Free Daily Headlines

News

Set your text size: A A A

News

School security now No. 1 priority

Laurel Park News

Trash pickup in Laurel Park postponed to Friday

The threat of winter weather has caused WastePro to delay trash pickup service this week from Thursday to Friday, the town of Laurel Park announced. If a household's trash is missed Friday, residents should call Town Hall by 8 a.m. Saturday to report it and it will be picked up Saturday. Leave a voicemail if the office is closed. Messages will be checked Saturday morning. Include your name, address, and phone number. Call 828-693-4840.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

M&M opens Seafood & Country Market

Ronald Henderson put tomatoes, onions, kale and other fresh produce on display outside his brand new Seafood and Country Market about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. A couple hours later, "I came back down here and my stuff is freezing." Plus, it was snowing.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (165)

You won't want to miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning.    Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ville to Ville Relay sends runners through town

Around 250 runners will be racing through Henderson County on Saturday, April 14, during the Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay. The popular race from Asheville to Greenville is already sold out. Teams of six runners cover 12 legs ranging from 3 to 10 miles (except ultra teams, which have three runners). Each team provides its own race vehicle to drop off and pick up runners at designated transition areas along the course route. About 1,500 runners total have signed up. The first flight of runners will leave Highland Brewing Co. around 5 a.m. on the first leg, to A.C. Reynolds Middle School. Switchoffs in Henderson County are Fletcher Community Park, Carter Landscaping, Southern Appalachian Brewery, Hillandale Elementary School, Tuxedo Park and Talisman Camps in Zirconia. From Zirconia, there are only four more legs. Teams will finish near downtown Greenville with a celebration featuring a variety of local brewers, music, and food trucks.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Two 16-year-olds charged with assaulting teacher

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies charged two 16-year-olds with assaulting a school employee after an incident at the Henderson County Career Academy last Thursday. One 16-year-old student was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in addition to the assault. He was released under a $2,500 bond. The other teenager was released under a $2,000 bond on the assault charge.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Balfour Parkway maps on display at library

Large maps of the proposed corridors of the Balfour Parkway are now on display at the Henderson County public library on Washington Street. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has started preliminary work on the project known as the Balfour Parkway.  At its March 5 meeting, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners requested that the maps of the areas potentially affected by the project be displayed locally for all Henderson County citizens to view. The maps are at the library near the Information Desk.  People may also view the maps on the Henderson County website at www.hendersoncountync.org. Under Items of Current Interest on the main page, click on Balfour Parkway Project. For more information, contact Jennifer Fuller, North Carolina Department of Transportation, 1582 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1582, jmfuller@ncdot.gov or Kristina Miller, PE-RK&K, 900 Ridgefield Drive, Suite 350, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, kmiller@rkk.com.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... what can be done about eyesore

Q. When will that vacant house on Signal Hill Road be torn down? What can be done to have the place cleaned up? Good questions but few good answers. The dilapidated house on the corner of Clear Creek Road and Signal Hill Road falls within Henderson County's jurisdiction. I looked at three possible remedies under state and local laws. The County has a minimum housing ordinance on the books but this law only protects renters and since the structure is vacant, complainants have no standing. Option two would be to ask county officials if it violates their Nuisance Ordinance. This law, for the most part, addresses items such as solid waste, abandoned cars and junked mobile homes but not structures. And since the overgrown property is not a business the junkyard ordinance does not apply. A third option is to report a violation to the Henderson County Health Department. They can enforce a broadly written state law that defines public health nuisances. In legalese, the nuisance must "substantially and unreasonably interfere with the health of the public." Examples would be a leaking oil tank or the likelihood of the structure collapsing over the roadside, but a growing patch of poison ivy or a family of black snakes holed up under the house may not meet the nuisance test. Of course, a fourth option would be to make the owners an offer they can't refuse. I spoke to Larry Holbert, one of the owners of the corner lot. Holbert has no immediate plans for the property and is waiting for the vacant "triangle lot" across the street to sell and develop. He said his lot might be a good site for a hot dog stand. Back to junkyards. Another reader asked about the junkyard at 212 Mills Street in East Flat Rock near the Armory. The property owned by Neal Jackson contains a wall-to-wall collection of junk material. If you need an old rusty metal dumpster, this is your place. According to officials with our County's Code Enforcement Department, the junkyard is legal but non-conforming to existing zoning. In other words, it can exist but not expand. The County took Jackson to court some time ago in an attempt to prove a nuisance violation but the court found otherwise. There are probably 10 non-conforming junkyards within the county's jurisdiction but no new ones have been permitted in the last 10 years. * * * * * I recently wrote about local banks that had kept their name the longest and I tagged First Citizens Bank as the oldest. Still true, but the bank has had a presence on Main Street since 1972, almost 20 years longer than my article stated. Also, Carolina Alliance Bank, also on Main Street, was previously Forest Commercial Bank in Asheville. Carolina Alliance has branches in North and South Carolina. * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

WHHS students charged in third school threat this week

Two West Henderson High School students were charged on Friday with communicating a threat of mass violence at the school in the third school-related incident resulting in charges this week. School administrators in coordination with the school resource deputy immediately responded to and investigated the reported threat. The safety of students and the school was maintained at all times. Gordon Kaster Martin, 17, of Hendersonville, as well as a 16-year-old student, were each charged with making the threat. Both students are being charged as adults and were jailed on a $4,000 bond. Deputies arrested 17-year-old Hunter Scott Aly on Sunday and charged him with making threats against two Rugby Middle School students and threatening violence at the middle school. Then on Monday, deputies charged a 14-year-old student at the Innovative High School with making a threat at that school through Instagram, triggering a 45-minute Code Yellow, or soft lockdown.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Spring forward — even if winter is back

While daylight saving time may bring spring to mind, winter weather is stubbornly hanging on, bringing snow to our west and feezing overnight lows. An updated forecast from the National Weather Service Saturday afternoon predicted that the snow would mainly accumulate in counties west of Asheville. "Initially it's going to be coming into area just a little bit warmer" than first projected, said meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis. "Any precipitation that falls tonight and through tomorrow should just be a cold rain. The issue is going to start tomorrw night, when we're going to have some colder air develop and should see snow and ice across higher peaks Sunday night. By early Monday and by mid morning we could see that change over to completely snow and maybe even reach down to the lower valleys" of counties to our west. Higher elevations in Avery, Yancey and Mitchell counties could see 4-6 inches. Snow and ice is not expected to reach Henderson County, where the National Weather Service is predicting zero snow accumulation. "It's going to be really strongly elevation dependent," Gerapetritis said. "I think most of Henderson County should see this as a cold rain. If we do have that occur it will probably be a dusting at best." There's a chance of black ice Monday night and early Tuesday, with lows dropping to 28. The first day of daylight saving time will look like just another dreary winter day. There's a 90 percent chance of rain and highs should reach only around 47. The low Sunday night will be around 34. The rain continues Monday, then even colder weather sets in through midweek, with lows around 25 Tuesday and Wednesday nights and highs only around 40 both days. The relief comes Thursday and Friday, with highs of 52 and 61 under sunny skies. Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday.   Read Story »

News Archive