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County receives a clean audit
by James Howell
Staff Writer
jhowell@civitasmedia.com
CPA Priscilla L. Norris addressed the Ashe County Board of Commissioners about the details of the county's recent audit.
CPA Priscilla L. Norris addressed the Ashe County Board of Commissioners about the details of the county's recent audit.
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The county was presented with a clean audit report by CPA Priscilla Norris during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, Feb. 18.

“Overall, it (the audit) looked very good,” said Norris.

“We have audited the financial statements of the county of Ashe for the year ended June 30, 2012, and have issued our report thereon dated Dec. 18, 2012,” read the report. “However, during our audit we became aware of several matters that, while not involving material weaknesses in the internal control structure, are opportunities for strengthening this structure and the operating efficiency,” read the audit report.

According to the report, the General Fund (the fund used to operated the county) took in $30,287,183 in revenue.

The General Fund had an increase in fund balance of $324,590 (largely due to a transfer in from the Economic Development Fund of $277,778) compared to a decrease of $52,878 in the prior year.

The audit report also found an overall decrease of $1,860,795 to the total governmental funds, which was mainly due to capital outlay for schools, as well as county property. “This was not something that was unexpected,” said Norris.

According to the audit report, “the county’s overall tax collection rate has increased from 93.76 percent to 94.10 percent (95 percent for property other than vehicles).”

Also, the report didn’t show any instances of over-budgeting expenditures this year on the county’s behalf.

“Our audit of the medicaid program found six minor errors out of the 60 case files tested. None of these errors resulted in a questioned cost,” said the report.

The report also said there were no disagreements between Norris and county management.

“Professional standards define a disagreement with management as a matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, concerning a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matter that is significant to the financial statements or the auditor’s report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during to course of our audit,” read a letter from Norris to the BOC.

Other findings from the audit included:

  • The Environmental Services Fund also experienced a decrease in net assets for June 30, 2012 in the amount of $353,384, compared to a decrease of $501,703 in the prior year.
  • The Future Advanced Deed of Trust for the property owned by New River Service Authority has been recorded as a special assessment receivable on Exhibit 1 as of June 30, 2012, in the amount of $350,000 to reflect the ultimate amount settled for the deed and property in July 2012.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

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Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5887 views | 0 0 comments | 25 25 recommendations | email to a friend | print

Ashe County Sheriff James Williams and two deputies were granted an extension last week in responding to a $7.5 million federal suit filed against them by Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price.

Charlotte Attorney Christopher Raab representing Williams and the deputies said today that a motion for an extension had been filed for and approved June 10.

Defendants Williams, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry D. Lewis and Sheriff’s Deputy Randy M. Lewis have until July 19, to respond to charges of violating Price’s civil rights, said Raab.

“We will have a response ready in about two weeks,” he said.

Enforcing a court order from Watauga County, Williams ordered the deputies to take possession of Price’s 2007 Toyota Oct. 26, 2012.

Price claimed in his May 30, complaint that the Toyota was taken without a valid warrant and without territorial jurisdiction in violation of his 4th, 5th and 14th amendment rights.

The suit also named as defendants Watauga County Clerk of Court Diane C. Deal, and five Watauga-based attorneys who were involved in an Oct. 16, 2012, arbitration hearing in which Price’s Toyota was awarded to the plaintiff, Citifinancial Auto, who held the loan on the car.

Deal said today she is being represented by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. Spokesperson for the Attorney General Noelle Talley said no response to the charges had been filed, but that Deal’s counsel planned to meet the Friday filing deadline.

Price alleges in his May 30, complaint that the awarding of the car was in error, as the judgment against him was overturned on Oct. 15, 2012, by a Watauga County District Court judge 11 days before the car was repossessed.

An order from Chief District Court Judge Alexander Lyerly to set aside the arbitration award pending trial was issued Nov. 14, 2012, according to documents filed in the arbitration.

Also filed with the arbitration documents is a copy of a third-party check for $13,817.46, which Price allegedly gave to discharge the auto loan in June 2012.

According to a transcript of the arbitration hearing, Citifinancial’s attorney said that the check was returned “unable to locate account.”

Price, who is representing himself in the case, said June 19, that all eight defendants in the suit had been served and had three weeks to respond.

An attempt to contact Price was unsuccessful.

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<p>File photo | Jefferson Post</p><p>Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price</p>

File photo | Jefferson Post

Ashe County Commissioner Gerald Price

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