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Brothers charged with Flat Rock crime spree

Hendersonville News

City fire marshal appointed to state board

Hendersonville Fire Marshal Justin Ward has been named the western representative for the North Carolina Fire Marshals Association Board of Directors. Ward was nominated by City of Asheville Deputy Marshal Jeff Payne and was voted in by the North Carolina Fire Marshals Association state membership at a quarterly meeting on Nov. 20 in Chatham County. “I’m extremely proud of Fire Marshal Ward and his commitment to life safety and the betterment of not only the City of Hendersonville, but the entire state,” Hendersonville Fire Chief Joseph Vindigni said in a news release. Ward’s position on the board of directors will allow him to connect with regional fire inspection, prevention and investigation professionals and further the mission of saving life and property through fire prevention across the state, as well as here at home in Hendersonville. His appointment takes effect on Jan. 1. Hired as a city firefighter in 2008, Ward rose through the ranks of engineer, lieutenant and captain before he was named fire marshal in 2016.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Meadows said to be on short list for Trump chief of staff

The mentioners in the Washington press corps are placing U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows high on the list of potential successors to John Kelly as President Trump's chief of staff.   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Ask Matt ... about Dylan's visit with Sandburg

 Q. I heard that Bob Dylan once came to Flat Rock to meet Carl Sandburg. Is there any truth in that? Absolutely. Two years ago Thomas Crowe wrote about that meeting in the Smoky Mountain News. His source was Sandburg’s housekeeper at Connemara who some 37 years ago shared details of the event with Crowe. It was February of 1964, when Bob Dylan had just released his second album titled The Times They Are A-Changin’. He was on an unannounced mission to Flat Rock to meet the man that had inspired his own poetry and songwriting. Dylan appeared at the Sandburg home with a copy of the new album under his arm and asked to speak with Mr. Sandburg. “I am a poet; my name is Robert Dylan,” said the visitor. Crowe recounts that the two sat in chairs on Sandburg’s front porch and Dylan told the 89-year-old Sandburg how he admired his work and what an influence he had been. “Sandburg listened quietly and acknowledged Dylan’s praise and accepted the gift of the album and told Dylan that he had much work to do that day and had to get back to it, sending Dylan on his way.” There are a few related pieces that I found in a 1972 Rolling Stone biographical piece on Dylan by Anthony Scaduto. He chronicles the road trip Dylan and three others made from New York City to Flat Rock and thereafter points south and west. “The drive down had been uneventful, which is surprising considering that they were all stoned,” relates Scaduto. After spending the first night in Charlottesville, Virginia, they headed for Flat Rock and arrived late in the afternoon. Dylan got directions to Sandburg’s home from a mountain man at a gas station. There was some confusion because the man only knew Sandburg as a goat farmer, not a poet in residence. The meeting was brief, probably just ten minutes. Dylan was miffed that Sandburg never heard of him so when he got back to the car Dylan took a puff from a joint. After Flat Rock, Dylan’s entourage made more stops in the South and ended the sojourn in San Francisco. Ron Partin, who volunteers at the Sandburg Home, said that he occasionally shares the story with visitors, particularly if they ask about Sandburg the song writer. Officials at the Home said the Dylan album was not in their inventory. Maybe someone can contact Dylan and have him autograph another for the collection.  * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.         Read Story »

Henderson County News

Send new times for postponed events to us by noon Monday

Organizations called off or postponed plenty of events this weekend because of the big snow. If your organization is rescheduling the event let us know by noon Monday so we can include it in this week's issue. Send the announcement to news@hendersonvillelightning.com.   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

NCDOT: Hundreds of downed trees impede travel

N.C. Department of Transportation crews across western North Carolina will continue pushing snow and fallen trees from interstates and primary highways on Sunday. Clearing interstates and primary highways will remain the top priorities from the far western edges to Surry County. All interstate routes have at least one lane — and in most cases both lanes — open for travel. Transportation officials recommending limiting all road travel to essential trips only. The best plan is to stay in a safe location. All major primaries are at least partially covered with snow and ice after a winter storm dumped 5-to-15 inches of snow — even more in some locations — on Saturday and through Sunday afternoon. Cherokee County is the only western county with clear roads. Even Clay, Graham and Macon counties have some primary roads covered. The storm toppled a total estimate of more than 1,000 trees in several mountain counties including Jackson, Haywood, Transylvania, Polk and Rutherford counties. An estimated 500 trees cover the shoulder of U.S. 74 in Polk County and some were blocking the travel lanes of I-26 Sunday morning. The teams in 25 western counties, which are comprised of 463 employees, already combined to spread 4,800 tons of salt and 1,200 tons of a salt-and-sand mixture before sunrise on Sunday. Those crews will continue working around-the-clock in western North Carolina until all roads are clear. Safety tips for motorists and details on how NCDOT works in winter storms can be found on the NCDOT websites. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

COUNTY SCHOOLS CLOSED AGAIN; COUNTY GOV'T OFFICE DELAY OPENING

Utility crews restored power to thousands of homes and businesses by mid-morning Tuesday, leaving 1,683 customers without power after the winter storm walloped the county with up to 18 inches of snow over the weekend. The number of outages is down from almost 12,000 on Sunday. Duke Energy said those will in the dark would have power by 5 p.m. Friday. Henderson County schools are closed again Tuesday because of expected impassable secondary roads in some places and refreezing of snow-covered roads overnight. Henderson County and Hendersonville city offices delayed opening on Tuesday to 10 a.m. Non-emergency offices in Henderson County and the city of Hendersonville and county schools were closed all day on Monday. Because of the snow and hazardous roadways, "the Henderson County non-emergency local government offices, including Solid Waste, Animal Services and the Henderson County Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday," the county manager's office said. City offices are also closed. Delivery of emergency services will not be impacted by the closing. If you need emergency information, please call (828) 697-4728 or log onto www.hendersoncountync.gov and click view Emergency Information. If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1. Schools are closed and Monday is an annual leave day for employees, the school system said. The NCDOT is not expected to clear secondary roads before Monday, the sheriff's office said.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Storm dumps up to 18 inches of snow, knocks out power for 11,903

The winter storm that brought up to 18 inches of snow to the area was changing to freezing rain with the potential for a new round of snow and 1-2 more inches Sunday night. The snowstorm, which began Saturday afternoon and continued through Sunday morning, knocked out power for one in six Duke Energy customers in Henderson County.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Festival called off; Johnson Farm selling the gift baskets today

Due to the threat of snow, Historic Johnson Farm is cancelling Saturday's Christmas Festival but is open today to sell gift baskets that had been donated. The farm is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today to sell the 22 donated raffle baskets as gifts items that the volunteers and local businesses graciously donated. This includes 10 baskets filled to the brim with children’s toys, games, and crafts. (Baskets graciously donated by the Fresh Market, A Day in the Country, Sherman’s Sporting Goods, Lyda Farms, Dreamweaver, Forget-Me-Not Florist, Carolina Ace Hardware, and the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists.) Prices from $25-$60. Baked goods and Christmas cactus are for sale today, ranging from $1-$6; also for sale children’s items of Christmas hats &headbands, and porcelain dolls donated by Honeysuckle Hollow for $1-$2. The farm is holding Christmas tours Dec. 17-21 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day. Tours of the festive farmhouse will be available as well as a Christmas craft and hot chocolate. The Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists will open their gift shop. Tours are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children under 5. Reservations are required. Call 828-891-6585 or email jfarm@hcpsnc.org to register. Questions, please call manager Mandy Gibson at 828-891-6585.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Committee announces 2019 Walk of Fame inductees

A joint city-county committee announced seven inductees into the Henderson County Walk of Fame on Thursday, including pioneers in the fields of education, transportation, agriculture and the law.   Read Story »

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