Wednesday, May 14, 2025
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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 »
Don’t this miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning. Read Story »
Numerous defendants received active prison sentences after pleading guilty or being convicted of crimes in Henderson County Superior Court May 23-June 3, District Attorney Greg Newman announced. Jonathan Russell, formerly of 54 Brookside Drive, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to four counts of Misdemeanor Assault on a Child under 12 years old. Russell coached the victims’ baseball team and would invite them to stay overnight at his house. On multiple occasions over a three-year period, Russell would take the boys to his bedroom, lock the door, and spank them on their bare bottoms, prosecutors said. Russell told the boys not to tell their parents. During the hearing of Russell’s guilty plea, he testified to the judge that he disciplined the boys out of love and he treated them as he would his own children. One of the victims and multiple family members also addressed the judge during the hearing and asked the judge to impose the harshest sentenced allowed by law.Russell was sentenced to 120 days confinement to be followed by 18 months supervised probation. While on probation, Russell cannot be alone with anyone under 18 years of age other than his biological children. He cannot work or volunteer at an establishment that specifically caters to children under 18 years of age and he is not allowed to coach any sport or event. Russell also has to submit to anger management and a mental evaluation. In other cases: Victor Portela Rueda, of TJ Trail, Hendersonville, NC, pled guilty to two counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child and Assault on a Female. Rueda received three consecutive sentences totaling five years in prison. Ricardo Lanier, of 401 East Blue Ridge Road, East Flat Rock, was found guilty by a jury of Habitual Misdemeanor Assault and was sentenced to 32 months in prison. William Scott Brown, of 528 E. Hwy 108 Lot 24, Mill Spring, was found guilty by a jury of Larceny of an Anti-Theft Device and sentenced to 32 months in prison. Brown also pled guilty to Possession of Controlled Substance in a Prison/Jail and was sentenced to 33 months in prison to run concurrent to his current sentence. Larry Middleton, of 1280 Union Hill Church Road, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and was sentenced to 50 months in prison. Jeffrey Brevard, of 1058 McMinn Road, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Felony Hit and Run, Felony Child Abuse, and Driving While Impaired. Brevard was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Jesus Reyes Perez, of 25 Volunteer Way, East Flat Rock, pled guilty to Attempted Statutory Rape and was sentenced to 210 months in prison. Bruce Musser, of 6100 Howard Gap Road, Flat Rock, pled guilty to two counts of Common Law Robbery and was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Joseph Fleischer, of 2125 Pisgah Drive, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Conspire to Commit Larceny and Habitual Felon. Fleischer was sentenced to 54 months in prison. Windell Flowers, of 620 Jonas Street, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Habitual Felon, Attempted Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Cocaine, and Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place for Controlled Substance. Flowers was sentenced to 65 months in prison. Lowell Love, of 135 Frank Hill Road, Hendersonville pled guilty to Misdemeanor Larceny and was sentenced to 45 days in jail. Jose Guerra, of 140 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC, pled guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and was sentenced to 47 months in prison. Sergio Waters, of 92 Weston Circle, Fletcher, NC, was found guilty by a jury of Speeding and sentenced to five days in jail. Read Story »
Henderson County residents will see higher taxes when they get their property tax bill this fall. Read Story »
Flanked by large signboards listing 77 major state and national awards the Boys & Girls Club has won, Executive Director Kevin Lauritsen declared that being the best is not good enough. Read Story »
Henderson County sheriff's deputies charged two teenagers with three felonies after a series of break-ins early Saturday in Edneyville. Read Story »
LAUREL PARK — Getting around in Laurel Park — whether by foot, bike or car — should get more pleasant in the upcoming budget year. Read Story »
FLAT ROCK— Flat Rock has a nice park. Now the Village Council is wrestling with how to pay for the growing demand for park improvements and ongoing maintenance. Read Story »
The latest installment of Thomas Brass's KnollsCam in the woods atop Haywood Knolls is a tale of three species. Read Story »
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