Blue Ridge Juges Run in 2018 Hendersonville Nc
A LOT OF ROAD WORK IS HAPPENING ON HIGHWAY 191---MUCH MORE IS TO COME
PROPOSED MULTI-USE PATH LIKELY TO CONNECT WEST HIGH, RUDGY MIDDLE, AND THE HISTORIC JOHNSON FARM
With plans in the works for NC DOT to widen Highway 191 to five lanes from Mountain Road to the intersection with Highway 280 in Mills River, we are likely to see a multi-use path along the highway as part of that project. And the path will likely include access to West Henderson High School, to the Historic Jognson Farm, and a crosswalk at Rugby Middle School.
At the June meeting of Henderson County's Transportationjh Advisory Committee,
county planner Autumn Radcliff stated that NC DOT and county staff met with County Commissioner Bill Lapsley and John Bryant of the county school system about that proposed multi-use path along the north side of NC 19
According to the minutes of the TAC meeting, it was concluded that this path will be considered as part of the widening of NC-191.
The multi-use path will include extending the path up to West Henderson High School along the entrance road and to Johnston Farm, and will include a safe crosswalk to Rugby Middle School.
Meanwhile, the school safety project on Highway 191 by West Henderson High School and Rugby Middle School is on schedule and improvements to the flagger system will be done.
Motorists in that area are encountering the work being done and can expect some brief delays.
NC DOT tells WHKP News they have modified their plan for widening Highway 191 between West Henderson High School and Rugby Middle School in anticipation of the much larger widening project on Highway 191 from Mountain Road to the intersection with the give-lane Highway 280 in Mills River.
As motorists in the area know, work is currently underway between the two schools on Highway 191, causing back-ups and delays from time to time.
Construction Engineer Ted Adams with NC DOT says the original plan was the ease the traffic situation in between the two schools, especially before and after school each days which resulted in lengthy backups and delays. But as traffic on 191q increases, he says the newer plan to widen the highway was developed and will be coming along in the next year or two. That newer widening plan is the one that's become controversial for some in the Mills River area.
But Adams says the work that's going on now between the two schools is to take care of the immediate need. The current project, he says, started in April and the contract calls for it to be completed by December 14th of this year.
What they are doing now will allow for more turn lane access to the schools.
The original plan included a lot more drainage along that stretch of road, said Adams, and moving utilities. That, said Adamns, is why we scaled the project back..."...because we knew we were going to come right back and do some future widening and we didn't want to move things twice." "This should be a seamless transition and this work will be incorporated into the future widening project", Adams said.
As much of that work on 191 between the two schools as possible is being done this summer while school is out, but delays and back-ups still occur and are unavoidable and motorists are reminded to be aware that the work is going on.
ANOTHER MUDSLIDE CLOSES PART OF GRANT MOUNTAIN ROAD---SHOULD BE CLEARED BY TUESDAY; BAT CAVE HIGHWAY 9 MUDSLIDE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS REMOVED
PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT FRIDAY, ON ALREADY RAIN-SOAKED AND SOFTENED MOUNTAIN LAND, MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A NEW MUDSLIDE THAT OCCURED LATE IN THIS PAST WEEK THAT HAS REPORTEDLY CLOSED AT LEAST ONE LANE OF THE NARROW AND TREACHEROU GRANT MOUNTAIN ROAD. THAT NARROW AND UNPAVED ROAD CONNECTS THE BARNWELL COMMUNITY AND THE FAR EASTERN TIP OF ST. PAUL ROAD WITH SCENIC U.S. HIGHWAY 74 ABOUT HALFWAY IN BETWEEN GERTON AND BAT CAVE. NC DOT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE TO HAVE THAT GRANT MOUNTAIN ROAD SLIDE CLEARED AND BOTH LANES OPEN ON TUESDAY.
MEANWHILE, NC DOT SAYS THEY ARE STILL ON TRACK TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE LANE OF NC HIGHWAY 9 NEAR SHUMONT ROAD JUST EAST OF BAT CAVE OPEN TO TRAFFIC BY JULY 27TH
AN ESTIMATED 110 THOUSAND CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL INVOLVED IN THAT MASSIVE LANDSLIDE THAT BROUGHT PART OF THE MOUNTAIN OWN IN THIS SPRING'S HEAVY RAINS
Some blasting may be required as part of the clean-up of that massive landslide on Highway 9 near Shumont Rooad in Bat Cave.
Nathan Tanner is an engineer with NC DOT and he tells WHKP News that if any blasting is necessary he expects it will be minimal. The issue is some rocks have been found at the top of the slope of the landslide and blasting may be necessary to remove them.
Otherwise, Tanner says progress is being made on clearing that slide that brought down a chunk of the mountain near the backside of Rumbling Bald in the heavy rains this spring. And they are still on target to get at least one lane of Highway 9 open by July 27th.
Tanner says there may be some excavating and hauling after the 27th, but he does not expect that to carry over much into the month of August.
He also says all the tree involved in that huge landslide have now been removed. They have about three waste sites and all have been used for the tree removal.
Tanner says their best estimtes are there was a total of 110 thousand cubic yards of total material involved in that landslide, and as of this week, about two thirds of it has been removed.
A NEW BREWERY IS LIKELY COMING TO MILLS RIVER, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 191 AND 280
ZONING CHANGES HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO MAKE THE NEW BREWERY POSSIBLE
Another new brewery is likely on the way for the Mills River community.
After Sierra Nevada established the pattern with their state-of-the-art craft brewery in Ferncliff Industrial Park off Old Fanning Bridge Road, other, smaller---but still successful---breweries have begun operation.
A rezoning in the Town of Mills River approved recently by Town Council should clear the way for a new brewery and taproom.
The applicant's Preston Kendall, who applied for the rezoning on behalf of PT Green LLC, says that a brewery and taproom could be established under the Town's current zoning. If successful, however, the brewery would eventually have to move to include canning to continue growing, and would require a Light Industrial zoning classification to do so.
The roughly 2.19 acres proposed for the new operation is off N.C. Highway 280, near its intersection with N.C. Highway 191. That site is proposed for the brewery and taproom and the name of the brewery hasn't been disclosed.
By a unanimous vote, the town council changed the property from General Business to Light Industrial.
The town planning board voted unanimously for a favorable recommendation on the rezoning, according to Town Planner Brian Burgess.
Kendall said developers have talked to the county and other officials, but not yet with NC DOT about any driveway permits. With the watershed, only roughly half of the property can be used. The driveway is planned for N.C. 280 between two existing light poles.
All setback requirements have been met, he said, and once the switch is official to Light Industrial, 20 percent of the front of the building will have to be non-metal. Outside seating areas are planned, along with a potential playground.
More information on plans for the new brewery and taproom was not immediately available.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS: SCAMMERS, HACKERS, ROBO-CALLERS ARE TARGETING HENDERSON COUNTY
BY THREATS AND INTIMIDATION OVER YOUR CELL PHONE OR ON THE INTERNET
GIVE OUT NO MONEY OR PERSONAL INFOMATION
Use of modern conveniences like the internet and cell phones is being ruined for a large number of people in Henderson County at this time...as the county is clearly being targeted by hackers, scammers, robo-callers and other crooks who want to get your money by threats and intimidations over your cell phone or on the internet.
Sheriff's Major Frank Stout says even new techniques are being used to make you believe the scammer is someone you know, even someone in law enforcement. Says Stout, "Sadly, it's alive and well in Henderson County."
Scammers will use the name of a well known credit card or telephone company...Stout says his name was even used recently by a scammer to gain access to a scam victim. Scammers are also using scare tactics...threatening victims with arrest, jail time, even threatening to circulate false information and material about a victim on the internet.
One local victim recently lost $800 to a convincing scammer who threatened him with arrest over a situation that never existed. Other scammers claim to be with the Internal Revenue Service. In other words, they use any tactic to frighten, threaten, and intimidate their victims...and get their or your money.
Major Stout says the most important thing to remember is, never, ever give them any money. They may try to get you to pay with a Green Dot or other credit card...Stout says don't do it. And by all means, don't give out any personal information such as bank account or credit card numbers, internet passwords, e-mail addresses or other personal data that can be used against you.
Its not clear if any of these robo-callers, scammers, hackers and others are ever caught and prosecuted...law enforcement has some "catching up" to do to stay ahead of today's high-tech thugs.
But as Stout points out, it's important to remember that these crooks are out there and they want your money...and you can protect yourself by not falling for any of it. There are some apps that can help protect you: ATT has Call Protect, Verizon has Caller Name ID, T-Mobile has Scam Block, and Sprint has Premium Caller. Contact your service provider to find out what may be available.
It's not clear why Henderson County is being targeted this way right now, but again as Stout points out, along with legitimate internet and cell phone experts, its important to remember never, ever give out any money or personal information. Protect yourself, be aware that these crooks are out there and targeting our community, and report these situations to law enforcement.
HERE IS SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION ON ROBO-CALLS AND SCAMS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Here's how you can fight them:
Rule No. 1
The most simple and effective remedy is to not answer numbers you don't know, Alex Quilici, chief executive of YouMail, a robocall-blocking service.
"Just interacting with these calls is just generally a mistake," he said.
If you do answer, don't respond to the invitation to press a number to opt out. That will merely verify that yours is a working number and make you a target for more calls, experts said.
Turn to the government
List your phones on the National Do Not Call Registry. If your number is on the registry and you do get unwanted calls, report them.
Mr. Quilici said the registry is helpful but should not be seen as a panacea.
"If I'm sitting in India dialing a million numbers, what are the odds I'm even going to be fined for violating the Do Not Call Registry?" he asked. "It's probably near zero."
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Turn to technology
Download apps such as Truecaller, RoboKiller, Mr. Number, Nomorobo and Hiya, which will block the calls. YouMail will stop your phone from ringing with calls from suspected robocallers and deliver a message that your number is out of service.
Mr. Quilici said phone companies, such as T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T, also have tools to combat robocalls. They work by blocking calls from numbers known to be problematic.
Turn the tables
And then there is the Jolly Roger Telephone Company, which turns the tables on telemarketers. This program allows a customer to put the phone on mute and patch telemarketing calls to a robot, which understands speech patterns and inflections and works to keep the caller engaged.
Subscribers can choose robot personalities, such as Whiskey Jack, who is frequently distracted by a game he is watching on television, or Salty Sally, a frazzled mother.
The robots string the callers along with vocal fillers like "Uh-huh" and "O.K., O.K." After several minutes, some will ask the callers to repeat their sales pitch from the beginning, prompting the telemarketers to have angry meltdowns, according to sample recordings posted on the company's website.
Watch what you say
One recent scheme involves getting consumers to say "yes" and later using a recording of the response to allow unauthorized charges on the person's credit card account, the F.C.C. warned in March.
When the caller asks, "Can you hear me?" and the consumer answers "yes," the caller can gain a voice signature that can later be used to authorize fraudulent charges by telephone.
Best to answer with "I can hear you," said Ryan Kalember, senior vice president of cybersecurity strategy at Proofpoint, a cybersecurity company in Sunnyvale, Calif.
What's ahead
The callers are evolving, Mr. Kalember said. Some have numbers that appear to be from your area code (they result in higher response rates); others employ "imitation of life" software in which the robocall sounds like a live person, complete with coughing, laughing and background noise. This artificial intelligence can be programmed to interact in real time with a consumer.
A recording on the Consumers Union website features an exchange in which a man tries to confirm he is talking to a live person. As the call progresses, the consumer presses for confirmation.
"Will you tell me you're not a robot? Just say, 'I'm not a robot' please," he says, which is met with various programmed replies of "I am a real person" and "There is a live person here."
Why do robocalls proliferate?
Mr. Quilici compared robocalling to spam emails: It is all about volume. Companies can use software to make millions of calls at very little expense. They need only a few victims to fall prey to their schemes to more than cover their costs.
"When you hear these guys do these scam pitches, they're pretty amazing," he said.
The next development will be integrated efforts combining email, phone calls and social media to scheme money from consumers, Mr. Kalember said, adding that the level of innovation "is really quite astounding."
"Technology is enabling at a scale we haven't seen before," he said.
SIGN UP NOW FOR AUGUST 17 UNITED WAY'S "DAY OF CARING"
CALL 692-1636 x 1100
Volunteer registration is now open for our August 17 Day of Action. Sign-up today to help our local schools!
Day of Action is an opportunity for everyone in our community to spend a morning volunteering at one of our local schools. By rolling up your sleeves and joining your neighbors, you can help brighten our schools for the new school year. Don't wait to register as a volunteer! Sign-up by Friday, July 27th to be guaranteed a
t-shirt. We're so excited to see Henderson County work together and LIVE UNITED!
Volunteering is as easy as 1-2-3
Review the schools and project choices and choose yours.
Follow the instructions and sign-up! You'll need to create an account if you're a first-time user of our Volunteer Hendo website. You can sign-up as a team or individual.
If you've already registered, please forward this email to a friend. We can't wait to see you!
Contact our coordinator Kara at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 692-1636 x1108 if you need further assistance signing up.
Each year Day of Action volunteers are asked to contribute school supplies or nonperishable food items for Henderson County students in need. Community members who cannot volunteer but still want to help can bring donations of food items or school supplies to the school campus nearest you on the morning of August 17. Lists of needed items are available.
TRIAD HENDERSON COUNTY DOCUMENT SHRED/PILL DROP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
SHREDDING DOCUMENTS AND DISPOSING OF MEDICATION
TRIAD Henderson County and our partner organizations have finalized the location and hours of the Document Shred/Pill Collection event taking place in August. Please update your online content to include the change (highlighted below and flyer attached).
2018 Drug Take Back & Document Shred Events
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office along with TRIAD Henderson County, Hope Rx, and other community partners are continuing to offer FREE Document Shred and Drug Take Back Days in 2018 across Henderson County. These events provide local residents a way to help reduce their chance of becoming a victim of identity thefts as well as a convenient and safe way to dispose of old medications from their homes, reducing the possibility of accidental or intentional misuse or theft.
Mills River (LGFCU) Document Shred and Drug Take Back
Date: Friday, August 17 from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Ingles Market at 3338 Boylston Hwy, Mills River, NC 28759
Sponsors: Local Government Federal Credit Union, TRIAD, HopeRx, HCSO, Town of Mills River, Ingles Market
*Document Shred & Drug Take Back
Etowah (United Community Bank) Document Shred and Drug Take Back
Date: Friday, September 14 from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: United Community Bank at 77 Etowah Center Dr. Etowah, NC 28729
Sponsors: Etowah Community Bank, TRIAD, HopeRx, HCSO
*Document Shred & Drug Take Back
Village of Flat Rock Document Shred and Drug Take Back
Date: Saturday, October 13 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Flat Rock Village Town Hall at 10 Village Center Dr. Flat Rock, NC 28731
Sponsors: Village of Flat Rock, TRIAD, HopeRx, HCSO
*Document Shred & Drug Take Back
Drug Disposal Information:
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office provides citizens with a free, environmentally safe, and convenient way to dispose of medications from their homes, reducing the possibility of accidental or intentional misuse and/or theft.
We accept prescription pills, capsules, ointments, vitamins, liquids in their original containers, inhalers & patches.
We cannot accept chemotherapy medications & sharps/needles/Epi-pens.
The Sheriff's Office provides a permanent drug collection drop box in their lobby located at 100 North Grove Street in Hendersonville. It is accessible every Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. Check in at the front desk for instructions.
Over 6,000 pounds of medication have been collected and destroyed since Sheriff Charles McDonald implemented the drug disposal program in 2013.
Document Shred Information:
Most of the 2018 events will include a shred truck will be on site to provide free document shredding (past tax records, bank records, medical documents, etc.) for residential shred only to residents of Henderson County. This feature is made possible through TRIAD Henderson County and community sponsors. The day's mission is to help the community better protect themselves from scams, frauds, identity theft, abuse and theft.
Shred Information / What to Shred:
Expired credit and debit cards
Unused credit card checks
Credit card statements
Pre-approved credit card offers and applications
Checking and savings account statements
Canceled checks
Investment account statements
Wage and earnings statements
Phone and utility bills
Tax returns and statements
Medical bills
Insurance claim information
Insurance policy information (auto, health, life)
Expired identification documents (driver's licenses and passports)
NEW APARTMENTS ON SIGNAL HILL ROAD; PUBLIX SHOULD BE FINISHED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER; A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN HENDERSONVILLE THIS SUMMER
BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
This summer, especially since the spring's heavy rains ended, Hendersonville has seen a lot of new construction work going on.
Daniel Heyman, who is a planner for the City of Hendersonville, tells WHKP News:
That an all new apartment complex is now under construction on Signal Hill Road across from the WHKP transmitter and tower site.
Heyman says these new apartments have been in the works for some time. The new complex was to receive some tax credit benefits from the state, he says, but that did not work out...and plans were revised to scale the complex back from 80 units to 60 units.
Heyman says construction on the new apartments will take about a year, and they should be complete by about July 2019.
Some of the apartments will be for rent based on income, the median income in this area. Heyman says that's $500 to $800 per month for a one bedroom apartment, but figures do vary and it's hard to give an exact figure this early in the project.
In addition, Heyman points out that Brittany Place on Highway 64 East is expanding. New single family home are under construction on Howard Gap Road.
As far as commercial new construction in the city is concerned, Heyman says the new Publix on the Greenville Highway is moving right along and if no unexpected issues pop up, the new Publix should be completed by the end of this September.
He says street improvements near the new store are now underway along the Greenville Highway.
Heyman points out that Publix has been very diligent about getting permitting from state and federal officials, including FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers to make sure the new store will have no negative impact on the flooding situation that occurs from time to time on Hendersonville's south side. Heyman told WHKP News, "If they complete the building according to their plans and permits, flooding should not be any more of a concern than it has been in the past."
By WHKP News Director Larry Freeman with Tippy Creswell 07/11/18
HENDERSONVILLE PLANNING BOARD APPROVES 7TH AVENUE RE-ZONING PROJECT
FINAL APPROVAL EXPECTED FROM CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND
HELPS PAVE THE WAY FOR A NEW HENDERSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FACILITY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THE HENDERSONVILLE PLANNING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES RE-ZONING OF 16.5 ACRES from R-6 High-Density Residential to CMU - Central Mixed use on Monday afternoon. The area is located off of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Ashe Street.
Only a handful of people showed up for this rezoning request, in the works for the past several months and proposed by the City of Hendersonville. It was requested, based on the re-location of the Hendersonville Police Department into that area.
Connet, along with Susan Frady, head of Hendersonville's Zoning Commission and staff presented a program of maps and conversation regarding the City's planned change in zoning for that area, from R-6 to a commercial CMU designation for the area.
Highlight of the meeting was Connet's comments assuring owners of housing in that area that they didn't have to sell their houses unless they want to. He commented that the city is not in the business of buying or selling property, beyond what the city recently purchased for the new Hendersonville Police Department.
Art Cooley, owner of vacant property at the intersection of Four Seasons Boulevard and Cherry Street spoke and commented that the city closed off Cherry Street some ten years ago. Cooley also assured residents that their property values would increase substantially when they decided to sell, but did not have to sell, but when they did elect to sell, it would be worth much more. He also said he had been working on this project for the last 41 years.
City Commissioner, Steve Caracker, commented that it would seem probabe that the Cherry Street Exit off the boulevard would be reopened in order to bring more traffic into the revitalized commercial area. City Manager John Connet agreed.
The letter, being sent to property owners in the Ashe/E Pace and Cherry Street Area proposes a change in zoning from R-6 High-Density Residential to CMU Central Mixed Use. The area runs east near the Barker Street and Jonas Street intersection to the easternmost border of the R-6 High-Density Residential zone, and south from East Pace Streeet to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
This new zoning classification would allow many commercial uses, from banks to hotels, to restaurants and a wide variety of retail stores as well as home-office occupations, with some fifty classifications in all.
The City's letter also stresses that current owners/renters of property in that area will not be forced to move out or sell their property. However, it is a well known fact that property prices will increase in this area if the re-zoning is successful. As one resident said - "this makes me happy. It will make my property more desired for commercial use, and when I get ready to sell, I will get more money for my property and not be held 'hostage' with designated residential only zoning as has been the case for these many years, keeping my property at a very depressed value".
The Hendersonville Planning Board will meet on Monday, July 9th at 4:00 pm at the City Operations Center at 305 Williams Street to discuss the proposal by the City Government.
City Council will meet on Thursday, August 2nd at 5:45 pm at the City Operations Center as the final step in the re-zoning process.
The City's letter says there will be opportunities for the public to speak at all meeetings.
Some property owners in the area have been petitioning the City for some 45 years for a change in zoning for this area from residential to commercial, since Four Seasons Boulevard is one of the highest visible and accessible areas of the county, with owners saying it will automatically make their property more valuable for business firms to acquire and develop.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON SUGARLOAF ROAD
PEDESTRIAN IDENTIFIED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL
The N.C. Highway Patrol confirms that a pedestrian was struck and killed near Living Waters Church close to the Howard Gap and Old Sunset Hill Road intersection Wednesday night
Henderson County State Highway Patrol Office confirms that a pedestrian was struck and killed around 8 p.m. in Hendersonville Wednesday night.
Trooper Ledford says Mateo Jimenez Domingo, 31, died in the incident.
TUESDAY NIGHT'S HOMICIDE VICTIM WAS THE SAME VICTIM BRANK WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING BY STRANGULATION IN 2017
ACCORDING TO REPORTS, the strangulation case was dismissed March 7, 2017 by the DAs office and the reason for the dismissal was the case/Brank was going to be indicted. There was never an indictment.
35-YEAR OLD TERRY JASON BRANK CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER
SHERIFF'S MAJOR FRANK STOUT TOLD WHKP NEWS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THAT THE VICTIM IN THE TUESDAY NIGHT HOMICIDE WAS LAURA COX, 54 YEARS OF AGE. STOUT AGAIN CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A DOMESTIC SITUATION AND DISTURBANCE THAT LED TO HER DEATH. THIS IS AN ON-GOING INVESTIGATION, HE SAID, AND THE EXACT CAUSE OF HER DEATH WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THERE IS AN AUTOPSY AND MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT. THE AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY IN WINSTON-SALEM.
IN HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN COURT ON WEDNESDAY, BOND FOR BRANK WAS SET AT $800 THOUSAND AND HE CONTINUES TO BE HELD IN THE HENDERSON COUNTY JAIL.
FROM EARLIER REPORTS:
Major Frank Stout with the Henderson County Sheriff's Department confirms for WHKP News that one person is dead after an apparent homicide that occured overnight at a residence in Dupont Estates, possibly 215 Dupont Estates.
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office received a call requesting a health and welfare check on a female individual at 215 DuPont Estates Drive shortly after 9 PM on July 10, 2018.
When the responding deputies arrived, they found the person in question deceased and immediately called the Violent Crimes Unit from the Sheriff's Office for further investigation.
During the course of the investigation last evening, deputies detained Terry Jason Brank, age 35 of the same address. He was later charged with first-degree murder and is in the Henderson County Jail under no bond.
Deputies have responded to this location numerous times in the past for domestic related calls for service. The investigation continues and Brank is scheduled for his first appearance hearing today in District Court of Henderson County.
Source: https://www.whkp.com/news.html?_escaped_fragment_=/llmysteries&start=1060
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