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Events still on, so far, despite heavy rain, flood warnings

The Hendersonville fireworks show was still scheduled as of 6:30 tonight despite heavy rain in parts of Henderson County.

The fireworks crew was on the scene this afternoon loading fireworks in preparation for tonight's show, Visitors Center officials said, and were ready to start the exhibit at dark. The fireworks can be seen from downtown. A red balloon tethered from the ground shows approximately where the fireworks displays will light up the sky.

Meanwhile, the special Fourth of July edition of Music on Main was to go on as planned at 7 tonight as long as it's clear.

The Tourism Development Authority, which sponsors the event, said it would go by its usual standard: If it's raining at 7 p.m. the show will be postponed until 8 p.m. If it has not cleared up by 8, the show will be called off. Tom Brown/One Man Band is scheduled to perform a variety of patriotic music as well as popular tunes such as "Crazy," "Duke of Earl," "Loco-Motion," "Crocodile Rock," "Mack The Knife," "Old Time Rock & Roll," "Proud Mary," "Rocky Top" and "Under the Boardwalk."

Fireworks may be viewed from downtown Hendersonville and the south side of town near the intersection of U.S. 25 and U.S. 176. A viewing map is available online at www.hendersoncountync.org/recreation/july4.html.

The Merchants and Business Association called off the Fourth of July parade Wednesday night after receiving a phone call from Hendersonville Police warning that the rain forecast was too bad to hold the event.

"Main Street is mud right now," said Carolyn Serrano, secretary for the merchants association, "so the police called and suggested we just cancel."

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Transylvania County and Etowah, Fletcher, Mountain Home and other communities in western Henderson County as heavy rains continued for a third straight day and more rain was forecast for Thursday.
"A flood wave will move down the upper part of the French Broad River through" Wednesday night, a weather service statement said. "The French Broad River at Rosman was at 9.15 feet at 10 p.m. and falling, the NWS said, but more rain overnight could cause the French Broad, the Little River and their tributaries to flood.

The French Broad had topped flood stage at Blantyre by Thursday morning and flooding was occurring in the Pleasant Grove and Big Willow area, the weather service said. The agency warned about flooding on rural roads, creeks and low-lying farmland.
The forecast called for an 80 percent chance of rain on Independence Day with a quarter to a half inch of new accumulation. Chance of rain drops to 60 percent Friday, 50 percent Saturday and 40 percent Sunday.