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Flat Rock imposes new rules on yard signs

Henderson County News

Half-foot of rain closes roads, threatens homes, pushes total to record

Six to seven inches of rain through Friday morning caused flooding that closed at least 30 roads around Henderson County, led to rescues of motorists who "got in too deep too quick," forced the evacuation of homes threatened by rising waters and pushed the rainfall total for the year to an all-time record. “All the fire departments and the rescue squad have been busy most of the day answering calls (to rescue) folks trying to drive through flooded roads, a couple of residential areas that needed to evacuate," Emergency Management Director Jimmy Brissie said Friday afternoon. First responders evacuated eight residents of a neighborhood off Banner Farm Road threatened by high water and took them to a temporary emergency shelter at the Mills River Community Center.“They’ve all since returned home or gone to friends’ or family’s house,” Brissie said. “Right now, we have had about 20 calls for rescues and a number of calls for well-being checks.” Whether the worst is over "depends on where you are," he said. While the French Broad River is expected to rise through Saturday afternoon, Mud Creek at Erkwood Drive had started to fall by sundown.“The stuff in town will continue to recede over the next 12 hours,” he said. “I think the majority of the rain has passed us.” The flooding caused the county to activate its emergency operations center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Brissie urged motorists to obey road closed signs and take no chances driving through high water — "turn around, don't drown."No injuries were reported. “We’ve had a few vehicle rescues early this morning that people got in too deep too quick,” Sheriff's Maj. Frank Stout said. “Other than that, it’s been fairly uneventful except for many flooded roadways.” There was so much flooding along Mud Creek by mid-afternoon that motorists found it challenging to reach downtown Hendersonville from the Kanuga area and Flat Rock. Greenville Highway in front of the new Publix was closed, as is common in flood conditions, and several alternate routes — including South Grove Street, flooded by Mud Creek, and Airport Road at BRCC, flooded by King Creek — were also blocked. WLOS-Ch. 13 reported 24-hour rainfall totals of 7.16 inches in Brevard, 5.4 inches in Mills River and 5.2 inches at Asheville Regional Airport — boosting the rainfall total for the year to an all-time record of 79.18 inches, breaking the 2013 total of 75.22 inches. Roads flooded, closed or submerged in high water included: Greenville Highway at Spartanburg Highway. South Grove Street at Mud Creek. Crail Farm Road, off Kanuga. Bob's Creek Road at Green River Road Andrews Road at the Lemon Hole. Gilliam Road at the Bridge, Edneyville. BATTLE CREEK RD AT THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS BROOKSIDE CAMP RD NEAR THE BRIDGE. OLD SPARTANBURG RD NEAR MAPLE VILLAGE DR  CHIMNEY ROCK RD NEAR THE DOLLAR GENERAL, high water, NCDOT advised it would not close the road; instread would put up High Water warning signs. SHEPHERD ST OFF SPARTANBURG HWY BEHIND BURGER KING. COLLEGE DR AT AIRPORT AND SHEPHERD-PER METCALF AT BRCC PD BALLENGER RIGHT PAST LAKEWOOD RV RESORT...SWIFT MOVING WATER. KANUGA ROAD AT ERKWOOD. MUD SLIDE COVERED HALF THE ROAD ON POT SHOALS NEAR THE POWER LINES HOWARD GAP AT S&R AUTO. BUTLER BRIDGE RD AT JEFFRESS RD - MILLS RIVER. NIX RD AT CLEAR CREEKSIDE DR - MILLS RIVER. HOWARD GAP RD AT FLETCHER PARK. ORRS CAMP RD AND DANA ROAD. STONEY MOUNTAIN RD AT N HARPER RD DRIVE. 214 BANNER FARM ROAD, MILLS RIVER. WARLICK RD AT TURNPIKE RD., MILLS RIVER. NEW HOPE RD AT POWELL ST BANNER FARM RD, MILLS RIVER. WILLOW RD AT RIVER RD IS FLOODED, BIG WILLOW JACKSON PARK, CLOSED DANA RD AND TRACY GROVE - HOWARD GAP RD//JACKSON ROAD, FLETCHER. BALFOUR RD AT THE WATER PLANT. SHEPHERD RD AND AIRPORT RD. JEFFRESS RD NEAR THE COW FIELDS, MILLS RIVER.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Separate drug busts net nine arrests

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies arrested nine people in two separate drug investigations in recent days. Detectives with the Office Drug Enforcement Team charged a 21-year-old man with multiple drug felonies after stopping him for a traffic violation on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The arrest led to the arrest of a local woman at a Days Inn motel room for methamphetamine possession and the arrest of three other people on drug charges at a Windy Acres Drive home. After the traffic stop, narcotics squad deputies charged Jose Guadalupe Medina-Estrada, of Windy Acres in Hendersonville, with driving while license revoked, two counts trafficking methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed under a $49,000 bond. As a result of the vehicle stop and arrest, drug enforcement detectives were able to establish probable cause to obtain and execute two search warrants — one at the Days Inn, at 102 Mitchelle Drive, and the other was at a house on Windy Acres Drive. During the search of a room at the Days Inn, detectives found and seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. As a result of the search, Heather Michelle Welty, 24, of Stepp Acres, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Welty was jailed on a $12,000 bond. During the execution of the search warrant at Windy Acres Drive, detectives located and seized five firearms, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. As a result of the search, three subjects were arrested. Summer Nicole Hallyburton, 32, of Windy Acres, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Troy Bruce Jackson, 29, of Hendersonville, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Ashley Dawn Mentz, 27, of Hendersonville, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were released after posting a $500.00 bond. Pending further investigation by the Drug Enforcement Team, more charges are probable. In another sizable drug bust, officers with the Sheriff's SWAT and Drug Enforcement teams arrested four people after they executed a search warrant at 102 S. Sourwood Lane off Howard Gap Loop early Friday. The search of the residence turned up trafficking amounts of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, the sheriff's office said. Those arrested were: Brian Keith Prince, 36, of Flat Rock, charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, one felony count of maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of keeping/selling a controlled substance, one felony count of trafficking methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Prince remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $59,000 secured bond. Rebekah Evelyn Maze, 21, of Flat Rock, charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, one felony count of maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of keeping/selling a controlled substance, one felony count of trafficking methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Maze remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $34,500 secured bond. David John Caldwell, 58, of Flat Rock, charged with one felony count of maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of keeping/selling a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug and paraphernalia. Caldwell remains in the Henderson County Jail under a $9000 secured bond. Cheryl Ann-Morton Caldwell, 52, of Flat Rock, charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and will turn herself in at a later date.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Fugitive charged with murder is caught

The 26-year-old man charged for a February murder on Holbert Road has been caught in New York. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force arrested Davonte Gary Redfern, in Richland County, New York, on Thursday. Redfern was wanted in Henderson County for the murder the Feb. 22, murder of Tristan Kayne Edney. Redfern was charged with first-degree murder after a Grand Jury determined that Redfern willfully and feloniously murdered Edney, the Marshals Service said. Information was sent out by the US Marshals Service, requesting the public’s assistance with locating Redfern, after determining that Redfern was avoiding apprehension by law enforcement. Information received from the public ultimately led to Redfern’s capture, in New York. Redfern is currently awaiting extradition hearing hearings in Richland County, New York.Several law enforcement agencies played key roles with locating and apprehending Redfern. Those agencies included U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Asheville Police Department and New York Police Department (120th Precinct).“This is a great example of federal and local resources working together to apprehend a dangerous fugitive,” said United States Marshal Greg Forest. The U.S. Marshals Service works together with many other agencies to arrest fugitives all over the world.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

County announces New Year's Eve Ambassador to emcee Apple Rise

Caroline Long, founder and executive director of St. Gerard House, will emcee the Apple Rise and usher in 2019 in the courtyard at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street in Hendersonville, County Manager Steve Wyatt announced. The 2018 New Year’s Eve Ambassador, Long founded St. Gerard House eight years ago after both of her children were diagnosed with autism. She dedicated herself to learning everything she could about autism spectrum disorder. With the experience and knowledge that she received, she decided to share that knowledge with families seeking autism treatment. In 2014, she received the Athena Award for Henderson County for the leadership she exhibits in serving her community. The New Year’s Eve Celebration begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31 with family fun events wrapping up around 7 p.m. After a break, the event resumes at 11:00 p.m. with noisemakers, hot beverages and the countdown to the Apple Rise. We look forward to seeing you to ring in 2019 in Henderson County.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

The Top 10, No. 1: The war of the roads

A proposed Highland Lake Road project turned the usually sedate Flat Rock Village Council meetings into jam-packed public forums filled with project opponents.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Floodwaters to rise through Saturday

Heavy rain throughout the day will produce flooding in Henderson County along the French Broad River, Mud Creek and tributaries, the National Weather Service said. Floodwaters are moving down the French Broad from Rosman to Blantyre and will eventually reach Fletcher. The river is expected to crest at 2 feet above flood stage by Saturday afternoon, the weather service said.   Read Story »

Edneyville News

The Top 10, No. 2: Voters oust sheriff

Charlie McDonald, initially reluctant to fill the job as sheriff, parlayed his 2012 appointment to the job into a strong campaign to win the job via election two years later.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Brother Wolf offers $1,500 reward for information on bow shooting of cat

The day before Thanksgiving was just like any other day for Horse Shoe residents, Chris and Paula. Chris was tending to the chores on their property and Paula was at work. As Chris was making his rounds, he noticed their cat, Little Cutie, laying in the grass in a patch of sun, which she was prone to do. However, this time something wasn’t right. Chris went to check on her and found that her small body had been shot by a hunter’s arrow. The arrow, which had entered through her rear leg, pierced her upper body as she scrambled to get away and disemboweled her. Despite managing to crawl back to her home, desperate for help, her injuries were too devastating for her to recover from. Horrifically, Chris was forced to do the only humane thing and put her out of her misery. Can you imagine being forced into that position by someone else’s heartless act? Chris and Paula are devastated. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime, but couldn’t identify a suspect. To aid with the investigation, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is turning to the public for help identifying the person or persons responsible for torturing and ultimately killing Little Cutie, and are offering a $1,500 reward for information that leads to arrest and conviction. “The cold-bloodedness of this crime indicates what a danger this person is to all of us,” said Eric Phelps, field operations manager for Brother Wolf. “Someone knows who did this, and they will be doing a service to the community by stepping forward.” Phelps added that FBI and other law enforcement agencies agree that a person who commits cruelty to animals “is probably just warming up,” referencing studies showing that unpunished violence to animals usually leads to violence towards people. Brother Wolf urges anyone with information about this brutal crime to contact them at (828) 301-3377. All tips will remain completely confidential and the callers anonymous. To contribute to the reward fund, please call (828) 808-9435.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

The Top 10, Nos. 4 and 3

4. Downtown hotel The prospect of a new hotel on the city-owned Dogwood lot was the last major news story among many important developments downtown in 2018. Hands On! children’s museum announced an expansion into a storefront presence, the Grey Mill project advanced toward groundbreaking and the City Council finally committed to build new public restrooms on Fifth Avenue West. Responding to the city’s invitation, two developers proposed multi-story hotels, both with restaurants and convention space, on South Church Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues. There’s still a long way to go before the city brings this one in for a landing — if it does at all — but we’re further down the road than we’ve been in decades. 3. Hendersonville High School The Hendersonville High School construction saga has taken up permanent residence on the Top 10 list, making our hit parade of news for four years running. As the year closed, the School Board was close to receiving revised design plans from new architects. Plans that preserve the historic Erle Stillwell-designed classroom building and auditorium won the unanimous endorsement of the School Board in September. Now the architects are working on more detailed design and cost estimates, something that will be critical when the School Board sends the plans over to the Board of Commissioners. Before the two boards reached détente, School Board members complained that commissioners had misled them on a pricetag gap and commissioners voted to dump the whole project. If the final vote on an HHS renovation-new construction plan comes 2019 — possible but not guaranteed — look for the issue to maintain its spot in the Lightning’s Top 10 a year from now.     Read Story »

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