Western North Carolina

Five years ago, dismembered pieces of a human body were found floating in the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina. Forensics identified the victim as Kelly Lane Smith, a local prostitute, and though all evidence pointed to a local man infamous for the brutalization and rape of sex workers in the area, he was never charged, never convicted, and he left Asheville a free man.

Why couldn’t an obvious suspect be convicted? Because Kelly was a prostitute.

The Charlotte Observer ran this column recently that the AP (and WRAL) picked up on.

As I noted Martha's death on BlueNC a while back, I strongly recommended her book.

I do so again with her book's reissue.

I have no financial interest in the book.

Here's her NYT obit as mentioned in the article.

Cal Cunningham with Roundtable Members Deborah Reed, Ron Robinson, Marion Jones, and Jeff Israel.

Since high school, I’ve been interested in economics and economic development, and I grew up camping, hiking, and traveling to Western NC with my family, so yesterday when Cal Cunningham began his roundtable on Western North Carolina economic development, I was all ears.

And it was a great discussion. With a diverse group of including the Dean and Associate Dean at the College of Business of Western Carolina University, several small business owners, and a United Steelworkers member from a local paper mill, folks touched on everyday business challenges to high finance.

And I don't mean negative. The key to an Obama victory in the primary and the GE now lies nowhere else but in the misty mountains of Appalachia. So strap on your geeek glasses and lets have some fun. We've got work to do.

I am writing this diary out of a desire to see Barack Obama win the primary and general election. There is no doubt that Appalachia is the absolute KEY area to electoral victory for Obama. With the Appalachian vote goes the potential swing of WV, OH, VA, NC, PA and potentially KY and TN depending on the numbers come November.

So far, Obama is under-preforming 44% in Appalachian areas. Tennessee hinted at it (-41), Virginia seconded (-61), and SE Ohio (-31) has made it exceedingly clear. But it can, and will be his. Dive in with me to see how Obama locks up the primary, and crushes John McCain in the General Election.
And I don't mean negative.

A Jackson Countian's response to today's John Locke Foundation article blasting the county's efforts to implement effective conrtrols on second home development.

Hickory Nut Gorge extends past the breath taking scenery of Chimney Rock and leads into the man-made Lake Lure. Part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Chain and the Appalachian Mountains, it was created over 680 million years ago. Formed on the super continent of Pangea, it is part of the same chain of the Anti-Atlas Mountains in Morocco.