Donations help - but so do your helping hands.  Find out how to be part of the United Way of Asheville-Buncombe County - and see Ken's academy award winning performance in the kickoff video - here.

It was a surreal moment in downtown Asheville as a man kept police at bay for 2 1/2 hours. It ended peacefully, though not a pretty sight. Apparently Kenneth Allison got a little warm in his 2010 Camaro while negotiating with police; he kept removing pieces of his clothing. I think I speak for us all when I say that fortunately he surrendered before he lost his boxer shorts.

It was all a little odd. Around the Grove Arcade, diners enjoyed meals al fresco on a beautiful mountain afternoon, blissfully unaware that just a block away the city's SWAT team had descended upon the area in front of the federal courthouse. Tourists walking along Wall Street stumbled upon the scene and were told to go a different direction. Bystanders climbed on roof tops and the parking garage to get a look at the scene, unaware of the danger they faced if the man had a gun and decided to start shooting.

It was all over in flash. A quick scurry, Mr. Allison out of the car, and then in handcuffs. No one was hurt. Kenneth Allison was taken to the local hospital for psychiatric help. 

Kudos to Asheville police. Their patience and experience brought a peaceful resolution to the incident.

However, it is troubling to learn that Mr. Allison engaged in a standoff with Beaufort, South Carolina, police on August 18th. A 911 call led to the incident that ended with Mr. Allison under arrest; a search of his home turned up several guns.

How then was he set free to come to Asheville where he once again ended up in a police standoff? Hopefully Mr. Allison will now truly receive the help he needs. In the meantime, we owe it to our police to ask where the system failed this man and our law enforcement officers. 
 
While there was a peaceful resolution today, it could have ended very different, and what a tragedy that would have been.

Click here to see pictures from the scene.

She started out as an attorney, studied stand up comedy and ended up a minister. How'd she get there? The Rev. Susan Sparks, from North Carolina, details the adventure in a book out called "Laugh Your Way to Grace." Find out more here.

Click here for info on how you could win that HGTV Urban Oasis in New York that Vern Yip was telling us about.

My little Abby Lou Who (who is now almost 2!) and I visit SPLASHville at Pack Square Park.

Kids these days think e-mail is too slow (they prefer IMs), and think Clint Eastwood is a sensitive film director, not "Dirty Harry".  Here's that list from Beloit College of things incoming freshmen have never known, and things they have always known.

Thanks to everyone who supported Walk A Mile In Her Shoes for Our Voice, the rape crisis center.   Special gratitude to Tops For Shoes downtown, for outfitting me in sensible shoes....unlike my pal Jason Boyer from News 13, who was dressed like a trollop.  Check out more pictures here.

And here is the video: