Former Buncombe Officials Indicted For Fraud (Buncombe County, NC)
Three former Buncombe County officials are being charged with fraud. A federal grand jury returned indictments against former county managers Wanda Greene and Mandy Stone, along with former assistant county manager Jon Creighton yesterday. The indictment reveals that a contractor bought lavish trips for them in exchange for his business. The three are also accused of getting back unpaid vacation time for those trips, which they alleged were for county business.
Boone Woman Sentenced For Embezzlement (Boone, NC)
A Boone woman is heading to prison for defrauding her former employer. The investigation revealed that Connie Franklin wrote falsely signed paychecks to herself over a span of eight years while she worked as a bookkeeper. She's been ordered to pay back more than one-and-a-half-million dollars she embezzled. A judge sentenced her to serve four years and five months.
Commissioners Delay Purchase Of Property For School (Henderson County, NC)
Henderson County commissioners plan to delay purchasing property for a new high school. School board members told the county earlier this year that the estimate to build a new Hendersonville High School came in eleven-million-dollars more than anticipated. The county wants to use the property of the former Boyd Automotive operations. The school board must now come up with a new plan.
Asheville City Leaders In Durham (Asheville, NC)
Asheville city leaders are in Durham this week to discuss a range of topics with officials there. One of the main discussions regards police searches, as Durham was one of the first cities in the state to require written consent. The Asheville city council approved a measure earlier this summer to require written consent for police searches, but they're seeking help on how to implement that rule. Other items of discussion may include fire department operations and affordable housing.
Macon County Schools Step Up Security (Macon County, NC)
Security will be more present at Macon County schools this year. The superintendent says school resource officers will be stationed at every campus when class begins August 27th. The district has also implemented more perimeter fencing and security cameras. The superintendent has encouraged students to report any suspicious activity on an app called Speak Up.
UNC-Asheville Receives Large Donation (Asheville, NC)
UNC-Asheville is getting a large donation from a California business woman who spent part of her life growing up in Western North Carolina. Sally Birge gifted the school with two-and-a-half-million dollars to help those who can't afford a college education, which is something she was unable to complete. She eventually made money in a fried chicken business she owned with her husband, before she founded a nonprofit organization to support women. Birge died last year.
Fetus Found On Plane Departed From Charlotte (New York, NY)
Airline officials are investigating the discovery of a dead fetus found on a plane that flew from Charlotte to New York. An attendant found the fetus in the toilet while cleaning the bathroom. The American Airlines plane landed at LaGuardia Airport Monday night. Police are reviewing video to try and locate the mother.
Former TSA Agent Sentenced For Drug Trafficking (Charlotte, NC)
A former TSA agent is heading to prison for trafficking drugs to multiple North Carolina cities. Investigators say he would travel between Charlotte and Greensboro to distribute narcotics. He was fired from his job at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after his arrest. A judge sentenced him to 25 years.