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Two 16-year-olds charged with assaulting teacher

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 »

Henderson County News

Pardee offering CNAs $3,000 signing bonus

Pardee UNC Health Care will host a certified nursing assistant job fair on Wednesday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Orientation Room, at 800 N. Justice Street. Pardee is offering sign-on bonuses of up to $3,000 for qualified candidates. Interviews will be held onsite. For more information, contact Pardee Human Resources at 828-696-4209. Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. For more information, visit www.pardeehospital.org.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

Restaurant Week features top eateries

Hendersonville is holding its first restaurant week March 15-24, featuring an impressive variety of restaurants from across the county.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Bent Creek Bistro opening at N.C. Arboretum

The Bent Creek Bistro will officially open at the North Carolina Arboretum on Friday, March 30. The North Carolina Arboretum Society selected The Colorful Palate as its new culinary partner for the Bent Creek Bistro. Bent Creek Bistro, which is located in the Arboretum’s Education Center, offers indoor and courtyard dining from March through November, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays, as well as for the Arboretum’s annual Winter Lights event from mid-November to the end of December. Based in Asheville, The Colorful Palate is a renowned catering company co-owned by childhood friends Ragan Evans Lewis and Tara Letts. Since 2002, the company has earned a reputation for preparing tasty food with a focus on high-quality, locally-sourced, customized menus. Bent Creek Bistro represents a new name for the Arboretum’s primary dining option, replacing The Savory Thyme Café, which the Arboretum has used for more than a decade.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

YMCA promises more rec programs at Patton Park

City of Hendersonville and Hendersonville Family YMCA officials say residents will have more recreation opportunities now that the City Council has authorized the Y to manage Patton Park and Pool.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

NCDOT extends Balfour Parkway comment period

An overwhelming crowd at the kickoff public input meeting for the proposed Balfour Parkway has prompted the NCDOT to extend the comment period by a month. "In light of the turnout at the February 27th public meeting and requests for additional time to comment on the project, the project team is extending the comment period to April 30," Kristina Miller, an engineer with RK&K consultants of Raleigh, said in an announcement on Wednesday. "Within the next week, the updated comment period will be reflected on the project website. We appreciate the public feedback that has already been provided." The comment deadline had been March 30. The turnout on Feb. 27 stunned NCDOT and RK&K officials. A line snaked around the Cascades Mountain Resort and both the NCDOT and a parkway opponents ran out of handouts. Residents of Grimesdale, Foxwood, Stoney Mountain Estates and other neighborhoods have organzed Stop the Balfour Parkway. Residents say the proposed parkway routes endanger stable neighborhoods and should be moved farther north to a less developed path.   Read Story »

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