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Henderson County News

Career Academy shares $2 million jobs readiness grant

Henderson County's Career Academy and Innovative High School is among six high schools across the state to share a $2 million grant to support college and career readiness through Communities In Schools of North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper visited Walter M. Williams High School in Alamance County on Tuesday to announce the grants from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. “Jobs for North Carolina's Graduates will help ensure that our young people have the skills they need to succeed in the workplace and live productive, rewarding lives,” Cooper said. “Employers need skilled workers, and this program strengthens our state’s workforce by giving students who need it extra help to finish high school ready for additional training and fulfilling careers.” College and career specialists trained to prepare students to achieve academic, career and life success will serve at Henderson County Career Academy and six other high schools.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

WHHS drama students win awards at theater festival

Theatre Department at West Henderson High won several top honors from the 2017 NCTC High School Play Festival, held at Greensboro College on Nov. 16.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Here's where to drop off Christmas Child shoeboxes

Drop-off sites and times are set for Operation Christmas Child, the Samaritan’s Purse project that transforms empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys for needy children worldwide.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Moss column: A few more of nimby's greatest hits

Last week’s issue focusing on our county’s history of citizen uprisings against disruptive land uses generated a lot of reaction, nearly all of it positive.   Read Story »

Saluda News

LOCAL BRIEFS: IAM opening, train tales, Christmas parade

IAM grand opening is set for Nov. 16   Interfaith Assistance Ministry will hold a ribbon cutting and grand opening for its new crisis services center from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. Guests are asked to bring a nonperishable food item or a ham or turkey to help struggling families prepare a holiday meal. IAM’s grand opening will be combined with a Henderson County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, which will kick off with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. United Federal Credit Union is providing the food for the event. Beverages have been donated. The celebration will include a short program and tours of the building from 5:45 to 7 p.m. “We are so grateful to our generous community, our churches and the synagogue, individual donors and corporate partners,” IAM board President Lynn Pope said. “IAM is the top provider of crisis services in Henderson County. Our new center allows us to serve our neighbors in need with dignity, more efficiently and in a location that is easy to access, just off Four Seasons Boulevard.”The new IAM crisis service center is at 310 Freeman St. near the Blue Ridge Mall and next to Tequila’s restaurant. HSO accepting applications for Young Artist Competition Applications are now being accepted for the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra 2018 Young Artist Competition. The competition will be held on Sunday, Feb. 25. Now in its 23rd year, the Young Artist Competition is open to musicians in grades 9-12 who live in Henderson, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties or who are members in good standing of the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Three cash prizes are first place, $500; second place, $300; and third place, $200. The first place winner will perform as a soloist with the HSO at its March 2018 concert, “Inspiration!” The competition is sponsored by Laborde Eye Group in Hendersonville. Orchestral instrument, piano, or voice students who qualify may apply with the recommendation of a music teacher. Past first place winners are not eligible to apply. Competition rules and an online application can be found at www.hendersonvillesymphony.org/youngartist. The application fee is $30. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by Jan. 19. “This is a wonderful opportunity for a young musician to experience the thrill of competition and showcase his or her talent,” said Cheryl Hagymassy, HSO Education Committee Chair. “It is an incredible learning experience for the winner to perform with a professional orchestra.” Instrumentalists must prepare a movement from a standard concerto. Also, works for two soloists may be entered. Vocalists must prepare an aria from an opera, oratorio, or a song from a song cycle. Works for two soloists may be entered. Please note: All music must be memorized for the audition. The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1971, exists to enrich the Hendersonville and Henderson County communities with live symphonic performances and music education opportunities for youth and adults. For more information, visit hendersonvillesyphony.org, or call the HSO office at 828-697-5884.   Saluda Train Tales focuses on helper The old steam engine helper is gone from Saluda Mountain. E.M. Patterson, who pushed the trains from Melrose to Saluda, a distance of three miles, for 47 years, retired at the age of 70 years. He only lived two years after he retired. Patterson went to work for the railroad as a water boy at age 13. He pulled a passenger train from Asheville to Salisbury and from Asheville to Spartanburg before coming on the helper at Saluda. Patterson is the grandfather of actor Pat Hingle, whose acting career began at Saluda School with a part in a school play. Hingle went on to appear on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, on TV in Gunsmoke, The Andy Griffith Show, The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone and countless others, and in over 100 movies, including Splendor in the Grass, Norma Rae, Hang ‘Em High, and all four of the 1990s-era Batman films. Christina Thompson Boies and Katherine Rohling Harrell, granddaughters of Patterson, will share stories about Patterson us on Friday, Nov. 17. Both are from Columbia, S.C. Saluda Train Tales is a free monthly event to educate the community in the importance of Saluda’s railroad history and the Saluda Grade. These events are at the Saluda Historic Depot, 32 W. Main Street. Doors open at 6:30. Presentation is at 7. The events are free and voluntary donations are appreciated. For more information, please contact Judy Ward at 828-674-5958 or judyward@charter.net or Cathy Jackson at 828-817-2876 or cathy@saludalifestyles.com. Applications available for tree fruit course Applications for the 2018 Master Pomology Volunteer Program are now being accepted at the N.C. Extension Office at Jackson Park. The course on the cultivation of tree fruits begins on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and runs for nine weeks. The cost is $125 which covers training material and supplies. This horticulture course is the first and only program of its kind in the United States. For more than 25 years, it has proven to be very beneficial to the participants, to the Extension Service and to the commercial apple industry of Henderson County. Because this course is so specialized, it is offered only every three to four years, depending on demand. Classes are held at the Extension Office in Jackson Park 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays. There could be a few afternoon labs. Students will receive more than 30 hours of comprehensive tree fruit training. Graduates will be awarded a certificate and become representative volunteers for the N.C. Cooperative Extension to share their time and knowledge with others. Graduates must volunteer a minimum of 40 hours by working in the Variety Block, helping to maintain the orchard, pruning, harvesting, taste testing evaluations, data entry and technical assistance. Other volunteer opportunities include working the taste test booth at the Apple Festival and Farm City Day. The Master Pomology Course is offered to address the huge demand for tree fruit information from the general public and commercial growers. MP graduates work alongside technically-trained volunteers in the Variety Block, collecting important field data published for commercial growers. The course is offered to anyone who has a keen interest in tree fruits, including Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and commercial growers. To receive an application, contact the Henderson County Cooperative Extension at 828-697-4891 or email ivy_olson@ncsu.edu. Christmas Parade is scheduled Dec. 2   “A Southern Christmas” is the theme of this year’s Christmas parade on Main Street in Hendersonville at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Sponsored by the Hendersonville Merchants and Business Association, the parade is open to all churches, civic clubs, schools, marching bands, fire departments, homecoming queens, scouts, businesses and riding groups. Categories for judging the floats are Best Use of Theme, Most Original and Judge’s Choice. The entry fee for the businesses and clubs is $25 and this year the donations will go to help the Hurricane Relief fund. Applications can be downloaded online at WTZQ or picked up at the Henderson County Curb Market, the Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors Center as well as the Tamara Peacock Company at 104 First Avenue East. Any questions can be directed to the office at 692-4179 or laura@tamarapeacock.com. After the parade the Henderson County Heritage Museum will host a Christmas Open House and tours. Cookies and hot apple cider will be served in the Historic Courthouse Rotunda. The gift shop will be open featuring local gifts such as the Henderson County-olopy game, Henderson County Christmas ornaments, books by a large number of local authors and pottery including bacon cookers by seventh generation Brown’s potters. A 20 percent discount will be offered until 2:30 p.m.     Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Making good from evil for 10 years

Jeff and Brenda McCleerey had just enjoyed a student-family event at Catawba College, where their daughter Amber was a freshman, on a Friday night in November of 2007. Although they had packed to stay overnight in Salisbury, Brenda thought better of it.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Crepes are versatile star of new restaurant

A new restaurant has opened in the 500 block of North Main Street specializing in crepes for breakfast, lunch and dessert.   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Terry Hicks, who 'had Flat Rock in his heart,' dies at 81

Terry Hicks, a key leader in the formation and development of the Village of Flat Rock from the mid-1990s through the creation of its popular park, died on Friday at his home after a period of failing health, Flat Rock village officials said. He was 81.Hicks, who retired to Flat Rock in 1992 after a career as a book publisher and seller, served as mayor from 1999 to 2003 but his time serving his retirement home spanned almost 25 years.Hicks became involved in Flat Rock‘s civic affairs as soon as he arrived and before the village incorporated in 1995. He worked on the project to bring water and sewer to the Flat Rock Playhouse and other parts of town and helped draft the first zoning ordinance.As the second mayor, “he led us through the process of moving from the Singleton Centre to where we are today,” said Judy Boleman, who served with Hicks on the village council and is now the village administrator. “He was also instrumental in finding people to run for council who had special areas of expertise.”When the village was writing the first land-use code, someone mentioned a Hendersonville native who had spent a career in real estate law in Northern Virginia. The village founders recruited Bob Staton to serve on the Planning Board. A couple of year later, Staton found himself on the receiving end of Hicks’s famously effective one-on-one sales pitches. Hicks wanted Staton to serve on the village council.“I didn’t want to do that but after he asked me about six times I finally agreed that I would,” Staton said. After Ray Shaw signaled his retirement as mayor in 2007, Hicks recruited Staton to run for mayor.“I absolutely didn’t want to do that,” he said. “Then he had a heart attack and I went to visit him. He was sitting up in the hospital bed and Christine was sitting at his side and he pointed his finger at me and said, ‘Will you run for mayor?’ I said, well, I’d have to think about it, and he said how long would I need. I said, ‘About 10 seconds’ and he sat there and counted to 10.”Hicks’s wife, Christine, was not surprised.“He was soft spoken and very kind and very gentle but he always got his way in the kindest way possible,” she said. “He was a very loving man. He loved his family, he loved Flat Rock.” Besides his wife, Hicks is survived by three daugters, two of whom live overseas. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. After he gave up the mayor’s gavel, Hicks agreed to run for a seat on the council in his district, serving four more years. Most recently, Hicks has been a passionate supporter of the Park at Flat Rock, helping to form its fundraising arm and recruiting an old friend from the Children and Family Resource Center, Maurean Adams, to run it.“He was one of the founding members of the Flat Rock Park and Recreation Foundation,” Staton said. “It was his idea to establish that and he was one of the first directors.”“He was carrying the major load before they hired Maurean and found Myra (Grant),” a grant writer, Boleman said. “I’m not sure the foundation would have developed as quickly as it did and it might not have developed at all without him.”A native of Texas, Hicks grew up in Louisiana and graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.There he met a younger underclassman, Albert Gooch, who worked on the student newspaper. The two would meet in a coffee shop, where Hicks would critique Gooch’s column “and tell me how it could have been better and what he ageed with and disagreed with.”As student manager of the book store, Hicks showed an early aptitude for selling.“He got a good start,” Gooch said. “If you went in there to try to buy a used textbook, he’d try like the devil to sell you a new one.”Gooch and Hicks went their separate ways, only to run into one another one summer day at the Flat Rock Ice Cream Social. Hicks had another mark. He recruited Gooch to serve on the council.Gooch, a retired successful fundraiser himself, admires Hicks’s devotion to the Park at Flat Rock and the foundation, which has raised about $1 million for park improvements. After serving for years on the Planning Board, as mayor and on the village council, Hicks still visited village hall and worked with Adams on park fundraising.“He never ever forgot Flat Rock,” Gooch said. “He was always available. He was a good friend. I’m certainly going to miss him. He always had a smile.”In addition to his work with the village, Hicks served for many years on the board of the Children and Family Resource Center, where he established a scholarship for young single moms; and on the Board of Health, where he served as chair.“He loves to hear jokes and he loves to send them around,” said Staton, who called his friend “an all-around good guy.” “I’m sorry that will end … Terry had Flat Rock in his heart.”     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Court sets date for Stroupe murder trial

The 39-year-old Buncombe County man charged with the murder of Thomas Bryson will go on trial for his life next July, District Attorney Greg Newman announced on Wednesday. Phillip Michael Stroupe II faces first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping charges and multiple other counts related to a five-day manhunt and the murder of Bryson. The trial is scheduled to start July 23 at the Henderson County Courthouse. Superior Court Judge R. Gregory Horne of Watauga County will preside over the trial. Judge Horne will hear pre-trial motions on legal issues during the week of May 28, Newman said. Stroupe is also charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and First Degree Kidnapping. Both crimes also involved Bryson and were part of a continuing course of criminal conduct that began in Transylvania County and extended into Henderson County. The murder Bryson is alleged to have occurred right outside of Mills River. Stroupe was arrested in McDowell County close to midnight on July 26. Newman has said publicly and has filed with the court a written notice that he intends to seek the death penalty upon a conviction of Stroupe for Bryson's murder. “The only pending motion at this time is the defendant’s request to change the county where the trial is held. There will be other motions filed, perhaps by both sides, that will be addressed by the judge on May 28 of next year,” Newman said. The defendant’s father, Phillip Michael Stroupe Sr., 65, also faces multiple charges related to the case. He remains in the Henderson County jail under a $500,000 bond on charges of accessory after the fact. The younger Stroupe, who is represented by Public Defender Paul Welch, will be back in court on Dec. 11 during an administrative session of Superior Court. He is being held in custody on no bond.   Read Story »

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