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Sanctuary celebrates 'beerversary' Sunday with 20 brews

Hendersonville News

Shop owner sentenced for illegal gun sales

An Asheville man was sentenced last week to four years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Charting a path for the city's growth

City Manager John Connet delivered what amounted to a “State of the City” address before the Planning Board on Monday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Driver in fatal crash had history of speeding

District Attorney Greg Newman plans to present the investigation of the Dec. 22 crash that killed a high school senior to a grand jury in March.A State Highway Patrol crash report shows that Matthew Joseph Schmieder was driving 60 mph when he attempted to pass a vehicle on a double-yellow line and collided head-on with a 1991 Chevrolet pickup driven by 17-year-old Derek Lane Miller, who died as a result of the crash. Schmieder was airlifted to Mission hospital in Asheville and hospitalized for four weeks with multiple injuries.“I’ve asked for more evidence from the State Patrol,” Newman said this week. “With Schmieder’s medical condition we don’t feel like we need to be in a real huge hurry and I’ve been in contact of course with the family.“I think a grand jury is what we’re going to be doing. We’re not exactly sure what the charge is going to be right now.” Misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and manslaughter are among the possible charges, he added.Investigators have not been able to interview Schmieder, who has hired Hendersonville attorney Roy Neill.“I was told he got home last week,” Newman said of the driver. “They went to try to obtain an interview and his family members did not feel like he was in a position to do an interview. His medical condition is not great.”A search of public records by the Hendersonville Lightning turned up a total of 15 traffic violations or cases resulting from moving violations such as failure to appear in court or failure to pay fines from 1998 to last November.Schmieder, 36, has had a habit of driving fast from age 17, the records showed.He was stopped for driving 80 mph in a 50 mph zone and failing to stop for a siren and flashing lights in Henderson County January 1980. He received eight more speeding tickets from that time until 2013, according to court and Division of Motor Vehicles records. He was also caught driving 84 mph in a 65 mph zone in 2013 in Rutherford County. In 2005, a Laurel Park police officer charged him with possessing a half-ounce of marijuana after a traffic stop, records show. Records reviewed by the Lightning showed no charge for driving while impaired. Newman, the district attorney, said he was not aware of a DWI charge against Schmieder. His license was revoked at the time of the crash.Troopers investigating the crash said they suspect Schmieder was under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the crash, which occurred at 8 o’clock at night on Kanuga Road between Erkwood Drive and Crooked Creek. As of Monday, the State Highway Patrol had not received a toxicology report on blood drawn from Schmieder, Highway Patrol Sgt. Sgt. C.M. Goodson said. Highway Patrol troopers are working closely with the district attorney on the investigation and will follow his guidance on charges, Goodson said.“We’re just trying to get our ducks in a row to make sure,” he said.Schmieder could not be reached for comment.Derek Miller’s mother said that on the advice of the family’s attorney she was not commenting on the case.Newman said courtrooms are filled with motorists caught speeding once in a lifetime or very rarely in their driving history. Although habitual speeders usually get their licenses revoked, that doesn’t guarantee that they stay off the road.“The charge for somebody like him is the state will revoke his license but they cannot take his car,” Newman said. “As long as he has access to a car and chooses to drive there’s not much the state can do. They’re not required to turn in their car.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (114)

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

Henderson County News

Hands On wins grant for science programming

Hands On: A Child's Gallery, the local children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, won a $4,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to increase STEM education (Science Technology Engineering Math). The grant will be used in a MAKERSPACE program on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m. and for summer science programming. In a MAKERSPACE, kids can let their creativity run wild, make a mess, and have fun. MAKERSPACES are mentor-led learning environments where children and their families use real materials and tools to create, tinker, repurpose, upcycle, and make discoveries. These programs strengthen community-based learning, particularly for critical thinking, problem solving, and engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). At Hands On!, 414 kids attended the 16 days of MAKERSPACE in the winter of 2016, education coordinator Kay Campbell said. “Adding the MAKERSPACE program provided an exciting example of creative learning that engaged visitors in new ways, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer it again this year thanks to the Duke Energy Grant," she said. The Duke Energy Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities they serve by sharing their time through volunteer efforts, their expertise through leadership, and their financial support through grants to charitable organizations. “Duke Energy Foundation has certainly been a wonderful partner for Hands On! and has assisted us in growing our impact in STEM education for 10 years. We are proud of and grateful for their continued support,” said Heather Boeke, Executive Director of Hands On! For more information visit handsonwnc.org or call 828.697.8333.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

High winds knock out power for 6,500, closing two schools

High winds knocked out power to more than 6,000 homes and businesses overnight in the Fruitland, Edneyville and Dana communities, closing Dana and Edneyville elementary school.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Students lose half-day Friday for snow makeup

The January snowstorm caused Henderson County public school students to miss class for two days, Jan. 9 and 10. Students made up one of the snow days on Jan. 17, attending class on what was originally scheduled as an Optional Teacher Workday. To make up additional lost instructional time, students will now attend school for a full day on Friday, Feb. 10,  which was originally scheduled to be an Early Dismissal Day. Schools will operate on a regular schedule that day. Henderson County Public Schools adheres to the hours of instruction mandated by North Carolina School Calendar Law, which requires a "minimum of 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction covering at least nine months.” Therefore, HCPS has the opportunity to utilize Early Dismissal Days for lost instructional time due to inclement weather.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Sierra Nevada recalls some bottles made in Mills River

MILLS RIVER — Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced a voluntary recall on Friday of select 12-ounce bottles that may contain a glass packaging flaw. The recall comes after quality inspections at the company’s Mills River brewery detected a very limited number of bottles with a flaw that may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, creatng a risk for injury. The recall applies to beer purchased in  Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and WestVirginia. The beer affected by the recall includes those brands listed below with a packaging date that falls within the range with a code of “M” (Mills River) and not “C” (Chico), which is all information that can be found printed on the packaging or shoulder of the bottle:• Pale Ale 12-ounce bottles in 6-, 12- and 24-pack (cases) packaged 12/5/16-1/8/17• Beer Camp Golden IPA 12-ounce bottles in 6- and 12-pack (cases) packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Sidecar Orange Pale Ale 12-ounce bottles in 6- and 12-pack (cases) packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Torpedo Extra IPA 12-ounce bottles in 6- and 12-pack (cases) packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Tropical Torpedo 12-ounce bottles in 6-packs packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Nooner 12-ounce bottles in 6-packs packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Hop Hunter 12-ounce bottles in 6- and 12-pack (cases) packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17• Otra Vez 12-ounce bottles in 6-packs packaged 12/5/16-1/13/17 “While we believe this concern impacts roughly 1 in every 10,000 (0.01%) of our bottles packaged during this time,” says Mike BenneS, Chief Supply Chain Officer, “Sierra Nevada has set the standard for quality in the craft brewing industry since 1980 and we have decided to take this precaution to ensure the safety of our consumers. To date, we have not received any consumer reports of injuries resultng from thepotentially affected bottles and we are working with our supplier to determine the root cause of the issue.”Sierra Nevada has stopped distributing all affected beer. The company is actively working with distributor and retail partners to remove this beer from retail shelves and hold any further shipments.Consumers who have purchased beer within the scope of this recall will be eligible for full compensation of the purchase price and are advised not to drink it and to dispose of the beer. A website has been set up for updates on the recall and to report purchase at sierranevada.com/qualitymatters. No other Sierra Nevada products are affected by the recall.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Foothills chamber cancels Blue Ridge BBQ festival

TRYON — The Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce has canceled the 2017 Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival, citing declining attendance, lack of funding and stalled contract negotiations for use of Harmon Field.   Read Story »

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