Sheriff Seeks Help In Macon County Homicide Investigation (Macon County, NC)
Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland is pleading with the Hispanic community to come forward with any details in the deaths of the Altamarino brothers. The bodies of Diego and Francisco were discovered in the bed of a pick-up truck near downtown Franklin last week. Holland posted on Facebook that investigators are working around the clock and he doesn't want a language barrier holding anyone back. The office is staffed with Spanish-speaking officers and translators for anyone who can come forward to help.
Confederate Monument Vandalized For Second Time (Asheville, NC)
A Robert E. Lee monument in downtown Asheville is the target of another vandalism. The face of the plaque memorializing the Confederate General and the Dixie Highway was deeply scratched some time before a downtown march of the group BeLoved Asheville on Friday. The monument was also vandalized last August shortly after a White Nationalist rally in Virginia.
Armed Guards Going Into Henderson County Schools (Henderson County, NC)
Henderson County is leading the way in Western North Carolina in putting armed guards in its schools. Sheriff Charles McDonald has plans to put plain-clothed guards in each one of Henderson's schools by the time class begins in August. He has placed guards at some of the schools already. This comes in response to both Parkland, Florida's school shooting in February and a reported 18 lockdowns in Henderson County since the beginning of the year.
North Fork Dam Blasting Begins This Week (Black Mountain, NC)
Residents around Black Mountain will hear some blasts this week at the Burnett Reservoir. Crews are scheduled to start blasting the North Fork Dam to begin construction of a new spillway. The City of Asheville says a one-minute series of sirens will go off before blasting begins. A longer signal will go off after inspection. Blasting is expected to last two to three months.
Time Added To Buncombe County School Days (Buncombe County, NC)
Missed weather days are leading Buncombe County school officials to alter the April calendar. The system announced that twenty minutes will be added to each school day from April 9th through April 30th to comply with the state's calendar law. The April 27th early dismissal day has also been altered into a regular full instructional day for students.
"Land Of Oz" Announces Open Dates At Beech Mountain (Beech Mountain, NC)
Fans of the yellow brick road can get a first-hand glimpse of Oz this summer at Beech Mountain. The "Land of Oz" theme park just announced it will be open all five Fridays in the month of June and Saturday June 30th. Its Oz-themed grounds and characters were a hit for a good part of the 1970's, but has only opened occasionally in recent years. You can purchase tickets beginning April 20th.