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Four Seasons Politics

FOUR SEASONS POLITICS: Campaign sign on senior steps doesn't last

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

City holding five 'Council Conversations' this fall

In an effort to improve communication between the City Council and Hendersonville residents, the City Council will be hosting five community meetings throughout the city   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Once-rising star in local GOP sent to prison

A once-rising star in the Republican Party and a candidate for state Superintendent of Public Instruction at the age of 25 was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in Polk County Superior Court to three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense and a felony count of writing and passing a worthless check, District Attorney Greg Newman announced. Josiah "Joe" Johnson, 36, of Tryon, was sentenced earlier today to 38 months in prison on the charges, which were just the latest involving Johnson and his finances. A graduate of East Henderson High School, Johnson was the Republican nominee for state school superintendent in 2008, losing to incumbent June Atkinson. Johnson also has served as director of public affairs for the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office under Rick Davis, for Western Carolina Produce and as director of resource development for the Henderson County Council on Aging. Johnson obtained three personal loans totaling $60,000 from Tryon resident Nancy Day, who had been friends with Johnson’s mother for many years. Johnson told her that he needed a short-term loan to secure a home for his mother in Charleston, S.C.  He agreed to pay Day back when funds from a trust fund could be released and at double the interest that her bank was paying to her.  Repayment did not occur and Johnson made multiple excuses for the delays. Day filed a lawsuit to secure a judgment against Johnson.  She was granted a judgment, but had been unable to collect any of her money from him. In 2016, Tryon police officer Theda Rickman presented the case to Newman, who advised her to charge Johnson. In 2014, a jury in Buncombe County found Johnson guilty of charges of writing a worthless check for $18,000 to a furniture store.  He has recently been convicted of defrauding two car dealerships in Buncombe County and Henderson County detectives are investigating additional incidents of alleged fraud by Johnson, the district attorney's office said. “I appreciate Nancy Day for her courage to come forward in this case," Newman said. "She has expressed to me personally that she feels completely betrayed by Mr. Johnson.  She thinks he used the good name of his mother to secure money and he is apparently very convincing when seeking funds for various projects. I further commend the police work by Theda Rickman of the Tryon Police and my assistant prosecutors, Bob Brackett and J.J. Sauve, who prepared the prosecution of the case."       Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Sheriff honored with Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Sheriff Charlie McDonald didn’t know why he had been called to the Board of Commissioners meeting in the Historic Courthouse on Monday night but admitted that he “smelled a rat.”   Read Story »

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

School Board picks architects promising major Stillwell renovation

The Henderson County School Board voted unanimously on Thursday to hire architects who promise a renovation of the historic core classroom building and auditorium at Hendersonville High School along with a second new classroom building, a new gym and other new buildings. The board vote came after members heard presentations about construction of a new or renovated Hendersonville High School from the two finalists vying for a contract to design the job. It rejected a recommendation of an ad hoc committee, which had voted 5-2 for the county architect of record. PFA-LS3P, a collaboration of Asheville-based pfa and Charlotte-based LS3P, and ClarkNexsen, the county's architect of record, were the last two firms left standing among nine that responded originally to an invitation to bid on a new round of HHS plans. PFA-LS3P presented the more detailed plans for a combination Stillwell building renovation and new construction. The partnership said it would: Preserve and renovate the Stillwell building and 1974 gym. Raze the vocational-ed building, cafeteria, bandroom and old gym. Add a new cafeteria and vocational-ed building, renovate and expand the Stillwell auditorium, add a new administrative office and a classroom building along Oakland Street and build a second gym next to the 1974 Jim Pardue gymnasium. Complete the project in two phases, without housing students in mobile units, and finish by August 2022. Design a single point of entry for security reasons, allowing access to the Stillwell Building and the new classroom building. Add an enclosed courtyard behind the Stillwell building in roughly the spot where the vocational-ed building stands today. PFA-LS3P estimated the cost at $52.4 million. ClarkNexsen presented five options, including Stillwell renovation and new construction options and one, called Hail Mary, that was basically the same as the all-new construction option the School Board no longer favors. "There's such a price difference between the two firms," board Chair Amy Lynn Holt said. "Clearly, they were showing a full renovation of the Stillwell building, with bigger class sizes, everthing in that building." Even if it added other options, "We're still millions of dollars under the first number ClarkNexsen is coming in on." Mary Louise Corn, who voted for ClarkNexsen in the School Board vote last week, said PFA had made the best presentation. "Some said only consider ClarkNexsen. They've got all the lay of the land," she said. "Some have said ClarkNexsen shouldn't even be considered because we don't trust them. There's no doubt PFA made the best presentaiton. It's fine and easy to put on a dog and pony show. It's easy to make the rendering look great. ... are very honest about the price, I think they're telling us things we don't want to hear." But she added, "I would be fine with PFA." Amy Lynn Holt strongly endorsed PFA. "At the end of the day, I still feel that PFA did an amazing job," she said. "I think it's undisputed." "I feel great. I think it's the right choice," said Blair Craven, who has been the School Board's strongest advocate for saving the Stillwell building. "Several people said it, this project does deserve a fresh look. ... We'll see what that price is going to be for them to get us to hopefully a guaranteed maximum price and set of drawings that we can bring before the county that will be approved." How does he see the path to getting three vote on the County Commission to approve the new plan? "I truly believe that PFA is going to put something forward that they're going to be proud of, that they're not going to be able to say no to and that they will ultimately check the boxes and say yes, we're going to be able to do this. We're going to have at least one new county commissioner, possibly two with the election coming up, but I think we can get three votes no matter how that comes out." Holt said the choice for her came down to listening to constituents. "To me it's what the community wants," she said. "I didn't have anybody from that part of the community" favoring another shot for ClarkNexsen. "I would hope that when they see we're being fiscally responsible, that we're within the budget and that we're producing something for that community and that's great for the students I hope that they would approve it," she said. "I would like to see from here and out — we can confer with the county — but that it really big directed by us. When you heard those firms talk, I never heard them say, 'When we designed a school for the county commission.' I never heard them say that. That's the process. We're directed to be over schools." Boney, lead architect for LS3P, told the board he is the third-generation to lead a firm that specializes in school renovation and construction, having completed 2,500 projects over that time and 576 in the past 20 years. The firm touts its adherence to the "three Cs," meaning it's "creative, competent and cost conscious." The architects "design places where students want to be," it says. Boney and PFA Project Leader Maggie Carnevale touted the two firms' experience in renovating historic school buildings and combining new construction and renovation in tight urban spaces, citing Asheville High School, the historic West Charlotte High School and others. They pledged to deliver an "open and honest" process, communicate clearly and often with the board and the public and give detailed stakeholder updates. They proposed this timeline: Deliver drawings by January 2019. January-September 2019: Advanced planning and cost projections. September 2019-Jan. 1, 2021: Phase 1 construction (new cafeteria and career technical education building). November 2019-Jan. 1, 2021: Phase 2 construction documents, cost estimates. November-December 2020: Phase 2 permitting. January-May 2021: Demolish cafeteria, band room, auxiliary gym and CTE building. May 2021-August 2022. Phase 2 construction (administrative offices and classrooms along Oakland Street and auxiliary gym south of the Pardue gym). August 2022: Turn over project to Henderson County School Board. Students move in.     This is a developing story. Return to the Lightning for updates.       Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

School Board likely to pick HHS architect Friday

The Henderson County School Board will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to hear two finalists pitch their architectural firm’s ideas for Hendersonville High School construction.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Panel endorses current county architect for new HHS plans

A committee on Friday recommended that the Henderson County School Board stick with the county’s architect of record, ClarkNexsen of Asheville, to draw new construction plans for Hendersonville High School, a move that could break an impasse between the School Board and county Board of Commissioners over the future of HHS.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

School Board will let voters fill vacant seat

The Henderson County School Board will let the voters decide who will fill board vacancy created when Colby Coren resigned to take a teaching position in the county school system.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

N.C. Transportation Board kills Balfour Parkway

RALEIGH — The Balfour Parkway is dead.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Democrats hope grassroots support can overcome Republican PAC money

Democrats hoping to ride a blue wave to victory on Nov. 6 say they’re using grassroots support and lots of volunteers to boost their underdog campaigns against incumbent Republicans.   Read Story »

Four Seasons Politics Archive