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Commissioners to meet with NCDOT on Balfour Parkway

Henderson County News

County warns of tax increase to cover school security

Having committed to major investments in school safety, Henderson County commissioners are warning taxpayers that the security will come at a high cost. “It’s going to be expensive but it’s going to be the No. 1 priority, safety in the schools,” Commissioner Charlie Messer said. “We can be the model for the state once we get this in place. We’re going to do what we have to do to make our schools safe and give the kids the best education they can get.” Messer's comments came after Sheriff Charlie McDonald and School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt outlined safety measures they have already put in place. Holt said she and School Board members were "blown away" by the quick and decisive action McDonald, County Manager Steve Wyatt, school administrators and the Board of Commissioners had taken in the take of the Parkland High School shooting that left 17 children and faculty members dead. Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution seeking $2.1 million from the state to cover the cost of putting sheriff's deputies in all 23 public schools fulltime next school year.That would not cover social workers the School Board wants or one-time security upgrades like new doors and security cameras. Currently, the state provides a total of $151,352 from the state for school security ast four high schools, or $37,838 per high school. Using that figure, the county would receive $681,084 to help staff security at each of the county schools, although that amount is well short of the $120,000 a year the sheriff has calculated as the true cost of one deputy. Providing a school social worker in every school, at a cost of $60,000 each, would cost $1.4 million, for a total of $2.1 million. “We’re hopeful that we can get $2.1 million out of Raleigh but I’m a pessimist by heart,” Commissioner Bill Lapsley said. “The chances that we get all of this are slim and none, the chance of getting part of this, maybe.” A big part of the cost is likely to fall on county taxpayers in any event. “We’ve got $2.1 million here, we’ve got the additional cost of now 23 schools, that may be another $2 million and then we’ve got to deal with security,” Lapsley said. “The point I’d like to make and have the taxpayers put on their radar screen is that when we get in budget session we will probably know if something’s going to happen in Raleigh and this board is going to be put in a position of having to provide a tax rate for the school board.” The total may approach $5 million “above what we have already been contributing. That is a huge number and it may be several cents on the tax rate,” Lapsley added. “We need to put on the radar screen that this may be coming.” One cent on the tax rate raises about $1.2 million. Commissioner Grady Hawkins pointed out that a sheriff’s deputy and social worker in every school will embed permanent costs in the county’s budget. “These costs are recurring costs,” he said. “Along with a great spike in our debt service on almost $110 million of borrowing, we’re going to have a real tight budget session.” Commissioners approved a current-year budget amendment of $187,200 to cover 6,240 hours of law officers' coverage in the schools. Later, in an interview Wednesday afternoon, Wyatt downplayed the projection of a property tax increase. “It comes down to this. It’s about priorities,” he said. “I’ve had the conversations with Bo (Caldwell) and Amy Holt about what the priorities are and there are different strategies that we can undertake but the priorities have to be real and if we budget based on priorities I believe we can get through this without a tax increase. But remember, if everything’s a priority then nothing’s a priority. If it comes down to replacing iPads or putting family social workers in the schools those are priority decisions that have to be made.” He said it’s possible, too, that Congress and the state Legislature would allocate money to local school systems for security. “Based on what Chuck McGrady has told us but also what Congressman Meadows has told us, they are going to make it a priority so there’s going to be more people pulling the wagon than just the county taxpayers,” he said. Last week, during a news conference on school safety, McGrady thanked the sheriff and county officials with organizing a response quickly and pledged to work for funding to support security. “He has been in contact with me and basically he’s made the statement — and we’re going to hold him to it — that when the Legislature addresses this issue, from the standpoint of funding he wants Henderson County to be at the front of the line," Wyatt said. "And to me he has said we need to know what we’re talking about financially." Wyatt also ruled out funding of volunteers or schoolteachers for security responsibility. “It’s the consensus of those including the superintendent, the sheriff, all those involved, that the quality and qualifications of the individuals that are being charged with the job of keeping our schools safe require a great deal of training, vetting and experience because these are the most responsible folks we can put out there," he said. "We are not talking about arming volunteers, or teachers or others." McDonald agreed with Holt's suggestion that mental health workers in the school system would be more effective at attacking the root of the problem. “Where teachers are asked to do the impossible we’re trying to do the almost impossible right now," he said. "We’re the mop and bucket. From the sheriff’s standpoint, we’re cleaning up the mess. If we don’t get that faucet shut off somehow, we’ve got problems that will continue to grow.”     Read Story »

Henderson County News

County recognizes 'We Are Hope' antidrug abuse effort

In partnership with HopeRx, students in four middle and six high schools in the Henderson County school system are taking a public stand against substance abuse during the week-long “We Are Hope” campaign March 26-30. The campaign – and the students leading the substance abuse awareness events in their schools – were formally recognized Wednesday by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. It's the fourth year the schools’ student government organizations and leaders have organized the campaign with HopeRx, and this year several community agencies have shown great support for the initiative. Since the first “We Are Hope” Week in 2015, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County EMS, Blue Ridge Health and local free clinics have increased their active participation in planning the annual campaigns. As in years past, “We Are Hope” Week will also include assemblies at each school featuring locals in the community who have either personally overcome substance abuse or seen firsthand the devastating effects of addiction. Daily awareness activities will stress the importance of remaining substance free and throughout the campaign, each school will have students signing pledge banners bearing the school’s mascot and a pledge to be substance free, sponsored by Park Ridge Health and Champion Comfort Experts. “#WeAreHope stickers will be available for all students who sign a banner to remain substance free and white ribbons will be placed on trees at school campuses to represent the pledge,” said Julie Huneycutt, director of HopeRx. Students will sign the banners throughout the week, and the “We Are Hope” Week will culminate at 12 p.m. Friday, March 30, when all 10 banners will be hung from the Henderson County Historic Courthouse pillars. In conjunction with the schools’ “We Are Hope” Week, HopeRx will be partnering with the Henderson County government to host an evening with Sam Quinones on Thursday, March 29, at Blue Ridge Community College. Award-winning journalist and author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, Quinones will share the importance of a community response to the opioid epidemic that is sweeping our nation and affecting our surrounding communities. The ticketed Dreamland event is open to the public and will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall. Contact hoperxhc@gmail.com for tickets. HopeRx is a coalition designed to unite community leaders, parents, educators, students, healthcare providers, EMS workers and volunteers, law enforcement, the judicial system, civic organizations and faith groups throughout Henderson County to work collaboratively to address the issues of prescription drug abuse, one of the top three health problems in the county.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (166)

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

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 »

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