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The roads on the western side of the county are ridiculous (until you get to the new part which is GREAT). Also whoever fixed the washout on Hwy80 South did a fantastic job. But the road between D & R and Flowers by Vance connecting Main to bypass is horrible. It has been a mess for ages and getting worse.
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If I had a quarter for every time I hit a pothole in this county I would never need to work again!! Why is it we can build a brand new sidewalk, that may be used by 100 people per year, but can't fix the bypass that is used by 10,000 people daily? We can put new bricks on the square, but not asphalt on the road? We are the ONLY town I know of that has an asphalt plant, visible from town, that will not pave the roads! Please try to pull out of Westover Drive, you spin gravel and end up buried in a hole that is already over a foot deep. If you try to pull in, you end up sideways from the loose gravel. Take a drive across East Main street, or better yet East Blvd, your teeth will clatter, your vehicle will think it is going on an off road trail. It's a disaster! I wouldn't have a problem with it except it has been progressively worsening for YEARS! Maybe once they fix the roads they will pay to have my truck realigned!!
say it ain't so? talk on the street is that our elected commissioners are going to put the screws to the poor man once again. My income has not increased in since 2008, and I've had to tighten my boot straps and buckle down just to make ends meet from paycheck to paycheck. Times are hard for almost everyone, and now I hear our wonderful commissioners are considering adding $120.00 to each household in Yancey county. cost of living has gone up in the nation, including Yancey county. insurance, utilities, groceries and medications have gone thru the roof. I take home less now per paycheck, now than I did in 2008. I guess you could say I am on a fixed income, like most are, I don't think I can come up with an additional $120.00 a year, for the commissioners to throw away on employing their families and friends. please voice your opinion and outrage of what is rumored to be going thru these commissioners minds. it was on the front page of the local paper this week, that they are meeting Tuesday the 18th at 6:00 pm to pass the counties next budget
I have read so many posts in the past about bad behavior by youth league parents/grandparents/spectators during the games. I ran across this on-line and thought it was appropriate for our county sports. It originated from the parks department in Chicago. A suburban Chicago park district has installed permanent metal signs designed to remind parents that their young athletes are, first and foremost, young. The signs state: Things for coaches, parents and spectators to keep in mind while children are playing sports on our fields...(1) This is a GAME being played by CHILDREN. (2) If they win or lose every game of the season, it will not impact the college they attend or their future income potential. (3) Of the hundreds of thousands of children who have ever played youth sports, very few have gone on to play professionally. It is highly unlikely that any college recruiters or professional scouts are watching these games; so, let’s keep it all about having fun and being pressure-free. And (4) Referees umpires and officials are human and make mistakes, just like players, coaches and you. No one shouts at you in front of other people when you make a mistake, so please don’t yell at them. We do not have video replay; so, we will go with their calls. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/chicago-suburb-installs-fantastic-signs-parents-chill-youth-095119074.html) Something to think about, Yancey County, isn't it?
I have seen a lot of stupid, rude, thoughtless drivers in this county. A lot of them forgot how to use the turn signal,a lot of people wait to the last minute to turn on the signal or turn it on as they are turning off to where ever they are going to. Or not even use it at all. Maybe they forgot they have a turn signal. Some don't even know how to use the center lane for turning left. Some people just stay in the right lane and cause a lot of angry people to lay down on their horns. And as for driving the speed limit, as a lot of you may already know, our law enforcement does not drive the limit either!!! I have been behind enough of them to know. Or what about the drivers who pull out in front of you when there is nothing behind you. Nobody is perfect in driving, there is a lot of improvement in all of us. Including me. I'm not the best driver out there, but I know I'm better than most of the idiots out there.
I think Yancey and Mitchell county have done a very good job, even though there may be some high grass in areas...People need to think about all the flooding, mud slides and road repairs that have had to be done and all the late nights D.O.T employees have spent working to repair them all. THANK YOU YANCEY AND MITCHELL D.O.T.
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While driving from Bald Creek to Micaville I have seen elderly people using hand pruners trying to clear weeds and briars from behind guard rails on DOT right-of-way. Reason? They are trying to improve their view of the busy highway as they leave their driveways to safely enter the road. Seemingly, if these residents do not attempt to clear away the thick, view blocking growths on highway rights-of-way, no one will. It seems a bit much to expect the elderly to do right-of-way maintenance for any reason. Can the DOT not send a side operating bush hog to clear state rights-of-way as in previous years?
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Just a heads up for DOT. The grass along the corridors of our highways needs to be cut. It is becoming dangerous at intersections.
I have lived in Burnsville all my life. I love it here, so I understand how people from more hectic areas enjoy visiting and retiring to the area. It goes without saying that many of these people are wealthy, and tourism is a larger part of our county's income than most would like. We smile and nod when we miss out on businesses that would bring us jobs because the tourists like the "small-town feel". That's great, fine. I have recently been looking for a small house or apartment for my girlfriend and myself to share in a few months, and all I can find are overpriced places with all sorts of "scenic advice" or how far to Mt. Mitchell Golf Course. When will people be less concerned with the visitors than the locals in our town? To me, thinking about how much money you can make off people with no regard the local economy takes away from the small town feel entirely and forces the real life small town people (of limited means) away.
that light is gonna get someone killed its holding so long people are running it three at atime
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I feel your pain with the traffic light situation. Try going to work at 5:30 am and having to stop for both the light at Pensacola and the one at Burger King just because its on a timer. No traffic anywhere on the side roads. That makes about as much sense as the state of our roads through town again. I know we are in the middle of construction, but why couldn't they do the patching smoothly just as easily as they could make it like a wash board? Where has logic and common sense gone? Sure would like to see some again!
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The traffic light at Pensacola is ridiculous. If you are coming from town and want to turn left toward East Yancey it only stays green long enough for one car to go a second car goes thru under yellow. I've seen it backed up almost to the stop sign on Main. Ridiculous.
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I have just gotten off the phone with DOT of Asheville that controls traffic lights settings in Burnsville. I am not sure ,but is anyone else a little disturbed with the traffic light at the end of Jack's Creek.?
Here is the number if anyone else feels led to express their concern in waiting to long and wasting gas .This light just doesn't work the way other traffic lights in the county work. (1 828-298-0094) I was told the traffic light inspector might not be able to do anything about it!! I was also told it may take several days before a representative can get out to check on it.
If you have been upset at waiting so long, and probably have run the red ligh, when you looked and no one was around. You just wanted to get on your way to work or the gas station ,, if so ...please give these folks a call.
Don't say I am impatient because I am not, I am just frustrated over a light that keeps me sitting , when no traffic is coming either way ,for several, several minutes. I know it is nice to stop and pray or be still, for a little while , I can do that in less time then it takes for the light to change. The people behind me or in front are creeping forwards or impatient to get going.
I have noticed if it is cloudy out the light works better then if the sun is bright. If the sun is bright you might as well sit on top of your vehicle and get a tan, you'll have time to burn before that light decides to turn!!
I've heard that dates offered to Burnsville Little Theater from Parkway Playhouse for their spring 2013 production were three weekends from late March through mid April. While the March dates were cold, the April weekend dates had temperatures in the high 60s and the mid to high 70s. Definitely warm enough to hold a few weekends full of shows. The BLT doesn't usually have more than two weekends anyway, right? I don't think all blame should be put on the Parkway Playhouse for BLT not accepting these dates. I also agree that Theresa Coletta's letter to the paper opens a discussion between the County/Town and the two theater groups. Is there an opportunity to make the building a year round facility (add more heat?) so that this issue is not an issue? Can't the County/Town help out in this way? It is their building after all.
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I commend Theresa Coletta on the letter she wrote to the editor of the local newspaper last week. I too feel there is room for both the Parkway Playhouse and the Burnsville Little Theater to perform at the Playhouse. It is easy to forget that the Little Theater was in existence before the Parkway Playhouse. Both are such assets to our community. Perhaps one of the plays could run one week instead of two and leave time for the Little Theater to occupy the building during a time when weather is not too cold. It is always so good to see our local people performing. Plus they give all proceeds to local non-profits. Just a thought!
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According to the Journal newspaper The Burnsville Little Theatre was given dates for 2013 season at the Parkway Playhouse that they thought were unreasonable. One of the dates was the last week in march and the Parkway Playhouse being an unheated building they declined the offer. If you remember we had a snowstorm that week and their decision proved to be the correct one. The article said They still hope to find a location for their productions. We hope so.
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I am also wondering why we have not hear of any plays that Burnsville Little Theater will be doing. I am sure The Parkway Playhouse building is large for them to Share with BLT. The Burnsville Little Theater have done some wonderful plays and I hope that we will be seeing more of them. Come on everyone and let's work together so everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the plays.
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Is the Burnsville Little Theater non-existent now? I haven't heard much about the group lately. All I see is Parkway Playhouse. The Playhouse does some good plays, but the Little Theater seemed to choose better plays and they gave the money to one of several good causes, such as The Humane Society, Family Violence Coalition, and other worthy causes. If I remember correctly, the Little Theater came first, using the Playhouse for their plays. Later, the Little theater performed at the old American Legion Building, the inn at Celo, the auditorium at Mayland, and other places. I don't know how long it's been since we saw a play that the Little Theater did at the Playhouse. Is the Playhouse being stingy about sharing? Thanks for letting me speak my piece.
I'd like to make a comment about the person who felt the need to cut the head off of a deer that had been hit by a car and leave the remaining body in the road. Obviously this person is a lousy hunter if the only way they can get "horns" is to cut them off a dead body. But why leave the body to endanger other people?
I agree about the sign, but of course the owners would take down the old Hilltop sign for the new Bootleg one. Being its still the same owners for both restuarants, maybe you could ask them if they still have the old Hilltop sign and would be willing to sell it?
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In response to our newest addition to restaurant choices in Burnsville I have one thing I want to get off my chest. I will admit that I tend to be very passionate when it comes to history of the area I live in. I feel that some of our most interesting history was not that long ago and maybe more of a memory shared by most residents then history. Which brings me to my point, I can only assume that the owners of the new bar/restaurant called Bootleg took down the old Hilltop sign I must say this broke my heart. As a fairly young (26) resident of Yancey County I remember when Hilltop was owned by Helen and Pollard’s was alongside the Hilltop. So it really bothered me when such a huge part of down town Burnsville history was so easily replaced. I know that progress must be part of life but did they at least keep the sign or is it gone completely. Am I alone in my feelings?
Editor's Note: This comment is about the landmark sign, not about a private business.
On behalf of Clearmont Elementary School, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the outpouring of support for our kindergarten student, Morgan Warren, and her family. As you may recall, Morgan won our Holiday Essay contest before the Winter Break, which articulated her wish for her little brother to have a tomb rock (tombstone).
On Thursday, December 20th, the story appeared on the WKYK website, and the phone began ringing at Clearmont, with members of the school community calling to see how they could help with the purchase of the tombstone. Beginning the next day, we began our break early due to snow, but that didn’t stop the outpouring of kindness. The story ran in The Yancey County Times Journal and The Yancey County News in the following days, and the faculty, staff, and I received numerous calls from people all over the county, some that didn’t even know the family, but were touched by the story and wanted to help.
I spoke with Dawn Warren, Morgan’s mother, and she said, “You just don’t know what this means to us. I can’t begin to tell you have much we appreciate the caring people in Yancey County.” Dennis Wilson, owner of Yancey Memorials, is to be commended for setting up the tombstone fund and taking the time to speak with all of the people that were interested in donating. According to Dennis, as of today, the family has chosen the tombstone, and it has been completely paid for by the compassionate, generous members of our county.
Sincerely,
Angie Anglin, Principal
Clearmont Elementary School
I have noticed at the town square,that most people don't use turn signals to let oncoming traffic know you are continuing on main street.How hard would it be to signal people waiting to come onto the square that you are turning?
