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Cough medicine may become prescription
by James Howell
Staff Writer
jhowell@civitasmedia.com

After six arrests were made following a two-year investigation into trafficking methamphetamine in Ashe County, new questions arise about how to fight the rampant drug problem, both in Ashe County and in North Carolina.

According to Lieutenant Grady Price, Ashe County’s narcotics investigator, two meth labs in Ashe County were seized by authorities in 2012. Along with the two seized labs, various other arrests have been made for trafficking methamphetamine.

However, the effects of trafficking methamphetamine haven’t been felt in Ashe County like in other areas of North Carolina.

As of Dec. 10, law enforcement has busted a record high 444 meth labs across North Carolina, according to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Wilkes County, Ashe County’s southeastern neighbor, had 58 meth lab busts, easily leading the state. The county with the second highest amount of meth lab busts is Wayne County with 27.

“We’re not having the same problems that they (Wilkes County) are,” said Price.

This problem begs for solutions, and on Wednesday, Dec. 12, a legislative panel in Raleigh suggested that cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine require a prescription.

Pseudoephedrine, along with other common household products, is a primary ingredient for methamphetamine.

Keeping pseudoephedrine out of the hands of people wanting to use the chemical to make methamphetamine isn’t new.

In 2005, N.C. lawmakers ordered the state’s pharmacies to place medicine containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter, making them more difficult to acquire.

Also, the N.C. General Assembly House Bill 12 was passed and ratified on June 16, 2011. The bill is titled “Stop Methamphetamine Labs” and increased regulation on 777 different products containing pseudoephedrine.

The bill “requires that, prior to the sale of pseudoephedrine products, retailers with Internet access must electronically submit required information into the National Precursor Log Exchange and must not complete the transaction if the system generates a stop alert. The submission is in addition to the existing regulation of the sale of pseudoephedrine products.”

However, this inconvenience for the customer has done little to prevent the manufacturing of methamphetamine. The 444 meth lab busts in 2012 is 100 more than the previous record, set in 2011.

The legislative panel only proposed cough remedies become prescription drugs, and no legislation has been written.

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MikeBudd
|
January 23, 2013
There is a tough debate about pseudoephedrine and meth: the opponents of this real time tracking system (NPLEX) say that only a prescription law would stop meth cooks. I don't think so: I am sure that laws can't stop drugs. A new generation of meth-proof products will do more against meth than any law: http://ephedrinewheretobuy.com/ephedrine-for-sale-over-the-counter-again
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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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5897 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 | 5897 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 | 5897 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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5897 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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5897 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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Sheriff, deputies file for extension in civil rights suit
by Dylan Lightfoot
Staff Writer
dlightfoot@civitasmedia.com
Jun 18, 2013 | 5897 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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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 | 5897 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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