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Henderson County News

Post office moving day is May 19

The U.S. Postal Service has announced details of its move from Fifth Avenue West to the Blue Ridge Mall. The move will take place Saturday, May 19. The new location is the old Sears space in the mall.“Customer service is our No. 1 priority and we aim to make this move as simple as possible for retail and post office box customers,” said Hendersonville postmaster Yvonne Logan. Post office mail will be available at the Fifth Avenue location until 1 p.m. on May 11, and then it will be moved to the mall location. P.O. box addresses won’t change but some boxes will need new keys. If required for a post office box, two keys will be placed inside the box about two weeks before the move.First class mail service will continue to be available in P.O. boxes by 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Retail service hours remain 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. Passport services will be open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Flat Rock rebuts arguments of widening project foes

FLAT ROCK — The Village of Flat Rock Village is defending its past actions in support of the Highland Lake Road widening and rebutting the arguments of the project’s opponents.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Student-led March for Our Lives set for Saturday

After the Parkland High School shootings, Ashleigh Jackson started seeing talk about school safety locally on social media sites.“I saw a family who really wanted to protest as a family and they have some elementary age kids,” she said. “A lot of people were saying some really rude things to them. I told them if you guys are serious I will start this up.”That’s now Jackson took on the leadership role in Saturday’s March for our Lives in Hendersonville. Students, parents and others plan to gather at 11 a.m. outside the Hendersonville High School auditorium and march on Main Street to the Historic Courthouse. After that, there will be a congregation at Sanctuary Brewery “for anyone and everyone who wants to express their opinions,” organizers said in a Facebook posting.
“I just think there were a lot of students and people in the community who wanted to stand up in Hendersonville,” said Jackson. “I met a group of students in Hendersonville who were eager to march but a lot of them didn’t want the responsibility of leading it. I think it’s important. I have worked hard to keep it about school safety vs. making it about the gun divide.”She said people have asked her what they should write on their signs.“I’ve just given them the freedom to put whatever they want on their signs,” she said. “When I have talked about it, I’ve made it about school safety.”A Facebook site and a March for Our Lives website indicate around 120 people have said they plan to march.“But I have also seen people who say they someone who hasn’t signed up that I know are coming,” she said.A 2015 graduate of East Henderson High School, Jackson, 20, works fulltime as a preschool teacher and attends Blue Ridge Community College. She marched in the Philadelphia women’s march and has participated in other protests.“We just want all community members to feel welcome and feel free to say whatever they want to say,” she said.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Deputies charge 19-year-old with burglary

Sheriff's deputies responding to a 911 call about a break-in at a Wickins Drive home on Thursday spotted a car described in the emergency call, made a stop and arrested the driver for the burglary. Charged was Felicia Hamilton, 19, of 139 Pine View Drive in Horse Shoe. Deputies recovered stolen property from the breaking and entering at the Mountain Home residence as well as a handgun Hamilton had concealed on her person, the sheriff's office said. She was charged with felony counts of stealing a firearm, breaking and entering and possession of stolen property and a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon. All the stolen property has been returned to the vicim. Hamilton was also served with a probation violation and an order for arrest stemming from a 2017 felony narcotics charge. She was jailed under a $66,000 bond. Her next court date is April 19.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Deputies arrest alleged drug dealers

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies arrested three men on drug charges in separate cases this month. On the morning of March 15, deputies saw a male, standing next to a vehicle blocking the roadway on Pilgrim Drive near Mine Gap Road. After further investigation, they discovered that the individual possessed approximately 23 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a concealed handgun. John Conway Popson, 30, of Pisgah Forest was charged with maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substances, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and/or deliver methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, all felonies, and misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed handgun and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged on an outstanding warrant for resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer, three outstanding warrants for arrest on counts of felony possession of schedule II controlled substance and one for driving while license revoked, and an outstanding warrant for arrest on misdemeanor larceny. Popson was jailed under a $45,000 bond.      Members of Henderson County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Suppression Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Brooklyn Avenue and Airport Road on March 7. The driver was Donald Allen Jones, 36, of 406 Jack Street. During the traffic stop, several bags of methamphetamine, along with various items of drug paraphernalia, was located within the vehicle. Jones was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and/or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. Jones was jailed under an $8,600 bond. Drug Enforcement Team detectives went to 25 Thunder Bay Lane as part of a drug investigation on March 2. Detectives met with the homeowner and upon further investigation, detectives located and seized methamphetamine, various prescription pills and drug paraphernalia. Detectives later obtained warrants on the home owner, Roy Leo Barnwell, 54, and charged him with felony counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and/or deliver Schedule IV  and possess of methamphetamine and misdemeanor counts of possession of Schedule II, possession of Schedule IV and possession of drug paraphernalia. When officers went to serve the warrants on March 9, they arrested Barnwell and located and seized additional methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.  Barnwell was charged possession with intent to manufacture, sell and/or deliver methamphetamine and maintaining a dwelling for the use of controlled substances, both felonies and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed under a $28,300 bond.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... how the Laughters keep track of cars

Q. How does Church Street Automotive keep track of all the cars they have parked there? Not by computer. Shop owner Larry Laughter has a system. Pointing to his head, Laughter says, “It’s all in here.” He said he might have 40 cars parked in the front and another 10 behind his shop. A glance at the key board on the wall verifies the count. Most of the time cars are parked two deep. Church Street Automotive occupies the corner of North Church Street and Third Avenue East. Not so long ago it was an Exxon station. They eventually took out the gas pumps for more storage. Larry’s dad ran the Esso gas station there in 1954. Larry worked there as a kid and took it over around 1990. His brother Robbie works there along with three other mechanics. Robbie does everything — tune-ups, changing oil, engine diagnostics and repair and of course, moving cars. They have a tow truck on the lot but they recently got out of the towing business because it became too much trouble. During our talk, one of the mechanics walked into the narrow hallway Laughter uses as his office. “Cole, pull the red truck into bay number three and inspect it,” Laughter commanded. Such a maneuver may to some be like solving a Rubik’s Cube puzzle, but it’s no problem for the Church Street team. Larry Laughter gets around on a motorized scooter. “This is my legs,” he said with a grin. He lost the use of his legs in 1995 when he snapped his neck diving into a big wave at Myrtle Beach. Nevertheless, he still likes to go back there when he can. Laughter thinks he has another 10 years before he hangs up the automotive business. “But I’ll probably be bored to death,” he says. “In here you deal with mayhem sometimes more often than you want.” Laughter added that he is deeply appreciative of his many customers who he considers his friends. With more than 60 years in business, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Q. Do you know what is going on with the property on 7th Avenue near Lowes that was purchased by Park Ridge Hospital a couple of years ago? Park Ridge acquired the former Four Seasons Cinema property from Jeff Justus and Rusty Pulliam in 2014. Park Ridge officials said they are still interested in doing something with the 4.7-acre tract but the timing is not right now. If and when they do develop the now vacant property, it will also have NCDOT approved vehicle access on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.     Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Historic Flat Rock calls for timeout on roadwork

FLAT ROCK — Residents continue to implore the Village Council not to “urbanize Flat Rock” by widening of Highland Lake Road. “When we talk about new things going on in Flat Rock, new roads, new sidewalks there’s a long-term effect of that can be negative and not just positive and with this project on Highland Lake Road,” Stephanie Dunn told the Village Council on Thursday. “If it hurts the (Pinecrest) church for starters, it’s wrong. That church reaches a lot of people. … I just hope as a council that you’re really thinking of long term.” Meanwhile, Historic Flat Rock called on the Village Council to impose a moratorium on road projects, including the Highland Lake Road widening, and instead embark on a comprehensive transportation plan that would include greenways, bike paths and sidewalks. “This study must deal with all aspects of community life and transportation needs including bicycle access, pedestrian trails, preservation of the historical roadways and the landscape,” HFR said in an open letter to the village it released on Tuesday. At last week’s meeting, the Rev. Rhett Carson, pastor of Pinecrest Presbyterian Church, urged the Village Council to “measure twice and cut once” before endorsing a widening that would harm church property. “Once you take the land to put in whatever you design, it’s gone and it can’t come back,” he said. “In our opinion it’s going to cause damage.” An encroachment of seven feet on the north side could threaten the church’s septic system, a line of trees that serve as a sight and noise buffer and a memorial garden. “Ashes are buried there and I don’t think that’s something y’all want to get involved with,” he said. “One thing that has surprised me is as I’ve talked to people, every NCDOT person has said if this is a truly grassroots movement and if the council votes no, they’re going to walk away. I think the power is with you guys.” John Dockendorf, the council’s representative on the county Transportation Advisory Committee, said the message from the village to the NCDOT has been, “Please make the smallest footprint you can.” From his seat on the countywide board that recommends highway priorities, Dockendorf sees the almost universal opposition to road projects. “At least from my perspective, I look at the North Highland Lake project as part of the entire county,” he said. “It is one of seven major projects now descending on Henderson County at once,” including the I-26 widening, Balfour Parkway, N.C. 191 widening, U.S. 64 in Laurel park, Kanuga Road widening and the White Street project. “Every single one of those projects is meeting as much or more opposition than the Highland Lake Road project,” he said. “There were over 1,000 people that came to the Balfour Parkway meeting. The White Street project has 1,500 letters of opposition to it. If every single one of these projects gets shut down, in 10 years we will have gridlock. Somewhere something’s got to give or no one’s going to want to live here. Flat Rock is a small part of the county but it is part of the bigger picture.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Blue wave more like a ripple, GOP is told

Republican leaders in Washington sweat about a blue tide in November. Talking heads on (non-Fox) cable TV news predict Democrats will take control of Congress. Court rulings threaten legislative maps gerrymandered to ensure a supermajority of safe seats for the Republican Party. The leader of the party is a polarizing figure who infuriates opponents and bewilders allies with a steady stream of White House tweets.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

4 SEASONS POLITICS: Forums set, Progressive Women, student walk

Forums set for sheriff, D.A., commission seat   The Henderson County Republican Party along with the Republican Women’sClub  and Men’s Club will host these primary candidate forums (all at 7 p.m.): Tuesday, April 10, Community Room in the Historic Courthouse. District Attorney Greg Newman and challenger Mary Ann Hollocker. Thursday, April 12, Community Room of the Historic Courthouse. District 4 County Commission candidates Don Ward and Rebecca McCall. Tuesday April 17, Bo Thomas Auditorium, BRCC, Sheriff Charlie McDonald and challenger Lowell Griffin.    Progressive Women focus on gun control Gun control was the subject of the First Friday Focus at Sanctuary Brewing Co. sponsored by Progressive Women of Hendersonville. The group that included high school students wrote more than 700 postcards in favor of gun safety regulations and against arming public school teachers and thanking corporations that have severed ties with the National Rifle Association. John Owens, a member of Moms Demand Action and a victim of gun violence, answered questions about the goals of Moms Demand Action. The event had been planned before the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a student killed 17 people and injured 16. PWH has been hosting postcard writing events for over a year on Fridays at Sanctuary Brewing Co. More than 13,000 postcards have been mailed. Local artists have designed the postcards. Postage and the cost of the postcards are provided through donations. Recently, the group decided to expand the postcard writing to include First Friday Focus where people impacted by current issues attend to facilitate citizen involvement. On Friday, April 6, the focus will be the environment. Representatives from groups who focus on protecting the environment Mountain True and Citizens’ Climate Lobby will attend to answer questions. Postcard parties are still held every Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. NCDOT engineer is guest at GOP breakfast Jonathan Woodward, senior engineer for NCDOT District 14, will be guest speaker at the Republican Party breakfast gathering at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at the Dixie Diner in Laurel Park. A 1995 graduate of N.C. State University with a degree in civil engineering, Woodward has worked for the NCDOT for 20 years. He will talk about potential road improvements to Henderson County.  Ward announces campaign committee Don Ward, candidate for the District 4 Board of Commissioners seat, announced the appointment of his campaign steering committee, chaired by Shuford Edmisten, president of Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Other steering committee members are Fletcher Town Council member Sheila Franklin, School Board member, Blair Craven, Shaw’s Creek Baptist Church Pastor Jerry Mullinax, former Mills River Town Council member Billy Johnston and his wife, Nancy, interior designer Meghan Penny, retired teacher Rosemary Pace, Sara Boyd Grant, who works in radiation technology at Pardee UNC Health Care, Valley Hill Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Garren and his wife, Lori, who is a director of nursing, retired county Code Enforcement Officer Sam Laughter, Nancy Randall, who is retired, Tony Hill of Apple Ridge Farms, former Mills River Mayor Larry Freeman and grower Kirby Johnson of Flavor 1st and Johnson Family Farm. Incumbent Tommy Thompson is not running for re-election. Since no Democrat has filed, the winner of the Republican primary on May 8 would win the seat barring an unprecedented write-in campaign. Meadows seeks appropriation for school resource officers   U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows says more money for school resource officers — not gun control — is the best way to protect schools. Meadows introduced two bills last week to enhance school security after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “Our country is in the midst of a defining moment where we have an opportunity to come together and develop common-sense solutions to safeguard our children in school,” Meadows said in a statement. One bill would appropriate $1.5 billion through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for school resource officers. A second bill, the Veterans Securing Schools Act, would allow state or local veterans to serve as school resource officers. North Carolina has a similar law allowing school districts and local sheriffs to set up a volunteer SROs program. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page announced plans Feb. 28 to set up such a program, with the support of state House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham. “While gun control is not the answer, the best and most effective path forward, I believe, is one that safeguards our schools from becoming ‘soft targets,’ or areas with little to stand in the way of someone with bad intentions,” Meadows said. Henderson County Sheriff Charles McDonald expressed support for the bills. “As counties like ours look at the myriad of options to improve school safety, this initial funding for School Resource Officers is a great step to ensure that our local governments have access to the funding they need should they determine that increased officer presence is one facet of the strategy they want to adopt,” he said in a statement. — LINDSAY MARCHELLO, Carolina Journal League forum focuses on substance abuse Substance abuse and addiction, from alcohol to opioids, has reached epidemic proportions across the country and here in Henderson County, health care and law enforcement officials say. According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, 75 percent of those in jail are suffering with an addiction problem. Substance abuse and addiction are vital health concerns. Drug overdose is the number one cause of accidental poisoning deaths. The League of Women Voters Henderson County will focus on the subject with a program at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Kaplan Auditorium in the Public Library, 301 N. Washington Street. Julie Huneycutt, director of HopeRX, and Maj. Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will speak. The program is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.lwvhcnc.org or email communications.lwvhc.com@gmail.com High school students plan walk on March 24 High school students plan to march on behalf of school safety at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, from Hendersonville High School to the Historic Courthouse. The student-led march is a peaceful protest to let surrounding people know that students care about issues of school safety and gun control. All students are welcome. McDonald opens campaign headquarters The Committee to Re-elect Sheriff Charles McDonald has opened its campaign headquarters at 822 Locust St., Suite 400, in the Historic Seventh Avenue District. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. Yard signs, bumper stickers and all campaign materials are available for pick up. Tickets for the campaign’s March 24 Bluegrass and BBQ fundraiser are also available. For information call 828-595-0617.   Read Story »

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