Vandals strike Vance birthplace
Locally filmed ‘3 Billboards’ scores
See STORY, Pg. A4
— See STORY, Pg. B1
AVL artist’s zombie murals miff Memphis — See Story, Pg. B4
LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
January 2018 Vol. 14, No. 2
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville www.ashevilledailyplanet.com FREE
Passenger rail service between AVL and HVL urged
From Staff Reports
HENDERSONVILLE — Larry Morton, president of the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club, is trying to drum up interest in passenger rail service between Asheville and Hendersonville. He envisions twice-daily service, Wednesday through Saturday, between the old depots in Hendersonville and Biltmore
Village. The train would run at 30 miles per hour, which, he says, is faster than driving. He recently ran his idea past Darl Farris, president of the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, who said, “We wouldn’t be adverse to thinking about passenger service,” the Hendersonville Lightning reported. The existing line currently only runs freight, but Farris said the company, Watco
Transportation Services, which purchased 92 miles of short line between East Flat Rock and Dillsboro from Norfolk-Southern in 2014, is always looking for profitable ways to expand business. Morton said thoses who visit the depot are enthusiastic about the idea. He is now taking his proposal to civic planning groups in an attempt to spark interest and make sure nothing gets built in the meantime that
Christmas Jam twinkles with stars
Special photos by David Simchock
Warren Haynes’ 29th Annual Christmas Jam —once again — drew a full house on Dec. 9 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. A line-up of top musicians took the stage in Haynes’ hometown for a good cause in the spirit of Christmas — all profits from the musical marathon go to Asheville’s Habitat for Humanity, which build homes for those in need. Below left is Haynes in action.
Photos courtesy ofx
x
Teach a man to be soothing? Q: — There’s always been an attraction between this guy and me. I’ve been thinking of testing the waters with him romantically, but he recently mentioned that he freaks out when women cry. He says he just has no idea what to do. Well, I’m an emotional person — generally happy but also a big crier. Are we a bad match, or could I teach him to soothe me? — Waterworks
The Advice Goddess Amy Alkon
Want to know the answer?
See ADVICE GODDESS, Page A12
would obstruct his idea. At a recent presentation before Hendersonville’s Seventh Avenue Advisory Committee, he urged preservation of the depot for a future passenger shelter. Other organizations he has addressed include the Western North Carolina Rail Committee, the NCDOT, and the Asheville Multimodal Transportation Commission, and Hendersonville’s Downtown Advisory Committee.
Wanda Greene fiasco: just how did it happen? By JOHN NORTH
john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com
Three Buncombe County officials provided a history and update — and fielded questions — on problems in the county government that came to light following the retirement of long-time County Manager Wanda Greene during a Dec. 1 breakfast meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners. The address, titled “A Report on the State of Buncombe County – personnel issues –bonuses – compensation issues – investigations – etc.,” drew about 55 CIBO members and others to the earlymorning meeting at UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.
Giving the presentation were two county commissioners — Ellen Frost, a Democratc; and Mike Fryar, a Republican — and Lisa Eby, Buncombe’s human resources director. Frost began by noting, “The question that everybody has is… How did all of this happen? “I look around and see Mike Fryar and other people who had long relationships with our county manager.” As for the problems with Greene, Frost said, “It was trust. it was complicitness.” Frost noted that when Greene was questioned by various commissioners over the years, “we all received a resounding’no,’” discouraging further questioning. See GREENE, Page A2
Mission Health, Blue Cross sign new pact after impasse
From Staff Reports
Mission Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina announced on Dec. 6 that they had reached an agreement. The deal went into effect Dec. 15, ending a six-month dispute, Mission having publicly announced its intent to sever relations with BCBSNC in July if better contract terms could not be reached. The standoff led to the termination of a contract that affected an estimat-
ed 260,000 people in Western North Carolina. Effective Oct. 5, those insured by BCBSNC became out-of-network at Mission’s facilities. Mission operates six hospitals, CarePartners, Asheville Specialty Hospital, and several specialty practices. It runs the only Level II trauma center in the region. Mission claimed it wanted a plan that rewarded it more for patient outcomes than the number of treatments administered. See NEW PACT, Page A12