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WHHS kicks off artificial turf era Friday night

Henderson County News

NCDOT will improve eastbound I-40/I-26 merge

ASHEVILLE — The sometimes hazardous merger from I-40 East onto I-26 East will improve with an NCDOT project to extend the merge lane by 1,000 feet. The N.C. Department of Transportation will begin the work on Tuesday. A 1,000-foot extension — to be completed by Thanksgiving — will allow eastbound drivers extra time and space to merge on to I-26, and reduce congestion heading to Brevard Road and beyond. NHM Constructors of Asheville will install a barrier along the right shoulder in order to complete the $992,000 safety project. Drivers may see a visual difference when merging onto I-26, and all construction requiring a lane closure will be performed during off-peak hours. Transportation officials remind motorists to stay alert, obey all posted signs, and to drive with caution through work zones.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

McDonald gets opponent in 2018 election

Lowell Griffin, a former Henderson County sheriff's deputy, announced on Monday that he will run for sheriff next year. "A dedication to the job and a love for the people have propelled me to announce my candidacy for the position," Griffin said in a news release. "I truly believe that law enforcement should answer to the need of the public and not the needs of an entity. In the coming months I intend to reveal a platform rich with ideas that I believe will alter some current policies of the sheriff’s office to better serve you, the people of the county. "Those ideas include providing job security for the officers who so diligently serve you, a reorganization of the department to better allocate resources to serve the people, increased accountability to the taxpayers, improving agency relationships while maximizing manpower, providing the services that taxpayers fund to ALL communities, and openly confronting the narcotics issues facing Henderson County. My goal is to serve all demographics of Henderson County with the highest quality of service that you genuinely deserve." Currently a captain with the Polk County sheriff's office, Griffin was one of six deputies Sheriff Charlie McDonald sacked a week after he was elected to office in November 2014. Griffin says he was never given a reason for the termination but believes it was for insufficient support for McDonald's campaign for the job. McDonald won election 2½ years after he was appointed in 2012 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rick Davis in 2011. McDonald has opened a campaign account and plans to stand for re-election next year. A native of Henderson County, Griffin began working for the Henderson County sheriff's office in 1992 under Sheriff Ab Jackson. A Republican, Griffin would face McDonald in the primary election on May 8. Griffin's campaign announcement: I was born and raised in Henderson County. I have lived in the Edneyville / Fruitland area my entire life. I am proud of Henderson County and have fond memories and friends located throughout various parts of the county. I am an alumni of the former Edneyville High School, a heritage that I cherish. I grew up in a very humble home but had parents that offered a lot of love and taught me that respecting others is paramount to my success and the success of our society. This respect has allowed me to befriend many folks throughout the many various communities within Henderson County. I have watched all of these communities grow and develop over the years as I worked to serve the people of this county. I believe that understanding the demographics of the communities within Henderson County is a necessary step in serving the residents here.I developed a work ethic as I grew up working on area farms, putting up hay, harvesting crops, and learning any skill I could along the way. Today I cut my own firewood, mow my own grass, and care for some livestock that I own. I also share wood cutting and lawn mowing responsibilities for my mother with my brother. I have obtained various skills over the years and accomplish most necessary projects myself from construction to mechanical work. I reveal all of this to reveal that hard work, even physical work, does not intimidate me in the least. Hard work has also instilled conservative values. I understand that your tax money is hard earned. I budget and manage my finances in a wise and conservative manner and I intend to do the same with your tax dollars.I enjoy various activities outdoors when I have time but especially enjoy fishing. I also enjoy physical activity and work out regularly. My brother and I also do some mechanical as well as paint and body work on the side. We are currently in the process of some vehicle restorations. I am a member of and attend Mt. Moriah Baptist church in Edneyville. Faith is a guiding principle of my life. I have grown up with my brother in the emergency services and today my brother, Robert Griffin, is a career fire chief with Edneyville Fire and Rescue.Early in life I became involved in local emergency services and found my niche as a public servant. I have currently been an active firefighter / EMT over 35 years. My early years associated with the fire/rescue industry allowed me to really comprehend what it meant to help someone who was experiencing one of the worst days of their life. I developed a servant’s heart and knew that I wanted to be in a profession where I was able to make a positive impact on others. During my time as a firefighter I have served in many capacities including that of chief for many years. The opportunity to serve has been challenging and I have been part of a brotherhood that has experienced some heartbreaking events but it has been overall a tremendously rewarding endeavor. I have been fortunate enough to be the recipient of several awards as a firefighter and still love the feeling I get from serving and aiding those in need. To this day I remain active and leave my activities, my family, and even my bed if I’m available to help someone in need. As with many Henderson County Firefighters I do this giving of my time for both training and responding to emergency calls without compensation. I currently sit on the Edneyville Fire and Rescue Board of directors where my experiences in budget management have been enhanced. In 1992 I entered the profession of law enforcement and accepted a position with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. My time as an officer has also been very rewarding. Again I have witnessed and been involved with many tragic events but overall my career has been very rewarding. I worked with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office serving in various capacities to include a detention officer, civil process server, patrol officer, and investigator and in all divisions served as a supervisor. I also obtained both general and specialized instructor certifications and have instructed both law enforcement cadets as well as veteran officers for over 15 years. During my career I undertook special assignments as a SWAT officer and was one of the founding officers of the Henderson County Bomb Squad where I served as a bomb tech from 2002 until 2014. Throughout my career I have again been fortunate enough to receive numerous awards and again enjoyed my calling to serve the people in Henderson County. During my time at Henderson County I also worked hand in hand with all Henderson County emergency services in the capacity as an incident commander in large scale events. Henderson County was also fortunate enough to have obtained contracts for service from Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville Housing Authority, and Mills River Township. My position on the command staff at the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office allowed me the opportunity to develop and enhance the contracts with these entities. In 2014 I took a position with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and currently serve there as the Operations Captain and supervise narcotics investigations as well as criminal interdiction.After much prayer and encouragement to do so from citizens of Henderson County I have chosen to enter the race for the position of sheriff of Henderson County and seek the republican nomination. I feel that my main attribute, that which I have proven, is that I have the heart of a servant. True leadership arises from servitude and my experiences in emergency services and law enforcement, both good and bad, have enabled me to develop a vision of what true servitude to the people encompasses. A dedication to the job and a love for the people have propelled me to announce my candidacy for the position. I truly believe that law enforcement should answer to the need of the public and not the needs of an entity. In the coming months I intend to reveal a platform rich with ideas that I believe will alter some current policies of the sheriff’s office to better serve you, the people of the county. Those ideas include providing job security for the officers who so diligently serve you, a reorganization of the department to better allocate resources to serve the people, increased accountability to the taxpayers, improving agency relationships while maximizing manpower, providing the services that taxpayers fund to ALL communities, and openly confronting the narcotics issues facing Henderson County. My goal is to serve all demographics of Henderson County with the highest quality of service that you genuinely deserve.I appreciate all of the folks who have stepped forward to encourage me to pursue this position and are willing to share my passion by serving on my election committee. Those folks include Don Ward (committee chair), Jeff Donaldson (treasurer), Roy Perry, Steve (Boulder) Dalton, Mike Peppers, Bill Hill, Terry Brackett, Dr. Bryan Melton, Frankie Capps, Charlie Galloway, Keaton Jones, and Tim Griffin. Please take a moment to look over my resume and, if any questions remain I encourage you to approach myself or any of my committee members you may be familiar with and ask questions.I sincerely look forward to serving you, the people of Henderson County.   Read Story »

Edneyville News

Edneyville school comes with a bonus

Edneyville is getting a new school that will serve not only grammar school kids but the entire community. Architects on Monday unveiled a design that includes a high school-sized gym that can accommodate community recreation needs as well as the regular phys-ed programs.Construction is set to begin in March with a completion date of Aug. 1, 2019.The goal of the design by the county architects Clark Nexsen was to create a 21st century learning environment, preserve the rural character of the school, capitalize on outdoor activities and maintain a strong relationship with the community, yields a two-story structure with an arc in the middle that allows for a complete view of the surrounding land and mountains. Architects kept the view in mind when designing the building’s orientation.The first floor of the building will contain administrative offices, the multi-purpose gymnasium and the kindergarten and first grade classrooms while the second floor will include second, third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms.The multi-purpose gymnasium will be 1,500 square feet larger than the average elementary school gymnasium, architect Chad Roberson said. The space will have its own entrance, so it can be utilized by the community during weekends when the school is closed.“The new gym will be a big plus for Henderson County recreation on weekends,” said Commissioner Charlie Messer.The site also includes rain gardens, an outdoor amphitheater, a playground, a butterfly garden, an upper and lower terrace, an outdoor dining area and an outdoor art space and reading space. It could also have an outdoor basketball court and a baseball field.The internal structure will allow natural light to enter and will offer many open spaces for teachers to talk with students individually. Cars will reach drop-off and pick-up sites off Pace Road, while delivery trucks use a service road from U.S. 64.When the new building opens for the 2019 school year, contractors will demolish the old school, causing a temporary rerouting of traffic until the site is cleared.Parents, teachers and students have praised the school. During an initial community meeting at the start of the project, 30-40 teachers and administrators met with architects to discuss school design and innovation. Commissioners on Monday unanimously endorsed the design and gave the go-ahead for construction.Sewer service for the project added a big capital expense.Commissioners looked at an on-site drip-irrigation system, a discharge system and a pump station or gravity sewer line to Hendersonville as options. They’re leaning toward the gravity sewer line but plan to look at how to pay for it. Even though that option was the most expensive — at $4.5 million plus and $19,000 in annual user fees — it remains the most reliable option for the long term, engineers said. The line from Edneyville would run next to Clear Creek and a tributary. It would be maintained by the county or the city utility system. It would delay the school’s opening by one year because it takes longer to install and needs acquisition of easements by nearby landowners. The new school can still open on time if it continues to use the current septic system until the sewer line is done. WGLA Engineering recommended the gravity sewer, agreeing that in the long-run it would require less maintenance.The county had allocated just $500,000 for the sewer system. The additional cost could be offset by a potential $1 million grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce and possible contributions from the city of Hendersonville and the WNC Justice Academy. Commissioners agreed to further discuss funding options for the sewer line next month.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

S.C. man charged in old sex abuse case

A man on the run for five years from child sex abuse charges was arrested in Henderson County. Detectives from the violent crimes unit of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office arrested Brooks Gordon Ross, 67, of Greenwood, South Carolina. Ross was charged with one felony count of Sexual Offense with a Child. Ross, who fled the area in 2012 when the allegations were first made, was arrested and waived extradition early today. He was jailed in the Henderson County detention center under a $500,000 secured bond.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Three charged with drug felonies

A drug enforcement squad of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, along with assistance of patrol deputies, charged three people with multiple felonies after serving a warrant at Fletcher home. The deputies who were serving a habitual felon indictment on Bruce Wayne Glover at 33 Andy Darity Drive saw drug paraphernalia in plain view at his home, the sheriff's office said. Arrested were: · Glover, 50, charged with felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance, felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Glover is jailed under a $10,000 bond. · Crystal Sue Daniels, 43 of 259 Laurelwood Lane in Mills River, charged with was charged with felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance, felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Danielswas jailed under a $20,000 bond. · Mary Glover Thrift, 36, of 105 Plantation Drive in Hendersonville, charged with felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also arrested on failure to appear and probation violations. Thrift was jailed under a $27,500 bond.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

City promotes Pahle to assistant manager

Hendersonville City Manager John Connet has promoted city budget specialist Brian Pahle to the new position of assistant city manager. "The establishment of the Assistant City Manager position was necessitated by the increasing day to day demands of managing our rapidly growing city,” Connet said. Pahle began working for the City of Hendersonville as an administrative intern in May 2014 and has advanced to several positions of greater responsbility, including Assistant to the City Manager/ Budget and Evaluation Director, during his tenure. He has Bachelors of Science and Masters of Public Administration degrees from Appalachian State University and is a Certified Budget and Evaluation Officer in the State of North Carolina. Over the past three years, Pahle has been responsible for the development and management of the City’s annual budget process. He annually prepares the City of Hendersonville’s comprehensive budget document. The document has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Governmental Finance Officers Association for three consecutive years. Brian has also overseen the development and implementation of a comprehensive Capital Improvement Program and numerous human resource, financial and administrative policies. “Brian has proven himself as a strong local government professional," Connet said. "He has taken the initiative to improve himself by attending numerous professional development courses and developed a strong network within the local government environment. He has proven that he can work well with both internal and external customers and has volunteered to serve as the City’s representative on several local boards and committees.” As assistant city manager, Brian will oversee the finance, human resources, downtown development and fire departments. He will also continue his role as the city's information technology manager. The promotion was effective on Friday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Deadline extended for Day of Action volunteers

The United Way of Henderson County has extended the registration period for the second annual Day of Action until Monday. Sponsored by Pardee/UNC Health Care in partnership with Henderson County Public Schools, the half day volunteer event will help get 22 local schools ready for the upcoming school year through projects that include painting walls, cleaning playgrounds, mulching and more. In addition to serving at local schools, volunteers are asked to help pack a school bus with food donations for MANNA’s Packs for Kids and school supply items for Henderson County Public Schools.Interested volunteers can find the service projects and an online sign-up by visiting United Way’s website at clicking here and clicking “Day of and going to Day of Action. Volunteer registration will close on Monday August 14. Any registration questions can be directed to Kara Ashley-Gilmore at volunteer@liveunitedhc.org.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Rollover crash damages city's gateway sign

The Hendersonville “H” at downtown’s northern gateway is in the shop for repairs after a vehicle damaged it in a rollover crash Thursday evening at 6:45.A 2000 Lincoln traveling west on U.S. 64 ran the red light, T-boned a 2016 Honda Pilot, causing it to flip once and strike the heavy-duty sign with its signature copper “H.”Both drivers were taken to the hospital by ambulance. “The driver of vehicle is fine. She was just in here to pick up a copy of the report,” said police Capt. Bruce Simonds. He did not have a condition of the Lincoln driver, who got out of the vehicle and was walking around after the crash.Charged with running the stop light and having no driver’s license was Cyril Edwin Boyce, 32, of Hendersonville.A city public works crew removed the sign, which is bolted to two granite slabs weighing a half-ton each. It’s under repair.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Ask Matt ... who made those street lights?

Q. In June there was a crew from South Carolina replacing streetlight fixtures in downtown Hendersonville. The new ones look like LED lights. Why are they changing the streetlights and are those lights made locally by GE? City Public Works Director Tom Wooten said that the goal of the re-lamping project is to improve the overhead lighting on the avenues between Church Street and King Street plus the alleys and the areas around the Dogwood Parking Lot. There are about 75 lighting fixture change-outs of various intensity ratings. All are LED lights.Streetlights are not individually metered so the City pays Duke a monthly rate based upon the number and type of outdoor lighting fixtures. The new LEDs will cost the City slightly more than the old mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamps but the lumen rating (brightness) is higher. Plus there is a benefit from having presumably safer nighttime activities. Duke Energy will not charge for doing the replacements but the utility benefits from using considerably less power than the old lights required plus there is less maintenance for utility crews because the LEDs last longer.But on the source question I had to dig deep. Engineers at GE were quick to tell me that these were “not our lights.” The Contractor that Duke Energy hired to hang the lights was closed mouth and Duke was slow to come forth with specifics. But the folks with American Electric Lighting (AEL) in Ohio confirmed that the flat cobra head type fixtures just installed in Hendersonville were made in one of two places – Conyers, Georgia or Monterey, Mexico. AEL is a subsidiary of Acuity Brands, a large lighting corporation with home offices in Georgia.GE’s newly renovated facility in East Flat Rock makes LED streetlights so I asked our Chamber of Commerce to comment on the fact that Duke was not shopping locally for streetlights. The Chamber quickly recognized the contributions that GE has made in the community dating back to arriving here in 1956 –treading carefully because Duke is a member too. But neither the Chamber nor the City can dictate which fixtures Duke Energy will use. Duke officials stated that their company selects their products “based on pricing, product quality, light output, product availability and product support from the supplier.” Duke has used GE products in the past and has some in service now. With headquarters in Charlotte, Duke is a $23 billion utility that operates in the Carolinas, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio serving 7.5 million customers.One more thing. GE recently announced it was considering selling its lighting division which is headquartered in Cleveland. It is unknown if and how such a move could affect their East Flat Rock plant. The company recently changed the name of the lighting division to “Current, powered by GE.” Stay tuned.   *  * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.     Read Story »

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