Let’s get started again
Some people are interested in getting the blog back up and going. Well, I need your help. I need new stories. I particularly would like to get an election information page with the candidates on it. Anyone have any other suggestions? Let me know.
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Juba Connelly and Ruth Ann Suttle are the only legitimate candidates for county commissioner.
It is a disgrace that no one is running against Jim Jacumin. I know it’s hard to fight a millionaire, but during this campaign, only a few Republicans should even be considered.
McDevitt will get my vote for sheriff. He is probably the smartest sheriff we have ever had.
Richard Carsner certainly deserves a chance after McHenry’s weak effort. McHenry wasted no time jumping on the Republican tit, milking it for all that it’s worth. Burke County deserves someone better than that.
Chuck Aldridge gets my vote for state house. I met his opposition at the fair several years ago and he gave me a wet noodle hand shake.
Judges: Rember a straight party vote will not include a vote for judges. I’m voting for Rachel Hunter, Patricia Goodson, Robin Hudson, Bob Hunter, and Linda Stephens. The rest run un-opposed.
I really like that Rachel Hunter is going it alone without the support of her party. Her campaign slogan is “I can’t be bought.” Don’t think for a moment that these judges don’t have political leanings. Rachel has a website called rachelforjustice.com if you want to know more about her. She runs against Justice Martin who is a neo-con Republican and I’ve had my fill of them.
One possible Republican that might deserve a chance is Hugh Blackwell. I haven’t decided about him yet, but I do know that Walt Church isn’t doing much more than backing up every month to collect his check. I would appreciate any info that you have about what kind of man Blackwell is. Church may be my default vote.
Again, Burke County needs people with ideas, not people like Jacumin who builds a consensus by bullying over people or buying people off. I’m personally getting sick of these so-called “family values” guys. He was a sorry county commissioner, and the lil general will end up making us sorry that we elected him. Jacumin is good at tooting his own horn.
Gene Huffman will continue to be our best choice for Soil and Water Conservation. Gene ran on the Republican ticket for sheriff several times and lost. Don’t hold that against him. He is a decent man and a farmer. J. Pascal probably doesn’t know a row of beans from a moonpie. I don’t know the other soil and water candidates.
I voted straight Republican last week.
NC State House District 85
Mitch Gillespie
US Congress District 10
Patrick McHenry
NC State Senate District 44
Jim Jacumin
NC State House District 86
Hugh Blackwell
District Attorney District 25
James (Jay) Gaither, Jr.
County Commissioner
Wayne F. Abele, Sr.
Stephen T. Daniel
Sheriff
Richard A. Epley
Supreme Court Chief Justice
Rusty Duke
Supreme Court Associate Justice
Mark D. Martin
Supreme Court Associate Justice
Eric Levinson
Supreme Court Associate Justice
Ann Marie Calabria
Court of Appeals Judge
Kris Bailey
Court of Appeals Judge
Donna Stroud
District Court Judge District 25
Bob Brady
District Court Judge District 25
Sherri Wilson Elliott
District Court Judge District 25
Gregory R. (Greg) Hayes
District Court Judge District 25
John R. Mull
District Court Judge District 25
L. Suzanne (San) Owsley
District Court Judge District 25
Amy R. Sigmon
Soil & Water Conservation Dist Supervisor
Gene H. Huffman
Gunner voted “straight” republican. I didn’t know there were any “straight” republicans left.
GUNNER HUFFED AND PUFFED BUT IN THE END THE DEMS BLEW HER HOUSE DOWN. SENATE TOO…
Was he or wasn’t he. Last spring while conversing with Ron Lewis he said he had not served in the military. 3 weeks ago Ron said he was in the Marine Corps for 4 years but was never stationed outside of the states. I’d like to know Ron. Were you a Marine or were you not? Am I to believe what you told me or what you told the mother of a Marine headed for Iraq?
Please Ron, restore my faith.
I hear that the ambulance that was wrecked early Sunday morning near exit 119 on I-40 by an incompetent
Burke County EMS driver will be very costly to repair. I’ve been saying for months that Burke County EMS employees were incompetent and needed to be replaced by more ethical people. Perhaps now Burke County Commissioners will take my advice and clear out the whole lot of those backwood hayseeds.
Gunner, you’re probably just saying that because the drunk going the wrong way down the interstate was some of your family.
Gunner, I was the one driving that Ambulance. If you want to know about me and my certificates and my experience please ask me. Please don’t go on what you “hear”.
Poor ole Scrooge Gunner, She doesn’t know what to do with herself. All she got for Christmas was a wrecked ambulance and Jack Carroll’s old wrinkled ass to lay down next to. I sure hope that Jack and none of the other commissioners need an ambulance this year. I want to see them healthy when they get voted out next election. Wesly lite and Jack will need all the Repug money that Daddy can raise if they are to get re-elected next time.
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On a lighter note let me take this opportunity to thank all the EMS workers across this county who work 24+ hour shifts for little pay and no thanks by the county commissioners who think they own them. It may be my life that they save next, or yours…
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Merry Christmas everyone! scrooge gunner too…
Duke Conover can’t understand why his News Herald blog site “died on the vine.” Could be because he did not know how to manage it. Once he started censoring people and taking off critical remarks made about elected officials, people went elsewhere to vent.
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The elections certainly showed the level of dissatisfaction by those who cared to vote. My take on it is that most Republicans were so disgusted that they just stayed home and most Democrats were so angry that they took a person with them to the polls.
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It is next to impossible in this country to get an elected official out of office unless he gets caught stealing or comes out of the closet as a drunk homosexual after getting caught flirting with male pages, or possibly if caught for bribery, tax evasion, extortion, and corruption. Oh wait, all that happened. Which is my point. All that had to happen and the Democrats just barely have a majority in Congress.
It can not be over-stated that the United States has the best government that money can buy…
Our local Burke County government is controlled by the Abele family who have Wesley Sr. and Wesley Jr. voting the same way on everything. Wesley Jr. got elected by putting up his daddy’s signs and running on the election cycle when his pappy did not have to run. The Abeles run a restaurant on the edge of town next to the interstate and use their money to help all their Republican friends like Jack Carroll stay in office. They are definitely the 3 Musketeers. They put a sword up the sheriff’s behind by not funding enough jailers to properly maintain a secure environment at the downtown jail.
The 3 Musketeers are all about saving money, that’s for sure. What with the Burke County paramedics suing the county, they need to save it all so that all the lawsuits can be settled. You won’t read about it in the News Herald. Their motto apparently is “all the news not fit to print.”
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The Republicans latest dirty trick is to send the sheriff on wild goose chases by anonymously reporting lies on good and decent people. That has backfired as well Jack and Maxine.
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Lastly let me congratulate our esteemed county manager Ron Lewis. Sir you have been a wonderful henchman for the Republicans. You have managed to decimate our ability to receive the best emergency medical care by running off all the experienced paramedics. Those that remain will do their best and in most cases their best will be enough. I will leave the readers of this blog this question. If you or a loved one are having a heart attack, would you prefer the best most experienced team of medics coming to your door or will you settle for good, decent, inexperienced people doing the best that they can?
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Be sure to thank Ron Lewis if your family member doesn’t pull through…
While we’re thanking Ron we should thank him for his four years of imaginary service in the Marine Corps.
I bet he was a Marine Core Kernel.
What a lying little turd.
Isn’t it against the law for a government employee to mis-represent himself by telling lies about his military service? I believe Ron should be investigated. Men who have served deserve no less.
I don’t know if it’s against the law unless he uses it to his advantage in employment or such. It is a terrible ethics violation but how would that be a whole lot different than his usual antics. Ron certainly puts the “low” in lowlife.
Well, how the mighty have fallen! The National Republicans are distancing themselves from Bush like rats jumping from a sinking ship. The Republican County Commissioners are at each others throats. The legacy of the Republican Party will be known as failed policy, inept leadership, and fiscal mismanagement. Maybe they’ll have a bake sale. I’ll just bet they’ll be trying to peddle some of that humble pie they’re going to have to eat.
What the News Agencies report on the Republicans and Democrats usually is either as far Right or left as you can go. Mid stream values, common sense, and when both parties are working together will not sell news papers or get people to watch your channel. Most media outlets are controlled by one party or the other by way of the reporters beliefs. Every time the blog gets started on the News Herald site, it gets shut down for one reason or another.
The little rift between Maynard and Wayne shows that even if you are in the same party, if you have mid line, realistic views, that the good ole’ boys will try and force their views on you or try to make you mad or look bad so you will quit.
I admire Wayne for apologizing as soon as he could. Maynard was told he needed to say he was sorry to the Sheriff, but I believe he needs to apologize to the taxpayers for trying to smear mud and innuendo with ill intent towards so many good people when he knows that what he is saying may not be true and surely cannot be proven. I believe that the reason Maynard is being such a royal pain and is acting out like a child is because Wayne would not openly endorse Mr. Epley and Wayne was elected as Chairman again. Maybe a majority of the board members are tired of Maynards party line views causing trouble for the County resulting in injured staff, lawsuits, and increased criticism from the public and press.
They finally report that they are “looking into” raising pay for County employees. If I am not mistaken, this is the same group that was paid to do a study almost 10 years ago. They did not implement all the recommendations then so why will they do it now? They will let things go for another 10 years when it gets to a breaking point again before they will do another “survey”. If it is different Commissioners and things keep repeating themselves, then it must be the staff that have been here for years and years that are causing the problem. Maybe that’s why they hired the hatchet man they have for a manager now. After all , that may be why he is the only manager this County has ever had that was given a “contract” and is guaranteed to be paid no matter what gets screwed up.
Semper Infidelity. What do you think Ron now that Jody has come into your life?
Just thought I’d stop by and say what a turd Ron Lewis is. I understand he’s set his child up by contracting a new mental health provider that his kid works for and that he’s lining up a job for his wife as the Western Piedmont Community College EMS/Nursing program head. Ayatollah Lewis has once again proven he is a moral and ethical infant. Silly bastard.
Can someone explain to me why Ron Lewis wants the fire departments in the county to conceal the county’s increase in taxes. He wants the departments to lower their tax rates so that the citizens of Burke County will not notice the increase in the county’s taxes. Some county manager! He once again is taking away from emergency services and putting the profits in the county’s pocket!
It’s called deniability. They point at lowering taxes and not at the bottom line. Where’s Jack when you need him to explain the bottom line or an average? From what I’ve heard from the big Departments like Oak Hill, Triple Comm., Salem, and Icard…they cut them, but leave the little one’s like South Mtn., Drowning Creek, and Jonas Ridge alone. Oh wait…those big departments are where the majority of the voters live…Hummmm? These cats are slick. What an original way to hide a 7 1/4 cent tax increase and call it a decrease. Just more Republican double talk.
Well, the results are in from the MAPS study and guess what?????? Burke County employee pay is well below surrounding county pay, who would of guessed that? Now they will raise the starting pay rates for jobs so that new employees will be making about the same amount that someone that has been there for 10 years is making. Seems to have a familiar ring to it, since it is the same thing that was done several years ago after a pay study; funny how history repeats itself; of course when it is many of the same incompetent people still making the decisions, what do you expect. On another note, Alexander county EMS will be changing their work schedule to 24 hrs on and 72 hrs off, same as burke county, except they are not lowering the employees pay since they will be working LESS. Caldwell county is also looking at changing their shift schedules. Look for more experienced paramedics to leave burke county EMS; burke county is doing a fantastic job training employees for surrounding counties; to bad the citizens of burke county are suffering for it.
Ron did say he would tear EMS down and start over. I guess he’ll be doing the same to the entire county. What an asshole.
Hey Ron! Why don’t you ask your wife how Jody is doing these days?
Bwahahahahahahahahaha
Well now the news is that the EMS part of the MAPS study is not yet done! Thay say it is still being tweaked!!! Employees better get some anusol as I see more hemorrhoidal problems on the horizon.
Hey Spinner, how about full disclosure on Jody. Inquiring minds want to laugh their ass’s off. Hehawhehawhehaw
With the current political mood in the county as it is, I can’t wait for 12 good men and women to do what is right with the lawsuit. That nitwit Jack Carroll and his Abele co-conspirators won’t stand a chance. Especially when the jury understands what the county has lost. Just promise me one thing. Don’t settle the day before the trial. The people of Burke County need to hear how the county manager was ordered to destroy a MODEL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE. The certificate of recognition that was presented to the county commissioners back in 2002 isn’t worth the cheap toilet paper that Maxine buys for Jack to wipe his ass.
Well, it’s not even been a month and already a budget amendment to be voted on. From what I hear, the county still has not implemented the pay increases for it’s employees. Still tweaking the MAPS study to say what they want it to say. When I was reading what they have posted on the County’s own web site, it is a funny thing that the Dispatchers that work at EMS are not paid for their required training. The MAPs group went further to say that it was their opinion that these hours were suppose to be paid as required by the FLSA and that the County should start paying them for it. Another lawsuit on the horizon maybe???
Ron Lewis isn’t just content with trashing the EMS. Now he has started on the Fire Departments. I thought I voted to have a fire district where I could elect a board of directors to establish a tax rate and manage it. I did not know that the county manager, whom I did not elect: could change my tax rate for my fire protection. If I had a problem with my tax rate for my fire department, I would have went to that board of directors and would have taken it up with them. Is this retailiatiopn for the fire departments refusal to buy ambulances and pay for the new training center??? Looks that way to me.
Three more have turned in notices that they are going to another EMS from what I’m told. Also, Alexander Co. has interviewed more. The grapevine has it that Ron Lewis was overheard at Pat’s Snack Bar making the comment that if they want to leave, let them go. When is enough going to be enough? The people of this county need to wake up and treat this like they are voting on American Idol and make a call to each commissioner and “Vote” on what they want. I do not want to have to call Alexander county for an ambulance so I can get a qualified and expirenced Paramedic to come take care of my family or myself.
If you are depending on the current group of politicians to do the right thing you are barking up the wrong tree. Understand one thing. They have no idea how most of us suffer just to pay our bills and barely get by. The current Republicans in office at the county level are the county’s wealthy elite Or are bought and paid for by the wealthy elite. These Republicans make all the decisions based on their view of the world and how it works. It never occurs to them that they are fortunate to be in the position in life that they are in. They can’t comprehend that they are one tragedy away from being in the poor house like the rest of us. They think that God blesses them because they have tried harder. These smug sorry assed excuses for human beings think that we are to stupid to vote them out, to lazy to figure out how to get ahead, and not worthy of consideration when they make decisions on how to make “their” world a better place to live. People like the Abeles and Carroll’s of the world see themselves as above reproach. To good for the rest of us. They look down on us with the same impunity as their leader, Dictator Bush.
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John Edwards is right about one thing. There are 2 Americas. One for the rich, and one for the rest of us. The only way we can change things is at the grassroots level and that is a long shot, because the wealthy know that they have the money to buy their way out of any situation that they get their selves into.
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Look at the latest example of Republican impunity at the national level, the congressman from Louisiana whose phone number turned up 5 times on the Washington madams whorehouse hotline. This Republican responds that it’s old news that happened years ago and besides if his wife forgives him shouldn’t we. And Mr. Congressman, how about the accusations that you congregated with whores in New Orleans? Oh that was my Democratic opposition spreading lies on me. Talk about gall. Did I mention that he ran as the family values candidate.
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Well things are no different at the local level. The foxes have run the henhouse in Burke County for many years. It would take two or three elections to run them all out and then there are no guarantees that what we replace them with will be any better. The only thing that you can be sure of is that if we are fortunate enough to find an honest politician, that he would be a rare human being and probably would not remain one for long.
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Here’s a strategy:
Register unaffiliated. Demand that they be specific about what they are going to do or not do when elected, and demand their resignation when they break their promises. Demand their resignation when they break the law, like the current labor law that they are being sued for. Be vigilant about how our county and country are being run. Get angry and get involved when they hire hatchet men like Ron Lewis to GUT AND DESTROY what was once the MODEL EMERGENCY EMS IN THE STATE.
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The current county Republicans all swore that they would not raise taxes. If you have received your property tax bill from the tax collector, you have the proof in your hands that if your name is Commissioner Abele, Commissioner Abele lite, Commissioner Carroll, or Commissioner Taylor that they are all DAMN LIARS.
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I will close by saying that the hell that these people have created on earth for the rest of us will be nothing compared to what they will do if we stand by and do nothing. I ask all of you to get involved. My life was saved by an EMS employee. In my eyes he is a hero, worthy of our support. I plan on being at the courthouse on August 20th when the county commissioners are put on trial for not paying EMS employees for work done. I am asking all of you that blog or have read this to show up on that day in support of these men and women who have saved so many lives. If we can’t support our hero’s, we deserve the HELL that the REPUBLICANS have put us in.
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August 20, 2007. Let it be remembered as…
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THE DAY WE TOOK OUR COUNTY BACK!!!
Does anyone know when MB is doing another EMT class? It’s about time for more boob pictures from the EMS training room.
Is BB still having a fling with AC or has he decided to switch to the little high school girl?
Oh yeah. Does dumpling still have that pager deal going on?
Is RL still using SAR equipment for his neighborhood parties?
Does Ron still squat to pee?
Does anyone know where Gunner Ron goes when he thinks the rest of us aren’t looking >):
Can anyone explain why the Republican commissioners don’t know the difference between the rescue squad and the EMS? That is a question that they recently asked. If they don’t understand the different functions of these 2 departments, can you imagine their thoughtless process when they sit down and allocate money that is needed to save lives.
Q: What’s the difference between Ron Lewis and a dog turd
A: You can trust a dog turd.
The paper said today that now 2 have died in the wreck from earlier this week. I don’t know the details. I hope they didn’t die because of inexperience by the people involved. I’m sure they did their best under the difficult situation that the county commissioners have put them in. If they did die when they didn’t have to, their families have Ron Lewis and the Republican county commissioners to thank. Perhaps someone will show this article to the family after they have time to grieve. Who knows, depending on the details, they may look into it and file a lawsuit…
I’d like to see someone pointing a finger at the rich few behind the commissioners. Maybe the local party meeting is where the real policy is made. If 20 or 30 new “Republicans” joined could you then make a difference?
Hmmmmmmm
what makes you think we are not already there?
If you were there you would know that Richard Epley is mostly Gunner but that Gunner is an amalgam of all the ethically and morally retarded Repuke party.
While elected officials in Winston-Salem could comfort themselves that they were authorizing incentives grants for administrative jobs while the company was eliminating production jobs, officials in Burke County had to admit they were paying the company to create the same jobs it was destroying in the next county over.
The Burke County Commission together with the Morganton City Council authorized an incentives package valued at $172,520 to Henredon Furniture in May. The payout will be calculated by job creation and capital investment at the furniture company’s Morganton plant.
Henredon planned to close its Spruce Pine plant in neighboring McDowell County in April, wrote the company vice president for human resources to the Burke County Manager Ron Lewis and his counterpart at the city of Morganton, Sally Sandy, adding that the incentives grants would help the company restructure.
“While we are sorry to hear about the closing in Spruce Pine, we are proud to see your company continuing to compete in today’s market with US labor,” Lewis and Sandy replied. “We value Henredon as a good corporate friend and wish to aid you in your efforts by offering economic incentives based on both jobs creation and investment in our community.”
Low return on the investment
Here’s some news regarding Burke County paramedics lawsuit. It appears that Judge Ervin’s rulings regarding the case were compromised by the fact that he was aware that his ex-wife was dating a paramedic when he took the case. Not only a conflict, but also an embarrassment to his party, family, and county. If Ron Lewis and the Republican commissioners had this information at the time of the judges ruling, they sure could have used it to his advantage.
Hey Judge, throw them a bone, but don’t give them what they really deserve. If you do we will all lose our jobs! Including you judge swervin ervin. Jack Carroll and the Abele family will stoop to no end to deceive the citizens of Burke County. I wouldn’t put anything past them.