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Relief supply drive for Florence victims

Henderson County News

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 »

Mills River News

County has one of eight National Blue Ribbon schools in state

Glenn C. Marlow Elementary has been designated an “Exemplary High Performing School” by the National Blue Ribbon School program of the U.S. Department of Education. One of only eight North Carolina public schools and 349 nationwide to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2018, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary specifically earned the “Exemplary High Performing Schools” award. "This is such an outstanding honor for our school, our staff, our students and our community,” said Principal John Hart. The National Blue Ribbon Schools are public and non-public elementary, middle, and high schools that are producing outstanding results for all students, demonstrating consistent excellence, and making progress in closing gaps in student achievement. To be eligible for nomination, schools must be in the top 15 percent of all schools in the state when ranked either on student performance in state reading and mathematics assessments or on a composite index that may include these and other subject assessment results, as well as additional student performance measures like attendance. Specifically regarding student subgroups, “Exemplary High Performing Schools” must also be in the top 40 percent of all schools in the state when student subgroup performance is ranked using either of the aforementioned methods. For high schools, “Exemplary High Performing Schools” must be in the top 15 percent of all high schools in the state when ranked on the most recently available graduation rates. “This recognition is a testament to the legacy of learning and excellence that has been built by everyone who has passed through these halls and been in our community since Marlow opened in 1999,” said Hart. “I am so proud of our students and staff who work so hard to carry on this legacy each and every day. They earned this.”     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Defendants sent to prison on felony convictions

A Fletcher man was sentenced to more than six years in prison after a Henderson County Superior Court jury convicted him of armed robbery. Samuel N. Angram III, of 31 Talley Drive, Fletcher, was convicted by a jury of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Angram was sentenced to 74 months in prison and $800 restitution. District Attorney Greg Newman announced case dispositions from a Sept. 18-28 term of Superior Court. Judge Gregory Horne presided. In other cases: Jamal Blanton, of 1009 Fassifern Court, pleaded guilty to Assault on a Female and Failure to Appear. Blanton was sentenced to 100 days confinement. Jeannie S. Orr, of 204 Gull Avenue, East Flat Rock, pleaded guilty to Breaking and Entering and Larceny after Breaking and Entering. Orr was sentenced to 19 months in prison. Christina L. Robinson, of 10 Adair Court, was convicted by a jury of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Robinson was sentenced to 74 months in prison and $800 restitution. Nicholas P. Trombetta, of 605 S. Central Avenue, Landis, pleaded guilty to Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, and Resisting Public Officer. Trombetta was sentenced to 17 months in prison and $1632 restitution.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

General Electric dumps CEO

General Electric Co. announced on Monday that it had replaced chairman and CEO John Flannery after just 14 months on the job after a hoped-for turnaround in the company's finances failed to materialize. Once a titan of Wall Street, General Electric installed 55-year-old H. Lawrence Culp Jr. as chair and CEO. Culp, who ran Danaher Corp. from 2000 to 2014, is the first outsider to become CEO in GE’s 126-year history, the Boston Globe reported. GE's Lightning Solutions plant in East Flat Rock has figured in the iconic company's financial troubles. Along with other plants in its lighting solutions division, the East Flat Rock location has been put on the block. So far, no buyer has been announced and the plant is still operating in the meantime. In February GE reached a deal to sell the overseas units of the lighting business. "Shedding the remaining, mainly U.S.-based lighting business is part of a broad restructuring plan aimed at divesting $20 billion worth of assets to focus the remaining company on three core divisions: power, aviation and health care," Reuters reported. GE also said it will take a huge writedown of $23 billion at its troubled power unit that will total as much as $23 billion, the Globe reported, and it withdrew its earnings and cash flow guidance for 2018. “While GE’s businesses other than Power are generally performing consistently with previous guidance, due to weaker performance in the GE Power business, the Company will fall short of previously indicated guidance for free cash flow and EPS for 2018,” the company said in a statement. Culp served as President/CEO of Danaher Corporation from 2000 to 2014. "During his tenure (at Danaher), he led the highly successful transformation of the company from an industrial manufacturer into a leading science and technology company," GE said in a news release. "Under Mr. Culp’s leadership, Danaher executed a disciplined capital allocation approach, including a series of strategic acquisitions and dispositions, a focus on investing for high-impact organic growth and margin expansion, and delivering strong free cash flow to drive long-term shareholder value. During his 14 years at the head of Danaher, the company’s market capitalization and revenues grew five-fold."     Read Story »

Flat Rock News

LIGHTNING REVIEW: 'Glass Menagerie' is filling fall fare

"The Glass Menagerie" is Tennessee Williams’ thinly veiled autobiographical play about the everlasting damage family members can inflict on one another even while proclaiming the noblest motives.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Closing downtown stage, Playhouse touts Mainstage improvements

The Flat Rock Playhouse announced Friday that it is closing the Playhouse downtown and moving smaller productions and the Music on the Rock shows it has staged there for seven years to the Mainstage in Flat Rock.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Special Needs baseball holds first 'World Series'

Special needs children and adults from all over Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina have been invited to participate in the inaugural “Special Needs World Series” on Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Bob Lewis Park, at 164 Jacob Holm Way in Candler. Gates will open at 12:15 p.m. and the opening ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m. The event is being coordinated by Special Needs Sports of WNC and the Enka Youth Sports Organization to allow special needs athletes and their families the opportunity to play sports in a world-class facility located close to home. There is no charge to play or to attend, and organizers hope for a great turnout to support the special needs population. “We’re excited to be one of the first events at this new first-class facility,” said Donnie Jones, founder and executive director of Special Needs Sports. His athletes play every Saturday during the spring and fall in Hendersonville, but he expects this unique facility – seven fields with astroturf infields – will make this weekend’s “World Series” a memorable experience for them and their families. His program, which is free to anyone who wants to participate and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Four Seasons-Hendersonville, has grown to include more than 150 players of all ages and abilities. But Jones wants to be clear – everyone is invited this Sunday! Anyone with special needs, regardless of age, ability, residence, or degree of disability, is invited to participate as a player. Contact Jones at 828-606-5691 or jonesdtl@yahoo.com for more information, or just show up on Sunday afternoon. “We don’t care if you’ve never held a bat or thrown a ball before, we want anyone who has special needs and wants to participate to be a part of this event,” Jones said. He also hopes spectators will show up to cheer for the athletes. “There’s no admission cost and we guarantee it will be the most rewarding afternoon you can imagine. Seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter when they are on the ballfield, with their parents and siblings cheering them on…there’s nothing like it,” said Jones.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

School system names Principal of the Year

Luke Manuel, principal at Hendersonville Middle School, was named the 2018-19 Principal of the Year for Henderson County Public Schools Thursday afternoon at a pep rally staged for the surprise announcement by district leadership. After Assistant Principal Amanda Childers recognized each school athletic team in the gym, Superintendent Bo Caldwell walked to center court led Hendersonville Middle students in chanting “MVP” for Manuel, who Caldwell said was “Most Valuable Principal” of the year. “We have one of the very best middle schools in all of North Carolina," Manuel said after a standing ovation from his student body and staff. "I am very humbled and honored to be your principal. I am taken aback right now.” Each school year, the Principal of the Year is nominated by and voted on by his or her peers – the other 22 principals in the Henderson County Public Schools system, giving special significance to the designation. “This is a huge honor, considering the number of great principals we have in our district,” said Chief Human Resources Officer W. Scott Rhodes. “Mr. Manuel has done an outstanding job leading Hendersonville Middle School. He is a kind and humble leader who loves his students and staff.” Math teacher Katy Gash described Manuel as not merely an administrator, but an empathetic leader. “He cares about you as a person,” Gash said. She added that she tacked some of Manuel’s words of wisdom on her classroom wall after a staff meeting he gave at the end of last year. “It says, ‘Be professional – be patient – be kind. Everything is fixable,’” said Gash. Manuel joined Henderson County Public Schools in 2000 as a social studies teacher and assistant football and baseball coach at Hendersonville High after graduating from Appalachian State University, and taught for three years before transferring to North Henderson High in 2003. Manuel taught social studies at North for five years, and coached football for a year before being named head football coach in 2004. After five years at North, Manuel became assistant principal at Hendersonville Middle in 2008, and also served as athletic director there in the 2012-13 school year. In 2013, he became assistant principal and athletic director at West Henderson High. In 2014, Manuel returned as principal to Hendersonville Middle – where he’s served ever since. In addition to his undergraduate degree, Manuel holds a masters degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University.     Read Story »

Hendersonville News

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 »

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