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Henderson County News

In exit interview, Apodaca recounts wins, losses

State Sen. Tom Apodaca says he had never before seen a controversy the magnitude of the Duke Energy plan last summer to run high-tension lines through Henderson County as part of its Lake Julian power plant upgrade. The ultimate outcome — Duke's decision to abandon the connection from Asheville to the South Carolina Upstate — was a victory for Apodaca, a strong advocate of the natural conversion who became an opponent of the widely panned transmission lines. That was one of the political challenges Apodaca described on Friday, the day he resigned from the Senate. Having reached the highest pinnacles of legislative power in the state, the seven-term veteran said that after the General Assembly adjourned for the year last week, he had no more to do. The executive committees of Henderson, Buncombe and Transylvania counties are expected to appoint his replacement, most likely Chuck Edwards, the Republican nominee for the seat. Edwards, a Hendersonville businessman, and school principal Norm Bossert, the Democratic nominee, face off in on Nov. 8. "I can't say exactly what I'm going to do yet but I still have time to look at," Apodaca said in an interview from his Lake Keowee, where he was taking time off with his wife, Lisa, and looking ahead for the first time 14 years with no legislative session on the horizon. As a former legislator, he's subject to a six-month quarantine during which he is not permitted to lobby the Legislature, which is one of the options he's considering. "I have had a couple of job offers already," he said. Some are in government relations and others "not even quasi-government relations but that have had dealings with the Legislature and have an interest in my working for them. It's nice to have options." Apodaca endorsed Edwards as his replacement. "I think it will be good for Chuck Edwards. I hope the executive committee appoints him," he said. "He'll be able to get to know the Legislature. The way he studies and the questions he asks he'll keep the staff very busy." Among the top achievements he cites is his work to create a medical campus at MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) in Asheville, the science building at his alma mater, Western Carolina University, coal ash legislation after a major ash spill fouled the Dan River in the home district of the Senate's leader and efforts that led to Duke Energy Co. dropping a high-powered transmission line through Henderson County. "That turned out to be the most controversial thing that I had ever seen during my term," he said, "followed closely by the building heights" in Hendersonville, when he pushed through a local bill requiring a binding referendum on high-rises in downtown Hendersonville. Other achievements he cited were his role in recruiting Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the behind-the-scenes efforts that resulted in the Pardee Hospital merger with UNC Health Care, repelling an effort by two county commissioners to put the county-owned hospital on the auction block. His wife, Lisa, hollers out that he's forgetting perhaps his proudest moment — guiding a bill to passage that was named the Raleigh Apodaca Service Dog bill, in honoring of his bulldog, Raleigh, who died last year. Married to a teacher, Apodaca aspired to make a fundamental change that he thinks would significantly improve the K-12 education system. "I wanted to do something about our testing system in schools," he said, "and I don't know that I made much of a difference." He favors a national testing standard that tests "how the kids are doing compared to other kids in the U.S. The education bureacracy is a tough bureacracy to pierce." One his bigger regret was actually his last stand, when House members from Asheville attacked Apodaca's motives and methods in pushing a bill that require district representation in the city dominated by liberal Democrats. Twenty-two Republicans joined House Democrats in defeating Apodaca's bill. "If you go down the list every one of them had a bone to pick because I said no to them on legislation" as the traffic cop for the flow of bills in the Senate, he said. "I don't necessarily think it's totally dead," he said of the district elections bill. And he clearly retains animosity for the legislators who helped sink it. "Asheville has the weakest delegation in the state for a metropolitan area." A back bencher with no experience in elective office, Apodaca nevertheless rose quickly in the Republican caucus. Soon after his election in 2002, he joined the Republican leadership team that worked on raising money and recruiting Republican candidates around the state. In November 2010, voters in North Carolina and around the country pushed a huge tidal wave that gave the GOP supermajority control of both houses of the General Assembly. Two years later, the Republicans took control of both chambers plus the governor's mansion for the first time in 150 years. "Globally, what we've done has been amazing," Apodaca said, giving Republican fiscal policies credit for a half a billion dollar surplus the state just announced this week and for tax cut and jobs growth. "It's a lot better than the way I found it, let's put it that way."     Read Story »

Henderson County News

California company moving plant to Mills River

MILLS RIVER — An injection molding company is moving its manufacturing plant to Mills River from the west coast, creating 26 new jobs. Smart Products Inc. announced  today that it would spent $3.2 million to build a 30,000-square-foot building in Mills River that will house their manufacturing, research and design, and executive offices. The plant makes valves and pumps that are used in a variety of industry sectors including automotive, food and beverage, and medical. “Our company is committed to quality. Henderson County and the Town of Mills River have showcased the resources we need to continue producing our product and stay competitive in the industry,” stated company CEO Mark Jernigan. “We are pleased that Smart Products has chosen to join our community, and recognizes our workforce concentration and strength in polymers, in addition to a welcoming business environment,” stated Chairman Tommy Thompson of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. The project’s location was encouraged through support from Henderson County, the Town of Mills River, and customized training from the NC Community College System, administered by Blue Ridge Community College. Melissa Smith of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina managed the project in cooperation with HCPED. Newly created positions will include engineering, assembly, shipping, quality and administrative responsibilities. Hiring for the initial positions will commence in late summer 2016, with employment inquiries handled through Carolina HR Partners. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Stephen Murphy at 828-654-6990 x701 or steve@carolinahrpartners.com. To learn more about Smart Products, please visit www.smartproducts.com. For more information about the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and its role in protecting and building a strong local economy, visit www.strategiclocation.com.   Read Story »

Laurel Park News

Town to repave Laurel Park Highway next week

The town of Laurel Park is repairing and repaving Laurel Park Highway from White Pine Drive to Crystal Springs Drive this week.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Mickey Marvin scholarship fund is 'a chance to give back'

Mickey Marvin, the football star who played at West Henderson High School, the University of Tennessee and in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, is being honored with a new scholarship.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Lazy Otter Outfitters launches French Broad floats

A popular summertime cool-off — floating the French Broad — is coming to Henderson County, as Lazy Otter Outfitters launches its river tubing rental service.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Colorful and creative, Chalk It Up! turns 20

Barbara Hughes has been getting letters from all over congratulating her on the 20th anniversary of an event that started when she sent her two kids outside her Main Street shop to draw on the sidewalk.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (89)

You will not want to miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning, our in-depth look at the craft beer industry in Henderson County, profiles of the brewers and operators and features on a brewery tours and more.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Valley Hill, Council on Aging win grant for elderly fall prevention

Valley Hill Fire Department and the Henderson County Council on Aging have been selected as a winners of a 2016 NC Regional Remembering When conference scholarship. The Remembering When program, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association,  focuses on fire safety and fall prevention for older adults. Training through the Remembering When conference will provide the team with materials and information geared to help the Henderson County community reduce injuries and deaths related to fire and falls among older adults. Upon completion of the training, the Council on Aging and Valley Hill Fire Department will work together to provide presentations to older adults in Henderson County, train staff members on fire and fall prevention, and perform home visits specifically geared towards the Remembering When™ program. “We are excited to be partnering with Valley Hill Fire Department on this project and look forward to bringing the Remembering When program back to the Henderson County community,” said Wendy Billings, Outreach and Resource Coordinator for the Council. “This fire safety and fall prevention training will serve our staff, volunteers, clients, and community well.” "Working together with the Council on Aging for Henderson County will enable Valley Hill Fire Department to better connect and educate the older adults that live in our community so they can continue to live independently at home in a safe environment” says Chief Tim Garren. Additionally, on June 30, the Valley Hill Fire Department hosted a lunch-and-learn session for the Partnership for Independent Living, the Council on Aging’s care management team. “The breadth of information was incredibly helpful," said Suzanne Sherrill, a care manager with the Council on Aging. "From learning that 60-65 percent of their calls are medical related and how they deal with falls, to seeing how the jaws of life work, I’m now equipped with a better understanding of their services and better able to serve our clients.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

City hires deputy fire chief (2)

Darren J. Miller has been hired as the new Deputy Fire Chief for the Hendersonville Fire Department, Fire Chief Joseph Vindigni announced.   Read Story »

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