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Tillis not worried about Trump drag in '18 elections

Henderson County News

Presentation celebrates silent movies filmed in Bat Cave

CHIMNEY ROCK — During the silent film era, nearly 400 movies were produced in North Carolina. Films were made in Asheville, Charlotte, Wilmington, Durham and many other locations. But one hotbed of North Carolina silent movie era is a surprise to many: Bat Cave. Nearly every major film company of the era sent companies to this rugged and beautiful spot. Between 1912 and the mid ’20s, more than fifty movies were produced there, according to film historian and North Carolina silent film authority Frank Thompson. And the companies lodged at the historic Esmeralda Inn. On Feb. 3 some of the rare films will return to the Esmeralda for a special evening — Bat Cave's Silent Movie Era. Thompson will present an illustrated talk, showing excerpts from three films produced at Bat Cave and Chimney Rock: Brother Bill (1913),  The Masked Rider (1916) and Gilded Lies (1921). These motion pictures — all thought lost until recently — will be accompanied by renowned pianist Marc Hoffman (http://www.marchoffman.com). The total package cost per person is $45 — $20 for the presentation and a $25 credit towards dinner in the Inn’s restaurant — plus room rate and tax. For those who wish to attend the presentation without staying at the Inn, the price is $20 per person. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact The Esmeralda Inn at info@theesmeralda.com or 828-625-2999.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Developer back for third try for Horse Shoe Farm permit

HORSE SHOE — A Miami developer who has been turned back twice in applications for large-scale building plans has filed a revised master plan for 132 residential dwellings at Horse Shoe Farm.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Griffin promises bodycams, politics-free sheriff's office

Lowell S. Griffin, a candidate for Henderson County sheriff, says he would outfit deputies with bodycams, revive joint law enforcement teams that Sheriff Charlie McDonald dropped, offer the same services inside cities as outside, discontinue use of a state law allowing sheriffs to fire deputies at will and keep politics out of the office. "The only allegiance that I will demand is to the citizens of Henderson County," he said. "I wholeheartedly believe that any person employed by the sheriff should serve the people of the county and not a political entity." "McDonald has stated that he does not intend to use body cameras," Griffin said in publicizing his campaign platform. "I will not only support the use of officer worn cameras but fully intend to mandate their use in any official interaction with the public." In a 2,000-word statement spelling out his goals and strategies, Griffin also pledged greater cooperation among all first-responder agencies and fiscally conservative management, saying he would "rethink and re-evaluate the needs of the county to ensure the citizens are getting what’s needed and avoiding extravagant and unnecessary spending," including a $20 million law enforcement training center McDonald sought and the Board of Commissioners OK'd. Griffin, a Republican, was among a handful of deputies McDonald dismissed shortly after he won election to the job in November 2014. A native of Edneyville, Griffin is now a captain with the Polk County sheriff's office. Here is the campaign statement:   Resource Supervisor Currently the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office uses a paramilitary chain of command. This creates a multi-level agency which over manages the personnel in the field. Competent officers combined with competent field supervisors utilizing current technology, such as body worn cameras, reduce the need for excessive oversight. The H.C.S.O. currently has over a million dollars in annual payroll dedicated to administration who rarely interact with the public. As it is, corporals report to sergeants who report to lieutenants who report to captains who report to majors who report to a chief deputy who reports to the Sheriff. It is important to remember that the H.C.S.O. is a 200 man department and not a 2000 man department. Personnel can be reassigned to increase the efficiency of the department and make better use of our tax dollars.Henderson County is a great county that encompasses a variety of geographical and demographical features. Currently the H.C.S.O. is hiring senior administrative officers from areas outside of the region at an alarming rate. A captain from the Chicago area, another captain from the Spartanburg area, and a lieutenant from a federal agency now supervise officers. While these folks may possess valid credentials, it is demoralizing for officers within the agency to realize that regardless of their training and performance, their upward mobility is limited. These top administrators hired from these other regions are not aware of any of the issues that the residents or business owners of Henderson County face.Given the opportunity I would put field supervisors in place and allow them to perform their duties. I would then divide the county into four areas encompassing our communities and REASSIGN, not hire additional, top administrative personnel to positions overseeing these areas. The residents, business owners, and folks working in these areas, commonly called districts, would be made aware of the supervisor serving their district. These “District Captains” would be uniformed officers responsible for issues arising in their districts. Conversely, if a resident or business owner faces an issue which remained unresolved, or simply had a question, there would be a representative who is genuinely familiar with that district available to respond. Imagine having an issue where you live and knowing exactly who to call to get the answers you deserve. Relationships with Other Agencies Criminals do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries. A criminal may commit a crime in a town or city, and then commit a second crime in an unincorporated area, even moving on to another city or county. Many times investigators from multiple agencies investigate crimes and pursue criminals independently of each other. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Western North Carolina. The Sheriff has the authority to allow officers from other jurisdictions the authority to pursue criminals throughout the county. In the last few years the Henderson County sheriff has abolished the H.C.S.O. / Hendersonville Police joint narcotics task force and S.W.A.T. team.It is time to step up to become the leading agency in the region in developing a team concept to protect the people. In order to accomplish this we must stow the egos and create the communication that is needed to be successful. I intend to work directly with the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs of allied agencies to create multiple task forces. Task forces will maximize manpower increasing efficiency of all agencies. This creates an environment which not only helps to bring justice to victims, but fosters proactive strategies while also helping save the taxpayers hard earned money.Henderson County has some of the best emergency services and first responders in theworld. Prior to this administration, a strong and supportive relationship existed between other Henderson County emergency services and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. I have received numerous complaints from other emergency services leaders indicating that currently, the relationship is not only strained, but continues to deteriorate. I pledge to personally maintain dialogue and involvement while assisting all emergency services throughout the county ensuring that during any crisis, the citizens receive the highest quality response possible. Narcotics Investigation We cannot combat a problem until we choose to admit we have a problem. I pledge to assign real resources to combat the drug issue. Under previous administrations, Henderson County initiated and was part of numerous cases seizing millions of dollars and assets from the criminals who poison our citizens. Today the narcotics investigators remain understaffed in the face of the current epidemic. Currently, Henderson County Emergency Services respond to assist patients of illicit drug overdoses at an alarming rate.I pledge to assign real resources to combat the drug issue. Dedicating adequate resources to the drug problem is a priority. There must be resources available to investigate drug complaints at every level. The diversion of legal opiates to the black market is a particular issue in Henderson County. Providing for a dedicated detective to work solely on these drug diversion issues is paramount. I will also reinstate the criminal interdiction unit. I have worked with a successful group dedicated to interdicting criminals and drug traffickers. Interdiction officers are specially trained and experienced in road side investigations that develop information which lead to broader investigations encompassing various crimes being committed locally, regionally, and beyond.As outlined before we MUST partner with other agencies and utilize ALL resources available to include federal, state, and local officers. Drug activity typically not only crosses county lines but routinely traverses state and national borders as well. Without developing communication and cooperation with all of our partners, we will not realize the success that the citizens of Henderson County deserve! Politics in the work place / Job Security I intend to not only to demand professionalism, but to display it as well. I will proudly wear the same uniform as the officers that serve the county. The uniform should not be a symbol of authority, but instead one of servitude. My servitude extends past the voters. It also encompasses the employees of the department.I will discontinue employing the North Carolina Statute that allows a Sheriff to terminate an officer at will. In this day and age where the public demands and deserves professionalism, it is imperative to secure the best officers possible to protect the greatest people in the world. I realize that the greatest folks in the world just happen to live in Henderson County. Unfortunately, far too many experienced officers with multiple years of training and experience have been dismissed solely for political purposes. These dismissals have not only deprived the citizens of extraordinary law enforcement talent, but have cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in training. I will not substantially demote nor terminate employees without a formal review process. I believe it is wrong to use my opinion and ego as the only tools to judge any employee who serves the people. This review process will include a board of Henderson County taxpayers who have a background in management and leadership. This will also provide employees with a venue to provide their point of view concerning any issue they may face.Politics can so easily become an area of self-importance. I will refuse to force an employee to swear political allegiance to anyone, including myself. The only allegiance that I will demand is to the citizens of Henderson County. I wholeheartedly believe that any person employed by the sheriff should serve the people of the county and not a political entity! Body Cams The use of officer worn cameras, commonly known as body cameras, is an imperative step in protecting BOTH the officers from unjustified accusations and ensuring public confidence. Today’s technological advances have provided the majority of the public with the ability to capture photographs and videos with audio just about anywhere at any time. Unfortunately, there are people in society who are far too willing to record events from a less than ideal perspective or only offer a partial recording in an attempt to discredit the truth. Police recordings offer a true and accurate depiction of an event. In my experience, recordings have positively affected officers in complaints the vast majority of the time. Furthermore, these cameras have become a tremendous evidentiary tool for law enforcement agencies throughout the country. McDonald has stated that he does not intend to use body cameras. I will not only support the use of officer worn cameras but fully intend to mandate their use in any official interaction with the public. Municipalities Municipalities pay county taxes . . . . . PERIOD!!! The citizens of any municipality, such as Hendersonville, deserve basic county services. Most municipalities are required to offer enhanced services, such as police, fire, waste disposal, etc. and do so through extra taxation. Being located in a municipality does not mean that these residents and business owners are no longer citizens of our county. Every taxpayer deserves the basic county services and the Sheriff should be the Sheriff who looks out for the best interests of the people in Henderson County regardless of demographics or geography. I will not only assist any municipality with assistance from the animal enforcement division, but I intend to provide the services that people pay for regardless of the location throughout the county. . . . . PERIOD!!!!! Fiscal Responsibility I am truly conservative. I always been conscientious of my personal finances and I am known for trying to stretch every quarter I have past 26 cents. I realize that tax dollars are real dollars paid by you, the public, and I pledge to be conservative with your money. I have worked on and adhered to budgets comprised of taxpayer money for years, including budgets at the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. When it comes to spending YOUR money we need to consider all available options. There are current issues facing the citizens of Henderson County and I very much realize that there is a cost to doing business. Currently the administration for the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office collects a significantly larger salary than any previous administration and a twenty million plus dollar training facility remains in the works. We need to rethink and re-evaluate the needs of the county to ensure the citizens are getting what’s needed and avoiding extravagant and unnecessary spending. * * * * * The Committee to elect Lowell Griffin Sheriff will host a campaign kickoff at Grandad’s Apples, 2951 Chimney Rock Road, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. The campaign will provide hot dogs and a chance to meet Griffin.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

D.A. clears city officer in drug suspect's death

District Attorney Greg Newman has cleared Hendersonville police Sgt. Brandon McGaha of criminal wrongdoing in the shooting death of a drug suspect who Newman said appeared to be "intending to shoot his way out of the immediate area." "Officer McGaha did what he had to do to survive the situation," Newman said in announcing the outcome of an investigation by the SBI and review by his office. The attempted arrest during an undercover investigation into drug dealing resulted in Sgt. McGaha’s use of deadly force against Rufus Cedric "Bookie" Baker, 32, of Asheville, in the Walmart parking lot on Nov. 30. Newman said he had advised both the SBI and Hendersonville Police Chief Herbert Blake of his decision. "Where force is used by a law enforcement officer in the course of his or her assigned shift, we bring in the SBI to investigate the facts to determine if the shooting was justified," Newman said in a statement. "In reviewing the information provided to me by the SBI in this matter, I have concluded that Officer McGaha’s actions were reasonable and within the guidelines for North Carolina peace officers when he fired upon Mr. Baker in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Nov. 30, 2017.  "I know that Officer McGaha would prefer that the incident end with an arrest and not the death of the suspect.  But he had to avoid being hit by Baker’s car and Baker was reaching for his gun while attempting an escape from the parking lot.  It appeared to me, from the witness interviews as well as the video tape of the area, that Baker was intending to shoot his way out of the immediate area. Officer McGaha had to make a difficult split-second decision and I believe he made the right call.” The Hendersonville Lightning reported last month that one witnesses was an informant who was cooperating with investigators and another was city police officer Colby Allman, who was outside Radio Shack when he heard shots fired. “As Officer Allman approached the Ford Focus he saw (the informant) step out from behind a vehicle and yell to Officer Allman, ‘He tried to run over Sarge! He tried to run over Sarge,’” according to a search warrant filed in Henderson County. A search of Baker’s Ford Focus turned up a cell phone and 13 bags of a “crystal like substance” that police identified as crystal meth. Chief Blake said in a news conference the morning after the shooting that police had recovered a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson at the scene. The bagged substance “what we believe to be crystal meth and methamphetamine," Blake said. "This was a seller.” “My decision, of course, is independent of any internal review on policy compliance conducted by the Hendersonville Police Department,” Newman said. "But I know that the people in our area understand that our police officers and sheriff’s deputies encounter dangerous people and circumstances and we appreciate their efforts to keep illegal drug sales out of our county. They protect us, but we also want them to protect themselves by whatever means are necessary.  Officer McGaha did what he had to do to survive the situation.” The District Attorney recommended that the SBI close its file on this matter since the shooting was justifiable. It will be up to Blake concerning the resumption of duties for McGaha, who was placed on administrative leave following the incident.              Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Planning Board recommends 67-home subdivision on Howard Gap Road

Turning aside neighbors’ concerns about traffic and flooding, the Hendersonville Planning Board on Monday recommended that the City Council OK a development of 67 homes on a 16.6-acre site near a Clear Creek floodplain.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... why Walmart has so many buggies?

Q. Why are there so many shopping carts at Walmart? Target and Sam’s Club only have a fraction of those. I caught up with a shopping cart jockey at the Walmart in the Highlands Square Shopping Center. He said they have 1,800 carts and he would know more than anyone. Some carts are stored outdoors or inside the covered area of the store, some are in use, and the rest are in the parking lot stalls or otherwise left unattended. My guy also said that on Black Friday just before Christmas, they used all the carts that were serviceable. That may be hard to believe, but it should answer your question about why so many. Now for those who like a visual comparison, if you lined up all of Walmart’s buggies end to end, they would stretch from the Historic Courthouse on Main Street all the way to Hendersonville High School. Q. On a recent visit to the Outer Banks I noticed that many license plates on the islands had an “OBX” prefix. Why so many and can we get one for “HVL” out here? I was able to solve this puzzling question with the help of Marsha Harris of the state DMV’s Special License Plate Unit. North Carolina law sets the cost, appearance and distribution of all license plates issued within the state — except the Outer Banks plates. The exception was made in 1999 at the request of the Dare County Board of Directors. The “OBX” license plate is not considered a specialty plate by DMV and may only be issued by the Manteo License Plate Agency in Dare County. Each plate begins with OBX followed by sequential numbers. A specialty plate carries a logo of one’s favorite group such as Duke, NASCAR, Ducks Unlimited or Retired Army. There are about 200 such choices. Specialty plates initially cost $30, half of which is returned to the organization featured on the plate. One form of specialty plate is the personalized plate also known as a vanity plate which typically displays the owner’s name or initials or some cryptic reference to the owner’s lifestyle. It does not surprise me that the OBX exception was made during Sen. Marc Basnight’s tenure in the state legislature. Basnight, from Manteo, was president pro tempore of the state senate and held sway in the statehouse for many years. It is unlikely that a license plate exception could be made for Hendersonville or even Western North Carolina for that matter. One thing about having OBX on your license plate is that with so many seasonal visitors, it helps identify the locals. Whether that’s good or bad is another question. * * * * * Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Runaway is found safe

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office say a 15-year-old runaway they were seeking has been found safe. Diana Laura Lopez-Rodriguez had been reported missing on Monday.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Helicopter crew rescues camper from Linville Gorge

Mountain rescue teams, local rescuers and an emergency helicopter crew worked together in frigid predawn conditions Saturday to rescue a camper in Linville Gorge who was suffering heart problems. The 59-year old man had been winter camping with a party along the Pinch-In trail, near the river at the bottom of Linville Gorge when he began experiencing chest pains.  The campers called 911 and local rescuers and two Mountain Rescue Teams responded to assist.  Rescue teams hiked in, reached the campers in the gorge and provided first aid and advanced life support. Facing a carry out of several hours over icy trails, the rescue teams called for HC HART (Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team) is to assist with the emergency evacuation.    A North Carolina National Guard UH-60 aircrew and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department lifted off from Salisbury and arrived on the scene around 4:30 a.m.  They hoisted the man to safety, along with paramedics who were treating him, delivered him to an EMS vehicle and he was transported to a local hospital. Responders from Burke County Rescue, McDowell Rescue, the Parkway Fire and Rescue Department and from the Parkway Fire and Linville Central Mountain Rescue Teams assisted in the rescue effort.  “We are grateful to all the rescuers who train extensively and were there to help in these cold and icy conditions,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. North Carolina Emergency Management supports five specially trained and equipped Mountain Rescue Teams based across western North Carolina. Two of those teams were involved in this rescue. NC HART is a North Carolina Emergency Management program that pairs civilian rescuers with military and law enforcement aviation assets. Local rescue technicians complete extensive helo-aquatic rescue training with helicopters and aircrews from the State Highway Patrol and N.C. National Guard. On any given mission, two or three of the 60 specially-trained technicians are called upon and partnered with an aircrew to rescue stranded or injured persons. Technicians and pilots train together monthly, rotating training sites so they can practice various types of rescues: people stranded in rapidly moving water, on mountains, cliffs or waterfalls. Contact:  Keith Ac   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Ellis appointed to lead 
asset forfeiture program

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced that Corey Ellis, first assistant U.S. Attorney of the Western District of North Carolina, will serve as the director of Asset Forfeiture Accountability in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General.   Read Story »

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