Tfct Ariitvlllt CKIiea, Tie, Aug. II, i Beer, Wine Foes Rally In Columbus Susan Hensley Benison, Jl, of Bear-wallow Road were charged with one count of manufacturing marijuana and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to Henderson County Sheriff Albert Jackson. Saturday's arrests stemmed from last week's air and ground searches that led deputies to a patch of 40 marijuana plants near the Benison residence, be said. Both were released from the Henderson County Jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond each. The arrests are part of a continuing "marijuana eradication" program the sheriff's department began in May, Jackson said.
To date, approximately $13 million worth of marijuana has either been seized or destroyed by Henderson County deputies and detectives. Anyone wishing to report drug trafficking is encouraged to can the sheriff's department at 022511, Jackson said. Fish Kill BAT CAVE A weekend fish kill in Hickory Nut Creek, which state authorities originally thought would be "significant," resulted in only It dead trout. "We suspect it was caused by a heavy sediment load, which caused the impairment of oxygen exchange across the gill membranes," said Jim Borawa, a fisheries biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Commission.
No chemicals were involved and there is no public health threat, he said. Cttizan-TMn Tri-County Butmu COLUMBUS Resident opposed to beer and wine sales in Columbus attended a Monday night rally at the Polk County Courthouse to demonstrate their opposition to a Sept. 7 referendum. "It's a kick-off campaign against the referendum of sale of alcohol in Columbus," said town council member Jeannle Martin. "We want to give information to those who haven't decided how they'll vote." Martin helped organize a group known as the Columbus Association to Retain Excellence (CARK), which sponsored the rally.
The 30-member group also handed out white ribbons to residents and business owners who oppose beer and wine in the dry Polk County town. "The white ribbon is a symbol of wanting to keep Columbus the way it is," Martin said. If the referendum passes, Columbus would receive $3,400 yearly in revenues and 11,500 in sales tax for every $100,000 worth of beer that is sold, Martin said. Speaking at the rally were state Rep. Coy Pnvetle, slate chairman of the Christian Action League, Polk County Sheriff Boyce CarsweU and Rutherford County Sheriff Damon Huskey.
Drug Charges HKNDKRSONVILI.E An Ed-neyville couple has been arrested on drug charges in connection with a marijuana raid. Knc Harrison Benison, 29, and 1 1 u. ii r. 1 1 StoH PMIM OARY FIILDJ ColumbuH Beer And Wine OpponenU Line Up: Rev. Fred Rose, Sheriffs Huskey (Top Right) And Carawell Public Service Co, Accused Of Subsidizing Its Propane Sales to have completely separate offices, vehicles and staff for propane sales and service.
Because of the series of public hearings, which ends Tuesday In Raleigh, Public Service officials in Gastonia have been unavailable to discuss propane sales. "We have heard these complaints before," Curtis said. "It is easy for a company to get by a year with the two operations together. So, we regularly look at it We have not done a deep study, but we look at it" Norman said he has lost nine bulk gas accounts to Public Service because of price undercutting. "There is no fair competition in propane," Norman said.
"The gas company uses the same people for propane." The state commission scheduled the hearing last Thursday to consider public testimony on an 11.28 percent monthly increase for most residential customers as part of the $9.5 million package. Many Industrial customers would see their monthly rates drop from 2 to 8 percent. The average residential customer pays $44.62 per month for natural gas, according to Public Service, which reported a second quarter loss of $243,000. Overall, Public Service has requested a 4.2 percent increase In revenues. The public staff has recommended a .7 percent increase or $1.5 million annually.
Residential rates would increase S.5 percent under the staff plan and Industrial rates would drop by I.t percent in one category and increase about 2 percent in another category. Norman also complained that the meeting was not publicized properly. Curtis said Public Service met the legal requirement to advertise the meeting in leading newspapers, but added that regulated utilities are not required to tell news editors about public hearings. The commission sends no regular notice of meetings to news editors. By DAVID NIVEN8 Business Editor The controversy over deregulated sales of propane gas by a regulated public utility has been renewed in Asheville.
In a state Utilities Commission hearing last Thursday, two propane gas suppliers accused Public Service Co. of North Carolina of subsidizing its propane sales from natural gas revenues. "They are using their monopoly to undercut competitors and drive us out of business," Wayne Norman, owner of Ready Flame Gas Co. In Asheville, said after the meeting. "And then when you go to a meeting like this, it seems that it is all stacked against you." Commissioner A.
Hartwell Campbell held the meeting to take public testimony about Public Service's requested $9.5 million increase in annual revenues. In addition to selling regulated natural gas, Public Service has sold propane for some seven years in competition with private firms. Many rural homeowners use propane that is stored in pressurized tanks. Norman and Bruce Byers of Forest City attended the hearing and registered complaints, but no Public Service customers attended, Norman said. Norman said Public Service installs tanks and lines at no cost to customers and offers service at 30 cents a gallon less than other propane operators can afford.
"Public Service is using the revenue from natural gas to subsidize propane," Norman said. "That is the only way they could make a cent" Eugene Curtis of the commission's public staff In Raleigh said Monday that the commission has no control over propane sales, but does attempt to see that regulated gas companies keep the two businesses as separate as possible. "Our investigators look at that," Curtis said. "Propane is not supposed to be part of the rate base." State law does not require regulated gas companies aa liSSai2 I5U13 I6SSJM3 17451 1MIS 70413 IM70W1J IIS70VU I9V70S 14 9.93 2S.9T 3MT T7.47 17.9T 9.97 41 9S 43 9ft 49 9S SI9ft S2 9S 34 95 34 93 M93 tf Mcond fire when you buy on of reg. price.
Hug Mvingf now on firortonrt S-211. tt rt IbulKd rexfrof approved 4xiBinol uipmnt by 14 import car mo two wound itw world. 41 SALE' IZTEIXK DIAS-PLY RADUUS RADIAL RADIAL VALUI Builders File $11.4 Million Permits lAM-wvorma Trwmon I I Ik -t la Ilriiltail7iii11 il I KJtampnn: rupiatm- i i. fc aw I (MAt hfl IfflMfh- 9WR rood Lr -EST I W-lllllll I Ml I II I ntinw vim I twnitis ituf aosranu mm I I at-i3 iim mm I Bitiwiu m.M llltIKM TS II 1711 KIKi tl.M I Mm HO MKI mil mmmmfm' mWmmm WM4j loa mmA loo. -SWuiai Iaa4 am OKm iootf by units In March and April The July 1984 house total was 62 units when all permits totaled $6.5 million.
Commercial permits totaled $324,000, including a $300,000 convenience store on U.S. 25 south of Asheville. Residential additions totaled $323,922 and commercial additions $47,500. With housing construction leading the way, Buncombe County contractors filed permits for $60.8 million in 1984. The July monthly total also was up from $5.2 million in May and was the highest monthly construction total In 19H5.
Construction totaled $5 million in April and $4.1 million in March. Construction totaled $4.2 million in February and $3.5 million in January. Home builders filed permits valued at $3.2 million for 59 houses, down from 74 houses in June. The June house total was up from 62 units in May. Builders filed permits for 68 By DAVID NIVENS Business Editor The booming construction season continued here through the summer as builders filed permits valued at $11.4 million In Buncombe County in July.
Most of the total came from the $6.5 million start of the new North Buncombe High School. The total was up from $6 million in June, according to the Buncombe County Department of Public Works. Advertited on Television) 9mmmmmm I rfing lovingv on futttont (tttromtm CWUZJL Save 21 our motl popular badciw Mtcn ongwiol mxjutpmtx tpatKolom for many domestic ond mp-jrted vehacle rice-cHamtlton "Your Living Room Superstore" "Beautiful affordable furniture for every lifestyle" axiKt LUBE, OIL St FILTER SHOCK ABSORBERS WKt-UP SAVE 20 to 50 EXAMPLE: Tlx nh tM atelr iftuWMd an HftllW UiraoftaML We'll lutol your vstwle't Kow, deoin tht old ol and irntoH up to ouom In moit tltKtronic ignttton con, wo'lt ImioN rMrw rirtnlof tporh plugt, odfu CM tpaed Ml liming, borlttfy ond diorging yWrmi and mpKl orrtf ky ngsM portv Rtnroo handling rmpont and Uew ing comfat to yowr rhtcl. MoW hodi otHorbCTi nov 40 mor pittofl working or0 Ihon mou ntw-cor ihocfct. new oil ond new oil flte Moti AnvtiKan con ond dghl tiiHht and moW Oofwm.
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