Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page 9

OUNTAINS THURSDAY June 1, 2006 A murder victim's kindness B2 College news B3 Buncombe briefs B3 State news B5 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Mountains Editor Brian Ponder, 232-5883 or BRIEFS rp p.aiu. Dpy MMDS IfTO OTS iniffluuiniy Coroner: Ingles truck driver, who was to retire, probably fell asleep By Leslie Boyd FAIRVIEW Ingles truck driver Richard Fox was planning on retiring just a few weeks from the day he was killed when his truck went off U.S. 441 in Putnam County, Ga. "He talked about retiring the end of July," said his son, James Fox. "He loved driving a truck; he did it all his life." Fox drove for Citizen Express for 26 years, Observer Transport of Charlotte for 19 years and was employed by Ingles when he died.

An autopsy on Fox, 67, showed no signs of health problems that might have led to the deadly wreck. Investigators found no skid marks near where the truck left the road. "Everything leads us toward believing that he probably went to sleep," said Gary McElhenney, coroner in Putnam County, Ga. Fatigue plays a role in 13 percent of all truck-related crashes, according to a March report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The government estimates about 15,000 people are killed each year in fatigue-related accidents involving cars, trucks or other motor vehicles.

Fox and his truck were missing for more than five days until a search party organized by his family to retrace his route discovered them. Fox had left from Ingles' U.S. 70 warehouse for deliv ery to Gray, Ga. about 12:30 a.m. May 22.

When he didn't return as scheduled that afternoon, authorities, Ingles employees, families and friends searched for Fox and his rig by air, with vehicles and on foot, finding nothing until Saturday afternoon. Searchers found him and the truck about 200 miles from home and hidden among trees from the sight of planes overhead and drivers who passed by on the high way. The tree canopy and the fact that only the back underbelly of the truck was visible from overhead kept it from being seen sooner. Fox's truck was not outfitted with a GPS tracking device or a radio. The family is planning a funeral service at noon Friday at Groce Funeral Home and Chapel at Lake Julian.

Visiting hours are from 6:30 to 8:30 this evening at the funeral home. Battle House falls to new condos Chestnut planted in reserve MARS HILL Red Wolf Run, a new development near Mars Hill, has been named the official Western North Carolina residential community sponsor of The American Chestnut Foundation. Some 50 new American chestnuts were planted in a reserve area located on development grounds. The Red Wolf Run Foundation also donated an initial $5,000 on behalf of the community to the American Chestnut Foundation. With every home site purchased, the Red Wolf Run Foundation will donate $1,000 to fund research and development of a blight-resistant American chestnut tree.

Students learn marketing HENDERSONVILLE North Henderson High School marketing students are learning firsthand how to create a business promotion. The students and marketing educator Amy Singletary have formed a team with Chick-fil-A and marketing director Sherri Holbert. The students are creating "The Big Breakfast Bash," from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m. today at the Chick-fil-A in Hendersonville. Activities are to include face painting, spinning a wheel for prizes and a drawing for a sleep shirt and breakfast trays.

Safety first ASHEVILLE AAA Carolinas canceled the Safe Driving Day scheduled for today after a 2-foot-wide sinkhole opened in the office's parking lot at 1000 Merrimon Ave. The auto club provides the safety days to inspect child seats, tire levels, belts and fluids for motorists who came to the office, said Sarah Davis, a AAA spokesman. "We'll probably reschedule for September," Davis said. Cycle safety course ASHEVILLE The Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer specialized training in emergency aid for motorcycle riders from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday at 100 Edgewood Road. The chapter last year developed an emergency first aid and CPR course designed specifically for motorcycle riders. Participants will learn such things as managing the scene of an emergency, moving a motorcycle and moving an injured person as well as when to remove a helmet or cut leathers. People completing the course will earn adult CPR certification and certification of participation in first aid basics. The cost of the class is $40.

Advance registration and payment is required. Call 258-3888, Ext. 221. The Web site is www.ashevillemountainredcross.org. Compiled by staff writer Dale Neal Circus comes to town Husband admits killing By Jon Ostendorff WAYNESVILLE A Haywood County man is facing at least 19 years in prison for shooting his wife to death last year in the bedroom of their home, a prosecutor said.

James Gregory Pitts, 52, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. The family of his victim, 40 -year-old Kimberly league Pitts, said they were pleased he admitted to the crime in court "I'm just glad that it's over," said Pat Holloway, the victim's mother. "He finally did enter a guilty plea." Assistant District Attorney Jim Moore told the judge that on April 3, 2005, Kimberly Pitts got in bed with her husband about 9 p.m. "For whatever reason, he got up out of bed and shot her twice," Moore said. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed a motive.

The prosecutor said Pitts used a handgun to shoot his wife in the leg and chest She died within minutes, the prosecutor said. Pitts' lawyers did not dispute the facts of the case during the short hearing. A judge will sentence Pitts on Friday. After the hearing, attorney Rusty McLean said he plans to call several witnesses in hopes of reducing Pitts' prison sentence. Pitts has been in jail since the killing.

District Attorney Michael Bonfoey said under the state's structured sentencing law, Pitts will serve at least 19 years and could serve as much as 31 years. More than a decade before the April shooting, the couple filed a mutual restraining order. According to the order, Kimberly Pitts stated that her husband told her, "Fcr your well-being, you better have me locked up in prison, or I will kill you." -A JOHN FLETCHERJFLCTCHEReCITIZEN-TIMEaC The demolition of Battle House next to Grove Park Inn In Ashevllle was expected to be completed Wednesday night Cleanup Is planned to take about two weeks. Grove Park Inn to try to replicate architecture in new construction THE EXPANSION PLANS Build 46 guest suites north and east of the inn. Replace the Battle House next to the inn with 30 condominiums.

Construct a 350-space parking garage near the inn sports center. Preserve Bynum House on Macon Avenue for an undetermined use. Rezone more than five acres below the Bynum House to allow construction of 20 cottage condominiums. Renovate the golf course clubhouse to add 11 guest suites. Put a traffic roundabout at the main entrance.

Put new swimming pools near the Vanderbilt wing. By Kelby Hartson Carr Twisted metal was piled in a heap. The enormous jaws of the yellow crane took another bite of debris, and then unceremoniously spit it onto the pile. Wednesday marked the demise and demolition of the Battle House next to Grove Park Inn. The' inn, which has owned the building since 2000, is making way for a proposed gated upscale condominium development, the Fitzgerald, with views of the city and the inn's golf course, said Jay Winer, executive public relationships manager.

He expects the condominiums to sell for around $1.5 million and be between 2,000 and 2,900 square, feet apiece. The inn has approval for BATTLE HOUSE? Originally built as a house in the 1920s, it was bought by WLOS- -TV in 1954. The station sold it to the Grove Park Inn in 2000. WEB EXTRA Visit for photos and video clips of the demolition of the Battle House. the condominium project but needs a City Council vote to allow them to raise the building by eight feet for a better view.

Demolition was expected to be completed Wednesday night. Cleanup is planned to take about two weeks. On Wednesday, the building's facade was stripped bare on one side, windows were missing their frames and a garage gaped dence in the 1920s. "We're trying hard' to address every concern," Winer said. The inn sought historic status for the building, he noted, but was rejected by both state and federal agencies.

He said the building was too deteriorated to justify renovating it. Please see BATTLE on B6 open with no door or molding. On the Macon Avenue side, a large section of the building was demolished, with shards of wood and brick crumbled in a pile below. Neighbors have opposed the plans to demolish the building, which served as the home for WLOS-TV for nearly five decades and was originally built as a resi DSS hopes air conditioning to be fixed Friday JOHN Sylvia Zerbinl conducts a performance by Arabian and Andaluslan horses during the Ringing Bros, and Barnum Bailey Circus at the Chic Center In Ashevllle on Wednesday. WEB EXTRA Visit for additional photos from the circus.

Today on Listen to Chad Pierce talk about the flood plain, storm water management and erosion control ordinances. View a photo gallery and video clips from the circus. View video clips and a photo gallery of the demolition of the Battle House. Listen to Kima Moore and Molly Must talk about the wireless service in downtown Asheville. View a photo gallery of trails in the region in celebration of National Trails Day.

Visit on Friday for live text updates from the Pisgah and Swain softball games. The first game begins at 5 p.m. Updates will begin at 4:45 p.m. trying to limit the number of people in the building by asking social workers to work from the road with laptops and cell phones. Those who must remain in the building are dressing in light clothing and drinking water.

Sandy Banks, holding her infant daughter, Savannah Fayssoux, didn't mind the heat Wednesday. "It's not bad," she said, looking around at the empty chairs. "I like that it's not busy." back to normal by Friday morning, Stone said. The forecast is for mild, mid-70s temperatures through the end of the week. But Stone advises those who may be susceptible to the heat to avoid the building and to contact the DSS call center.

Most likely to suffer from heat are young children, who have a tendency to dehydrate, and elderly people with compromised immune systems, Stone said. To keep things cool, DSS is Wednesday morning, but County Facility Services, now waiting for a replacement part to arrive, will shut the unit down completely for 24 to 48 hours to make needed repairs. "I imagine it will be very warm during that 24-hour period," Stone said. The air conditioning, nearly 15 years old, has never gone down before, she said. "It seems OK right now," said Don Locke, sitting in the waiting room Wednesday.

By Dan Testa DTESTAASHEVILL.GANNETT.COM A busted air conditioner is causing uncomfortably warm temperatures inside the win-dowless Buncombe County Department of Social Services and it will get a lot hotter before things cool off. "It's a building with no natural air flow, so you notice it pretty quickly," DSS Director Mandy Stone said of the heat The air conditioner was operating at 50 percent IF YOU ARE AT While air conditioning at the Buncombe County Department of Social Services is being repaired, people who may be susceptible to heat are advised to use the call center to schedule a home visit, if necessary. Call 250-5500. "But if it got much warmer or you had more people in here, I suspect it could get uncomfortable." The system should be Gasperson Moving FuGrnituire Spring Clearance Sale Inventory Reduction 468 Weaverville Hwy. jfe jsCQUntS Of tllC ZdX and Storage Serving Asbet'Ule fiw more 5 than 100 wars ASHEVILLE NC XTCVCflS 4.