VERY slick roads and parking lots out there this morning.  I literally skated across one. The Town of Weaverville sent out a Code Red Alert a little while ago about “treacherous roads”.  They urge residents to stay off the roads.  I second that advice.

The Aiken Road bridge is finally going to be repaired, and road closures and detours will be in place beginning tomorrow (Friday, November 7) and continuing on weekends thru November 23 (weather permitting).  Here’s the info:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will be closing both northbound lanes of US 19-23 (Future I-26 West) to repair the Aiken Road bridge, damaged earlier this year by an accident. The road will be closed on the weekends of November 7-10, 14-17, and 21-23. The road will close each Friday at 8 p.m. and will reopen each Monday at 11 a.m. except for the weekend of November 21-23.  On that weekend the road will reopen at midnight on Sunday. Southbound traffic will not be affected during this closure. Work will be contingent upon suitable weather.

Project updates will supposedly be available on the Road Conditions section of the NC Department of Transportation Division of Highways website,  though as of this moment they don’t have these construction dates and detour routes listed.

Here’s the detour route:

Driving North on US 19/23 (Future I-26 West) traffic will take exit number 21, travel to bottom of ramp and free flow thru signal, make a left turn onto SR 1882 (New Stock Road), continue on New Stock Road to SR 1727 (Monticello Road), free flow through this intersection and continue on Monticello Road to its intersection with US 25-70. There will be an active traffic signal at this intersection. Turn right on US 25-70, go across bridge over US 19/23 (Future I-26 West) and turn left to on ramp for US 19/23 (Future I-26 West) and resume traveling on US 19/23 (Future I-26 West) at exit 19. All traffic traveling on US 19/23 Business will not be allowed to access New Stock Road. This is necessary to allow all the traffic from US 19/23 (Future I-26 West) to free flow through this intersection.

Weaverville gets political this week:

The GOP and Barack Obama
On Saturday, the Buncombe County Republican Party will hold their Annual Chairman’s BBQ at Lake Louise. Saturday on Main Street will find the Barack Obama campaign voter registration table at the clock.

Presidential Pizza Election
Current vote totals in Blue Mountain’s Obama-McCain Pizza election (as of Friday, July 25, 1:45 p.m.)

• McCain – 4
• Obama – 10

New Websites
Recently added to the Links Directory:

• Buncombe County Republicans
• Buncombe County Democrats

Hurricane Season
The height of the political season is also the height of hurricane season. Coincidence?
If you want to keep up with what’s happening out in the tropics, the National Hurricane Center has maps of the activity going on in both the Atlantic and Pacific. www.nhc.noaa.gov

And Then There’s Bele Chere
Is it also any coincidence that Bele Chere occurs during hurricane season? If you’re going to the downtown Asheville festival this weekend, or think you want to go, Mountain Xpress has a great online guide with maps, music samples, a live web cam and more about the 30th Anniversary of the festival. Check it out at www.mountainx.com/belechere

No matter what you do this weekend, be safe and have a good one.

from the Governor’s office:

Gov. Mike Easley announced that state and local law enforcement officers will increase their presence during the Fourth of July holiday as part of the Booze It & Lose It: “Operation Firecracker” campaign. Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted from Friday, June 27, through Sunday, July 6, across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads.

“Law enforcement officers will be out in force, sending a strong message to motorists that drinking and driving will not be tolerated,” Easley said. “The Fourth of July holiday is one of the deadliest for highway travel and we want people to be safe by celebrating responsibly.”

Last year, 60 North Carolina motorists were involved in fatal traffic crashes during the Independence Day holiday week. Twenty-one of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Alcohol-related crashes also accounted for 411 injuries in the state during the same week in 2007.

Officers charged more than 2,100 North Carolina motorists with driving while impaired during the 2007 Booze It & Lose It:” Operation Firecracker” campaign. More than 6,173 stepped-up patrols and checkpoints were held.

For more information regarding Booze It & Lose It campaigns or for citation totals, visit the Governor’s Highway Safety Program web site.

In other words, don’t drink and drive.

Bears in the Neighborhoods
I’ve heard about a number of bear sightings in the area lately, so here’s a good reminder from the WNC Nature Center:

What do I do if I see a bear in my back yard?
Nothing – do not panic. Bears are not aggressive by nature and most are fearful of man, but if a bear has been accustomed to being around humans, they may appear to be more aggressive. Shout, make loud noises, face the bear, do not run from it, and walk slowly away from the bear. Running could trigger the bear to run after you, much like our pet dogs do when playing with us.

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Still looking for a gift for Dad for this Sunday?

• Curtis Wright Outfitters has their fly fishing combos on sale for Father’s Day.
• MVP Barbers & Style Shop is offering 25% off on American Crew Products thru June 20.
• If he’s into gardening, Reems Creek Valley Nursery & Landscaping has all kinds of Buy One, Get One Free specials. Check out their What’s New page for details.

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New Volunteer Opportunities
Art in Autumn is looking for volunteers to help with the September 20 festival and the Brian Center has a long list of volunteer opportunities. Check out the Volunteer page for information.

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New Websites
Here’s some recent additions to the Links Directory:

• Weaverville Wildlife Habitat
• North Buncombe Kiwanis Club
• Brian Fox
• Arts for Life (newly redesigned)
• Dina DeSantis
• Health Department Reports
• The Fields at Blackberry Cove

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June Contest is Open
ONE person will win $50 worth of gift certificates this month:

• $20 to Blue Mountain Pizza
• $20 to Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Shop
• $10 to Preservation Hall

Enter online at www.myweaverville.com/contests

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Finally, Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. Hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend.