News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Uber, Pork Chop Hill, AT thru hike

By Bill Moss, Published: September 15, 2016

Yep, Uber's here

Need a ride?

You can get one the new way. Hendersonville now has Uber.
The app-based taxi service launched in Hendersonville earlier this summer and covers Henderson County destinations. According to a check of the app, a ride from the Historic Courthouse to the Flat Rock Playhouse would cost $6-8. It would cost you $17 to $22 to get to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Mills River. And a ride down the hill to the Purple Onion in Saluda would set you back $14 to $19, according to fare estimates the Uber app provides.
The ride service also offers UberXL for larger groups. It cost more but the vehicles seat at least six people so cost-sharing is a common option.

Pork Chop Hill hero to attend film screening

Joe Clemons, a Hendersonville retiree who was one of the U.S. Army heroes of the famous Battle of Pork Chop Hill in the Korean War, will be on hand Saturday for a showing of Pork Chop Hill at the Henderson County Heritage Museum in the Historic Courthouse at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Gregory Peck played Clemons in the 1959 movie about the bloody battle in which American troops fought off the Chinese Army to take the pivotal hill.
1st Lt. Joseph G. Clemons Jr. was one of the infantry leaders in the battle, which was known as one of the most intense artillery battles in U.S. military history. Nine artillery battalions of the 2nd and 7th divisions fired 37,655 rounds on the first day and 77,349 rounds on the second.
As a fresh Chinese assault made its way up a ridge Clemons radioed his battalion, “I must have water, plasma, more medical assistance, flamethrowers, litter, ammunition, several radios.” Only a little water and C rations arrived, according to an account of the battle in Military History magazine in April 2003.
Clemons led the 135-man Company K of the 31st Infantry, which suffered 125 casualties, including 18 killed, in the fierce battle. A 1951 West Point graduate, Clemons was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in the battle. A career officer, he rose to the rank of colonel and became commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade in 1969.

City advisory committee announces downtown survey

The City’s Downtown Advisory Committee is conducting a customer survey to find out why people come downtown and what they enjoy most about downtown.
The committee is asking what draws you in and what makes downtown a place you enjoy? To take the survey visit DowntownHendersonville.org and click on “Take The Survey.” The survey consists of 13 questions and only takes a few minutes to complete.
If you have a question or would like to hear more about the survey, contact Lew Holloway at lholloway@hvlnc.gov or 828.233.3216.

Barr presents slideshow of Appalachian Trail hike

Peter Barr, the trails and recreation coordinator for the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, will present a slideshow about his 2010 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Henderson County library.
Barr’s movie and slideshow set to music chronicles his 161-day hike of the 2,181-mile Georgia to Maine trail. His hike included more than 100 miles of side hikes to peaks, waterfalls, views and other highlights. The program, presented by the Friends of the Library, is free.