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Henderson County News

Runaway is found safe

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office say a 15-year-old runaway they were seeking has been found safe. Diana Laura Lopez-Rodriguez had been reported missing on Monday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Helicopter crew rescues camper from Linville Gorge

Mountain rescue teams, local rescuers and an emergency helicopter crew worked together in frigid predawn conditions Saturday to rescue a camper in Linville Gorge who was suffering heart problems. The 59-year old man had been winter camping with a party along the Pinch-In trail, near the river at the bottom of Linville Gorge when he began experiencing chest pains.  The campers called 911 and local rescuers and two Mountain Rescue Teams responded to assist.  Rescue teams hiked in, reached the campers in the gorge and provided first aid and advanced life support. Facing a carry out of several hours over icy trails, the rescue teams called for HC HART (Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team) is to assist with the emergency evacuation.    A North Carolina National Guard UH-60 aircrew and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department lifted off from Salisbury and arrived on the scene around 4:30 a.m.  They hoisted the man to safety, along with paramedics who were treating him, delivered him to an EMS vehicle and he was transported to a local hospital. Responders from Burke County Rescue, McDowell Rescue, the Parkway Fire and Rescue Department and from the Parkway Fire and Linville Central Mountain Rescue Teams assisted in the rescue effort.  “We are grateful to all the rescuers who train extensively and were there to help in these cold and icy conditions,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. North Carolina Emergency Management supports five specially trained and equipped Mountain Rescue Teams based across western North Carolina. Two of those teams were involved in this rescue. NC HART is a North Carolina Emergency Management program that pairs civilian rescuers with military and law enforcement aviation assets. Local rescue technicians complete extensive helo-aquatic rescue training with helicopters and aircrews from the State Highway Patrol and N.C. National Guard. On any given mission, two or three of the 60 specially-trained technicians are called upon and partnered with an aircrew to rescue stranded or injured persons. Technicians and pilots train together monthly, rotating training sites so they can practice various types of rescues: people stranded in rapidly moving water, on mountains, cliffs or waterfalls. Contact:  Keith Ac   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ellis appointed to lead 
asset forfeiture program

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced that Corey Ellis, first assistant U.S. Attorney of the Western District of North Carolina, will serve as the director of Asset Forfeiture Accountability in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Deep freeze causes water outage, closes library

A main water leak downtown resulting in broken valves due to the extreme cold weather conditions has affected water service onparts of Washington Street, West Allen Street, Justice Street and Fourth, Third and First avenues, the city said in a news release. Crews are working to make repairs and an estimated time for completion is 4 p.m. today. The outage also closed the main branch of the public library on Washington Street. The Water Department would like to remind everyone that a Boil Water Advisory means that if you feel you need to boil your water you may do so. A Boil Water Notice means you are required to boil your water before use. Please use your own discretion today as this is a Boil Water Advisory. For questions or concerns please contact Andy Brogden at 828-214-9567 or abrodgen@hvlnc.gov   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Voters may resist giving up power to elect judges

RALEIGH — The Republican-led Senate Select Committee on Judicial Reform and Redistricting on Wednesday rolled out a skeleton proposal for a constitutional amendment to switch from electing judges to a multistep appointment process.   Read Story »

Fletcher News

Spike in flu cases prompts Park Ridge to restrict hospital visits

Due to a sharp increase in influenza-like illnesses being reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Park Ridge Health has implemented visitor restrictions. To protect patients, visitors, providers and staff, the following restrictions are in place at Park Ridge Health: No hospital visitors under the age of 18 permitted. Visitors are limited to immediate family and clergy only. The number of visitors is limited to one or two at a time, unless special circumstances are presented. No hospital visitors with cough or other flu symptoms permitted. “Park Ridge Health is taking this step to ensure the safety of our patients and the staff who is dedicated to caring for them,” said Jimm Bunch, Park Ridge Health President & CEO. “We have already seen the impact of the whooping cough outbreak on our communities and now the influenza rates are reaching a point where visitor restrictions are in the best interest of our patients, their families, and our care team.” In December, Park Ridge Health implemented visitor restrictions due to the increase in confirmed cases of Pertussis (whooping cough). The visitor restrictions will remain in place until the elevated risk for exposure to the either of these illnesses returns to normal levels.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

CITY OKs GREY MILL DEVELOPMENT PACT

The Hendersonville City Council on Thursday approved a development agreement that will result if things go as planned in a small hotel and event space in the historic Grey Hosiery Mill by the fall of 2019. Council members breathed a public sigh of relief after the vote, which seems to have culminated at least 10 years of efforts to develop the 1915 industrial building. Councilman Steve Caraker said he had made redevelopment of the historic mill building a goal since he was first elected to the council 10 years ago. “I also think it will be worth all the 10 years of trial and tribulation," Caraker said. The city closed on the sale of the historic factory and 2.3-acre site last week to Grey Mill Venture LLC, a subsidiary of Belmont Sayre, which the City Council selected as developer for the project last summer. The agreement spells out the developer’s obligations to invest around $8 million on an adaptive reuse that would transform the 102-year-old brick structure into a hotel with 57 rooms and 2,100 square feet of event space. Under the contract, the city commits to streetscape improvements on Fourth Avenue East from North Grove Street to North Main Street. Councilman Jeff Miller said the tax reform bill that Congress passed and President Trump signed just before Christmas initially scrapped historic renovation tax credits that make the project doable. He credited U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows for inserting language into the bill that saved the tax credits. "This whole thing was going to go down in flames," Miller said. "Congressman Meadows called and asked for all the details that had to be in there and went over and worked on the Senate side to make sure we didn’t lose this. I'm not putting a partisan issue  in it but I think you ought to thank someone when they’ve done something. ... We came this close to being totally whacked." Councilman Jerry Smith said that he had heard plenty about the mill throughout his eight years on the council. His usual answer: "You’re right. Something should’ve happened by now." He also thanked city staffers who worked through the Christmas holidays tweaking the complicated and legally precise agreement so the sale could close before Jan. 1. Among the sweeteners for the developer is a $500,000 community development block grant that will become a forgivable loan to Belmont Sayre if it meets job creation targets. The agreement requires the developer to start project development by June 30 of this year, start construction by Jan. 1, 2019, and “use commercially reasonable best efforts” to complete the hotel by Oct. 1, 2019. The hotel also must display historical photos of the mill and text describing its history in a convenient and accessible place within the hotel. The city agrees to streetscape improvements for two blocks of Fourth Avenue East including pedestrian level lighting, enhanced crosswalks and improved sidewalks. Belmont Sayre’s proposal for a 57-room boutique hotel and an event space for 70 people hotel fell short of the City Council’s vision of a 130-room facility with meeting space for 300 people. But the Carrboro group’s proposal matched the council’s criteria better than those of other bidders. Built in 1915, the mill added additions in 1919 and 1947 before it ceased operating in 1967. The city bought the mill building in 1990 and added an adjoining lot in May 2007, the Williams property on Oct. 20, 2016, and the Pilgrim property on March 17, 2017, for a total of 2.28 acres. The Grey Mill development benefits the public by integrating the historic mill property with Main Street and the Historic Seventh Avenue District, the agreement says.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

City Council is poised to scrap court-like zoning cases

During the long run-up to the rezoning case for a new Hendersonville High School, constituents bombarded Hendersonville City Council members with pleas, opinions and ideas. Yet, because of the legal constraints governing a special-use request, council members had to refrain from discussing the case and technically even listening to what amounted to a form of pre-trial testimony.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Four charged with drug-related felonies

Henderson County Sheriff’s deputies charged four people with drug-related felonies after a traffic stop on New Year's Eve. Deputies spotted a vehicle that broke multiple traffic laws at the intersection of Kanuga Road and Price Road and attempted to pull the vehicle over. A short chase ensued before the vehicle stopped. After deputies conducted a felony vehicle stop four passengers were arrested and charged. Arrested were: -- Lindsey Adair Morgan, 26, of 108 Glenwood Road, charged with felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance and served with failure to appear on a previous drug paraphernalia charge. Morgan is being held in the Henderson County Jail under a $7,000.00 secured bond. -- Henry Lee Mixon, 49, of 41 Hilda Capps Lane in Hendersonville, charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Mixon was released from the Henderson County Jail on an $8,000.00 secured bond. -- Christopher Scott Fleischer,  34, of 59 Heavenly Valley Lane, charged with felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance and a parole violation. Fleischer was released from the Henderson County Jail on a $6,000.00 secured bond. -- Elizabeth Leigh Rogers, 31, of 35 Peachtree Lane, was charged with felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Rogers was released from the Henderson County Jail on a $14,000.00 secured bond.   Read Story »

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