Free Daily Headlines

News

Set your text size: A A A

News

KnollsCam catches baby raccoons sniffing around

Henderson County News

McCrory appoints Edwards to Senate

Chuck Edwards, the Republican nominee for the seat vacated by tom Apodaca, will go into the election with the title of Sen. Edwards. Gov. Pat McCrory appointed Edwards to the vacancy after Republican representatives from the 48th Senate District recommended Edwards in a meeting on Aug. 14. "I don't see that it's going to change our strategy or our goal whatsoever," Edwards said of his new title. "We're still focused on winning the general election on Nov. 8. What I do see is it's replacing a vacancy to try to provide constituent service. People have been calling me with different opinions and different problems and now that I have direct access to the staff in Raleigh I can better get answers and connect them with the resources they need." Edwards faces Democratic nominee Norm Bossert, a school principal from Pisgah Forest, in the Nov. 8 general election. The Republican leader of the Senate praised Edwards, who, like Apodaca 14 years ago, enters the senior chamber  with a business background and no electoral experience. “Chuck Edwards is an embodiment of how hard work and perseverance pays off," North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger said in a statement. "McHe started working at McDonald’s while in high school, learned the business from the ground up and went on to open several of his own franchises. The North Carolina Senate and the people of the 48th District will benefit greatly from his tireless work ethic, sharp business sense and drive to tackle tough policy challenges.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Henderson County among big gainers in tourism

Henderson County was one of four counties with the largest increase in tourism spending by domestic visitors, up by 4.7 percent to $257.95 million over 2014 figures, new state figures showed. Henderson County was ranked 15th in travel impact among North Carolina's 100 counties in 2015. Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Henderson County was $46.85 million. State tax revenue generated in Henderson County totaled $11.74 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $10.99 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses, a $259.43 tax saving to each county resident. Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, released the 2015 county economic impact numbers. The annual study is commissioned by Visit North Carolina and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association. The study uses sales and tax revenue data, employment figures and other industry and economic data to determine the overall impact of visitor spending in North Carolina.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: GOP aims to win control of School Board

Rick Wood made a small bit of history a couple of weeks ago when he switched from the Democratic Party to unaffiliated.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Applications available for King Apple parade

Applications are still available to enter the King Apple Parade, the Apple Festival-closing event that takes place on Labor Day beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Apple Festival has categories including commercial and non-profit entries and has  professional floats available for lease again this year. If you are interested in a professional float, please contact the office. For information on how to participate visit www.ncapplefestival.org and go to the Parade tab. The cutoff date for entries is Aug. 26. For more information, contact the North Carolina Apple Festival at 828-697-4557.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Hendersonville native shot to death at party

A 19-year-old man who grew up in Hendersonville and graduated from Hendersonville High School, was shot to death at a party early Sunday at Goose Creek, S.C., authorities said.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

LOCAL BRIEFS: I-26 widening, PFLAG in parade, tree walk, Big Sweep

Plans to widen Interstate 26 in Buncombe and Henderson counties cleared a hurdle last week when the Federal Highway Administration approved the draft environmental impact statement submitted by the N.C. Department of Transportation.The combined projects will widen more than 22 miles of I-26 from U.S. 25 at Fletcher to the I-40 interchange south of Asheville. Proposed improvements include widening the existing freeway to meet future travel demands for the I-26 corridor and to improve insufficient pavement structure and deteriorating road conditions.Approval from the federal government allows the transportation department to begin a public review period for the statement and schedule public hearings near the proposed improvements. The hearing times, dates and locations will be announced once they are determined. PFLAG to march in King Apple parade The Flat Rock-Hendersonville Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will march in the 2016 King Apple Parade, Monday, Sept. 5, starting at 2:30.The lineup will be available a couple of days before the parade so for gathering time and place please email Jerry Miller at jerry.w96@gmail.com. “We want to make sure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults and youth in Henderson County know that there are people who welcome and support them,” Miller said. “We encourage the public to join us and show their support too.”For more information contact Miller at 828.697.0690 or at jerry.w96@gmail.com. Convertibles needed for King Apple Parade Classic, antique and newer convertibles are needed for the Henderson County King Apple Parade on Labor Day. It is anticipated that there will be an increased need this year to carry Apple Festival dignitaries, veterans and candidates.Bring your convertible to the old Boyd Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac new car showroom on Asheville Highway across from Hendersonville High School at Five Points at 1 p.m. on the day of the parade. For more information call 828-329 4971 or e-mail noirs@aol.com. Centennial Celebration set at Mount Mitchell State Park North Carolina State Parks will hold its second Signature Centennial Celebration Aug. 27-28 at Mount Mitchell State Park, the site where the state’s system of protected lands for recreation and conservation began in 1916.Visitors are invited to a daylong celebration on Saturday, Aug. 27, with traditional and bluegrass music, clogging, demonstrations of traditional mountain skills, such as blacksmithing, quilting, chair caning and spinning, traditional crafts for sale, storytelling and games for children and adults, and displays from area museums. Sunday will be dedicated to recreation and education with guided hikes by rangers and volunteers.North Carolina legislators, at the urging of Gov. Locke Craig, launched an effort in 1915 to protect the mountain’s summit from intensive logging. By the end of 1916, 795 acres had been acquired to create what would become Mount Mitchell State Park. North Carolina now has 41 state park units open to the public as well as a network of protected state natural areas, state lakes, rivers and trails that cover 230,591 acres. During 2015, the parks system served a record 17.3 million visitors.The park will limit access by private vehicles during the event, except for registered carpooling vehicles such as expanded passenger vans and activity buses. Free Saturday shuttle service will be available from locations in Asheville, Burnsville, Marion and Black Mountain. For details about the shuttle service visit www.ncparks.gov. Sandburg Home sets September events The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site has scheduled the following events next month:• Sept. 9: A Sandburg singalong features Jim & Beth McGill and celtic and classical music from Pat Corn, from 6 to 9 p.m.• Sept. 17: The Centennial & Hobo Ball, the premier event of the Friends of Carl Sandburg, celebrates of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the 50th birthday of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Mountain Lodge & Conference Center in Flat Rock. The fundraising event includes appetizers, dinner, open wine & beer bar, silent auction for national park trips, music by Katie Cillufo, Bill Altman and friends. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased on line at friendsofcarlsandburg.org or through FOCS board members. For more information call 828.708.3771.• Sept. 19: “The Day Carl Sandburg Died,” the original movie by local producer Paul Bonesteel, chronicles the life of the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, poet, musician and champion of the people. Seating is limited. Call the Flat Rock cinema for reservations. Tickets are $8 and include popcorn & soda. Show is at 6 p.m. For more information visit friendsofcarlsandburg.org or 828.708.3771.• Sept. 20: Spoken word performance poetry with Moody Black & Crew features slam poetry. For more information visit friendsofcarlsandburg.org or 828.708.3771. The free event is at 7 p.m. at Jonga Java coffeehouse.• Sept. 22: Seasons of Sandburg, a retrospective art show inspired by Sandburg and Connemara, features 13 artists participating in a special show that runs for a week at the Gallery in Flat Rock Square. Opening night event at 6 p.m. features music, appetizers and beverages.• Sept. 24: Historic Seventh Avenue Depot Hobo Days, a fun filled day for kids (and adults) with music and storytelling, craft making, hobo tales, train depot tours, free bandanas from Mast General, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free lunch to children. The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club cohosts. Two of the Sandburg goats will be on hand at the depot.• Sept. 24: David Nagler concert at 7 p.m. at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown features Sandburg poetry set to music. Hear the poems presented in folk, jazz and rock styles. Tickets are $25.• Sept. 25: Books and Brunch, a unique opportunity to enjoy brunch, jazz and buy books from the Sandburg family collection, is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Green Room Café & Coffee House. Volunteers needed for Big Sweep The community is invited to help clean up Henderson County’s rivers and streams on when MountainTrue hosts the annual Henderson County Big Sweep on Saturday, Sept. 10.The countywide litter cleanup program brings citizens and community organizations together to clear trash from their waterways. Civic organizations, scout troops, church groups, school groups, Adopt-A-Stream teams, neighborhood associations, city and county departments, local businesses and individuals can all pitch in to make streams and creeks cleaner and healthier. To participate register at bit.ly/hcbigsweep. Teams will hold cleanups from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in waterways throughout the county. For more information or to volunteer for Henderson County Big Sweep with MountainTrue, visit bit.ly/hcbigsweep or call (828) 692-0385 ext. 1001. Tree Board sponsors guided tree walk A guided tree walk along Third and Fourth avenues in Hendersonville’s West Side Historic District neighborhood will highlight two registered Heritage Trees and a variety of large, mature trees that complement the historic homes at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.Space is limited for the 90-minute walk. Reservations must be made by Friday, Sept. 9, by phoning Judy Frank at 828-713-6807. The walk is open to the public at no charge.Mark Madsen, a member of the Tree Board and an ISA certified arborist, will lead the walk, describing the oaks, maples, apple trees, hemlocks and other urban trees, some of which are 100-plus years old. He will identify the registered Heritage Trees on the route and discuss proper care to maintain health of older trees. To learn more about Hendersonville Tree Board visit t http://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/tree-board. Baldwin graduates from basic training U.S. Army Pvt. Adam P. Baldwin, a 2012 graduate of North Henderson High School, has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values. The soldier also received instruction and practice in physical fitness, rifle marksmanship and bayonet use, chemical warfare, unarmed combat, drill and ceremony, marching, map reading, military courtesy, basic first aid, field tactics and the military justice system. Foundation seeks grant applications Nonprofit agencies are invited to submit applications for grants to the Community Foundation of Henderson County by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.Guidelines, the application form and more details about CFHC’s General Grants program can be found at www.CFHCforever.org/generalgrants. Questions may be directed to Senior Program Officer Lee Henderson-Hill at LHenderson-Hill@CFHCforever.org or (828) 697-6224, Ext. 115. Church announces GriefShare ministry Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 699 N. Grove St., is offering a 13-week grief counseling ministry, scheduled every Friday, beginning Sept. 9, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. GriefShare is a Christ-centered non-denominational program that includes a video and group sharing. Each session is self-contained, which means that anyone can attend as many or as few sessions that they want. The video discussions are led by experts in grief counseling. There is no charge and the public is invited.   Read Story »

Fletcher News

Wilsonart holding career fair

Friday Staffing and Wilsonart are holding a Career Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Wilsonart plant at Cane Creek Industrial Park in Fletcher.The 11 available positions range from entry level assembly to experienced machine operators. While previous manufacturing experience is preferred, it is not required for all positions. We encourage everyone with all levels of experience to attend. Open shift availability is a plus. Shift hours are 4/10-hour swing shifts. Pay starts at $12 an hour.Those interested in attending the Career Fair may pre-register online at www.Friday- Staffing.com. On the day of the Career Fair, all applicants have the chance to be matched to the opportunity that best meets their interest and skills. For more information contact Desiree Andre at 828-684-8700.   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Village agrees to explore options on playground noise

FLAT ROCK — Confronted by a roomful of emotional and angry homeowners from Highland Golf Villas, the Flat Rock Village Council agreed to look at possible solutions to muffle noise from the town’s new playground.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Democrats add School Board candidates to forum

Organizers of a Democratic Party forum have added Henderson County School Board candidates to the event in reaction to a Republican Party forum that snubbed half the field.   Read Story »

News Archive