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McMinn honored for 25 years of service

Henderson County News

Sheriff McDonald joins Trump in White House school safety talk

President Trump held a lengthy roundtable discussion on school safety on Thursday, surrounded by local and state officials, including Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald. Trump came out in support of denying assault weapon purcahses to anyone under 21 years old, said he supported allowing qualified teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools. "The day before yesterday I got a call from Congressman Meadows office that said,"Hey can you be here in Washington on Thursday. The president wants to meet with elected offiicials and law enforcement because he's trying to get togother ideas and get something moving on this school safey issue while everybody's focused on it.' I had no idea I'd be sitting next toJeff Sessions and (Florida Attorney General) Pam Bondi and meeting Kellyanne Conway. "I think what they're really looking at doing is to bring a lot of ideas and come up with a model that can be be used" across the country, perhaps with the help of federal grants. "I caught that there was a very serious commitment right now and in listening to (Trump) talk I got the impression that's he's commtted," he said in a phone interview from Washington. When he got to McDonald, Trump mentioned the congressman who had recommended the Henderson County sheriff for the school safety talks. “Congressman Meadows is a big fan of yours, that I can tell you, you know who I’m talking about,” Trump told him. "I've been very impressedwith a lot of the ideas I’ve heard and I do think mental health is a serious issue," McDonald said. "It’s affected us across the nation. I know it is in North Carolina. I appreciatre your courage to talk about the fact that I do think there is a place for properly trained people in certain areas as well. I think multilayered securities like an onion has got a lot of facets and I believe you’ve got the courage and leadership to bring all this together. I know there’s a lot of good ideas out there but it’s going to take a lot of courage on the part of leaders of this nation to bring the community together." Trump echoed that. "It’s going to take a lot of political courage," he said. “Some of it won’t be politically correct.” "My deal was that I appreciate the fact that he's got the commitment and courage to entertain some things that maybe people aren't that warm about," McDonald said later. One of only two law enforcement officials invited and the only sheriff, McDonald said he was honored to be a part of the discussion. "I appreciate the congressman" suggesting him for the roundtable, he said. "I told him really him I'm not intersted in something that's just a dog and pony show and he said 'I wouldn't send you there for that.' I was very pleased with the attention it's getting." Sheriff's Maj. Frank Stout said he did not have a lot of details about how the invitation came about but that Meadows, who is close to Trump and is a strong supporter of McDonald, had been a go-between. "It has been a very very short-notice trip," he said. "It was very good opportunity for the sheriff to be invited to Washington." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. RETURN TO THE LIGHTNING FOR MORE.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Sheriff's deputies seek shooter in Holbert Road murder

Sheriff’s deputies are seeking a suspect in a shooting that killed a 28-year-old Hendersonville man.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Pieces selected for second annual Artscape exhibit

A two-person jury chose 49 works of art from 177 submissions for the upcoming ArtScape Banner Project.   Read Story »

Edneyville News

Commission rejects long-term solution for Edneyville sewage service

Faced with a decision about sewerage treatment options for the new Edneyville Elementary School that would affect future growth, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners booted a long-term plan and opted for a short-term solution. Commissioners on Wednesday directed county staff to look at two options to deal with the immediate issue of service for just the school: an on-site septic system and a package plant. Both plans are the least expensive of five options that had been on the table and in choosing them the board delayed a larger policy decision of whether to serve the apple country with a line to Hendersonville's treatment plant. County manager Steve Wyatt said it would take 30 days — “a busy 30 days” – for county engineers to develop those proposals. The quick turnaround is necessary because ground is expected to be broken for the new school in March and permitting and financing deadlines loom as soon as May. Bitter feelings about water and sewer services in Henderson County occupied commissioners’ thoughts from early in the meeting, when Rep. Chuck McGrady addressed the commissioners about his frustration with the Metropolitan Sewer District and its refusal in December to add representatives from Henderson County to its board in a regional approach to water and sewer issues. McGrady sponsored legislation last year that would have required the MSD to add the Henderson county representatives if the MSD had voted to merge with the Cane Creek Sewer District, which serves 3,700 customers in northern Henderson County. McGrady said he “stands ready for legislative action when needed and approached” by the county but that “if a memo of understanding can be signed by Henderson County and Asheville, then there would be no need for legislation.” He urged “engagement with the City of Hendersonville to work through some of these issues … and address the 70 percent (of water customers) without representation.” Customers who live outside of Hendersonville’s city limits pay higher rates for water than customers who live inside the city. The city is looking to bring those rates more in line with each other as it invests in its system over the next five years. Commission Chair Michael Edney said he and Commissioner Bill Lapsley met with Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk, Council Member Steve Caraker and City Manager John Connet on Feb. 13 to discuss water issues. What he took away from the meeting, he said, was that “the city likes things where they are.” Lapsley, in detailing the five options for providing water and sewer service to Edneyville, said the city’s attitude about taking on new customers has changed over the years. “The political considerations now are different than 10 years ago” when the city took on customers because of a service extension to Atkinson Elementary School, he said. “The City Council controls the growth of Henderson County because they control the largest water and sewer system,” Lapsley said. “They control the destiny of growth and development.” Because “we should not submit property owners along 64 East to the costs from the city,” Lapsley recommended that the county pursue ways to provide service for the new elementary school only. Those two ways also are the most affordable: a septic system with drain field that would cost $705,000 to build and $35,000 annually to maintain. or a package plant at a cost of $950,000 to build and $35,000 annually to maintain. The package plant would require state approval. None of the commissioners challenged his suggestions. A frustrated Charlie Messer said, “Our hands are tied … We need to get in the sewer business … You can say we can’t afford it because of the costs. But what’s it going to be 10 years from now, 15 years from now? We need to give an option to residents outside of the city. We owe it to the people of Henderson County to come up with a plan.” Lapsley’s proposals, however, were not supported by the five residents from Edneyville who spoke during the public comment time. Instead, they urged the board to choose the so-called Barnwell proposal that would combine a gravity sewer line along US 64 with several pumping stations. Apple grower Kenny Barnwell offered the idea weeks ago as a compromise to serve agricultural interests and the tourist industry and to protect the natural beauty of the area. “The community would like the commissioners to follow the 2020 Plan and provide sewer service to Edneyville Elementary School … A sewer line along Highway 64 where the water line currently runs would serve the existing businesses, the agritourism locations and planned future developments … We want to protect and grow what we are blessed with as intelligently as possible,” he told commissioners. Commissioner Tommy Thompson remarked on those comments as he offered his opinions about what option the board should choose. “This morning there was more of a consensus of the Barnwell line rather than the gravity line. Our communities need to be telling us what they want rather than us telling them what they are going to get,” Thompson said. “With no more information than I have today, I would have to say that overall the best solution to Edneyville School is the hybrid down 64. But because of the problems with the city of Hendersonville, butting heads, we should make option 1 or option 2 work and be on guard” for the possibility of the Barnwell option or gravity line in the future. “With a better working relationship with the city, and maybe with the county in the sewer business,” it might make sense in the future, he said. But for now, he threw his support behind the more limited services of the septic system or the package plant. The options that commissioners set aside were a force-main system with a single sewage pumping station at a cost of $1.5 million and an annual maintenance of $29,000; the Barnwell option with three smaller pumping stations and 3.4 miles of collectors along U.S. 64 at a cost of $4.58 million and annual maintenance of $31,000 per year; and the gravity sewer line of 4.8 miles at a cost of $4.5 million and annual maintenance of $19,000 per year.         Read Story »

Henderson County News

Laurel Park also puts heat on Waste Pro

LAUREL PARK — Facing a 30-day window from the county to fix widespread service problems, Waste Pro is also responding to complaints of poor service in the town of Laurel Park, where it has a contract to serve 1,265 households.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

McGrady still pushing regional water solution

State Rep. Chuck McGrady infuriated Hendersonville City Council members last year when he filed a bill in the Legislature that would put the city water system under state control.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (162)

You won't want to miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Bearcat Jayvees win Mountain Six title

The Hendersonville High School Jayvee Girls basketball team won the Mountain Six Conference Championship on Thursday, Feb. 15, defeating Franklin High School at Franklin. Picture, from left, front row, are Anne Marie Jones, Caitlyn Barnwell, Callie Swanger, Miriam Smith, Cora Stuerner, Ellie Bowen, Journee McMinn; back row, Coach Alexis Hubert, Asia McKnight, Alexandra Mills, Katie Parce, Aubrey Bish, Kathryn Thomas.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

In a surprise, Meadows picks up a primary opponent

The last day of candidate qualifying for the 2018 brought a major surprise when an Asheville developer who has been a strong supporter of U.S. Mark Meadows filed to run in the Republican primary against the three-term incumbent. Charles Wallace "Chuck" Archerd is active in Republican politics in Buncombe County. Democrat Brownie Newman defeated him 56 to 44 percent when he ran for chair of the Board of Commissioners in 2016. Archerd was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Meadows when the Highlands developer first announced in 2011 that he was running for the 11th Congressional District seat, which the newly Republican-led North Carolina Legislature had drawn into one of the most strongly Republican seats in the state. Archerd told the Asheville Citizen-Times that he asked for a meeting with Meadows, where he "just peppered him with questions." Archerd came away from the breakfast meeting at a Waffle House impressed with the first-time candidate as "very personable, reasonably conservative and very articulate – and I always appreciate a man of faith." He wrote him a check for $2,500. Archerd issued a statement indicating he was aware of Washington chatter that Meadows could be in line to replace retired Gen. John Kelly as President Trump's chief of staff or receive some other high-ranking administration job. And, in an unusual statement for a challenger, said he said he supports the incumbent's re-election. "To my knowledge he does not have any offers or accepted any offers," Archerd said in an interview. Even so, Archerd depicts himself as a standby between now and November should Meadows leave Congress. "For more than six years I have supported Congressman Meadows, as he has provided strong conservative representation for Western North Carolina," he said in a statement. "I continue to support him in his reelection campaign. "Based upon news stories over the past several weeks, Congressman Meadows has been on a 'short list' of candidates for several high level positions in the Trump administration," he added. "If Congressman Meadows should be called upon to serve our country in a higher capacity, I believe the voters in the 11th District deserve a strong conservative voice in Washington to represent them.” Archerd's last-minute entry into the race was the latest twist in an election filing season that saw a surge of Democrats and women filing for office in Henderson County and across North Carolina. All 14 legislative seats in Western North Carolina — 10 held by Republicans, four by Democrats — will be contested and across the state, all 170 state House and Senate seats are contested either in a primary or general election, the Charlotte Observer reported. “This is a historic day,” state Democratic Party spokesman Robert Howard said on Twitter. “Our party is the strongest it’s ever been and NC is fired up to break the supermajority.” While Democrats are claiming momentum this election year, Republicans also filled slots against Democratic incumbents after an aggressive candidate recruitment drive that included an offer to pay the qualifying fee. The record number of Republican candidates “will forever put to rest the idea that Republican-drawn legislative maps keep people from running for office," GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said. On Tuesday a second Democratic candidate filed for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners seat held by Chairman Michael Edney, setting up a rarely seen Democratic primary for a county commission seat. Michelle Frances Antalec, of Middleton Road in Flat Rock, filed for the District 1 seat and faces Patricia Sheley in a Democratic primary on May 8. Antalec's entry into the county commission race adds to a trend of political activism by women taking hold in Henderson County. In other filings, School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt filed for re-election. Qualifying, which ends at noon Wednesday, has produced three female candidates for the currently all-male Board of Commissioners, one for state House and one for District Attorney. The Henderson County School Board, the most gender balanced of all countywide boards, with women holding three out of seven seats, has two female candidates so far. Challengers Dot R. Case and Stacey Caskey have signed up, along with Jay Egolf and Randy Ward, who also are challengers. School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt says she plans to file for re-election before the deadline, which would put three female candidates on the School Board ballot. Incumbent Lisa Edwards announced Monday that she's not running for re-election. "The past twelve years has been one of the best experiences in my life but I have decided not to seek re-election to the School Board," she said. "I thank my family and friends and everyone who has supported me and made this possible. I’ve had the privilege to work with wonderful people within and outside the school system. People who value our children’s future as much as I do. You can be really discouraged about issues, have lunch with the elementary students and realize they are why we do what we do. "We are truly blessed to have one of the best school systems in North Carolina and I plan to stay active in some capacity with our schools." In the #metoo era, women are becoming more active as candidates for office and campaign organizers and recent filings has filled several slots with female candidates. Voters in Henderson County have a chance to put two women on the Board of Commissioners for the first time in recent memory. Rebecca Kate McCall, a Republican, filed for the District 4 seat incumbent Tommy Thompson is vacating and Democrat Patricia Sheley filed Monday for the District 1 seat held by board Chair Michael Edney, who is running for re-election. Meanwhile, Gayle Kemp, a retired lawyer from Fletcher, plans to run against state Rep. Chuck McGrady, who is seeking a fifth term. Kemp, a Democrat, said Monday she plans to file the District 117 seat on Tuesday morning. Mary Ann J. Hollocker, a magistrate, has filed to run in the Republican primary against District Attorney Greg Newman. Kim Gasperson-Justice, the only woman holding a constitutional office, has filed for re-election. Henderson County does have two female district judges — Emily Cowan and Athena Brooks — but they're not currently on the ballot because the N.C. Legislature postponed judicial filing until June. Elsewhere in signup news, the 11th Congressional District race attracted two more candidates — a third Democrat, Steve Woodsmall of Brevard, and a Libertarian, Clifton B. Ingram Jr. of Sylva. Here are the election filings through Feb. 19: 11th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, Republican; Scott Donaldson, D-Hendersonville; Phillip Price, D-Marion; Steve Woodsmall, D-Brevard; Clifton B. Ingram Jr., Libertarian, Sylva. 48th Senate District: Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock; Norm Bossert, D-Pisgah Forest. 113th House District: Cody Henson, R-Rosman; Sam Edney, D-Brevard. 117th House District: Chuck McGrady, R-Hendersonville. District Attorney: Mary Ann J. Hollocker, Republican; Greg Newman, Republican. Henderson County Sheriff: Lowell Griffin, Republican; Charlie McDonald, Republican. Henderson County Register of Deeds: Lee King, Republican. Henderson County Clerk of Court: Kim Gasperson-Justice. Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 1: Michael Edney, Republican; Patricia Sheley, Democrat. Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 3: William G. Lapsley, Republican. Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 4: Rebecca McCall, Republican; Tim Griffin, Republican. Henderson County School Board (nonpartisan): Jay Egolf, Don Ward, Randy Ward, Dot R. Case, Stacey Caskey. EARLIER COVERAGE The District 4 Board of Commissioners race went topsy turvy on Tuesday with the announcement of Tim Griffin that he is withdrawing as a candidate, triggering a decision by former Commissioner Don Ward to switch from the School Board to the county commission race. "I have had the opportunity to consult with my family and we have counseled with our pastor," Griffin said. "It has become increasingly apparent that at this time in my life that my priorities involve my family, my church, and the public service I will continue to provide in the form of fire, rescue, and law enforcement protection to the great folks of Henderson County. "These priorities will not allow for the dedication of time it would take to successfully fulfill the demands of such an important position. I genuinely appreciate the support that I have received during the initial stages of my candidacy. Your friendship is special and although I am no longer a candidate I ask that you continue to pray for me as I will you." Ward said he had spoken with Griffin "all weekend" and that Griffin told him he did not think he would have the time to devote to the county commission job. Ward, who served on the Board Commissioners from 1994 to 2002, said he would withdraw from the School Board race and file for the apple country seat on Tuesday. He vowed to work cooperatively with the School Board on school construction priorities and pledged to push for a tax rollback. "As a small business owner and a farmer, I see the county sitting on a healthy but large fund balance," he said. "I know there are capital projects needed in the county but economic growth as well as a reasonable fund balance and an upcoming reassessment should be adequate to pay for them, without overtaxing the property owners of the county." If elected, he said, he'll immediately ask commissioners to join him in his "Revenue Neutral Tax Reform Plan." Ward also promised to work with cities and stop "charging them for services their taxpayers are already paying for or forcing them to provide services the county is, ir should be, providing" a reference to an $800,000-a-year contract Mills River pays for for enhanced sheriff's coverage and Sheriff Charlie McDonald's decision to pull animal control services from cities.     Read Story »

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