Local and State Headlines for Monday, March 26, 2018

Asheville Man Charged In Ex-Girlfriend's Murder (Asheville, NC)

The Asheville Police Department says a call out for an attempted suicide ended in charges for murder.  Officers reported to Walton Street early Saturday morning and found Alvin William Wilson, who told them he had harmed his girlfriend.  They later found 62-year-old Tina Marie Knighten dead at the Overlook Apartments on Bartlett Street nearby.  Wilson was rushed to Mission Hospital for self-sustained injuries and will be taken to jail after his release.  The cause of death has not been revealed. 

Thousands Rally For "March For Our Lives" In Asheville (Asheville, NC)

The end to gun violence continues to be a rallying cry for thousands of Asheville-area residents.  More than six-thousand people were said to have attended "March for Our Lives" Saturday in downtown.  One of the speakers at the rally was 16-year-old Anna Dittman, who attends the Parkland, Florida high school where 17 people were gunned down on Valentine's Day.  A group of 15 also traveled to march in Washington, DC on Saturday.      

Mission Health Acquisition Might Lower Taxes (Asheville, NC)

Property taxes could be going down because of the possible sale of Mission Health to for-profit HCA Healthcare.  Buncombe County and city of Asheville officials are estimating that property taxes from Mission could reach as much as 15-million-dollars.  County Commissioner Mike Fryar said property taxes could end up going down between 60-to-90-dollars on a 300-thousand-dollar home in a few years. Mission Health is currently a non-profit healthcare system.

Macon County Arrests Atlanta Man For Skimming (Macon County, NC)

An Atlanta man is in Macon County jail on a four-million-dollar bond for allegedly stealing credit card information.  Investigators say Valchan Valchanov is accused of using a skimmer in Macon and Jackson Counties to steal personal information.  He is facing 125 counts of obtaining property by false pretense. 

High School Student Missing Since March 16th (Asheville, NC)

An Asheville teenager has been missing for more than a week and police are looking for clues on her whereabouts.  The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office says Emily Haydock left Roberson High School on March 16th and hasn't been seen since.  Authorities in Hendersonville are helping, as it was noted she might be staying with friends there.  There are no known names or addresses where she might be.

Schools Delay Openings For Weather (Undated)  

Wintry weather continues to affect school hours in parts of WNC.  Avery County schools are operating on a two-hour delay this morning due to possible black ice conditions.  Mitchell County is also holding out the beginning of class by three hours.  Temperatures are expected to rise back up into more spring-like conditions by mid-week. 

Autopsy Reveals Deputy Shot By Wife (Charlotte, NC)

An autopsy report reveals that a Mecklenburg Sheriff's deputy was shot by his wife after he threatened her with a kitchen knife.  James Hawkins was found dead with two gunshot wounds at their Ashley Meadow Drive home in January.  Rataba Hawkins, who is also a deputy, used her service weapon in the shooting.  They allegedly had both been drinking when an argument started that night.  Rataba is currently on paid leave and has not been charged in the shooting.


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