If City Councilwoman Kim Roney — Asheville’s top proponent for the Defund the Police movement—  is elected the city’s mayor in the Nov. 8 general election, at least 60 Asheville police officers have told reliable sources that they are seriously contemplating resigning from the city’s beleaguered police force, which remains in a “staffing crisis” because of massive turnover in the last 2-1/2 years, according to Rondell Lance, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1.

Local police officers widely regard Roney as a “far left” radical who is anti-police and anti-law enforceent, Lance told the Daily Planet during two separate telephone interviews on June 18 and 19.

Following the recent primary election, the top two vote-getters — in what was billed as a nonpartisan race — advanced to the general election for mayor, including Mayor Esther Manheimer, who finished first; followed closely by Roney. Both are Democrats.

“I don’t have verifiable proof, but I’ve heard the rumor that if Kim Roney is elected mayor of Asheville, as many as possibly 60 (APD) officers have stated that they will leave,” Lance said. “Now I have not talked to the officers personally. I don’t have first-hand knowledge. But I have talked to people (in law encorcement) who have talked to them.”

From Staff Reports

Citing a desire to increase choices for patients to receive high-quality healthcare and more opportunities for medical professionals to build careers, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a letter of support for an alternatively owned hospital during its regular meeting on June 7.

The 2022 State Medical Facilities Plan “has identified a need for 67 acute-care beds in the Buncombe-Madison-Yancey-Graham service area, which presents a rare opportunity to introduce a new hospital-provider and stimulate competition,” the county stated in a June 7 press release. 

“Since 1995, Mission has operated as the sole hospital provider in Buncombe County. After the not-for-profit health care system was sold to for-profit HCA in 2019, residents have been increasingly vocal of their desire for improved access and patient choice.”

The release then quotes board Chairman Brownie Neman as saying prior to the commissioners’ vote to approve the letter, “The letter does not endorse any one organization, but does endorse that we would like to see alternatives, and possibly the presence of a nonprofit. 

From Staff Reports

The annual celebration of the founding of the United States of America on the Fourth of July in 1776 will feature many holiday-related celebrations and fireworks shows (on and around that date) in Western North Carolina as well as in the adjoining Upstate of South Carolina.

Following is a capsule summary of major holiday activities scheduled in the region’s biggest cities, including Asheville and Hendersonville in North Carolina; and Greenville and Spartanburg in neighboring South Carolina:

• ASHEVILLE — Asheville’s Independence Day celebration will be held from 1 to10 p.m. in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. The gala will begin with the Ultimate Air Dogs event, scheduled at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Food and beverage vendors will open at 5 p.m., including local breweries and cideries, as well as a variety of food trucks. Live music will be performed on the park’s stage from 5:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring Ricky Gunter and Lyric. At 9:30 p.m., fireworks will be launched “and can be best seen from the park (buildings will block the view in other parts of downtown),” a press release stated. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and/or blankets. Admission is free. 

• HENDERSONVILLE — An Independence Day parade will be held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. downtown along Main Street. The city’s evening Fourth of July festivities will start at 5 p.m., with live music on two separate stages, inflatables, kids’ games and activities, food trucks and capped with a fireworks display. At 5 p.m., the Lonesome Road Band will perform at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse at 100 N. Main St. On the same stage at 7 p.m., the group Supper Break will perform. Meanwhile, beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting until the fireworks start, a “special fireworks celebration concert” will be held at 201 S. Main St.  (at the Visitor’s Center). The concertt’s featured band will be Box Set Entertainement, an Asheville-based “show band,” playing a wide span of musical genres — “from disco to funk, and everything in between — we bring the party to you!” BSE’s website says in touting its musical repertoire. Fireworks, launching from South Grove Street, will begin at 9:30 p.m. “Look for the giant red balloon to signify the visibility of the fireworks show,” a city press release urged. “If you can see the balloon, you can see the fireworks from your location. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and/or blankets. Admission is free.