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Four Seasons Politics

White House drops Meadows for chief of staff role

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Meadows said to be on short list for Trump chief of staff

The mentioners in the Washington press corps are placing U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows high on the list of potential successors to John Kelly as President Trump's chief of staff.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Sworn in as sheriff, Griffin names chief deputy, district captains

Lowell Griffin was sworn in as Henderson County sheriff Monday night before a nearly full house at Living Water Baptist Church. Henderson County Clerk of Court Kimberly Gasperson-Justus performed the swearing-in of the all the Sheriff's employees. Retired Superior Court Judge Zoro Guice Jr. administered the oath of office for Griffin.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Commissioners elect Hawkins as chair, thank Thompson, welcome McCall

Henderson County commissioners on Monday night unanimously elected Grady Hawkins as chair, thanked outgoing Commissioner Tommy Thompson for his 40 years of public service and welcomed a female aboard for the first time since 2002.Commissioners voted to hand the gavel to Hawkins and elected Bill Lapsley as vice chair after the swearing-in of the three board members elected on Nov. 6. Commissioners Lapsley and Michael Edney won re-election and political newcomer Rebecca McCall took the District 4 seat Thompson filled for two terms before his retirement.Hawkins, 76, thanked Edney for his service as chair during a year when he had to deal with his daughter Megan’s heart transplant. Hawkins welcomed McCall and praised Lapsley for his work on the board during his first term. A retired Air Force colonel, Hawkins served on the board from 1996 to 2004 and got back on the board in 2012. Thompson, who served as Clerk of Superior Court for 28 years before winning a seat of the Board of Commissioners in 2010, grew emotional when Hawkins presented him with a large framed photograph of the Historic Courthouse.“I have wanted one of these pictures ever since I came in office," Thompson said. He coveted the one he saw last week in Commissioner Charlie Messer’s office. “I thought to myself, I hope they give me one of those, and if you weren’t going to I was going to see to it that I got one,” he said. “My 40 years have been absolutely wonderful. I have had a tremendous at team at home. If it wasn’t for them I couldn’t have done it. They took a lot of the brunt when I had to go to a meeting, or quite frankly came home mad or whatever, but I’ve enjoyed every moment. I hope the Lord will bless all of you because I have been truly blessed with the things the Lord has given me the opportunity to do.”He praised his fellow commissioners and the county staff.“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of wonderful people, here and at the other courthouse, chief justices, governors, all sorts of people and I can tell you that the group of people you have here in Henderson County working for your benefit and welfare is just as smart as any of those, just as worthy as any of those. They just cannot be matched. I have enjoyed every day of my service whether it be as a county commissioner or in my previous job as Clerk of Superior Court.”     Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

'Stay safe and God bless,' sheriff says as he signs off

Wishing his successor and sheriff's deputies "safety and wisdom in all the uncertain days ahead," Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald signed off for the last time through his monthly newsletter, The Guardian. In a message released just before 10 p.m. Sunday night, McDonald recounted the department's achievements under his leadership since 2012, thanked his wife, Jennie, who has "sacrificed more than I in this endeavor," and ended with six verses from Paul's letter to the Philippians. ("Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.") "While I am sad to be leaving this great community, and while I certainly had greater plans for the future of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, it was decided by a fair and honest election, that my time was done," McDonald said. "I have come to terms with that." McDonald said he was referring to the community of deputies in the department, not to relocating from his home in Mills River. "We don't know what we're going to do," he said. "I could easily move, I could easily stay. We're just going to take the next couple of months to just kind of see where we land. I don't have any job prospects and I'm not really looking for anything. I know the right thing will come along just like this job did." McDonald's term ends at 6 p.m. Monday when Lowell Griffin is sworn in as sheriff in a ceremony at Living Water Baptist Church on Sugarloaf Road. Here is the message: "Hello for the last time from my desk at the Sheriff's Office. This is the final Guardian Newsletter. I appreciate all who looked forward to the messages and agency news that it provided. As I look over the archived past letters, even I am in awe of all that has been accomplished by the men and women who have served my administration the past six years and nine months. These newsletters have captured the highlights of a collective journey made by dedicated public safety servants, through difficult challenges, change, and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor undertaken. What a journey it has been. "By embracing new technology and the most current 'best practices' in law enforcement crime reduction, we reduced breaking and entering and property crimes five years running by nearly 50% from when we started. By implementing vigorous promotional processes and leadership development, we were able to hire and promote quality employees. Our deputies, staff, and our volunteers embraced increased professionalism and took great pride in being recognized by all of our peers, as one of the very best agencies in North Carolina. As a result, we have had an easier time recruiting than most, attracting higher caliber and dedicated men and women to fill our ranks. It also made it easier for our County Board of Commissioners to raise deputies' salaries and allow better pay for higher levels of responsibility and training a few years back."Our commitment to accountability, our emphasis on ethical and transparent operations, and our dedication to professional public service and community partnerships inspired many in our community to offer their help and expertise for the public good. "I have been able to do so because I know that as a result of the effort and commitment of all who served my administration, I leave the ship in far better shape than when I first came aboard. My administration forged a path separate from the 'good ole boy' system and restored the public trust in the time honored and esteemed Office of the Sheriff. We have proven that agency success is guaranteed when leadership sets and holds the highest reasonable standards of ethics, morality, compassion and justice. Our men and women know this and the public we serve expects this. I am proud to know that I, and the personnel that will stay behind to serve the incoming sheriff, have given every ounce of effort we could muster to serve this agency and our community. In so doing, we have left a lighted pathway for success. I wish the incoming sheriff and every member of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, safety and wisdom in all the uncertain days ahead."I have been so honored by God to have been given the time I have served as your sheriff. It was brutal at times, but so humbling and rewarding as well. I am a better man for the friends and leaders I have had the privilege to have worked alongside. My wife, Jennie, sacrificed more than I in this endeavor, yet she never regretted a moment, and stood by me through it all. We are still blessed to be very best friends and only grew closer through this time. Whatever the next mission is, we pray that it will be something we can do together. Thank you all. Stay safe and God bless."   Read Story »

Edneyville Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Greenway plan would get county in the game

Years from now, it might be possible for a bicyclist to complete a perimeter ride around Henderson County — pedaling from the Carl Sandburg home to Flat Rock Park, Jackson Park, Berkeley Mills Park, Westfeldt Park (optional stop at Sierra Nevada for a pint), Brevard and Hendersonville, via the Ecusta Trail.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics

Ethics panel raps Meadows over handling of harassment complaints against top aide

The House Ethics Committee sanctioned U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and ordered him to reimburse the government $42,000 in a case rising from sexual harassment complaints against the congressman's chief of staff, Kenny West.   Read Story »

Asheville Four Seasons Politics

Metcalf appointed U.S. magistrate judge

The Van Winkle Law Firm attorney William Carleton Metcalf, a former senior principal in the firm, has been named United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, the law firm announced. Metcalf was sworn in by The Honorable Max O. Cogburn Jr., U.S. District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and began his new role on Nov. 1. Prior to his appointment, Judge Metcalf practiced law at The Van Winkle Law Firm for 21 years, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and an officer of the firm. He earned both his bachelor’s degree with honors in history and his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While attending the UNC School of Law, Judge Metcalf served as president of his graduating class and was a member of the Holderness Moot Court. “On behalf of the entire firm, I would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Judge Metcalf on his recent appointment to magistrate judge,” said Steve Grabenstein, president of The Van Winkle Law Firm. “It has been our pleasure to work with him over the last 21 years, and we know he will serve our community well in his new role.” Active in leadership roles in professional organizations throughout his career, Judge Metcalf served as an officer of the 28th Judicial District Bar in Buncombe County, was the founding president of the Western District of North Carolina Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and served as a past president of the Harry C. Martin Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He has received multiple professional awards and honors, including being named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a recipient of the 28th Judicial District Bar’s Professionalism Award. He is also active in the community, working with organizations such as Pisgah Legal Services and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and volunteering time with various local athletic associations.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Red wall in Blue Ridge blocks Democratic wave

There was no blue wave here. Voters in reliably Republican Henderson County erected a red wall and re-elected incumbent Republicans against a hard charge by Democrats, who had fielded more candidates for the Legislature than in recent years and in several races had competed on nearly even ground with their Republican opponents.   Read Story »

Laurel Park Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Four steps forward after a giant leap back

Twenty years ago, when Henderson County longed for state road money and got none, political and business leaders would have been celebrating recent news on highway funding.   Read Story »

Four Seasons Politics Archive