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Appeals court tosses conviction in a horrific wife beating case

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (110)

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

Henderson County News

TDA announces top holiday storefronts

The top downtown storefronts decked out in their holiday best were honored by the county Tourism Development Authority as part of the "Home For The Holidays” campaign. Merchants worked hard to do their part creating a winter wonderland with beautiful lights and Christmas decorations, in hopes of being chosen as the best holiday window display in downtown Hendersonville. Judges Tamara Peacock, Cheryl Soloff, Woody Anthony, Liz Barbour, Elaisa Perez, and Michele Azan walked the streets of downtown and viewed the window displays on Friday. The winners are: 1st Place: Mehri & Co. of New York, 501 North Main – score 22.3 2nd Place: Beverly-Hanks, 512 North Main – score 22 3rd Place: Susan's European Gifts – 419 North Main – score 20.3 Honorable Mention: High Country Style – 318 North Main – score 19.5 Honorable Mention: Dad's Collectibles – 620 North Main - score 18.6   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Police charge Oak Street man with sex offense, dealing pot

The Hendersonville Police Department in conjunction with the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force charged a 28-year-old Hendersonville man with sexual exploitation of a minor and running a marijuana manufacturing operation at his North Oak Street home. Charged was Gabriel Zagazeta, of 211 N. Oak St. The investigation was initiated at the request of a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Minnesota. Detectives with the police department worked alongside investigators with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and investigators with the Department of Homeland Security to identify the suspect. Last Thursday Hendersonville police officers along with the partnering agencies executed a search warrant at the Oak Street home and found evidence of the exploitation of a minor along with evidence of a marijuana manufacturing operation, the police department said in a news release. On Monday police detectives met with District Attorney Newman and reviewed the investigation. It was determined that Zagazeta would be charged with three counts of third degree exploitation of a minor; manufacturing a schedule VI narcotic; possession with the intent of sale and delivery of a schedule VI narcotic; maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of use or sale of a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Zagezeta was arrested Monday and jailed on a $48,000 secured bond. This investigation is ongoing. Additional charges may be obtained at a later date. If anyone has information regarding this case they are asked to contact the Hendersonville Police Department at 828-697-3025 or Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 828-697-STOP.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Restaurant magazine profiles Never Blue chef

Never Blue chef Jesse Roque, who won a statewide chefs competition last summer, has added national publicity to her portfolio.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Recycling center open Friday, then closed until Dec. 27

The Henderson County recycling center and transfer station will be open on Friday, Dec. 23, closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Monday, Dec. 26, and will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Those facilities will also be closed Monday, Jan. 2, and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Roundabouts, medians on drawing board for NC 191, US 64 widening jobs

Planned widening projects for U.S. 64 in Laurel Park and N.C. 191 in Mills River are drawing opposition over proposed medians and roundabouts.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Freezing rain possible but won't last

A chance of freezing rain early on Christmas Eve could make for hazardous driving conditions but whatever freezes won't last and there's no chance of a white Christmas.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

WCU names $110M science building for Apodaca

CULLOWHEE – A new $110 million science building at Western Carolina University will be named for former state Sen. Tom Apodaca, a graduate of WCU and staunch supporter of the university during his 14 years in the Legislature. The WCU Board of Trustees unanimously approved the naming of the new science facility and new names for two existing campus buildings during its quarterly meeting on Dec. 9.The board voted to name the new Natural Sciences Building in honor of Thomas M. Apodaca in recognition of his many years of service to and support of the Western North Carolina region and the university, including his time as a member of the WCU Board of Trustees and his advocacy for the Connect NC bond referendum in March 2016 that resulted in a $110 million appropriation for the science building. The current Natural Sciences Building, constructed in the 1970s, lacks the space and the quality of laboratory facilities needed to adequately teach students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM) fields, university officials said.Design is expected to take place throughout 2017. Construction should begin near the site of the current Natural Sciences Building in August 2018, with completion and occupancy in June 2021, followed by demolition of the existing building and final landscaping by November 2021. An official recognition ceremony will be held during groundbreaking for the new building. Elected to the state Senate in 2002, Apodaca rose quickly in the Republican ranks and became the second-in-command to Senate leader Phil Berger after the GOP took control of the Senate in the 2010 election. “I am completely surprised, pleased and humbled by this recognition, and I look forward to the groundbreaking ceremony to express my gratitude and appreciation to the board,” Apodaca said upon learning of the trustees’ action. “It has been my privilege and honor to be of service to my alma mater both as a student and a trustee and to fight for the entire University of North Carolina system and public education during my time in the N.C. General Assembly.”The trustees also voted to change the name of Central Hall to Judaculla Hall, pending endorsement by the Cherokee Tribal Council, to recognize the university’s historic connection to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and to acknowledge the unique heritage and history of the Cherokee people in the Cullowhee Valley that is home to WCU’s campus.When the student residence hall located on Central Drive was completed in 2004, university officials gave it the generic name of Central. The new name, Judaculla, refers to a great giant who, according to Cherokee legend, resided in the Cullowhee Valley along the Tuckaseigee River.Judaculla Rock, located south of campus, is a large soapstone boulder linked to the Judaculla legend that contains some of the best preserved and most significant petroglyphs (rock carvings) east of the Mississippi River.“On behalf of the members of board, we are pleased to be able to recognize the many contributions of Sen. Apodaca to both WCU and to the mountain region, and to honor the university’s longstanding relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians through these naming opportunities,” said Edward Broadwell, chair of the trustees.The board also approved a subtle change in the name of Brown Cafeteria, a 55-year-old facility currently undergoing $22.5 million in renovations to transform a building once used as a cafeteria into a modern dining facility, with office space for residential living administration staff. With the trustees’ action, the structure becomes Brown Hall.In other action, the board approved Vannoy Construction of Asheville as construction manager at risk for a residence hall project on the hill area of campus near Brown Hall.The project may include renovation of the existing 58-year-old Buchanan Hall, an outdated facility with 180 beds, and an addition of space for up to 600 more beds to create updated residence facilities. Or, it could entail the demolition of Buchanan and construction of new facilities of up to 800 beds at or near the site.The project currently is authorized with a $48 million pricetag, but actual construction cost estimates will not be available until advance planning and initial design is complete.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Sheriff's deputies bust six on car theft charges

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies arrested six people on stolen vehicle charges after a joint investigation with the NCDMV License and Theft Division. Arrested in a roundup of suspects on Friday were: Richard Wesley Shrum, 41, of Easy Street in Hendersonville. Shrum was charged with: (3) felony counts of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Felony Conspiracy and Driving While License Revoked. He remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $65,000 secured bond. Benjamin Edwards, 34, of Ledbetter Road in Hendersonville was charged with: (3) felony counts of Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, Felony Conspiracy, and Driving While License Revoked. He was jailed under a $34,000 secured bond. Michael Middleton, 31, of Ledbetter Road in Hendersonville was charged with: (3) felony counts of Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle and Felony Conspiracy. He remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $46,000 secured bond. Cynthia (Bracken) McCarson, age 21, of Wren Drive in Hendersonville was charged with: (2) felony counts Obtaining Property by False Pretense and (2) felony counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument. She was jailed under a $40,000 secured bond. Wesley Whiteside, 38, of Windy Hollow Lane in Hendersonville was charged with: (2) felony counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense and Misdemeanor Larceny. He was jailed under a $17,000 secured bond. Christopher Fleischer, 33, of Heavenly Valley Lane in Hendersonville was charged with: (3) felony counts of Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle and Felony Conspiracy. He was jailed under $40,000 secured bond. Deputies also located and arrested Phillip Lee McMahan of Ledbetter Road in Hendersonville on unrelated child support warrants during the roundup. He was jailed under a $1,600 secured bond. Deputies recovered two stolen vehicles and a stolen registration plate during the roundup. Additional items were seized and more charges are pending as the investigation continues, the sheriff's office said.   Read Story »

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