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LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: A glimmer of hope for HHS

Henderson County News

TSA to open Pre✓ center at Asheville Regional Airport

Demand by travelers interested in enrolling in the Transportation Security Administration's TSA Pre✓program has been so strong that a temporary application center will be offered weekdays at the Asheville Regional Airport Oct. 29-Nov. 9. The TSA Pre✓ temporary application center will be in the IdentoGO TSA Pre✓ RV in the parking lot of the Asheville Regional Airport Department of Public Safety on Wright Brothers Way 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, through Thursday, Nov. 8, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM and 9 a.m.-noon Friday, Nov. 9 (closed Saturday and Sunday). Local travelers can make an appointment for TSA Pre-check enrollment online by completing the initial enrollment information, then selecting Asheville from the drop-down menu (on the last screen of the initial enrollment) to make an appointment. A link to the on-line application is provided at flyavl.com. Applicants may then complete their enrollment in-person at the TSA Pre✓ application center during their appointment. The application fee is $85 and is good for five years. It can be paid at the time of your appointment by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier's check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Enrollees will need to bring documentation proving identity and citizenship status. And fingerprints are collected during the in-person enrollment session. In addition to the temporary application center at AVL, travelers can also enroll at one of the on-airport locations at several airports around the country. After completing enrollment, successful applicants will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) via U.S. mail within a few days that is valid for five years. The enrollee should enter the provided KTN in the "Known Traveler Number" field when booking airline reservations. The KTN also can be added when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, via phone call to the airline reservation center, or with the travel management company making your reservations. Additionally, the KTN can be entered in participating airline frequent flyer profiles, where it will be stored for future reservations made directly from your profile. More than 200 airports are participating in TSA Pre✓® nationwide and more than 50 airlines participate in the program including American, Delta and United. While the program is not yet at AVL, expedited screening is offered (no need to remove light jackets, shoes or belts). Also, you may be able to use your TSA Pre✓® privileges at your destination airport on your return journey. TSA Precheck can be used at any of the airports in the program. Travelers who are enrolled in TSA Pre✓® or one of the other "trusted traveler" programs such as Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS are permitted to keep on their shoes, belts and light outerwear jacket, and they can leave their laptops and liquid 3-1-1 bags inside their carry-on bags when they go through a checkpoint while the program is being run. Wait times are typically five minutes or less. The Transportation Security Administration was created to strengthen the security of the nation's transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set the standard for excellence in transportation security.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Two charged with meth sales

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies charged two people with multiple drug felonies after investigating a tip that methamphetamine was being distributed from a house at 3290 Asheville Highway.   Read Story »

Mills River News

Homeowners form 191 Alliance to block widening

Residents along N.C. 191 have stepped up their opposition to a project that would transform the road into four-lane divided highway, organizing an alliance of neighborhoods and calling for a second look at the need now that the Balfour Parkway is dead.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (192)

If you want to know who's on the ballot and their positions on the issues, you'll want to pick up a copy of this week's Hendersonville Lightning.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Top Army general salutes Honor Air founders Miller and Morse

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of staff of the U.S. Army, had Earl Morse and Jeff Miller chuckling when he teased that Morse had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

School Board candidates largely agree on saving Stillwell, arming teachers

School Board candidates are broadly in agreement on the major issues the elected leaders will face in the months ahead, including support for saving the historic classroom building as part of the Hendersonville High School and opposition to allowing teachers to carry firearms.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... if Asheville's parking meters are smarter than ours

Q. Asheville has replaced their downtown parking meters with stand-alone smart meters that take both cash and credit cards. Did Hendersonville ever consider these high tech meters? Yes, they did but the decision was to go with the kiosk system. Asheville paid about $900 for each unit including installation. Asheville officials told me that even with paying the meter company a modest monthly fee they expect the average “pay off” for each smart meter is about one year. Asheville will eventually have 700 downtown meters that take credit or debit cards plus coins. The cost to park is $1.50 per hour which is slightly more than their downtown parking garages. “It’s all about manpower,” said Hendersonville Public Works Director Tom Wooten. He has seven kiosk machines right now which cost about $16,000 each. The City likes the reduced maintenance the kiosk system offers compared to the old “lollypop” type meters. So where are those antiques now? All sold by the City and I suspect in somebody’s man cave. Asheville’s smart meters may serve their needs but at almost a full grand each, a would-be Cool Hand Luke should think twice before topping those meter heads. Q. The daily newspaper no longer posts police, fire and EMS calls for the prior 24 hours. Is there a place where we can see those reports? Yes, but not in printed form. According to Henderson County officials, the 911 center faxes daily incident reports to the Times-News every day just after midnight. The reports include law enforcement, fire and EMS response calls. You can get some of the same information by tuning in to WHKP at 6:00 am when the County’s 9-1-1 Center calls them in. If you are a late riser, try logging on to the Sheriff’s website and click on the “Crime Reports” link then drill down to the county map. This is a neat site that shows the exact time and location of recent thefts, burglaries, assaults, etc. You can customize your search by street address, search distance and time frame. Incidents reports are updated every 24 hours. You can also sign up to get online alerts as well. EMS calls however are not posted to this site. For Hendersonville residents, city police post monthly crime reports on its website and on Facebook. The city’s fire department keeps a detailed summary of calls on its website broken down by date, fire district and neighborhood. Q. Now that the Kellogg property on Broyles Road is being leased to the YMCA, will walkers still be able to use the trails? Officials from the YMCA of Western North Carolina confirmed that public use of the trails will be continued. In fact, the Y plans to organize hiking and gardening groups to better utilize and maintain the grounds. Nothing but deer and friendly bears in them woods. * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

FOUR SEASONS POLITICS: Campaign sign on senior steps doesn't last

HHS sign too close for comfort Jay Egolf admits to planting a campaign sign at a prominent corner of Hendersonville High School and says if that was wrong he’s an equal opportunity offender. “I planted one by every school,” he said. “I’m trying to get every school’s vote.” The campaign sign by the Senior Steps was up on Friday but gone by Monday morning. Egolf said he had heard nothing about the sign until the Lightning called. “I don’t know why they took it down.”   City sets 'Council Conversations' In an effort to improve communication between the City Council and Hendersonville residents, the City Council is hosting five community meetings throughout the city this fall.The “Council Conversations” will be held at strategic locations in Hendersonville.“The Council has made it a priority to meet with our citizens to discuss our vision for the community and receive feedback about what we are doing well and what we can improve on,” Mayor Barbara Volk said. “We believe the best way to do this is to get out of City Hall and meet our residents in or near their neighborhoods.”Each meeting will be hosted by an individual council member with City Manager John Connet and staff in attendance to help answer questions or provide information. Out of respect to everyone’s time, each “conversation” will be limited to one hour.“We hope these meetings will be well attended, because we want to hear from our residents,” Mayor Pro Tem Ron Stephens said.
Here’s the schedule:• Oct. 15 – Union Grove Baptist Church, 901 Robinson Terrace, – 7 p.m. Hosted by Mayor Barbara Volk.• Oct. 29 – Hendersonville Church of Christ, 1975 Haywood Road – 7 p.m. Hosted by Mayor Pro Tem Ron Stephens.• Nov. 5 – Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2557 Chimney Rock Road – 6 p.m. Hosted by Councilman Jeff Miller.• Nov. 19 – Henderson County Health Sciences Center, Room 2003 – 801 Sixth Avenue West – 6 p.m. Hosted by Councilman Jerry Smith.• Dec. 3 – Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, 204 Kanuga Road, 7 p.m. Hosted by Councilman Steve Caraker.The City Council has made an effort to locate a meeting in close proximity to all Hendersonville residents. However, residents are welcome to attend the meeting that is most convenient for them. For more information contact Connet at (828) 233-3201. School Board forum 
is Tuesday night The League of Women Voters Henderson County and the Henderson County Retired Teachers Association will host a forum for the School Board candidates from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the city Operations Center, 305 Williams St.
Paul Goebel, a retired Henderson County teacher and a member of both organizations, will be the moderator. All of the candidates have been invited. The questions will address the topics of academic standards, school safety, Hendersonville High School, and the non-partisan status of the School Board election. After the questions, attendees will have time to speak individually with the candidates. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.lwvhcnc.org.School Board candidates have also been invited to the monthly Republican Party Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Dixie Diner in Laurel Park. Candidates will be invited to introduce themselves and say why voters should choose them. The candidates will field questions from those attending. Appeals court candidate
 speaks at Republican club Chuck Kitchen, a Republican candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals, will be the guest speaker at the Henderson Country Republican Women’s Club luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Cedars. Kitchen began his legal career as assistant county attorney for Durham County following his graduation from UNC Law School. He moved to Alamance County and became the county attorney in 1986. He then returned to Durham County as county attorney in 1996 where he remained until his retirement from the county in 2009. He has practiced law for 37 years. He is running for the seat held by Judge Rick Elmore, who is retiring. To reserve a seat at the luncheon, write a check for $15 to The Cedars and mail to HCRWC PO Box 2734, Hendersonville, NC 28793. Reservation checks must be received by Oct. 19.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

At Dandelion diners come for the cause and come back for the food

When Mainstay started the Dandelion Eatery five years ago, the founders knew they would train women who had come to the shelter to escape trauma. They knew a little bit about running a restaurant and a lot about pimento cheese and shrimp and grits. And they knew that a dandelion was a gritty little flower that grows under adverse conditions.   Read Story »

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