Free Daily Headlines

News

Set your text size: A A A

News

Roundabout opponents plant their opinion on the roadside

Henderson County News

Turkey Trot is set for Thanksgiving Day

The fifth annual Turkey Trot 5k, a run/walk event open to all ages and fitness levels, starts in front of Hendersonville City Hall, 145 Fifth Ave. East, at 8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning. The route travels through downtown ending back at City Hall. Entry fee is $11. Packets may be picked up prior to the race on Tuesday or Wednesday at City Hall. Packets may also be picked up the day of the race. The city is out of shirts. However, packets not picked up by the end of the race will be redistributed and those shirts will be available for purchase. So bring the kids, bring grandma, bring the dog. Be part of this fun event prior to sitting down to your Thanksgiving meal. For more information, contact Amy Knight at 828-233-3227 or Lu Ann Welter at 828-233-3204 or by email or click here.     Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Police probing racially charged, anti-gay threats against downtown brewery

A downtown brewery that bills itself as a safe space for people of color and the lesbian and gay community was the target of vandalism and racially charged threats this week.The Hendersonville Police Department is investigating a series of threatening emails sent to Black Star Line Brewing Co. Thursday and Friday.“We had multiple threats on our website, different threats,” said Simon Melendez, a Black Star Line employee who spoke for owner and chief brewer L.A. McCrae. “Also we came in today and the keg electrical wires were cut. We had a few alerts go off in our building, we had a sign stolen among other things. It all started just about racism and hate.”An email Friday afternoon followed previous messages and the damage that the brewery workers said they found when they opened.“We are just getting started N----,” the email said. “We hate N----. Especially gay, men hating n----. We still coming …”Detectives are investigating the threats.“We took a communicating threats report last night on some vulgar and racial tones that were sent to them via email and on their website,” Hendersonville Police Capt. Bruce Simonds said. “It’s currently being investigated by the detective bureau.”“It’s very disturbing,” he said of the language. “We take it seriously. The chief went down there and met with the owners. Problem is tracing an IP address” to a sender that disguises the origin.Police have stepped up their watch over the bar on Third Avenue West.“Absolutely,” Simonds said. “We do that with any threat or any break-in for the foreseeable future to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”Describing itself as “the first black, family, & woman owned brewery” in the Asheville area, Black Star Line says that it aims to “create space for women, people of color, queer folks, and other folks with marginalized social identities. It is the spot that is truly for us and by us.”In the meeting with the owner and employees, Chief Herbert Blake pledged support from police.“He basically reassured us that this movement we have going here is going good for the city, that no matter what everybody has our back,” Melendez said.He said the brewery has received a positive reception since it opened last month.“We’re trying to be cautious and at the same time maintain a balance of peace and not have violence break out here and/or anywhere else, because of our cause,” he said. “We have people fighting for our side and people fighting against our side. People that agree and disagree feel very strongly on both sides.”“Business wise, it’s been fantastic,” he added. “People have been coming in, having a good time. We’re just going to be welcoming. Hopefully, everybody will just be peaceful and we can stay the happy medium.”Bartender Javier Naranjo, who recently moved here, said bar patrons have been uniformly supportive.“It’s been all positive,” he said. “I haven’t had any inkling of any such belief or disdain for people like this.”     Read Story »

Henderson County News

That's not a fire downtown, just practice

The Hendersonville Fire Department will be conducting a night training on Main Street, Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. Firefighters will be performing aerial operations for high rise building fires in the 600 block. The setup area will be located at the Skyland Hotel and First Citizens Bank. Traffic will be diverted around fire apparatus for short periods of time. For more information or questions, please contact Deputy Fire Chief James Miller at 828-697-233-3228 or dmiller@hvlnc.gov.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Academic achievement earns Clear Creek a Blue Bell ice cream party

Blue Bell Creameries is throwing a schoolwide ice cream party on Monday for Clear Creek Elementary School in honor of its being named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School. A Blue Bell truck filled with ice cream will arrive at Clear Creek Elementary School at 1:20 p.m., to treat all the students, teachers, and staff members. The U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools program has honored more than 8,500 of America’s most successful schools for the past 35 years. This year, 342 public and private schools across the country received this coveted award. Blue Ribbon Schools are selected on the basis of two primary criteria: 1) they are among the highest-performing schools in their state, and 2) they are schools with at least 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that have improved student performance to high levels. “At Blue Bell, we recognize the importance of encouraging and honoring schools that have achieved educational excellence,” says Ricky Dickson, president of Blue Bell Creameries. “We are well aware that such high levels of achievement require tremendous effort from students, teachers, administrators and parents. This is Blue Bell’s way of showing how proud we are!”This year’s winning schools were honored at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. on Nov. 6-7, 2017.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

No foul play suspected in death of 25-year-old

The sheriff's office said foul play is not suspected in the death of a 25-year-old man whose body was found at 3:14 p.m. Thursday off Old Sunset Hill Road, off Howard Gap Road. The victim was identified as Frankie Eugene Herrell III of Hendersonville. There were no signs of trauma or foul play, and investigators are awaiting the medical examiner’s report to determine the official cause of death.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ministers bless new IAM building, which is dedicated to David Cook

Volunteers, donors, supporters and staff members blessed the work of the Interfaith Assistance Ministry on Tuesday and stood for an extended ovation when it was announced that the new $2.6 million IAM facility would be dedicated to longtime leader, David Cook.IAM President Lynn Pope thanked past presidents Bob Henson and Sherri Metzger. Metzger thanked Cook for his leadership and announced the dedication of the building in his honor.“He’s been the guiding force for this organization,” she said. “He has been the epitome of a servant leader. He cares passionately about helping those in the community who need that hand up and for this we will be forever grateful. From the beginning of the process of building this building, David has reminded us that first and foremost we must continue to take care of the needs of those in the community who need that hand up. … David was always there to remind us not to lose sight of why we were doing this. He has helped us to keep the faith on this journey.”Sherri Metzger and David Cook.Cook, who retired last summer, was succeeded by Elizabeth Willson Moss.“It’s not about me. It’s about the least of these,” Cook said. “It’s about you and your hearts. You’ve opened up your checkbooks and your heart to the least of these. That’s why we’re here. It’s all about them and it’s all about the volunteers who come here every day, and the staff and the leadership of the board of directors. Thank you all and thank the Lord and remember the least of these.”In separate prayers of dedication, the Revs. Alfredo Oviedo of Grace Lutheran; Tim Jones of the Hendersonville Rescue Mission; and Steve Scoggins of First Baptist Church; and Rabbi Rachael Jackson of the Agudas Israel congregation blessed the food pantry, intake counselors, administration and the clothing closet.“We are grateful,” Oviedo said, “that you have given us a mission: to provide emergency relief to Henderson County residents who are in financial crisis by offering food, clothing, funds, guidance and referrals in an atmosphere of compassion and respect.”Praying for administration, Scoggins asked for blessings on executive director Elizabeth Moss and her staff.“Give them wisdom,” he prayed. “You said if any lacks wisdom you would give it to us liberally. We’re going to need a lot of wisdom, wisdom to be able to discern when people come for help, wisdom to be able to keep these volunteers happy. I pray you give them great people skills as well. I pray that you would uphold their spirit. It’s so easy in a ministry like this to burn out, so Lord give them an unending supply of encouragement and strength. And Lord it would help, to continue to get them to give joyously.”Capital campaign committee members raised $2.6 million.The capital campaign committee led by Jay Thorndike raised $1.8 million to start the building.“Because of the generosity of about 800 county donors, our campaign brought in $2,623,000, exceeding our goal,” Thorndike said. The staff, board members and volunteers accounted for 32 percent of the total raised. The capital campaign committee and members like Grace Poli, a fountain of optimism when the challenge seemed at times to be insurmountable.“Grace would say, as we were concluding our meeting, God will provide,” Thorndike said, “and did he ever.”IAM plans a ribbon-cutting and will host the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

AVL will be stuffed like a turkey; arrive early

If you're flying over the Thanksgiving holiday, expect a big crowd and plan to arrive early. The Asheville Regional Airport is reporting a high volume of scheduled passengers for the travel week — as much as a third more than last year. Airport officials urged all passengers to plan accordingly. Specifically, passengers scheduled to fly between Wednesday and Monday should arrive at the airport at least two hours before flight times to allow time to park, check-in, and go through security screening. The busiest travel days during the holiday week will be Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The Monday following Thanksgiving will also be a busy day. "We typically see about 2,500 to 2,800 passengers each day at the airport during the busiest holiday travel days," said Tina Kinsey, spokesperson for the airport. "This year, depending on the day, we are seeing a 16 to 35 percent increase in passengers compared to last year." Figures from the airport show that scheduled passengers (outbound and inbound) will be up 27 percent Wedndesday, 30 percent Thanksgiving Day, 20 percent Friday, 16 percent Saturday and 35 percent Sunday.The airport's new parking garage may be open for the holiday crush. It's not known yet. The airport will update the status of the parking garage on Monday. Regardless of the status of the garage, customer parking will be available. The airport plans to open additional lots, including an additional shuttled lot, if necessary.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

All-County chorus to perform Saturday

The Carolina Concert Choir All-County Honors Chorus will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at Grace Lutheran Church, 245 6th Avenue West. Tickets are $5 and available at the door.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Freeman appointed to state childhood education council

Elisha Freeman, executive director of the Children and Family Resource Center, has been appointed to the state’s Birth To Third Grade (B-3) Interagency Council, Sen. Chuck Edwards announced. “It is one of my primary goals to strengthen the voice of District 48 in Raleigh," Edwards said. "The appointment of Elisha, which also came with a strong recommendation from Rep. Chuck McGrady, will certainly help accomplish this. Elisha is strong advocate for our children and her passion is easily contagious. She will no doubt be very influential in this role. Rep. McGrady and I are grateful that Elisha is willing to serve our area in such an important capacity to help make a difference.”   Freeman has been working in the administration and operation of nonprofit organizations for more than 26 years. She began her career as an intern with the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro. She became executive director of the Children and Family Resource Center in 2010. She is passionate about children and their needs, and writes a monthly column in the Times-News called Speak Out for Kids. A dedicated and involved member of the community, she serves in the Rotary Club and the WNC Early Childhood Coalition.  Freeman earned a bachelor of arts in psychology, focusing on child development and family relations, from UNC Greensboro and received a masters of business administration from Lenoir-Rhyne University. As a member of the B-3 council, she will work with the superintendent of public instruction’s office and the council to coordinate and create an interagency plan for early childhood education. The B-3 Interagency Council was created in legislation this year to design and implement a coordinated interagency plan for early childhood education. The Council will look at different agency changes that may need to occur to shift a focus on Early Childhood Education and to implement a statewide evaluation of the progress of children in Early Childhood Education programs.   Read Story »

News Archive