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TDA amends budget, plans advertising strategy
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com

The West Jefferson Tourism Development Authority voted to amend their budget at their February meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21, and discussed web development and cost-effective advertising strategies for drawing more tourists to the town this season.

The TDA’s budget was amended to reflect occupancy taxes paid by Hampton Inn, which was given a court order in January to pay back taxes to the county, despite having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2011.

Town Manager Brantley Price said that Hampton Inn had paid some of their tax debt, one third of which was allotted to the TDA, adding $10,051 of revenue to the budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2012-13.

With an amended budget of $13,502, various advertising options for promoting the town were considered.

A $4,560 WBTV.com advertising package, which includes an e-mail campaign to 20,000 upper-middle-income homes in N.C. metro areas, was put on hold pending work being done to the town’s website, www.visitwestjefferson.org

Web designer Kim Hadley has been contracted by the TDA in an effort to upgrade West Jefferson’s Web presence with a new template, improved mobile web browsing and regular updates. New features will be added to the site, including streaming video from rooftop cameras capturing a panoramic view of daily life in West Jefferson.

The need for greater social media presence was also discussed. Price said the TDA had stayed away from Facebook until now, but that, given proper user controls and oversight, a page for the town should be set up and maintained.

The TDA voted to join the North Carolina High Country Host partnership, the cooperative marketing group promoting the High Country region through pooled capital invested by members.

Billboards were also discussed, with ideal placement being the chief concern. Tourism Development Authority member Vivian Miller said that billboards in neighboring communities, like Boone and Blowing Rock, were less effective for being nearby.

Tourists visiting those destinations were more likely to day-trip to Ashe County, she said. “Our mission is to get people to spend the night.”

Billboards should be placed far enough away to bring in more over-night guests, Miller said, and are more effective when two or three are spaced along the main approaches to the area. She suggested Charleston as a likely spot for an expanded billboard campaign.

The TDA opted to spend $627.50 to print 10,000 rack cards for distribution around the state.

The next TDA meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 21, at West Jefferson Town Hall.

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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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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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Comments-icon Post a Comment
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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 | 5841 views | 0 0 comments | 24 24 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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