news 13's jerrika insco joins us live. jerrika, what's the status of the creek now? >> jerrika: darcel, it's the river keeper's 22 sites. but they hope to see improvements soon after finding the source. the french broad river flows more than 200 miles in to tennessee. right here in asheville, it's popular to tube in and swim in. >> we also use it to track down some of the worst sites. >> jerrika: they found dangerous levels of e. coli. >> there are safe limits and what we weree finding was hundreds, if not thousands of times beyond the safe limit. >> jerrika: carson says one of the sources is kroul farms. >> it's probably like three miles up stream. >> jerrika: and it's cows who have access to hominy creek. >> when the state went back to was discharging animal waste straight in to the ditch and in to the river. it was obviously animal waste. foamy, dark colored, smelly. >> jerrika: it's disappointing that people are polluting the river. but the first step in correcting the problem is finding its source. >> hopefully through this source we can make hominy creek a safe

jerrika, today was their first training session. >> jerrika: yes, darcel. it's new for everyone because the sheriff's office hasn't had puppies in about seven years. now they have six k-9s including the new adorable additions. these sisters are ready to work after being picked up in tennessee on new year's eve. starting them young. they've already got high expectations for the girls. >> we're shooting from six to them their initial certification certification. >> jerrika: they are blood hounds. finding people is what they were hired to do. >> the skin actually goes over their eyes so it closes their eyes where they have to, they're forced to use their nose more. >> jerrika: at thend of a cat food trail. >> they got a lot of praise and aa little bit the treats. >> jerrika: it didn't take them long to track that 20 yards. >> good girl. say i found it. i did good job. yes, ma'am. >> jerrika: or impress the k-9 handler team. >> they did a really good job. they put their noses on the ground. you saw them go to the end of the trail. it's impressive. >> jerrika: s

jerrika, the stores are loving this record jackpot. >> jerrika: yes, dozens and dozens of people have been in and out of the store. lots of tickets were sold right up until they closed an hour ago. the holiday season is over, to roger bright's red suit has been put away. but his focus is still on giving out presents. just now, they could be worth billions. >> we'll sell 1,000 to 1200. saturday night we sold between 6,000 and 7,000. >> jerrika: winning is on the mind of each person. lots of people want at least one of these and usually will buy a >> i think our business is up about 10% saturday. it was, yeah, it's up. >> jerrika: now that this assistant manager's part time job is out of season, he's urging people to buy a ticket or two with a promise that he could benefit, too. >> i got you on camera promising to split that with me when you win. >> jerrika: what's luckier than buying a lottery ticket from santa claus. >> $1.4 billion. i can't even count that high. >> jerrika: now on wednesday night they have more manpower working to keep up with the demand because they expect a line ou

where are you now, jerrika? >> jerrika: right now we are in fletcher along i-26. we are west bound. right now i-26 actually looks just like those really bad secondary roads we were talking about earlier. now this is a live look at i-26 right now. but we'll also show you those secondary roads that people had trouble with and got stranded on earlier today. the roads today were pretty quiet considering the snow fell in a matter of hours. but a few ventured out and of course got stuck. one of those people who had to get out was dwayne banks driving from charlotte to pick up a load on long shoals road. only 1.5 miles from my pick up. >> jerrika: he thought that was that and attempted to shake himself for two hours. >> my trailer just had a mind of its own and started going the opposite way of where i need to go. >> jerrika: it wasn't until a truck who had tried helping him before showed back up with another truck to help. >> the chain was a little thin. it was a little small. it held together, though. >> jerrika: this is what these guys have been doing since noon on this side of town. >>

for. >> all right. >> darcel: that was news 13's jerrika insco reporting. buncombe county commissioners have green light all of the so-called donut holes. these are pieces of property that haven't been zoned in the property. one piece of land was sent back to the planning board for further consideration. >>> an update tonight on a swain county man who's body was found in a lake. police say doug balou's body was found. balou's body was discovered last week in fontana lake at a popular fishing spot. >> larry: macon county is dealing with several they have sent a request for a now that could determine if any moneyey would be made available. preliminary estimates show damage to more than 30 homes and 23 roads. >>> a homeowner confronted a burglar in his home and he couldn't get to his gun fast enough. up next, details of what happened after the tenth encounter. >> darcel: we have dash cam of a >>> you're watching news 13 with darcel grimes, larry blunt, chief meteorologist jason boyer, and sports with stan pamfilis. this is news 13 at 11. >> larry: a couple in

jerrika, you talked with the water resources director. >> jerrika: yes, and what's happening in flint is near and dear to his heart. but it's also a lesson for the water resources department here in asheville. biggest man-made disasters in recent years. something flint, michigan's governor is under fire for. switching to a new water source has left children with high levels of lead in their blood. >> you're saying there's 100 children as of now and there could be many more. >> and we're assumeing that. >> jerrika: what happened in flint is the worst case scenario and something they've had an eye on. >> trying to understand what's going on there. make sure that all of our processes are in place to try to prevent things like that from happening. but that's really what we do on a daily basis. >> jerrika: preventive measures are key. for asheville, that first step is not having lead pipes. >> it's incredible how good it tastes. it is a great water. >> jerrika: testing water regularly from its source to important. >> done daily. and some of the tests that are done, for example, in homes ma

jerrika, people you talked with are happy to see the snow go. >> jerrika: that's right. and that's because they couldn't even park here along cox avenue because of all that snow. and if you can't park, then local businesses can't get your business. most people would choose 60 degrees over snow any day. >> let it be like that until spring. winter's over. that would be great. >> jerrika: while some love the winter. >> i personally love the snow. last weekend, i had a blast. >> jerrika: it's pretty safe to not on the ground. especially a foot of it on the streets. >> if it's not going to stop then we just gotta do what's best for everybody. >> jerrika: what asheville pizza and brewing decided last weekend was best was closing both friday and saturday. and losing two days was not what they had in their forecast. >> it's a big hit but it's one of those things where you do what's best for the customer. you do what's best for the employees and the safety of all of us. that's why we made the call. a lot of area restaurants did, too. >> jerrika: now the pressure is on for local b

news 13's jerrika insco joins us live along cox avenue. jerrika, what are people saying about this development? >> jerrika: darcel, they are excited knowing there are several breweries over here so adding art just seems like the perfect mix. knowing what this area looked like just a few years ago. >> oh gosh. i mean, industrial. car dealer. yeah. >> jerrika: the south slope. >> there was nothing to attract people to the area. now there's, you know, a whole >> jerrika: now you almost cannot recognize it. >> a lot. a whole lot. i think when we first -- when i first moved here, there was asheville brewing company and then a aouple of others and that was it. >> jerrika: breweries on every corner have turned it in to a place locals named. >> we call this beer slope. it's becoming heavy with beer. >> jerrika: while asheville is known for its craft beer, you cannot forget about art. >> print makers, dark room, the asheville makers. >> jerrika: create that on cox avenue. a 15,000 square foot building said to be full of studios and opportunities fo

where are you right now, jerrika? >> jerrika: we are north of hendersonville on brookside camp road. right now this is what we're seeing. some of the road is clear but come across an icy patch. the problem with this is it could refreeze and create more problems. highways aren't the problem. it's what's in between the highway and your home that's causing drivers grief three days later. >> i did make it to work. thankfully i made it. >> jerrika: one driver even warned us about getting out on these secondary roads. >> be careful getting out of here. >> jerrika: dot crews started the snow with 13 trucks and now they're down to 10. >> we started with those and as things happened, things break. and they're not easy fixes. >> jerrika: even with those technical problems, crews have been working around the clock since thursday evening. >> tomorrow we'll probably get on some of our minor secondaries. and then of course after that we'll move in to subdivisions, henderson county. and then we'll move to our unpaved routes. >> jerr

jerrika, how much snow fell there? >> jerrika: darcel, it was only a dusting here today. but i tell you what, it's friday that everyone is focused on here in hendersonville. inches of snow and ice are expected to fall. so this is only a taste of what's to come. sometimes you've gotta taste it to believe it, even if it doesn't taste like much. >> water. >> jerrika: and when there's not much to taste, families like this one actually wished for more snow. but of course, not too much. >> we were very excited to have some snow today. and we were glad it slowed down. we didn't have to hurry home. >> jerrika: getting home with a few more inches on the ground is when drivers can run in to trouble. and don't forget about first responders. city crews tackled those roads first. >> any government building, the hospital, fire department, bridges, because they freeze >> jerrika: but today isn't the problem. what's potentially coming friday is the city's main focus right now as they prepare as far in advance as possible. >> we'll continue to watch the weather forecast and see what they'

jerrika insco joins us live. jerrika, what's the party like there? >> jerrika: larry, there's a lot of live music, food and of course craft beer. people say that's all they need to ring in the new year, which is now less than an hour. outside oscar blue's brewery, there was a line of not only people but new year's resolutions all with their sights set on 2016. >> my resolution is to get healthy. >> be more patient and compassionate. >> to try to understand other people's positions better than i always have. >> jerrika: tonight for some is a reset button. >> i'm all about starting over new year, new beginning. >> jerrika: many are dancing in to the new year leaving the bad memories of 2015 in the past. >> my low was probably having family members that were sick. >> jerrika: reflecting 2015 surrounded by friends, family, music and of course beer. >> this is a really good year. i'm hoping next year supercedes this year. >> jerrika: oscar blue's has a trolley to shuttle people to and from local hotels, which a lot of them are providing discounts for peop

news 13's jerrika insco talked with his mother who was hesitant to talk but managed to get a word out about her son's appearance. >> jerrika: the madison county sheriff's office has been investigating this case since his family reported him missing. >> had a very good thanksgiving dinner and haven't seen him since. >> jerrika: it was not until after two special occasions that they say he often left for weeks at a time to stay with his girlfriend in weaverville. >> he just had a birthday three days before christmas and never, never have we not got to tell him happy birthday. and then christmas, we never seen or heard from him. and his son hasn't either. >> jerrika: for a parent like gayle cook, it's the worst dream she could think of not knowing where her son is. >> nightmare. nightmare for sure. >> jerrika: and also not knowing he is alive. >> we hope and pray to the good lord every day and pray for him >> jerrika: phone calls and spirits. >> there was a call that my son was found with bullets in his head. just please come home to us safe momma and daddy and son needs you. >> jerrika:

. >> ashlea: jerrika, they pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. >> jerrika: yes, they pleaded guilty to storage of a fire arm with access to children. the authorities say all parties agree with that plea deal. >> one of the guns were loaded on the table and i didn't know it. >> reporter: october 26th, that unspeakable tragedy happened. >> abigail was two years old at the time and the wound was fatal. very tragic situation. >> reporter: the toddler was accidentally shot by a shotgun the district attorney says was left on a table. sentence, that's suspended, of course. they have to pay a fine. more important to me was that the weapons confiscated by the sheriff's office in the case must be forfeited. >> reporter: while pleading guilty to a misdemeanor might get the stepp's children back. >> this is something that both families are going to have to deal with really for the rest of their lives. clearly the parents of the child and clearly the stepps. this is just something that is tragic. they did not intend to happen. >> jerrika: as you've just heard the da say, the stepps' guns from forfeited to

. >> larry: jerrika,what was the original charge? >> jaclyn: the stepp couple was charged with involuntary manslaughter. authorities say the girl was body by a shotgun. the stepps were sentenced to 45 days in jail, which was suspended. they must each pay a $200 fine and court costs. their guns have been forfeited to the sheriff's office. >> good resolution, i think. i think it's a just resolution and it allows both families to at least check this off of, you know, their obligations and to try to move forward. >> jerrika: i did reach out to abigail newman's parents. they had no comment at this time. reporting live outside the henderson county courthouse, jerrika insco, news 13. >> tammy: a controversial lot near the basilica of saint lawrence may now be coming closer to becoming a park. today council's planning and economic development committee voted to get public input on kimberly king was at the meeting. presentation. >> kim: that's right, tammy. councilman cecil bathwell has been known as wanting to the sub committee that reviewed

. >> jerrika: after several hours of surveillance and cell phone tracking, police were able to bring these two murder suspects it was around 5:00 p.m. that 23-year-old shawn holifield and savannah walker were in custody for murdering de qque taylor. holyfield and walker had nothing to say and neither did the two following in after them in handcuffs. >> the other two who were in the trailer with them, crystal hernandez and shawn hall. >> jerrika: taylor's cousin told police that it was a drug deal saying taylor did not have the pills he said he would get or the $50 he was given to buy the pills. how taylor died and what caused blunt force trauma to his head, those are things they want to know. holly hollyfield and walker could also face drug charges. >> darcel: someone out there may be the lucky powerball winner tonight. but that $500 million jackpot, about $306 million for a lump sum before taxes has us thinking what could you buy. justin, that would cost a pretty penny. >> justin: recent studies suggest the estimated value of the biltmore estate is about $125 million. so if you won

jerrika with details on tonight's vote. >> jerrika: city council voted and approved a special permit to rezone to property in order to build a new publix. the video you're looking at right now is a piece of land where it will be built. most people are looking forward the south side of hendersonville has always been a concern since it's the lowest point in the city. so the developer has taken note of that and plans to elevate that property. >> the retaining walls will be around the perimeter of the site to retain that additional fill. so your existing grade is relatively uniform. you're going to have that retaining wall in the property edge. >> jerrika: traffic is another concern since white street is only a two lane road. but city council said that's a separate project for dot to work on for city officials some time down the road. now i also wanted to note that no one spoke against this project during the public meeting. reporting live in downtown hendersonville, jerrika insco, news 13. >> larry: the town of canton is trying to replace its swimming pool that will cost $2.2 million. t

how is the airport preparing, jerrika? extra crews coming in and people on standby just like we do at news 13. right now here at the airport, it's freezing rain that's falling from the sky. but after midnight and overnight it's expected to change to snow. snow or no snow. january is one of the lightest montnt for travel at the asheville regional airport. but throughout the week, they still have a steady number of people traveling all with somewhere to be. >> i was getting very nervous about when the storm was coming because i have one day and then i'm leaving on a cruise from texas. if my flight had been delayed today, i could have been in real trouble. >> jerrika: some flyers feel lucky their flights were today and not tomorrow. others say friday was their original plan but now it's to plan b with snow on the way. >> i got an e-mail saying my flights had been canceled tomorrow. i called american airlines. waited on hold for an hour. they were able to resolve it and get my flight changed to tonight. >> jerrika: all america

. >> jerrika: right now it looks like a faulty chimney started the fire. jerrika insco, news 13. >> tammy: buncombe county deputies are looking for a group of women who they say stole items from area businesses. here are surveillance images of those women. they are expected of taking items from belk in the mall, and from two different dick's sporting goods. >> darcel: authorities are investigating a crash that killed the driver of a tractor trailer in polk county. it happened earlier this morning on i-26 near the saluda exit. tony hurst of south carolina ran off the road and flipped his trailer. speed were factors in the wreck. firefighters say it happened on a dangerous stretch of road where they see a lot of accidents. >> we see a lot of accidents out here. several are severe and result in fatalities similar to this one. >> darcel: a crane had to be used to remove the trailer from the interstate. that section of road was shut wreck. >> tammy: ethan couch will remain at a juvenile detention center in texas at least for now. couch made an appearance in cou

>>reporter: jerrika insco, news 13. >>evan: and market news, never before has wall street gotten off to a worse start to the year. it was a stomach-churning session athe new york stock exchange yesterday. the day ended with the dow falling 391 points. that's down an incredible 1400 points in just the first two weeks of this year. the fall of oil prices and concerns over china's economic standing are what is fueling this decline. >>> developing this morning, the state attorney general wants answers from blue cross/blue shield of north carolina. roy cooper's office sent a requesting plans to make things right. blue cross customers have been dealing with service and overbilling problems for weeks. here is news 13's ashley searles with more on the developing story. >> you just can't get through. it's crazy. so, blue cross/blue shield, if you want to, give me a call. >>reporter: kevin has been making calls to the company even while he's at work. >> i have not been able to get hold of anybody. i have paid the premium for my n

in woodfin, jerrika insco, news 13. >> darcel: a cherokee police officer has resigned after being arrested on a domestic violence charge. 26-year-old charles stamper is charged with assault on a female. physical altercation involving stamper and his girlfriend friday. stamper was held in tribal jail for 72 hours. >>> 69-year-old james anglin was found shot to death in his home in burnsville october 13th, 2013. anglin lived alone and was discovered by a friend. a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the case. >> larry: the assistant principal at north buncombe high school has been put on paid leave pending investigation. the district says they're looking in to anncident involving a student following a friday night. they're not saying what the incident involved. barry owens has worked at north buncombe since 2004. he's also the athletic director there. the district said putting him on leave is standard protocol when an accusation of misconduct like >> darcel: thieves break in to a business and the owner hopes surveillance video will help investigators track them dow

jerrika cook sent us this shot. so ice. >> and snow has brought out the creativity in some of our news 13 viewers. >> frank: pretty good. >> tammy: she sent us that. >> frank: joyce tannenbaum and her family in fairview. an upside down snowman doing a hand stand. >> tammy: and finally we have a hungry hippo. very cute. of course you can send us your pictures at wlos.com or e-mail them to pics@wlos.com. >> frank: a lot of great pictures. >> tammy: a local family had all >> frank: social media is how we reconnect with friends. as it turns out, facebook can >> tammy: news 13's john le shows us the reunion that grew more unlikely by the day. >> john: once they're lost we can only hope that one day they're found. it's a never ending cycle. can't help but wonder how they wound up here and if there's hope for home. denise is executive director of brother wolf animal rescue. >> that's why it's important for people to microchip their animals. >> john: a man found suzy in the sandy mush game lands. the photos simply painful t

. >> reporter: in swain county, jerrika insco, news 13. county sheriff's office made a gruesome discovery today on lower alarco road. that's where the sheriffs say rosco lindsey was found dead on his property where he was cutting trees. a tree fell on lindsey after he cut it down with a chainsaw. lindsey was in his 60s. >> frank: developing tonight, asheville police charge a woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend. police say it was a case of domestic violence. news 13's frank fraboni has the latest on this developing story. >> frank: rescuers roll the victim to a waiting ambulance. his injuries were not considered life threatening. police question several residents outside where the victim lived, including princess accused of stabbing. she says her daughter monique gaynes stabbed her boyfriend during an altercation about money and a cell phone. >> it happened so fast. i didn't know she had a knife. i said monique, what you doing? >> reporter: her mother says she jumped in her car and fled while he bleeded profusely. monique turned herself