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County GOP meets on Saturday

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 »

Henderson County News

Council OKs Sylvan Terrace rezoning

The Hendersonville City Council on Thursday authorized a rezoning that would allow a developer to build six single-family homes on 1.67 acres in Sylvan Terrace. The rezoning came despite neighbors' concerns about increased traffic on winding and narrow Sylvan Boulevard. Several neighbors attended a city Planning Board meeting but only one person raised questions at the council meeting on Thursday night. The Planning Board voted 4-2 to recommend that the City Council OK the rezoning. “It’s a very peaceful, quiet neighborhood and we’re all just thinking about the construction trucks,” said Kathleen Menck, of 905 Sylvan Blvd. “Our street is already a small street.” Property owner Chuck Anderson requested the rezoning from R-15 to R-10 for the sloping property on Sylvan Boulevard east of Orleans Avenue and north of Knollwood Drive. Anderson, a home builder, wanted the change to a higher density not to add more homes but to gain the flexibility on where the houses can be built, landscape architect Scott Bolyard told the Planning Board. The current R-15 zone requires residential lots to be at least 15,000 square feet. The requested to change to R-10 zoning would allow 10,000-square-foot lots, or a quarter acre, and smaller setbacks and buffers and would make it easier to fit six single-family homes on the high-end of the parcel, Bolyard said.       Read Story »

Henderson County News

U.S. 64 at Valley getting high-visibility crosswalk

School crossing guard Kim Bertram had an easy gig when he started directing traffic at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School.“Traffic has changed a lot,” he said. “I used to have a nice white belt. Now we have neon jackets.”They’re needed, he said, because of the way “the traffic comes flying” at his current post, on U.S. 64 at North Whitted and Valley streets, where he directs traffic for Hendersonville elementary and middle schools. Cars race by on heavily traveled U.S. 64, endangering schoolchildren. Bertram noted that a Ninth Avenue traffic study in April 2016 recommended that the state install a high visibility crosswalk. “So that’s what I’d like to have happen,” he said. And it looks like that will.Bertram visited associate schools superintendent John Bryant to ask for help. “I went back for a follow-up and he told me (NCDOT District Engineer) Steve Cannon said we will install ASAP next week. It’s been a long icy winter,” Bertram said.He thanked crosswalk guard supervisor Anita Lockhart and police Capt. Bruce Simonds for their support. Simonds sent more police cruisers to the scene.“But it’s still not quite safe and a car flies right by me,” Bertram said. “There’s a patrol car 200 feet away and the cars still fly.”     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Two sentenced for car break-ins in national forest

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced David Duane Banchetto, 43, of Gastonia, to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a series of car break-ins at Pisgah National Forest, announced R. Andrew Murray, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Banchetto was also ordered to pay restitution to all the victims for the costs of the vehicle repairs and for the value of the property that was stolen.Greg Wiest, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Georgia and the Carolinas and Sheriff David A. Mahoney of the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Banchetto and co- defendants, Elija Antwon Hope, Heather Nicole Postell, Montzerrath Tello-Aguilar and Kaleb Alexander Weaver engaged in a scheme to break into cars at Pisgah National Forest, to steal credit cards, debit cards and other items from vehicles parked in the area. Court records show that on June 29, 2017, law enforcement began to receive reports of multiple vehicle break-ins in that area. In the days that followed, at least five vehicle breaking and entering cases had been reported. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered surveillance videos and pictures from local businesses where the stolen credit/debit cards had been used. On July 16, 2017, law enforcement arrested the five co-conspirators after a suspicious vehicle was reported in an area of Pisgah National Forest. According to court records, law enforcement determined that Banchetto was the person responsible for breaking out the windows of the vehicles from which the items were stolen. On November 22, 2017, Banchetto pleaded guilty to destruction of property on national lands.Tello-Aquilar was previously sentenced to six months in prison and two years of supervised release. The remaining three co-defendants, Hope, Postell and Weaver, are currently awaiting sentencing.In announcing today’s sentence Judge Reidinger referred to the national forests and parks of the Western District of North Carolina as “national treasure” and property of all citizens, noting that these types of crimes deter people from coming and enjoying them. The Transylvania Sheriff’s Office and HSI led the investigation.In a separate case, Judge Reidinger also sentenced today Mack Blaine Whittle, 32, of Anderson, S.C., to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release for a series of car break-ins at Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway in June 2017. Whittle was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims for the costs of the vehicle repairs and for the value of the property he stole. According to court records, Whittle broke into parked vehicles, stealing cash, debit cards and other items, including a firearm. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Whittle had attempted to pawn unsuccessfully some of the stolen items, including the firearm. Law enforcement also determined that Whittle had a prior conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Whittle’s co-defendant, Lisha Nicole Minor, admitted that she had been with Whittle when the vehicle break-ins occurred, and that she had been using her cell phone to look up the values of some of the stolen items. She was also sentenced today to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release.U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the U.S. Forest Service, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office and the Brevard Police Department for their investigation of the case.Assistant United States Attorney Richard Edwards, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted both cases.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Forecast calls for high winds, low of 29

Henderson County could see wind gusts as high as 48 mph Friday as a strong cold front moves into the region tonight, the National Weather Service said. The chance of rain drops and lows will return to the 30s as the wind-packing front moves through. Winds of 16 to 23 mph overnight are expected, with gusts as high as 41 mph. There's a chance we could see a tenth of an inch of ice. Friday should be sunny with a high of 51 that will feel much colder. Winds from the northwest will be 22-28 mph with gust as high as 48 mph.  Friday night the low will drop to around 29 with gusts as high as 41 mph.Saturday should be sunny, with a high near 51. Sunday should remain sunny with a higher of 56. Duke Energy said had crews ready to deploy in case of power outages. It issued the following advice: Stay away from downed or sagging power lines, and do not touch anything that is on or near a power line (i.e., trees or tree limbs, cars, ladders). Keep children and family pets away from areas where lines may have fallen (backyards, fields, school yards, etc.). If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy or your local emergency services department or agency.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Long appointed to N.C. United Way board

United Way of North Carolina has appointed Denise Cumbee Long of Hendersonville to its statewide Board of Directors for a three-year term. Long is joining a team of 27 volunteer leaders dedicated to enhancing the United Way system’s capability to improve the quality of life in North Carolina.Long has served as the executive director of the United Way of Henderson County since 2015. Prior to taking this leadership role, she was the Executive Director of International House, a nonprofit serving the immigrant and international community in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her prior career also included directing NCLEAF, a statewide loan repayment assistance program for public interest attorneys, managing Safe Space, a nonprofit assisting victims of domestic violence, and serving as an interim minister at congregations in Chapel Hill and Elon, North Carolina. In addition to serving on UWNC’s Board, she is currently on the Board of Adjustment for the Village of Flat Rock and a member of the Rotary Club of Hendersonville. Long holds a J.D. from the UNC School of Law, an M.DIV from Southeastern Seminary, and a B.A. from Wake Forest University. She lives in Flat Rock with her husband, Bruce Holliday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... about identity of found body

Q. A couple of months ago they found a skull and some bones near Mud Creek. Did they ever find out who this person was? The remains found on Dec. 5 have not yet been identified nor has the cause of death. Hendersonville police sent the remains to the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Dr. Jerri McLemore, a board certified pathologist, who performs autopsies at the facility could not disclose specifics on the Hendersonville case, but she quickly admitted that there is a backlog at Wake Forest Medical and that her office is understaffed. “It’s rare to have a case where the remains have not been identified,” said McLemore, “but some cases get priority based on urgency.” Using soft tissue samples, an autopsy at Wake Forest Medical can usually determine age, height, gender, race, length of time since death. When there is none to analyze, Dr. McLemore can send remains 100 miles down the road to Dr. Ann Ross, a consultant at N.C. State University. Dr. Ross is a forensic anthropologist who works on hard tissue evidence — bones and teeth. When she gets remains from Wake Forest Medical, Dr. Ross first inventories and x-rays them. The chain of custody of the remains is important particularly if she has to testify in a court case. Her lab measures the long bones and then does a biological profile. If enough of the key bones and teeth are available, the decedent’s height, age, and sex can quickly be determined. Ancestral origin is more complex and for that test Dr. Ross uses a software program. When unknown cranial remains arrive at her lab, Dr. Ross’s team can employ a research technique she calls 3D-ID. Here the skull is measured three-dimensionally using selected anatomical points. Measurements are then recorded and a computer compares the numbers against stored data. In a sense, the lab technician can “put a face on a skull” and make an informed determination on age, sex, and natural origin, all of which is needed for our unknown person found in Hendersonville. “The frontal sinus pattern is just as good, if not better, than a fingerprint,” Ross said. DNA tissue analysis is an option and Dr. Ross confirmed that usable samples can be taken from bones and teeth but much depends on the time elapsed and condition of the remains. DNA analysis is expensive, and some labs are backlogged for more than a year. “Another problem with DNA testing is that unless you can match it to a known family member, you can’t make a positive identification,” said Ross. If the medical examiner in Winston-Salem cannot determine how the person died, the NCSU lab in Raleigh can help. Using precision equipment that looks at fracture patterns and sequence, technicians can often establish the cause of death such as blunt force trauma and whether a crime was committed. Dr. Ross is assisting with the European Migration Project. She said that there are many would-be refugees who leave Northern Africa by boat, never make it to land, and are recovered with no identification. Italian medical examiners have used Dr. Ross’ expertise and her 3-D ID methods to determine areas of origin. Identification is about matching remains to those reported missing and there are national databases for each group. NamUs.gov is the primary website for both. NamUs has listed 315 persons missing in North Carolina and 114 open cases of unidentified remains. This is low compared to 1,573 unidentified in Pima County, Arizona. Remains can come in many forms including those that have been buried or cremated. So do we have any clues as to the identity of the remains found in a wooded area behind the Green Meadows development? Tim Jones, the Hendersonville Rescue Mission’s operations manager, does. He reported a missing person in January of 2015. This individual was a regular at the mission but chose to spend nights on the street. “It’s heartbreaking for me to talk about this,” Jones said. “He likely froze to death on a bitter cold night.” * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.       Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Lightning wins eight awards at NCPA

RALEIGH — The Hendersonville Lightning received eight awards during the North Carolina Press Association’s annual Winter Institute, including recognition for its coverage of the murder of Thomas Bryson, the fight over Hendersonville High School, news obits of prominent community figures and editorials.   Read Story »

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