Wayne County Outlook …

Posted March 6, 2019 at 9:16 am

WAYNE OUTLOOK…

Local cable customers will see an increase in their monthly bills, following action taken by the Telecommunications Board during its meeting held Wednesday, February 20.

The increase will be effective April 1 and will include a $1 surcharge increase, a $1 increase on basic service and a $2.73 increased for the expanded package.

For many of their customers that will mean a $2 per month increase plus taxes, according to CTS manager Dale Hancock. For customers who have the expanded package, the increase will total $4.73 plus taxes.

In a notice that was issued by Community Telecom Services, the cable company expressed its concern with the quality, service and rates.

Hancock stated that internet speeds have increased, and there will be no cost increase for internet customers.

In the statement, cable officials stated that they have improved HD and SD programming picture quality while adding numerous channels.

Hancock noted that programming rates have continued to increase for off-air stations and satellite channels.

CTS has absorbed these rate increases for the past three years, Hancock stated. In fact, he said that CTS’s cable rates are significantly lower than the national average.

Nationally, cable bills average about $40 more per month than local customers are paying, according to Hancock.

Hancock said that CTS has been notifying customers early about the upcoming rate increase.

Many have been informed through notices, as well as when they come by the office to pay their bills.

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A local man has been indicted on multiple charges related to a sexual assault complaint in January.

Hunley has been indicted for first degree unlawful imprisonment, first degree sodomy, second degree assault, theft by unlawful taking under $500 and persistent felony offender second degree.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in early January, when police allege he held a female against her will for two days at a residence on Furnace Mountain Road.

The indictment against Hunley was returned by a Wayne County Grand Jury on February 19.

Also during the session, 19 other true bills were returned by the grand jury.

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A Wayne County man has been arrested and charged with promoting contraband at the Wayne County Detention Center.

According to Jailer Ronnie Ellis, Larry Kessler, 21, was arrested February 19 after a syringe was found in his possession.

Ellis stated that he will continue to work with local law enforcement to charge any individual who is caught with contraband at the detention center.