Big Ivy poet's latest work

Local author Joan Medlicott and Big Ivy poet Nancy Dillingham have collaborated on a book entitled "Reflections in a River." Medlicott took the photographs, and Dillingham wrote the accompanying haiku.

While traveling down a country road shortly after moving to Barnardsville over 14 years ago, Medlicott came upon this river. For 12 years, she went back to photograph it, in all seasons. She later learned that it is a branch of the Toe River in Burnsville. About two years ago she invited Dillingham to write the haiku for the photographs.

An Oct. 1 official release date of the book has just been announced by Grateful Steps Publishing House and Bookstore (159 S. Lexington Ave.), the publisher of the book. The price is $19.95.

Dillingham's latest book of poetry, "Home" (March Street Press, 2010) was also nominated for a Southern Independent Bookstore Alliance (SIBA) award this year. She has donated a copy of "Home" (and of her other five books) to the library housed in Big Ivy Community Center--and will also donate a copy of "Reflections in a River."

Blood drive to honor late fire captain

The American Red Cross is holding two blood drives in memory of local area resident Capt. Jeff Bowen. The first drive will be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm on Thursday (Sept. 1) at the Asheville Fire Department, 100 Court Plaza. For those unable to make that date, a followup drive has been scheduled for 9 am to 1 pm on Monday (Sept. 5) at Skyland Fire Department on Hendersonville Road in Skyland.

Bowen died in the line of duty while fighting a fire July 28 near Mission Hospitals. Burn victims, as well as automobile accident victims and cancer patients often need blood transfusions to survive. A single donation can be divided into its components and can help to save the lives of up to three people.

To schedule an appointment for the blood drive at Asheville Fire, please contact Barbara Berry at 259-5636. To schedule an appointment for the blood drive at Skyland Fire, please contact Katie Presley at 684-9092 ext. 305.

Talking trash

Some Woodfin residents have been getting notices lately informing them that their trash cans are too big.

Woodfin Town Administrator Jason Young said they are sending about 60 notices out.

Because the town does not have trash trucks that lift the cans into the compactor, town ordinances limit the cans to 32 gallons, although residents can have up to six cans.

Locals place in ladies' golf tournament

Martha McDermott of Reems Creek Golf Club had the lowest net score of 71 in Flight #2 in the Blue Ridge Women's Golf Association tournament on Aug. 11 at Maggie Valley Golf Club.

Misuk Bailey and Frieda Cooper, both of Reems Creek, also had the lowest gross in Flight #3 and Flight #4, respectively.

The Blue Ridge Women’s Golf Association (BRWGA) is comprised of women from the ladies leagues of eleven golf clubs in the surrounding Asheville area. They are Black Mountain, Connestee Falls, Crooked Creek, Etowah Valley, Glen Cannon, High Vista, Laurel Ridge, Maggie Valley, Reems Creek, Rumbling Bald and Wolf Laurel. Ladies that participate in these monthly tournaments must be members of a ladies league at a club that is a member of the BRWGA and have an established USGA Handicap Index of 29.9 or less. The object of the association is to organize, promote, and encourage participation in golfing activities for women.

Perdue visits

Gov. Bev Perdue is scheduled to visit North Buncombe High School on Friday (Aug. 19) morning. She is expected to address the students and tour the grounds.

Softball tryout

The Alley Cats 16u Softball Team will have tryouts from 3-5 pm on Aug. 28 @ Dorman High School. For details go to www.eteamz.com/alleycats1/ and click on the potential players tab.

Call Donnie Moore at 864-505-1588 for more information.

Bus safety reminder from BCS

Asheville City school buses are back on the streets August 16, and Buncombe County school buses are back on the road August 18. Buncombe County operates the eighth largest school bus transportation system in North Carolina. Each school day 290 school buses travel 15,800 miles and transport 16,700 students.

Motorists need to be extra cautious about children standing at bus stops in the mornings. It has been 10 weeks since children have been standing alongside the road waiting for the bus.

The school bus is the safest mode of surface transportation. The danger for the student lies in getting on and off the bus. When a bus is stopped to pick up children, the law requires motorists to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the same direction as the bus. Also, motorists are required to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus unless the road is divided by a physical barrier, wall or median; or it is a four-lane highway divided by a center-turn lane.

A one-day stop arm count was conducted on March 23 of last school year, and bus drivers reported 63 violations. If you multiply that by the number of days in a school year, that is over 11,300 violations in a given year.

One violation is one too many. School bus drivers have been instructed to report vehicles that pass a stopped school bus. The drivers fill out a form which identifies the vehicle and includes the license tag number, and submit it to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The troopers assigned to school bus safety in Buncombe County investigate each complaint filed. Stiff penalties accompany a conviction for passing a stopped school bus. Motorists receive five points against their driver's license, face a $200 fine, and possibly 120 days in jail. Anyone who witnesses a school bus stop arm violation should contact the Highway Patrol at 298.4252 with the vehicle license tag number.

Safety is our top priority in transporting our state's most valuable resource: Children.

For additional information on school bus safety, please visit the North Carolina School Bus Safety website at www.ncbussafety.org or contact the Buncombe County Schools’ Transportation Department at 232.4240. Also, please visit http://www.ncbussafety.org/SchoolBusSafety/SBSWlaw.html for a brochure on the North Carolina School Bus Stop Law.

Deadly Asheville fire deliberately set says ATF

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with criminal investigators from the Asheville Fire and Police Departments and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), have determined that the July 28 fire at the Medical Office Complex Building, 445 Biltmore Avenue was deliberately set.

Asheville Fire Department Captain Jeffrey Scott Bowen was killed and over $20 million in damage occurred as a result of the fire.

The investigation is being conducted jointly by ATF, the Asheville Police and Fire Departments and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI).

Anyone with information about this crime is strongly encouraged to contact these agencies at the following numbers:

ATF Arson Hotline at (888) ATF FIRE or (888) 283-8477.

Asheville Police Department Crime Stoppers at (828) 255-5050.

NC State Bureau of Investigation at (800) 334-3000.

All information will be treated confidentially, and callers will remain anonymous if they request.