 pm on Tursday (Dec. 2).


Biscuits • Hot Dogs • Fountain Sodas • Beer • Wine 50¢


Hours: 6 am - 10:30 pm daily


286 North Main St. • 645.5859


8# Bag of Ice


$.99


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  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28