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Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Houston, we've got a problem

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

'Thank you for funding' news release splits School Board

The Henderson County School Board's public statement of thanks to the Board of Commissioners for fully funding the school system's 2016-17 budget request has triggered objections from two School Board members who say they oppose the tax increase that helped fund the school budget.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Suddenly they're big spenders

Charlie Messer, who will be sworn into a fifth term as a Henderson County commissioner in December, declared on Monday that this year’s budget drafting was the toughest one he had endured. That was surprising, given that Messer is a battle-scarred veteran of the slash-and-burn budgets engineered by Tea Party crusader Bill O’Connor in 2010 and 2011.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Whitmire optimistic about 'donut hole' development

State Rep. Chris Whitmire sees development of the DuPont State Forest "donut hole" as a potential job producer and catalyst for economic activity.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

PFLAG to host transgender panel

The Flat Rock-Hendersonville Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is co-sponsoring Cultivating Community Across the Gender Spectrum, a transgender panel discussion, at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, in Pisgah Ballroom A at the Biltmore Park Hilton, 1 Town Square Blvd., Asheville. The event is free and open to the public.   Read Story »

North Carolina Four Seasons Politics

4 SEASONS POLITICS: Whitmire wants partisan School Board elections

Transylvania School Board elections could become partisan School Board elections in Transylvania County would become partisan contests starting in 2018 under a bill state Rep. Chris Whitmire filed.Whitmire, a second-term Republican, served as School Board chairman before his election to the House in 2012.“Many have requested this for quite some time since this election generally takes a partisan appearance with the major parties backing their candidates and voters often left wondering which candidates are aligned with conservative or liberal views,” he said. “If HB 1133 is enacted, much of the confusion will be resolved.” Early voting under way Early voting in Henderson County for the June 7 primary starts on Thursday, May 26, and will be held at the county Board of Elections office at 75 East Central Street off Spartanburg Highway. Early voting ends Saturday, June 4.Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. The office will be closed on Memorial Day.Democrats will choose between 11th Congressional District candidates Tom Hill of Zirconia and Rick Bryson of Bryson City. The winner faces incumbent Rep. Mark Meadows.All voters will choose in the nonpartisan N.C. Supreme Court race. Candidates are Michael R. (Mike) Morgan, Daniel Robertson, incumbent Robert H. (Bob) Edmunds and Sabra Jean Faires,     Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

County wish lists could trigger 3-cent tax increase

Henderson County taxpayers may see a tax increase of up to 3 cents in order to fund the budget requests and of wish lists of department heads, new construction and higher school spending.   Read Story »

Mills River Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: An arm patch for Mills River cops

One of the things a consultant told Mills River Town Council members they must do if they create a police department is to design an arm patch.   Read Story »

Mills River Four Seasons Politics

Accepting police coverage offer, Mills River to raise taxes by 6.76 cents

MILLS RIVER — Ending a bitter two-year feud with Henderson County, the Mills River Town Council on Thursday voted unanimously to accept an offer from the county to provide sheriff's coverage for $775,000 a year — an operating cost that will result in a tax increase of almost 7 cents per $100 valuation by 2019.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

DuPont, Ag Center, WNC crime lab, Muddy Sneakers get money in House budget

Funding for buildings and personnel at DuPont State Forest, a new pavilion at the ANC Ag Center, $1 million to equip the new crime lab at the WNC Justice Academy in Edneyville and money to expand a learning in nature program founded in Henderson and Transylvania counties are among the appropriations in the 2016-17 budget the state House approved and sent on to the Senate this week, Rep. Chuck McGrady said.   Read Story »

Four Seasons Politics Archive