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Henderson County News

Newman to bring new charges in attempted murder case (2)

District Attorney Greg Newman said he plans to bring new felony charges against a man whose conviction was thrown out after a series of appeals. The state Supreme Court declined to issue an opinion in the attempted murder case of Leonard Schalow, who law officers say tortured and beat his wife nearly to death. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments  on the state’s appeal of the earlier reversal of Schalow’s 2015 conviction and prison sentence of 13 to 16 years.  “I attended the oral arguments in Raleigh at the Supreme Court last month on February 5 and one of the justices made a comment hinting that his preference was to send the case back for me to prosecute again," Newman said. "I am ready to do just that. Schalow will not get out of custody, but will instead be sent back to the Henderson County jail where new felony charges await him.  My goal is to have him receive a comparable sentence to the one originally imposed by Judge Powell.” Schalow, formerly of 717 Stoney Mountain Road in Hendersonville, was convicted by a Henderson County jury in 2015 of attempted first-degree murder by torture of his wife, Erin Schalow.  The couple has one child.  The N.C. Court of Appeals vacated the conviction in December 2015, saying that an earlier ruling by Superior Court Judge Mark Powell declaring a mistrial due to a defective indictment was technically incorrect. The subsequent, corrected indictment used to successfully prosecute Schalow was deemed a violation of his double jeopardy rights. “I appreciate the hard work by Assistant Attorney General Joe Hyde in his efforts to have the Supreme Court re-instate the original verdict and sentence,”  Newman said. “But things do not always go our way,  so I will make my adjustments and prosecute Mr. Schalow again.” Mr. Newman added, “domestic violence is unacceptable in our community and the facts of this case show extreme brutality.  I renew my pledge to do everything possible to see that Mr. Schalow is held to account for his actions.”     Read Story »

Mills River News

Top Raumedic executive moving to Mills River

The top executive of Raumedic is moving from Germany to Mills River, where he will oversee a new marketing push in the medical technology market. Martin Bayer, until recently sole board member of Raumedic AG, was appointed chairman of the entire group in February. He moved his office to North America, where he will be serving as president and CEO of Raumedic Inc. in Mills River. After completing the construction of an administration and production building in North Carolina, the company with Bavarian roots now is looking to quickly establish itself on the world’s largest medical technology market, while pursuing a globally consistent market cultivation strategy. “I look forward to devoting myself to this task, and being on site will provide me with the best conditions,” Bayer, 56, said in a news release. Under Bayer’s leadership the medical technology company has more than doubled its sales the past 10 years, growing the number of employees from 360 to over 700 worldwide. Given this growth and his new office in the U.S., Bayer points out how crucial it is that collaboration with his colleagues in Germany continues to run smoothly. To ensure this, regular video conferences with the Helmbrechts headquarters have already been scheduled. Additionally, Martin Schenkel, a seasoned member of management, was newly appointed as member of the board of Raumedic AG. As chief operating officer, Schenkel is responsible for production at all Raumedic sites. In his new role, he is now also the man in charge of the company headquarters, reporting to Bayer. In the process of reorganization, the management team of Raumedic AG will be further expanded in the next months.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

14-year-old charged with threat that forced lockdown

Sheriff's deputies on Monday charged a 14-year-old student with making a threat via Instagram that resulted in an hour-long lockdown of the Innovative High School on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College. Authorities placed the school on a “Code Yellow” or soft lockdown at 12:40 p.m.. A student notified administrators and shared with them a threat that allegedly popped up on his Instagram account during class. After an investigation by school administrators and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that the student reporting the message was the one who had made it. The student was charged with “Communicating a Threat of Mass Violence at an Educational Facility,” which is a Class H felony. The student was charged as a juvenile and released to the custody of his parent. At no time were any students in danger and the lockdown was lifted at 1:25 p.m.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Dana gets a Little Free Library

DANA — Little Free Libraries are small book exchanges found in 80 countries from Tasmania to Pakistan. There are 60,000 around the world and now there is one in Dana.Girl Scout Berit Raines of Troop 1901 and the Dana Wildcats 4-H Club partnered to put one up at Dana Community Park. Tim Hopkin of Henderson County Parks & Recreation facilitated the collaboration. Miss Raines built the library housing as her Silver Award project. The Dana Wildcats will maintain and stock the library as an ongoing community service project. The library features books for all ages, including a Spanish language children’s section.Girl Scout Troop 1901 and the Dana Wildcats 4-H Club thanked GBS, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Pat McAfee, President of the Henderson County Arts Council, Trina Rushing of Henderson County Library, Tim Hopkin of Henderson County Parks and Recreation, Dana Elementary School and the Friends of Dana Community Park for their support.A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, March 12, and is open to the public. The celebration will include book swaps. Refreshments will be provided and served by Dana Elementary School. Attendees are encouraged to bring a used book in good condition to swap or donate.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Fletcher teen charged with threat against Rugby Middle

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Fletcher teen after a report of a threat made through social media against Rugby Middle School on Sunday. Hunter Scott Aly, 17, was arrested Sunday and been charged with making a false report concerning mass violence on educational property and two counts of communicating threats. Aly’s bond has been set at $9,000. A first appearance was set for today in Henderson County District Court.   Read Story »

North Carolina News

State officials break ground on $110M Apodaca science building

There is an empty lot behind the Natural Sciences Building on Western Carolina University's campus. It's covered in grass and on Friday afternoon it was muddy. During a groundbreaking ceremony, Western Carolina and an all-star lineup of state officials praised the $110 million building that will rise from the site over he next three years. The new building, named for former State Senator Tom Apodaca, will contain 182,989 square feet and be six stories tall. The Natural Sciences Building that it will replace dates back to 1970s. Apodaca retired from the North Carolina Senate in 2016. Apodaca is one of the more well-known alums of Western Carolina University. Having graduated with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. “I never went in the science building,” Apodaca told the crowd, provoking laughter. “I made it a point not going into the science building when I was at Cullowhee.” Despite the jokes, Apodaca certainly does see the merit in higher education having sponsored such legislation during his time in the NC Senate. One such bill was the Access to Affordable College Education Act from 2016. He has a scholarship endowment at WCU. The Pilar C. Apodaca Schalorship is named for his grandmother, a second-generation American from Mexico. According to WCU's website, the scholarship is granted to students of high academic performance, good citizenship and community service with a preference given towards Hispanic Americans. After the groundbreaking ceremony, WCU officials Apocada's colleagues in the North Carolina Senate. Tom Belt, coordinator for WCU's Cherokee Language Program, delivered a Cherokee blessing. Speaking to his accomplishments as a member of the NC Senate was president pro tempore Phil Berger, who jokingly described his colleage as part teddy bear and part grizzly bear because you would never know which one you were going to get. Berger also joined in on jokes about Apodaca having a science building named after him. “Everyone knows that economics is referred to as the 'dismal science,' so this building is perfectly apt for someone who is a economic minor,” Berger said. “Tom understands that college is a significant investment that leads to higher paying jobs, a better-skilled workforce and stronger local economies. He knows that escalating costs and rising student debt are threatening the value of that investment. That’s why, as a state senator, he spearheaded the NC Promise program, which guarantees in-state undergraduate students at three public universities across our state – including Western Carolina University – pay just $1,000 in tuition each year.” The tuition plan starts this fall at WCU and at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Elizabeth City State University. UNC system President Margaret Spellings noted that Apodaca had always supported his alma mater. “Growing up in North Carolina, you went to Cullowhee, forged a deep bond with your school, then stayed in the region and launched a highly successful career creating companies, serving the state and ultimately succeeding at the highest levels of state government,” Spellings said. “And at every step along the way, you gave back to your alma mater, lifted it up alongside you and fought for it in Raleigh. And you’ve delivered results for this university, just as you delivered results for the entire UNC System and for the entire state.” Made possible through funding from the 2016 statewide $2 billion Connect NC bond referendum, the Apodaca building will replace WCU’s existing, 1970s-era Natural Sciences Building. Construction will begin later this year, followed by completion and occupancy by June 2021. The building will include five stories of laboratory, classroom, assembly and office space, with the sixth story serving as a “mechanical penthouse.” It will feature a large, 150-person lecture hall, a science commons area on the first floor and a rooftop plaza for astronomy observations. The WCU Board of Trustees voted in December 2016 to name the building in honor of Apodaca in recognition of his years of service to and support of the Western North Carolina region and the university, including his time as a member of the WCU Board of Trustees and his extensive advocacy for the university in the General Assembly.     Read Story »

Hendersonville News

County GOP meets on Saturday

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and State Treasurer Dale Folwell will headline the annual convention of the Henderson County Republican Party at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Apple Valley Middle School. “We believe this year’s Convention will be one of our best," said party Chair Merry Guy. "We have seen so much enthusiasm this year for conservative candidates who support our platform. I think the tax cuts and booming economy have helped encourage Republicans to get involved because they know they can make a difference.” Republican activists will also hear from primary candidates and conduct party business. "Delegates are elected at precinct level and from there are eligible to move up the levels of organization, even to the National Republican Committee delegate level if elected," Guy said. “We hear so much about the delegates sent to the RNC to nominate our Presidential candidates, but few understand that they started as credentialed delegates at the Convention in their own precinct and county before they could move up.” For more information visit http://hendersoncountygop.com/ or call 828-693-6040. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the time of the event as 11 a.m.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

City names finance director

The City of Hendersonville announces the promotion of John Buchanan to the position of Finance Director. According to Assistant City Manager Brian Pahle, “John stood out as the clear candidate for the position and has demonstrated his knowledge and skills through his leadership and multiple financial process improvements for the City”. Mr. Buchanan began working for the City of Hendersonville as an Accounting Supervisor in January 2015. John has two Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, one in accounting and the other in management from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a North Carolina Certified Local Government Finance Officer (CGFO). John will be asked to lead an outstanding Finance team which includes two additional Certified Government Finance Officers. “We welcome John to the position and look forward to his continued leadership”, said Pahle.   John began his duties on March 1.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

YMCA to manage Patton Park and Pool

The City of Hendersonville is partnering with the Hendersonville Family YMCA to manage Patton Park and Pool for the next three years, effective immediately.Hendersonville residents will enjoy the same level of park access they have now, with the same hours of operation, but with more activities. The Y will offer swim lessons and swim team, youth sports, and summer day camp, as well as programs for families and active older adults."Year-round programming means more staff will be on site more often, and those extra eyes will ensure that the park and pool are safe for individuals and families," said City of Hendersonville Public Works Director Tom Wooten. "Current amenities will be enhanced, making Patton Park an even more attractive City asset."The Y is excited about working with the City to expand services at Patton Park and Pool, said Dr. John M. Bryant, chair of the Hendersonville Family YMCA Advisory Committee and associate superintendent of the Henderson County Public Schools. "This partnership between an exceptional nonprofit and the City of Hendersonville is the perfect example of what makes Henderson County great," Bryant said. "It aligns with the Y's pillars of focus – youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility – and gives us the ability to ensure that we're serving kids in our community, creating safety around water opportunities, and educating kids, not just providing them a fun and exciting opportunity over the summer. I'm so proud to be a supporter and encourager of the work the Y is doing in this community."The Y operates more than 2,000 pools nationwide, and invented the concept of group swimming lessons more than a century ago. "Thousands of Hendersonville residents have learned to swim at the Y over the years," said Hendersonville Family YMCA Executive Director Josh Simpson. "Managing Patton Pool gives us a greater opportunity to educate the next generation about water safety and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming."The City will continue to manage pavilion rentals. The Y will have priority access to the pavilions during the summer months between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., but will work with the City if a daytime rental request is received. Rentals at night and on weekends will not be limited during summer months. The Y will handle group reservations of the sports fields.Registration for swim lessons, summer day camp, and youth sports such as soccer, flag football, and lacrosse are now open at ymcawnc.org. New and existing YMCA members who purchase an annual pass to Patton Pool before May 24 are eligible for a $20 credit toward YMCA programs. For more information, please contact the Hendersonville Family YMCA at 828 697 9622.   Read Story »

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