Henderson County News
Henderson Oil Co. on Wednesday announced the award of $8,000 in ExxonMobil Educational Alliance grants to 16 Henderson County public schools, supplying elementary, middle and high school principals with extra money for literacy and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teaching materials and programming.
Atkinson Elementary, Bruce Drysdale Elementary, Clear Creek Elementary, Dana Elementary, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary, Hillandale Elementary, Edneyville Elementary, Mills River Elementary, Upward Elementary, Flat Rock Middle, Hendersonville Middle, Rugby Middle, East Henderson High, Hendersonville High, North Henderson High, and West Henderson High each received $500 to fund school-specific local programs.
Mills River Elementary and Hillandale Elementary will put the funds toward participation in the 5th grade outdoor education program, Muddy Sneakers. Atkinson Elementary, Dana Elementary Flat Rock Middle, Hendersonville Middle, East Henderson High will use their $500 checks to update math and science materials and lab equipment. Upward Elementary and North Henderson plan to use their funds for math fluency programs while Bruce Drysdale Elementary will use its $500 on its literacy fluency program. West Henderson High will use its funds to continue the school’s Science Olympiad team and program, while Clear Creek Elementary will spend the $500 on an interactive family science night and Glenn C. Marlow Elementary will jumpstart its new STEM Club with the funds. Edneyville Elementary’s $500 grant will supplement its robotics team, and Rugby Middle School plans to use the funds in its Project Lead the Way program.
Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, 4,300 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance grants totaling $2.15 million were awarded to schools across the country this year in a matter of 75 minutes. Although the grant application window opened at the height of the gas pipeline break in mid-September, ExxonMobil Territory Manager Pablo Salmon helped Henderson Oil Company secure 31 of these $500 grants for a total of $15,500 – more than half of which were granted to HCPS.
Salmon said he knows Henderson Oil Company’s President Bill McKibbin, Vice President Barry Edwards, Vice President & Controller Paul Jordan, and Administrative Assistant Connie Edwards are very active in the Henderson County community and look forward to distributing the grants each year.
Superintendent Bo Caldwell thanked Henderson Oil Company and ExxonMobil, stating, “This is what makes Henderson County so great: the school system and the community coming together.”
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Henderson County News
Two challengers won seats on the Henderson County School Board as voters turned out two incumbents, including longtime chairman Ervin Bazzle, who was seeking a sixth term, and Republican Party favorite Josh Houston, who was seeking a second term.
With 34 out of 35 precincts reporting, Mary Louise Corn led all eight candidates with 15.4 percent of the vote followed by incumbent Rick Wood, with 14.7 percent, and challengers Blair Craven (14.5 percent) and Michael Absher (14 percent). Absher led Houston, who was in fifth place, by 1,032 votes.
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Henderson County News
Four Seasons Compassion for Life has received a $600,000 grant that it will use to expand its telepalliative care model to serve more in-home hospice patients, the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation announced.
The Hillman Foundation announced the 2016 recipients of the Hillman Innovations in Care Program, a multi-year initiative funding leading edge, nursing-driven programs that address the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations. The two winning projects – the otehr is an advanced illness care program supporting the communities served by African-American churches in Alameda County, Calif., — were selected from a diverse field of over 160 applicants.
"This year’s grant recipients are potential game changers,” said Ahrin Mishan, executive director of the Hillman Foundation. "Each person-centered, community-focused program is uniquely positioned to make a national impact on the care of underserved populations with advanced illnesses.”
Four Seasons serves a number of rural, low-income counties in a geography and climate that does not allow for consistent, coordinated health care and poses numerous challenges for nurses charged with regular hospice care home visits. It will receive a $600,000 three-year grant.
“Telehospice is a promising care delivery innovation that can enhance communication among caregivers and the care team, and improve the hospice experience for those most in need,” said Bobbie Berkowitz, RN, PhD, FAAN, Dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing and chair of the Foundation's Advisory Committee. “With over 35 years of award-winning experience in hospice care, Four Seasons is well equipped to implement and lead this effort.”
The goal of the Hillman Innovations in Care Program is to advance leading edge, nursing-driven models of care that improve the health and health care of vulnerable populations, including the economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBQT, the homeless, rural populations, and other groups that encounter barriers to accessing healthcare services.
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Henderson County News
An "extremely irrational and non-compliant" motorist who emerged naked from a wrecked car on Howard Gap Road early today was shot by a Taser and later died, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The sheriff's office received a call at 1:09 a.m. reporting a motor vehicle collision involving multiple parked cars at an apartment complex on Howard Gap Road. When deputies arrived about five minutes later they found the driver of the wrecked vehicle naked in the middle of Howard Gap Road "acting extremely irrational and non-compliant," Maj. Frank Stout said.
As the deputies attempted to take the driver into custody he charged at the officers, who fired the stun gun. "After the Taser was deployed and the driver brought under control, emergency service workers began evaluating the driver for any possible injuries. During the medical evaluation, the driver went into full arrest and was transported immediately to Park Ridge Hospital. Attempts to revive the driver were unsuccessful."
The name of the driver is was withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina SBI are investigating the incident, Stout said.
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Henderson County News
The Henderson County Board of Commissioners will meet with the School Board for a joint discussion on the Hendersonville High School construction next week, the first time the two bodies will have sat down in the same room amid a widening conflict over power and money.
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Henderson County News
A Henderson County public health nurse was honored as the outstanding public health nurse in North Carolina.The Board of Commissioners on Monday recognized Betsy Alexander, who has been a public health nurse for the past 18 years.“Betsy presents a tireless effort to advance the cause and importance of public health nursing,” Public Health Director Steve Smith said in nominating Alexander for the award.
She was the second Henderson County public health nurse to win the award in the past 10 years, said Commissioner Bill Lapsley, who also serves on the Board of Health. Barbara Stanley previously won the honor. Read Story »
Henderson County News
The Henderson County Parks and Recreation Jackson Park office building parking lot at 801 Fourth Avenue East has been designated as the drop-off location for all campaign signs beginning Wednesday, Nov. 9. There will be signs in place to direct citizens to the proper area for disposing of the campaign signs. Please place the signs in piles by candidate. Candidates may pick up their signs any time afterwards. For more information contact the Henderson County Parks and Recreation at (828) 697-4884. Read Story »
Henderson County News
Rutledge Everett “Ron” Shuler Jr., passed away Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock after a valiant struggle with cancer. He was 75.
Ron was born on February 14, 1941, to Lillie Mae Rickenbaker Shuler and Rutledge Everett Shuler, Sr. in Orangeburg County, S.C. He grew up swimming, fishing, and skiing from the loamy banks of Lake Marion. He fell in love with golf as a teen and helped build his first home course, Holly Hill Country Club, while receiving lessons from the local professional. Ron always loved a good day’s work, and he poured himself into every venture he pursued.
After graduating from Holly Hill High School in 1959, Ron attended the University of South Carolina. After USC, Ron moved to Dallas, Texas, to study at Gupton-Jones Mortuary Institute, completing his coursework for licensure in 1964, while also serving as Vice-President of his class. Interestingly, while there, Ron worked as a paramedic and found himself driving an ambulance the day of John. F. Kennedy’s assassination. He was at Parkland Memorial Hospital during the tragic events, something which left a poignant and indelible memory. After graduation, Ron returned to his home state of South Carolina to pursue his career in funeral service.
Ron met the his wife, Faye Kirby, in Florence, S.C., while he was working as a funeral director. They were married in August of 1965. In South Carolina, he actively served the community as president of the Jaycees and in other civic roles. Before retiring from his tenure with Batesville Casket Company, Ron was inducted into the Masters Club, the company's highest honor. In 1975, the family moved to Hendersonville.
In 1997, he and Faye founded Shuler Funeral Home. His years at Shuler Funeral Home were the most fulfilling of his career life and he felt humbled and grateful each day to help families during some of their most difficult days. He believed in the wonder of human compassion and in the dignity of life, and he made these tenets the mission of his work.
Ron was a member of Hendersonville First Baptist Church for 40 years, serving as a children’s Sunday School teacher and as a Deacon. His love for Christ, heart for his family, and desire to help others were the motivators of his life.
His other passion was golf. Ron was an avid and naturally gifted golfer who enjoyed his memberships at Hendersonville Country Club and in the Crooked Creek Men’s Golf Association.
Ron was preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Faye Kirby Shuler, and his father, Rutledge Shuler, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Lillie Mae Rickenbaker Shuler, and his sister, Lynda Shuler Caughman, both of Lexington, SC; two daughters, Heather Shuler Stepp, and husband, Christopher, of Flat Rock, and Holly Shuler Ollis, and husband, Jeff, of Greensboro. Ron is also survived by two grandsons, Samuel Rutledge Stepp and Micah Wade Ollis; three granddaughters, Kirby Nichole Ollis, Celeste Leslea Ollis, and Lilly Margaret Ollis; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Kirby Tart and husband, Thomas, and Annie Mae Kirby Broach and husband, Ralph, and brother-in-law, Alton Kirby and wife, Judy, all of Florence, SC; and by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A funeral service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, Nov. 11, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Steve Scoggins and the Rev. Wally Shamburger will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. in the church prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731, or to First Baptist Church, 312 Fifth Ave W, Hendersonville, NC 28739. Read Story »
