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www.yanceycountynews.com vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v Sept. 15, 2011 W Vol. 1, No. 36
Friday services set for Charlie Proffitt
Charlie Proffitt, a Hardscrabble resident who was known for his community service and as the co-host of “The Sunday Gospel Jubilee” show on WKYK, died Tuesday. He was 39. “He was number one, to be straight honest with you,” said West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ricky Chandler. “He was a real good fireman, a good husband, and a good father. He loved being a firefighter.” Proffitt was a sergeant with Proffitt the North Carolina Department of Corrections at Mountain View Correctional Institution. In 1989, Charlie began co-hosting “The Ed Ball Gospel Sing,” on WKYK and
Ray Rapp ‘disgusted’ at marriage amendment
By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News
State Representative Ray Rapp is adamant that there is no need for the state Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between only a man and a woman, as passed by the legislature this week in a special session. “We’re down here just giving North Carolina a huge black eye in terms of the global economy, while we’re trying to recruit these businesses and industries and manufacturers to our state. I just don’t think its healthy for any of
us. I think it’s time for us to take a step back from these kinds of activities.” Rapp, who represents parts of Ya n c e y C o u n t y, said his issue with the amendment is twofold. “Here we are. We call a special s e s s io n in w h ic h we’re spending, in just the three days $150,000, where the primary item on the agenda was to pass this amendment to ban gay marriage. We already have a statute on the books about this, we have for 15 years which hasn’t been challenged. See page 5
WTOE, and after Mr. Ball’s death Charlie and his father co-hosted what became “The Sunday Gospel Jubilee.” Burnsville Mayor Danny McIntosh said the loss of such a vibrant member of the community at such an early age was tragic. “Charlie wasn’t diagnosed with leukemia until some short months ago. Charlie was the picture of health; a really great young man. Its just a tragic thing.” West Yancey VFD had scheduled a benefit spaghetti dinner Saturday Sept. 17, from noon-7 p.m. to raise money Proffitt and recently retired firefighter Jay Black, who is also battling leukemia. The dinner will go on as scheduled, officials said. The menu will include spaghetti, garlic bread, drink and
desert for $10 per plate. Proffitt was a lifelong member of Bald Creek United Methodist Church, where he had served as a trustee, and he had also served as secretary at West Yancey VFD and on its board of directors. Chandler said many fire departments have plans to send fire trucks to Proffitt’s funeral on Friday, and crews from Asheville and Enka Candler have agreed to bring equipment and answer emergency calls that may occur during the service to allow firefighters to attend the funeral. “You couldn’t ask for no better firemen,” Chandler said of both Proffitt and Black. “Anything I asked, they were there to do.” See the complete obituary inside.
Could grapes save our farms? By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News
A
man who has made wines and viticulture an important focus in his life says that our Appalachian mountains are ripe for growing one of the most popular and beneficial grapes in the world. “The 600-millionyear-old Appalachian Mountains provide us with a unique grape-growing environment,” says Chuck Blethen, a popular speaker on wines and winemaking and the author of “The Wine Photo by Jonathan Austin Etiquette Crista Thomas Hughes has been protesting Guide on the Burnsville Town Square, holding up sign with messages about the Yancey D e f e n s e Against County Department of Social Services. Hughes says DSS took her children away Wine Snobbery.” from her after her then-husband was convicted in a sexual abuse case. “I plan to be out here every day for six weeks,” she said.