Free Daily Headlines

News

Set your text size: A A A

News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (106)

Henderson County News

Marshals, sheriff's SWAT team make arrest

U.S. marshals and members of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team arrested an East Flat Rock man on Monday on sex offender charges and other felonies. David Eugene Staigo had outstanding warrants for Failure to Register- Sex Offender, Failure to Report New Address-Sex Offender, two grand jury indictments for Habitual Felon, along with other warrants for Failure to Appear, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a news release. Members of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office contacted the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force in Asheville after obtaining warrants for Staigo. Staigo has an extensive criminal history in several states surrounding North Carolina. The collaborative investigation eventually led to a travel camper Staigo was living in on Nursery Lane. Officers found Staigo in the travel camper and arrested him. Staigo was transported to the Henderson County Detention Center, where he was jailed without bond.Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by U.S. Marshals than all other federal agencies combined.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Artist donates prints for new Health Sciences Center

Artist and printmaker Costanza Knight is donating eight paintings depicting well-known Henderson County vistas and valleys to Wingate University to be displayed in the Health Sciences Center.  The monotypes were printed on a press the artist acquired through a Regional Artist Project grant funded by the Arts Council of Henderson County. Dr. Kurt Wargo, regional dean of Wingate University Hendersonville, praised the work. “When I first met Ms. Knight and saw her portfolio of this work, I knew there would be no better place to display it than on our floor of the Health Sciences Center," he said. He called the artwork a “beautiful representation of many areas of Henderson County, a place Wingate University is so grateful to call home. We are humbled and honored to have been her choice to receive it.” Included in the series are views of Bearwallow Mountain, Hollabrook Dairy in Fletcher, Couch Mountain in Fletcher, Squaw Kiss Valley and Folly’s Creek in Etowah, the old Shipman farm on Greenville Highway, the Hammond (Spring Hill) farm in Etowah, Bonnie Brae Estate entrance on Blue Ridge Road in Flat Rock and the mountain bog along Martin Luther King Boulevard. Rather than selling them individually, Knight kept all eight of the monotypes together with the hope of finding an appropriate place to exhibit them as a series. When she learned about the construction of the Health Sciences Center, she thought it would be an excellent location for their display. She says that she hopes this encourages the planners of the building to follow the lead of the Henderson County Courthouse during its planning stages and budget funds for installation of more local artists’ artwork. The prints will be ready for viewing at the grand opening of the Health Sciences Center on Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Evacuation orders lifted, forest service warns of post-burn hazards

LAKE LURE — Because the threat from the Party Rock Fire has diminished, the U.S. and North Carolina forest services lifted all evacuation and pre-evacuation notices for the Town of Lake Lure and surrounding neighborhoods at noon Monday. The evacuation orders were cancelled for parts of the Rumbling Bald Resort that have been under a mandatory evacuation notice: Deerfield; Fairfield; Youngs Mountain; and Quail Ridge. The pre-evacuation notice for Three Creeks, Cedar Creek Road, Buffalo Creek Road, Riverbend Highlands, Tatanka, Apple Valley, Shumont Estates and Buffalo Shoals, is also cancelled as of noon today.A state of emergency remained in effect for the town of Lake Lure. Fire and town officials caution everyone that the recently burned areas contain many hazards, including damaged and standing dead trees called "snags," that can fall without warning at any time. There are also stump holes, some of which may still contain enough heat to cause serious burns to people and pets.The Lake Town Hall is now open for normal business hours, but only through the front entrance, and using the front parking lot. The rest of the area around the municipal building is still being used as an incident command post and is closed to the public. The park also remains closed as it serves as fire base camp, with access restricted to incident personnel. Visitors to town hall should use caution because of the high volume of fire and emergency traffic.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

LIGHTNING REVIEW: It's the right time for this story

Early on in “A Christmas Carol” Ebenezer Scrooge barks at his office clerk, “What right have you to be jovial? You’re poor enough.” To which Bob Cratchit jovially responds: “What right have you to be miserable? You’re rich enough.”The story turns on the two questions and of course carries the audience on the journey of Scrooge’s life, from his unhappy childhood to present day, when he walls himself from the joy of the season with an angry rap of his cane and the famous growl of “Bah Humbug.”Reprising the role he last played on the Flat Rock Playhouse stage two years ago, Peter Thomasson portrays the transformation with power and pathos. We believe in his hard-heartedness, then his fear and finally his understanding of charity and appreciation of it.Steve Carlisle also is back as the Ghost of Jacob Marley from two years ago. Preston Dyar is delightfully benevolent as the Ghost of Christmas Present. And Scott Treadway and Linda Edwards, as the Fezziwigs, liven things up midway through Act 1 with the musical dance number “The Hearty, the True and the Bold.” As Cratchit, Willie Repoley lights the stage up with irrepressible good cheer, delivering the kind of wisdom and optimism that comes only from a deep faith and forgiving spirit.Director Amy Jones has once again made good use of the youth cast from Studio 52, the Playhouse teaching arm. Audiences are especially rewarded by the singing of Kyra Hewitt.The Flat Rock Playhouse presents as good a Christmas Carol as you’ll find anywhere, thanks to a cast that fits well together and is obviously having fun. A tip of the top hat, too, to costume designer Ashley Arnold Crump, who has once again brought 1840s London live to the stage, choreographer Madison Johnson, who makes all the moving parts work magically well, and set designer Dennis Maulden and lighting designer CJ Barnwell, who transform the stage from gloomy to dream-like to triumphant.“A Christmas Carol” is one of those stories that never gets old. More relevant than ever, the drama's message is just the right tonic for this time of year, in this most unusual of years. It transports us from the stress of the shopping mall and the noise of the news channels to the comfort of a familiar story that reminds us what the season is all about after all. "A Christmas Carol" runs through Dec. 17 on the Mainstage of the Flat Rock Playhouse. Tickets are ­$15-40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-737-8008 or visiting www.flatrockplayhouse.org.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Despite wind, firefighters hold the Party Rock line

Firefighters held the line despite strong winds Saturday and overnight Sunday that threatened to widen the Party Rock fire. Strong winds tested containment lines but fire managers reported there was no fire growth outside the lines. Continued windy conditions and low humidity will keep firefighters on the alert again today, the U.S. and North Carolina Forest Service said. There are 920 firefighers and other responders battling the Party Rock fire, which started on Nov. 5 and has grown to 7,171 acres. "If we can hold it one more day, we should be in great shape," incident commander Dan Brandon told firefighters during Sunday's morning briefing. Although no new evacuation warnings have been issued, the Forest Service warned that residents near the fire should remain vigilant. Residents and business owners are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts through their county or local government websites.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Chiropractor offering free treatment to Party Rock firefighters

A Hendersonville chiropractic practice is opening its doors — and its massage tables — to treat firefighters and other first responders who have been fighting the Party Rock fire for more than a week. Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm Well-Adjusted Chiropractic Acupuncture and Massage is offering its chiropractic and acupuncture services to all EMS, law enforcement and firefighters. "We understand the immense amount of stress and fatigue our local support teams are under, and we want to offer our services as a gesture of support for their hard work and dedication," said Dr. Jennifer Hensley. "We will be offering complimentary acupuncture and chiropractic sessions for muscle fatigue, pain, and stress reduction. You may call in advance to reserve a time or just show up. We will be open!"     Read Story »

Henderson County News

6,700-acre Party Rock fire 32% contained

More than 900 firefighters made progress against the 6,712-acre Party Rock Fire, reaching to 32 percent containment on Thursday. There are 920 firefighters working to protect homes and to monitor completed containment lines, the Henderson County sheriff's office said. Several helicopters and a large air tanker supported firefighters as containment was completed overnight down to Rumbling Bald Resort communities. A significant wind event is forecast for this weekend. Conditions on the ground remain dry – there has been no rain in the area for 46 days. Fire managers will have a large contingency of firefighting equipment including structure protection to patrol containment lines and the communities. Residents and business owners will be allowed back into Chimney Rock Village beginning at noon on Saturday. Permits are required to re-enter Chimney Rock Village and are being issued only to residents and business owners. Contact the Party Rock Fire Information Office for details. A stretch of Highway 74-A leading into Chimney Rock Village from the north and south remains closed. Highway 9 remains closed from the intersection at Highway 74-A in Bat Cave north to Shumont Road.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Joseph Laughter marks 30 years of staying in style

LAUREL PARK — Joseph Laughter traces his early exposure to fashion to his mother’s knee in the women’s wear aisle at Ivy’s.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

STATE DELAY BOOTS CANVASS TO NEXT WEEK

It could be a month before the state Board of Elections officially confirms the vote count in the Nov. 8 gubernatorial election and a recount could not begin until that final convass, Henderson County Elections Director Beverly Cunningham said Friday. A federal court order, a razor-thin gubernatorial race and the scrutiny of observers from both parties poses uncertainty as 100 county elections boards undertake the process to certify the Nov. 8 election. Gov. Pat McCrory, who trails Democratic challenger Roy Cooper by 5,001 votes after Election Day and one-stop votes were counted, gained 15 votes when the Henderson County Board of Elections tabulated absentee ballots it had approved. McCrory won the absentee vote, 83-68, padding his lead in Henderson County to 11,124. The board on Friday counted 173 absentee ballots and added those to the previous totals. "I don't think it's signficant at all," Terry Lyda, who was observing the county canvass for the Democratic Party, said of McCrory's 15-vote gain in heavily Republican Henderson County. "It's going to take something really crazy somewhere" to allow McCrory to overtake Cooper. "I'm thrilled. 83-68 is excellent for the absentee count." After it approved and tabulated the absentee votes, the elections board could take no other action in what is usually a routine canvass to certify the elections results. The state Board of Elections has directed the 100 county elections boards to wait until the state Division of Motor Vehicles researches voter registrations it has received. "Since these races are so close they want to make sure the information they provided is accurate," Cunningham said. Henderson County has 243 provisional ballots that have not yet been vetted and approved. They cannot be counted until the board blesses or rejects them. The state Board of Elections canvass, originally set for Nov. 28, has already been pushed back. "I'm hearing they're going to reset it for the first or second week of December now," she said. Elections Board Chairman Robert Heltman explained the process to a roomful of observers, on hand mostly to monitor the governor's race. "We were all hoping we would be done at the end of today," he said. "That is not the case." The board will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday. There's no guarantee that the state will have completed its research on the DMV-generated registration even then, Cunningham said. Heltman and Tom Wilson, a Democrat and the previous chair, said they had never seen a delay this long. "This seems to be a unique situation," Heltman said. The McCrory campaign has filed elections complaints in 52 counties, claiming that irregularities could favor his opponent. None has been filed in Henderson County. Both Republicans and Democrats praised the Henderson County's elections administration as above board and accurate. "We're just lucky we've got the people here that we have," Lyda said. "I feel very confident in these people." Michael Edney, the county commissioner and an attorney, was retained by the state Republican Party to monitor the canvass. "In Henderson County we've got a great board and great staff," he said. "Clearly they know what they're doing." Josh Lawson, the general counsel of the state Elections Board, sent a memo to county elections boards at 5 p.m. Wednesday that directed the local boards to wait for a verification of voters' eligibility before counting the provisional votes. The state Board of Elections signaled in a news release on Thursday the likelihood that Friday's canvass may not produce a final result. The canvass "is followed by a final certification of statewide totals by the State Board of Elections," the N.C. Board of Elections said. "Counties may, however, delay canvass for a 'reasonable time' if the initial counting has not been completed," the state Elections Board said. "Many, if not all, counties are expected to do just that. Postponing canvass is necessary when certain decisions have not been made regarding provisional ballots, certain types of election protests are pending, or a delay is necessary to comply with a judicial order. The counties have good reason to extend their canvasses this year, including a recent court order." "In the final days of early voting, a federal court required election officials and the Division of Motor Vehicles to create a new review process for certain voters who claim they registered or changed their address at the DMV, even if no record of registration could be found." After counties canvass, a statewide candidate who trails by 10,000 votes or fewer may demand a recount by noon on the second business day. If a recount is demanded, the counties would conduct recounts individually in public view. A recount is a near certainty in the governor's race and likely in the state auditor election, where Democratic incumbent Beth Wood leads Republican challenger Chuck Stuber by 2,670 votes. “With each passing day, we discover more and more cases of voting fraud and irregularities,” McCrory campaign manager Russell Peck said in a news release. “We intend to make sure that every vote is properly counted and serious voter fraud concerns are addressed before the results of the election can be determined.” Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article115492333.html#storylink=cpy     Read Story »

News Archive