Free Daily Headlines

News

Set your text size: A A A

News

Two challengers, two incumbents win School Board seats

Henderson County News

Four Seasons wins $600,000 grant to expand telepalliative care

Four Seasons Compassion for Life has received a $600,000 grant that it will use to expand its telepalliative care model to serve more in-home hospice patients, the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation announced. The Hillman Foundation announced the 2016 recipients of the Hillman Innovations in Care Program, a multi-year initiative funding leading edge, nursing-driven programs that address the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations. The two winning projects – the otehr is an advanced illness care program supporting the communities served by African-American churches in Alameda County, Calif., — were selected from a diverse field of over 160 applicants. "This year’s grant recipients are potential game changers,” said Ahrin Mishan, executive director of the Hillman Foundation. "Each person-centered, community-focused program is uniquely positioned to make a national impact on the care of underserved populations with advanced illnesses.” Four Seasons serves a number of rural, low-income counties in a geography and climate that does not allow for consistent, coordinated health care and poses numerous challenges for nurses charged with regular hospice care home visits. It will receive a $600,000 three-year grant. “Telehospice is a promising care delivery innovation that can enhance communication among caregivers and the care team, and improve the hospice experience for those most in need,” said Bobbie Berkowitz, RN, PhD, FAAN, Dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing and chair of the Foundation's Advisory Committee. “With over 35 years of award-winning experience in hospice care, Four Seasons is well equipped to implement and lead this effort.” The goal of the Hillman Innovations in Care Program is to advance leading edge, nursing-driven models of care that improve the health and health care of vulnerable populations, including the economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBQT, the homeless, rural populations, and other groups that encounter barriers to accessing healthcare services.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Naked 'irrational' driver dies after deputies fire Taser

An "extremely irrational and non-compliant" motorist who emerged naked from a wrecked car on Howard Gap Road early today was shot by a Taser and later died, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The sheriff's office received a call at 1:09 a.m. reporting a motor vehicle collision involving multiple parked cars at an apartment complex on Howard Gap Road. When deputies arrived about five minutes later they found the driver of the wrecked vehicle naked in the middle of Howard Gap Road "acting extremely irrational and non-compliant," Maj. Frank Stout said. As the deputies attempted to take the driver into custody he charged at the officers, who fired the stun gun. "After the Taser was deployed and the driver brought under control, emergency service workers began evaluating the driver for any possible injuries. During the medical evaluation, the driver went into full arrest and was transported immediately to Park Ridge Hospital. Attempts to revive the driver were unsuccessful." The name of the driver is was withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina SBI are investigating the incident, Stout said.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET ON HHS

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners will meet with the School Board for a joint discussion on the Hendersonville High School construction next week, the first time the two bodies will have sat down in the same room amid a widening conflict over power and money.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County employee honored as top public health nurse

A Henderson County public health nurse was honored as the outstanding public health nurse in North Carolina.The Board of Commissioners on Monday recognized Betsy Alexander, who has been a public health nurse for the past 18 years.“Betsy presents a tireless effort to advance the cause and importance of public health nursing,” Public Health Director Steve Smith said in nominating Alexander for the award. She was the second Henderson County public health nurse to win the award in the past 10 years, said Commissioner Bill Lapsley, who also serves on the Board of Health. Barbara Stanley previously won the honor.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

ALMOST OVER! Here's where to drop off signs

The Henderson County Parks and Recreation Jackson Park office building parking lot at 801 Fourth Avenue East has been designated as the drop-off location for all campaign signs beginning Wednesday, Nov. 9. There will be signs in place to direct citizens to the proper area for disposing of the campaign signs. Please place the signs in piles by candidate. Candidates may pick up their signs any time afterwards. For more information contact the Henderson County Parks and Recreation at (828) 697-4884.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ron Shuler, funeral director, dies at age 75

Rutledge Everett “Ron” Shuler Jr., passed away Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock after a valiant struggle with cancer. He was 75. Ron was born on February 14, 1941, to Lillie Mae Rickenbaker Shuler and Rutledge Everett Shuler, Sr. in Orangeburg County, S.C. He grew up swimming, fishing, and skiing from the loamy banks of Lake Marion. He fell in love with golf as a teen and helped build his first home course, Holly Hill Country Club, while receiving lessons from the local professional. Ron always loved a good day’s work, and he poured himself into every venture he pursued. After graduating from Holly Hill High School in 1959, Ron attended the University of South Carolina. After USC, Ron moved to Dallas, Texas, to study at Gupton-Jones Mortuary Institute, completing his coursework for licensure in 1964, while also serving as Vice-President of his class. Interestingly, while there, Ron worked as a paramedic and found himself driving an ambulance the day of John. F. Kennedy’s assassination. He was at Parkland Memorial Hospital during the tragic events, something which left a poignant and indelible memory. After graduation, Ron returned to his home state of South Carolina to pursue his career in funeral service. Ron met the his wife, Faye Kirby, in Florence, S.C., while he was working as a funeral director. They were married in August of 1965. In South Carolina, he actively served the community as president of the Jaycees and in other civic roles. Before retiring from his tenure with Batesville Casket Company, Ron was inducted into the Masters Club, the company's highest honor. In 1975, the family moved to Hendersonville. In 1997, he and Faye founded Shuler Funeral Home. His years at Shuler Funeral Home were the most fulfilling of his career life and he felt humbled and grateful each day to help families during some of their most difficult days. He believed in the wonder of human compassion and in the dignity of life, and he made these tenets the mission of his work. Ron was a member of Hendersonville First Baptist Church for 40 years, serving as a children’s Sunday School teacher and as a Deacon. His love for Christ, heart for his family, and desire to help others were the motivators of his life. His other passion was golf. Ron was an avid and naturally gifted golfer who enjoyed his memberships at Hendersonville Country Club and in the Crooked Creek Men’s Golf Association. Ron was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Faye Kirby Shuler, and his father, Rutledge Shuler, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Lillie Mae Rickenbaker Shuler, and his sister, Lynda Shuler Caughman, both of Lexington, SC; two daughters, Heather Shuler Stepp, and husband, Christopher, of Flat Rock, and Holly Shuler Ollis, and husband, Jeff, of Greensboro. Ron is also survived by two grandsons, Samuel Rutledge Stepp and Micah Wade Ollis; three granddaughters, Kirby Nichole Ollis, Celeste Leslea Ollis, and Lilly Margaret Ollis; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Kirby Tart and husband, Thomas, and Annie Mae Kirby Broach and husband, Ralph, and brother-in-law, Alton Kirby and wife, Judy, all of Florence, SC; and by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, Nov. 11, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Steve Scoggins and the Rev. Wally Shamburger will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. in the church prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731, or to First Baptist Church, 312 Fifth Ave W, Hendersonville, NC 28739.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Forest Service bans burning

Because of increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits in Henderson County and 24 other counties in Western North Carolina. The burning ban, which takes effect at 5 p.m. Monday, will be in effect until further notice. Violation of the ban carries a $100 fine plus court costs of $180. Here are a few facts about the law regarding the ban on open burning: The burn ban does not apply to cooking fires such as grills or outdoor cookers. The Forest Service ban does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. County fire marshals have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. In addition, other local ordinances and air quality regulations may also impact open burning. If a fire within that 100-foot area escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be responsible for reimbursing the N.C. Forest Service for any expenses related to extinguishing it. Open burning includes burning leaves, branches and other plant material. In all cases, it is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials. Outdoor burning is also prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban. As of Nov. 6, there had been 2,829 wildfires affecting more than 18,158 acres on state-protected lands across North Carolina this year. More than 1,000 of those fires were in the mountains and burned 3,375 acres. State-protected lands include state- and privately owned properties. For more information contact the county Fire Marshal’s Office at 828-697-4728.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Drug unit brings multiple felony charges

Henderson County Sheriff’s Direct Enforcement Team detectives charged a 60-year-old Etowah man with multiple drug felonies last week after they responded to reports from neighbors of suspicious activity at his house.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... about the right site for a hotel

A boutique hotel? After hearing from the UNC consulting group supporting a 130-room “boutique” hotel on the Grey Hosiery Mill site, I started thinking like the old planning hack I was some years ago. The mill site is a two-block uphill hike to Main Street and you have to cross the King Street “Interceptor.” There is little room for a streetscape. Hotel guests would look down on a jail, an impound lot, warehouses and the back side of buildings. Not stuff that spells boutique. Let’s be fair. We all know that location drives real estate but there is new thinking out now that says “invest in what’s hot.” But just how hot is the neighborhood between North Grove and the railroad tracks and if it’s not hot, can the city light the fire?To support their claim that a boutique hotel could make it on the Mill site the consultants looked at four towns they deemed comparable. So with the super powers afforded me by Google Maps, I swooped down on each town to see for myself.Staunton, Va., has a nice downtown with narrow streets. The majestic Stonewall Jackson Hotel has 124 rooms and a conference center. It’s two blocks from a commercial strip and two blocks from Mary Baldwin University. No busy streets to cross.Beaufort, S.C., is a dandy little historic town on the Harbor River. They have a few B&Bs on palmetto-lined streets and a 43-room chain hotel across from a marina plus a smaller hotel billed as “romantic.”Blowing Rock is a charming old mountainside resort town with a dozen small inns and B&Bs in walking distance from shops and eateries. Nice town but it feels more like Saluda than Hendersonville, without the railroad.New Bern has a downtown “area” not a strip. The two upscale hotels combine for 169 rooms and overlook the waterfront where boaters can dock. In between is a convention center and two blocks away is the historic Tryon Palace, a big tourist attraction.The consultants looked at four hot spots and concluded that since downtown room rates were significantly higher than at their counterpart highway hotels, a 130-room hotel on the Mill site could make it. I’m not buying that. Not without a river, a marina, a college, or a tree-lined mountain top. And let’s not kid ourselves, our Mill building neighborhood is anything but romantic. Anyone who books rooms online can hit the map button and see.Yet we do need downtown accommodations. The best sites with the best views should be between King and Church — not at the bottom of the hill. I easily found four suitable locations all fronting on Main Street. Sure, they would have to combine some properties or remove some buildings but isn’t that exactly what Publix just did? Do we really need 130 rooms? The Inn on Church does well with its 21.Finally, what to do with the Mill building? Bulldoze it. The highest and best use of the square block is an arts and residential district. Craft a smart plan for neighborhood revitalization and link it to Seventh Avenue. Then and only then will the area catch fire.  * * * * * Following 10 years in the city manager profession, Matt Matteson served as Henderson County's planning director from 1989 to 1999. He holds a certificate from the American Institute of Certified Planners.   Read Story »

News Archive