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HHS alumni could block construction at City Council

Henderson County News

Sheriff's investigators seek public's help identifying motel robber

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery of the Mountain Inn and Suites at 447 S. Naples Road in Fletcher. A man entered the business just before 9 o'clock Tuesday night, brandishing a handgun. He got away with with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during the incident. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect who was described by witnesses as a black male, about 5’10’ tall, weighing about 160 lbs. Anyone with information about the robbery or possible suspect information is asked to call investigators at 828-697-4912.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Henderson County officials among tops in pay in WNC

People rarely, if ever, get into a career in public service to get rich, according to popular wisdom. As it turns out, some salaries are more generous than others. Carolina Public Press recently requested records from each of the 19 counties in Western North Carolina to show what top officials make in each county. Comparing these records shows that some county government jobs and elected positions in the region are far more lucrative than others and not every county apportions its resources in a similar fashion. In 12 of the state’s 19 westernmost counties, for instance, the county manager is the highest-paid public official, with salaries ranging from almost $250,000 per year in Buncombe County, the largest salary for a single public official in the region, to less than $55,000 per year for the county manager in Mitchell County.Carolina Public Press submitted records requests for a summary of the salaries and benefits of the 10 highest paid employees in each county, as well as the compensation packages for elected officials employed by the counties. An analysis of those documents showed large disparities, in some cases, in how counties compensate their employees. This article focuses on non-elected positions not connected to education. Upcoming articles will look at pay levels for county commissioners, sheriffs and other elected offices, as well as for school officials. County managers are tops in pay The county manager, whom county commissioners typically hire, is often the highest-profile unelected official in a county’s government. The manager, according to North Carolina law, is responsible for preparing the county budget, hiring and firing county employees, supervising the operation of county departments and implementing the rulings passed down by commissioners. Every county in WNC operates under a “county-manager plan.” The manager is the highest-paid public employee in 12 of the 19 WNC counties. However, in Clay, Graham, Haywood and Madison counties, dentists employed by the county health department are the highest paid employees. Jackson County’s finance director, Cherokee County’s attorney and Mitchell County’s human resources director are the highest paid employees in those counties. In Buncombe County, County Manager Wanda Greene receives an annual salary of $241,791 per year — the highest salary for any public official in the region. Greene became the manager of Buncombe County, the region’s most populous, in 1997. Steve Wyatt, the manager of neighboring Henderson County, holds the second-highest salary for a county manager in the region at $185,000. Wyatt’s compensation package includes a $7,800 car allowance, a $700 phone allowance and more than $70,000 in bonuses. In Henderson County, the 10 highest-paid public employees all make more than $100,000 a year. County Attorney Charles Burrell receives an annual salary of $152,000 per year and a $10,575 retention bonus. Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley makes $128,750 per year, in addition to a $3,900 car allowance, $772 phone allowance, $9,000 merit bonus and $3,553 retention bonus. Burke County Manager Brian Steen receives a $158,100 per year salary and a $5,000 per year travel allowance. Haywood County Manager Ira Dove makes almost $145,000 per year and Jackson County manager Don Adams Jr. makes $125,010 per year. Macon County’s Derek Roland ($120,000), Rutherford County’s Steve Garrison ($105,806), Transylvania County’s Jaime Laughter ($100,023) and Watauga County’s Deron Geouque ($118,213) round out the county managers in the region making more than $100,000 per year. On the lower end of the spectrum, Mitchell County Manager Charles Vines receives a salary of $54,446 per year, the lowest for a manager in the region and lower than that county’s human resources director, DSS director, finance director and tax assessor. Yancey County Manager Nathan Bennett receives a $65,586 salary per year and Graham County Manager Mike Edwards receives a salary of $67,995 per year. Several counties have assistant county managers who make almost as much as their bosses. Talmadge Blevins is the Haywood County assistant manager and director of the Haywood Health and Human Services Agency and receives a yearly salary of $109,240. McDowell County Assistant County Manager Ronald Harmon makes $58,902 per year. Transylvania County’s assistant manager, David McNeill, makes $92,199 annually. Buncombe County’s top-tier employees are, for the most part, the highest paid in the region. County health center physician director, Jennifer Mullendore, makes $195,944 per year. Budget Director Diane Price, Planning Director and Assistant County Manager Jon Creighton and Health and Human Services Director and Assistant County Manager Amanda Stone each make $173,000 per year. Tax Director Gary Roberts and Finance Director Timothy Flora make $156,432 per year. All of Buncombe County’s 10 highest-paid employees make more than $145,000 per year. WNC’s smallest counties by population, Clay, Graham and Swain, also have some of the lowest salaries in the region. Clay County dentist Ruth Lima ($117,062) and Graham County dentist Rory Frederick ($141,356) are the only public employees in those counties making more than $100,000 per year. Swain County Manager Kevin King receives an annual salary of $96,294, and also receives a $5,850 mileage allowance and has $6,000 worth of insurance paid by the county. Yancey County, another of WNC’s smaller counties, has four law enforcement officers among its 10 highest-paid public employees. Chief Deputy Shane Hilliard ($54,097 salary per year), Lt. John Robinson ($50,304), Lt. Ryan Higgins ($49,008) and Lt. Daniel Hughes ($49,008) each also have a take-home car, in addition to their annual salaries. Other counties with law enforcement officers in their list of highest paid employees include Avery County Chief Deputy Troy Cook ($56,890) and Chief Jailer Trina Cook ($54,702), McDowell County Chief Deputy Rick Buchanan ($63,462), Rutherford County chief deputy Jeff Buchanan ($64,394) and Swain County chief deputy Jason Gardner ($47,476).   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Pat’s dancers to perform at Orange Bowl halftime

It will be déjà vu for the Shepherd family when Sher Shepherd Phillips takes the reins for this year’s Orange Bowl halftime show in Miami.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (109)

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

Henderson County News

Walk of Fame honorees announced

The Henderson County Walk of Fame Committee this week announced the first class of 17 honorees in the Walk of Fame, figures of importance to the county whose names will be engraved on granite markers in downtown Hendersonville. Here are biographical sketches of the inductees, based on nominations written by nominators and backup material nominators provided.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Balfour Parkway, N.C. 191 widening on NC road plan

The new Balfour Parkway and the widening of N.C.191 from Mountain Road to N.C. 280 in Mills River, are included in the state's next 10-year transportation plan for major road projects, the NCDOT announced Tuesday.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

SCHOOL BOARD ENDORSES NEW HHS IN 4-2 VOTE

The Henderson County School Board voted 4-2 in favor of building an all-new Hendersonville High School, averting a power struggle with the Board of Commissioners over school construction authority. Although the School Board's vote ended a nearly year-long conflict between the two elected bodies over HHS and school construction priorities, the action was not the last word on the HHS project. The next step is the Hendersonville Planning Board and City Council, where HHS alumni hope to make one last stand short of a lawsuit against the renovation plan on the grounds of safety and a lack of parking. It was close to a full house at the Henderson County school administration building as the School Board gets ready to make what's expected to be an up-or-down vote on the Hendersonville High School construction. Twenty-one people signed up to speak, nearly all advocates for saving the historic core building. Rick Wood, a potential swing vote, spoke in favor of moving ahead with both Edneyville and HHS. "Imagine, five years from now, we had a new Edneyville Elementary School that the students and teachers are enjoying," he said. It would be safe and secure with a new library, cafeteria and gym, "a source of pride to the community that lost its high school in 1993." At the same time, HHS students would be enjoying a new building with large classrooms, the latest in technology, a new media center, cafeteria, new gymnasiums and and a new auditorium. ""How can we make it happen?" Wood said. "I hope tonight listening to public comment that we can find a way to move forward toward that vision." Walt Cottingham, a longtime HHS world geography teacher and father of HHS graduates, said the issue of community was most important. The faculty heard about all the options in a meeting earlier this year. "In this meeting one unanimous vote was taken in opposition to an all-new school on the Boyd lot," he said. School faculty, alumni and the the School Board favored other options. "Then the commissioners in a show of imperial might threw all the proposals away," he said. He urged the county commissioners to build a school "that celebrates the past and celebrates the future of our school." Former School Board member Melissa Maurer, an HHS graduate, recalled that the School Board and county commissioners cooperated on buying the Boyd property. "At no time did we consider abandoning the Stillwell building or building on the furthest corner of the Boyd dealership property," she said. "In my opinion the commissioners have overstepped their authority and if you say Edneyville is first you need to stand by that. Do not be bullied. Do not succumb to veiled or not so veiled threats." "To place that building on the edge of one of the busiest highways is unthinkable," said Kim Heery. "Are you willing to risk even one student being injured or worse? ... Please do not let your judgment be clouded by fancy buildings and empty threats." Don Ward, a former county commissioner, said he was shiocked to hear about the conditions from lunchroom workers when he toured Edneyville Elementary School on Monday. "They said in the summertime it gets 115 degrees," he said. "We don't have to worry about flies because they can't fly. We can't use but one microwave at a time because if we use two it blows a fuse and knocks a breaker off." Security also poses a threat, he said. "If I was an attorney in Henderson County I would be in the parking lot passing out cards," he said. Ron Stephens, a City Council member who emphasized that he was not speaking for the council, urged the School Board to "stand up to bullying" and vote no on the new construction plan. "I have heard many things tonight and I agree with all of them about what this board should do," he said. Edneyville "sounds like a third world country and it needs to be handled first. ... "If you don't vote no you are joining the county commissioners in violating the state law. I read the state law. I think a 6th grader would read that and understand what you are assigned to do and elected to do. "The other issue is bullying." When bullied "you either stand up to them or it will get worse," he said. "And I think this is a class case of bullying. The Board of Commissioners are bullying. Unless you vote no you will be joining them in making a bad decision and violating state law." Chris Stepp, an attorney, read a statement from former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, a 1964 HHS graduate, that reinforced Orr's previously offered legal opinion that the School Board, not the county commissioners, has the authority to make decisions on school construction. Boyce "Blondie" Whitmire Jr. used a cane to walk to the lectern and address the School Board. Whitmire and his brothers have more 170 years of service to the school system in teaching, coaching and administration "and five us belong to the Henderson County Education Hall of Fame." A principal for 28 years, Whitmire urged the board to reject the Boyd lot and preserve the historic core. The board began its deliberation on the issue with a motion by Mary Louise Corn to endorse the new construction. Blair Craven said he had received assurances that "If we do table this and we do vote no that there's no repercussions. If we were to say let's go ahead with Edneyville.... we can have Edneyville completely done in 26 months. That's not 2021. That's 2019. That is significantly sooner than the commissioners would lead you to believe. Hendersonville High School is its own issue." When Corn asked who made the assurances, Craven responded: "I met with Mike Edney on Saturday for coffee and he assured me thare's not going to be any type of vendetta, we're not cutting the budget or anything of that nature." Lisa Edwards, one of three members who had supported new construction, said she still believed that new construction was the right option but objected to commissioners' decision to delay the Edneyville work. "There are 5- and 6-year-olds walking in holes between buildings," Edwards said. "I will not support that and that's why I will be voting no." Michael Absher, like Blair a newly elected member, said he had met with all five county commissioners and heard their promises that Edneyville would start immediately after HHS construction. "I received 117 phone calls since the county sent out that letter, two thirds of those were primarily for Edneyville," he said. "They are looking at how they're going to fund the Edneyville project.  I love the tradition of HHS but after touring some of the high school I would have to support that we do support a new Hendersonville High School." Wood spoke in favor of the new school. "Even though the two projects are not linked I believe the county commissioners will be much more agreeable to consider that new school option (for Edneyville) versus renovation if we support their plan on Hendersonville High School," he said, drawing  hoots of derision. "Another factor in my decision was the promise that the historic Stillwell building will be preserved for use to be determined by the School Board," including the idea of a ninth grade academy. Corn announced her support for the new HHS, becoming the fourth yes vote. Voting yes were Corn, Wood, Absher and Colby Coren. Voting no were Craven and Edwards. The chair, under School Board bylaws, does not vote. Coren said the future of schools was more important than making a statement about the School Board's authority. "Based on current estimates of projects, over $100 million will be allocated by Commissioners for the Innovative High School, HHS, and Edneyville projects for our school system," he said. "It’s no secret that school systems across the country struggle to obtain funding for even the basic necessities. We are blessed to live in a county that sees the importance of providing for our children. The bottom line is this: sometimes, in order to do what is best for everyone, we need help. Is voting to move forward with new construction at Hendersonville relinquishing our boards control and authority? You could see it that way. Or, you could see it as I choose to, as an opportunity for our board to say, despite our differences, we are going to move forward and continue to work together for the sake of our students! I am not willing to gamble with the safety and well-being of children to prove our control and authority."     Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Holt elected School Board chair

Amy Lynn Holt, a Hendersonville High School parent and the board's most vocal advocate for saving the historic core building for HHS use, was elected chair of the Henderson County School Board Monday night. In a 5-2 vote, board members elected Holt over Mary Louise Corn, the top vote getter in the Nov. 8 election and a former West Henderson High School principal. In electing Holt, the board chose a leader who has argued strongly that the Board of Commissioners had usurped its authority by overriding the School Board's recommendation on school construction priorities and design. The School Board voted 4-3 for a renovation-new construction option that would have saved the Erle Stillwell-designed classroom building and auditorium for future HHS students. Instead, commissioners voted unanimously for a new construction plan that would preserve the historic building for a future unspecified use. The School Board also has voted to put Edneyville Elementary School ahead of the HHS construction, a ranking that the Board of Commissioners also rejected.           Read Story »

Henderson County News

BRCC Foundation honors top college employees

The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation recently honored outstanding BRCC employees for their service to the community, the College and its students. The winners were announced Monday by Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Board of Directors. Jennifer Parrack-Rogers received the Dr. and Mrs. William D. Killian Outstanding Teacher Award for her commitment to teaching excellence. Nominated and chosen by fellow faculty members, Parrack-Rogers currently serves as English Instructor. In addition to be recognized for teaching excellence, Jennifer was also commended for being a dedicated teacher who inspires her students, a knowledgeable and caring academic advisor, an active student club advisor, and an amicable coworker. Patricia Horlick received the Dr. Molly A. Parkhill Staff Person of the Year Award. As Instructional Designer, Patricia was recognized for her excellent assistance to faculty members throughout the College with online instruction development. Horlick is also serving as an Achieving the Dream Implementation Team leader to assist the College in identifying ways to increase student success. Rachel Marsom-Richmond received the Dr. Eliza B. Graue Extra Mile Award for her dedicated investment in the lives of students at Blue Ridge Community College. Rachel was praised for her passion for her job and her students. Nominated by her students, she was cited for always helping students reach their goals and overcome obstacles. She currently serves as English Instructor. Administrative Assistant Victoria Burke received the Wellness Award. She competed against other employees using a new point-based system designed by the College Wellness Committee to encourage long-term healthy lifestyles through friendly competition. Victoria participated in numerous wellness events and challenges throughout the year. Cosmetology Instructor Darlene Cope received the Dr. David W. Sink Jr. Community Service Award. Darlene was recognized for her exceptional service to the community and for passing on her dedication for community involvement to her students. Through her leadership, Blue Ridge Community College cosmetology students attended training for American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program where they learned to style wigs and apply makeup for women undergoing treatment for cancer. Each recipient was honored with a framed award and a monetary gift from Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation.   Read Story »

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