News

 Hendersonville High School hosted an affordable housing summit Thursday evening, an issue that the city has been hit especially hard by.

The event was also focused on finding solutions to this issue that has a big impact on Henderson County and other counties right across western North Carolina.

“It will be bad if we don’t do something,” said the event’s keynote speaker and UCLA researcher Shane Phillips, adding that the impacts are everywhere. “I think it’s just so widespread, buyers or renters, everyone’s affected.”

Phillips explained that whether you rent or own your home, the housing crisis in the U.S. is getting worse.

Hendersonville Community Development Director Lew Holloway said his city, however, faces different challenges than others in the state.

“Those housing pressures that are facing the mountains overall are facing us in unique ways,” Holloway explained.

Hendersonville’s poverty rate is sitting at 16.6%. That’s more than 5% above the national average of 11.5%, according to the 2023 U.S. Census.

Since obtaining ownership is often only more out of reach for many, Phillips started researching rental pensions. “Is it possible to structure a loan product, just an ownership where ultimately a lot of the value that is being paid off by the tenants is going back to the tenants over time so there’s not such a gap between ownership and renting.”

Another alternative suggested by Phillips was making more middle housing. “To allow four-plexes, six-plexes, small condo buildings, small multi-family buildings.”

This would come with the bonus of boosting business for local contractors. “It’s more affordable than detached homes and cheaper to build than large apartment buildings,” Phillips added.

Phillips even suggested what he called sharing the burden of growth. “If we spread that around, not only is everyone contributing but land prices are not going to climb as high and so the cost of development can come down and the price, that savings can be passed on to the consumers.”

Organizers said the event was the first of its kind in Hendersonville with some attendees getting a chance to submit questions earlier this week.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville summit tackles affordable housing, explores new solutions (wlos.com)

 After years of planning and discussion, design plans for the Henderson County Courthouse and Detention Center have taken a big step forward.

This will end up being the most expensive and expansive project in Henderson County's history and it will be done without raising taxes.

Commissioners went ahead with a design that would cost $158.3 million in a 3-2 vote on Wednesday. The price tag is $55 million less than initial estimates.

The project will include renovations to the existing courthouse and detention center along North Grove Street, and two new additions adding more space.

Chris Todd, Henderson County business and community development director, said the renovations and additions are needed to support a growing county.

"We study that population when we found is a trend within our jail population and it is on a slight increase overtime, not cause there's more criminals, there's just more people, and the same became true of our court spaces," Todd said.

Two commissioners who voted against the proposal had worries about funding other projects in the future.

Regarding the large price tag, there was also talk of making a request to the General Assembly to help with funding.

Todd explained how they are funding the project without raising taxes.

"What we were able to do was look at our debt capacity. And just like your house, right, as you have money that you're paying off, you have the ability to maybe go out and borrow a little bit more without having to expand your overall budget," he said. "Well we found was the capacity to borrow up to $165 million and not have a tax increase related to that borrowing."

The design process is expected to last for another year.

Construction will be done in phases starting with the detention center.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County Commissioners approve design plans for courthouse, detention center (wlos.com)

WHKP RADIO SALUTES LONG-TIME NEWSPAPER MAN, DEAN HENSLEY, AS HE LEAVES THE HENDERSONVILLE TIMES-NEWS.

OUR STATION HAS ENJOYED THE NEWS RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE HELD WITH DEAN OVER THE YEARS AND WISH HIM WELL IN HIS NEW WRITING ADVENTURE.   GOD SPEED !

It’s been quite a journey

Editor says goodbye to the Times-News

For more than half of my life, I’ve worked at the Hendersonville Timesback News.

Twenty-eight years ago, at the age of 25, I was hired as a part-time news reporter by executive editor Joy Franklin, after city editor Penny Leigh decided to take a chance with me. I’ve been with the paper ever since, and now my journey is coming to an end.

May 17 is my final day. While I’ve thought this day would never get here, in my early 20s, I had serious doubts I’d even get into the newspaper business. I did an internship with the paper during my senior year at UNC Asheville in 1994, and after I graduated, there weren’t any job openings. I was still working at Kmart, a job I’d had since I was 15.

I was getting discouraged. Then, sports editor Bob Dalton let me know there was an opening for a high school sports reporter. I was one of the two finalists, but the job ended up going to Ron Wagner. It wasn’t a total loss, though. Bob used me a few times as a stringer, and I had a ball. I remember even covering North Henderson High football team’s first-ever win in 1994.

It wasn’t until October 1996 that I finally got a job at the paper. Penny called and said, “Hey Dean, how would you like to be our part-time weekend news reporter?” There wasn’t even a job interview. I jumped at the chance.

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We had quite a crew back then. It was a full newsroom. I know I’ll forget some people, but here it goes ... the crew consisted of Leigh; reporters Jennie Giles, Harrison Metzger, Amy McGraw, Benny Smith, Jim Wooldridge, Randy Smith; editorial page editor Mitch Sandos; features editor Licia Gaut Correll and the features department, including Sally Cook Anderson, Kitty Turner and Denise DeMaio. In sports, the crew was Dalton, Wagner and Thomas Goodwin, and on the copy desk were Dan Sullivan and Michael Gouge, who used to work with me at Kmart.

The photographers were Chris Clevenger and Patrick Sullivan. Patrick and I were the weekend crew, covering breaking news. We used to have cheap walkie talkies we’d keep in our cars to keep in touch during the weekend. Those were the days.

I finally landed a full-time job as news clerk a few months later and then in 1997, I was hired as a sports reporter by the man I lost my first shot at a Times-News job to, sports editor Ron Wagner. After Ron left in 2006, I was promoted to sports editor, a job I held until 2022, when I was moved back to news once again as the news editor.

It’s been quite a journey. I’ve met so many great people along the way, including many sports celebrities. One of the first I encountered was when I covered my first-ever NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I had never been in the infield before, and my first trip there was unforgettable.

As I drove through the tunnel underneath the track and came out the other side to the infield, I was in awe, staring at the stands. Then, a figure caught the corner of my eye, and I slammed on my brakes. It was a man in a black trench coat and cowboy hat, riding a scooter. I had just about hit him. It was the King himself, Richard Petty.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” I said, with my window down.

“That’s OK, man. Enjoy the race,” he said.

While there have been some great times and some rough times, people have always been there supporting me like family. I’ve had many loyal readers who communicate with me regularly, including Leah Ryel. I consider her more than just a loyal reader — she’s a forever dear friend.

I’ve been called many things during my time here, things like Deanster, Deano, Dearie, Cookie and some others that I better not mention. I’ve written everything from uplifting stories to controversial ones. But through it all, I’ve cherished every minute of it and continued to learn a great deal along the way. It was more than a job to me — it was my life.

During my time here, my wife and I raised two daughters who are now grown. When my wife and I worked the same hours, there were times when I had to take my girls with me to sporting events, with one in a stroller and one holding my hand.

Now we have a granddaughter. I’ve not had the pleasure of taking her to one of my assignments yet, but I’m sure she would’ve had a great time.

I am embarking on a new career that doesn’t involve print for the first time in my life, but it will still be about the news. It will be something familiar but something different, and I’m excited for the challenge.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. I have always thought about the way I’d end a farewell column in a newspaper, and now I’m finally getting the chance to do it. So, in the words of Saturday Night Live’s Dennis Miller, “Guess what, folks? That’s the news, and I am outta here.”

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. For tips, questions and comments, email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@ citizentimes.com. For Henderson County calendar of event items, email News Assistant Carole Terrell at CTerrell@ citizentimes.com. Read more at blueridgenow.com.

While there have been some great times and some rough times, people have always been there supporting me like family. I’ve had many loyal readers who communicate with me regularly, including Leah Ryel. I consider her more than just a loyal reader — she’s a forever dear friend. Dean Hensley

Dean Hensley Hendersonville Times-News USA TODAY NETWORK

THIS ARTICLE IS BEING PUBLISHED HERE ON THE WHKP WEBSITE - COURTESY OF THE HENDERSONVILLE TIMES-NEWS.

 The 26th Career & Technical Education Scholars’ Reception sponsored by Pardee UNC Health Care recognized 97 graduating CTE students Monday, for their academic mastery in Career & Technical Education courses.

Each scholar is a CTE Concentrator as defined by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, having earned two or more technical credits in a Career Cluster Pathway, at least one of which is a completer course. Additionally, each CTE Scholar maintained a 3.25 GPA in CTE courses and an overall 3.0 GPA and received three teacher recommendations for the honor.

The CTE Scholars also participate as active members of their related CTE student organizations­ – including Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career, Community Leaders of America; Future Farmers of America; Future Health Professionals; DECA; SkillsUSA; and the Technology Student Association.

"By achieving the CTE Scholar designation, students have demonstrated a focused commitment to their chosen career path, showcasing not only academic excellence but also essential leadership and employability skills cultivated through active participation in Career and Technical Education student organizations," remarked Scott Moore, Director of Middle Schools/Career & Technical Education at HCPS.

"Employers of tomorrow can take confidence in these students' readiness for the professional world," Moore continued. "At Henderson County Public Schools, we've always prioritized equipping students for life beyond graduation, and the CTE Scholars Recognition underscores their preparedness, whether they pursue immediate employment or further education

In 2023, CTE students ­– many of whom are this year’s CTE Scholars – earned a total of 2,500 workplace credentials or certifications, including Certified Nursing Assistant, CPR, Fire Safety, and First Aid certifications, W!SE Financial Literacy certifications, and credentials earned through Microsoft, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the National Center for Construction Education and Research, ServSafe National Restaurant Association, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

East Henderson High:

Garrett Beddingfield, Kailey Capps, Dakota Corn, Madison Corn, Raegan Edwards, Adessa Fisher, Tanner Floyd, Edward Girior, Oliver Goranson, Leah Hamlin, Haley Heatherly, Evie Holbrook, Joseph Justice, Kendall Ledbetter, Makayla Ledford, Nevada Maynor, Emily Mills, Lindsey Osborne, Shiloh Rhodes, Donna Rodriquez, Arlet Serrano Alfonso, Valerie Sherlin, Lauren Staton, Ayden Sumner.

Hendersonville High:

Savannah Barnwell, Cedrick (Troy) Carrasco, Kayla Clancy, Ian Dhein, Leila Doyle, Kacee Glynn, Emily Hazzard, Noah Husak, Alana Jackson, Avie Jernigan, Jordan Lynch, Siti Maulida, Elena Neal, Alessa Osteen, Rylee Parris, Darren Russell, Sara Sabou, Ian Scollin, Matthew Sparks, Andy Sun, Frank Todd, Nolan Wood.

North Henderson High:

Laney Anderson, Hugo Angeles Moreno, Nallely Antunez, Sydney Calton, Sydney Cooper, Jimmy Dothe-Zapote, Mariana Flores-Diaz, Connor Fortin, Stephanie Gamez Merino, Dominic Garren, Jennifer Lopez Hernandez, Maria Mendez Cisneros, Nancy Perez Ortega, Zidyound Phoeum, Michael Salas-Huerta, Gracie Short, Mackenzie Sulo, Kevin Zepeda.

West Henderson High:

Jasmine Banks, Asiah Bell, Breanna Budzinski, Ashley Collins, Josie Cox, Felicity Davidson, Harrison Davis, Emily Delaney, Roman Federyuk, Melany Garcia-Aguirre, Tatum Garrett, Emma Hall, Jonah Jakubielski, Ryan Kasney, Luke Kimzey, Sadie Luce, Emily Martinez-Hernandez, Lysa McCulloch, Abigail Meyer, Perci Moore, Ian Nelson, Maleena Payne, Ella Pickard, Morgan Rawlins, McKenna Rector, Emily Rhodes, Kamryn Rumbough, Selah Shreffler, Madisyn Shumway, Rayna Vanness, Katrina Velazquez, Olivia Walden.

Career Academy:

Alexander Smith.

“We are exceptionally proud of our CTE Scholars,” said Mark R. Garrett, Superintendent for HCPS. “They have seized opportunities to explore the many career options that are in our community and beyond with some even earning industry-recognized certifications along the way. These scholars have set themselves apart by acquiring the skills and knowledge that will help them secure high-demand careers in the future.”

WNCSource Children’s Services is proud to announce they have received a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County to help fund a Summer Camp for their Developmental Day program.
• The Summer Camp program will run from June 10th through July 31st and serve up to 18 typically developing children ages 3 to 5 years and those with developmental delays or disabilities at the Tebeau Children’s Center in Hendersonville.
• The 8-week Camp is designed to provide high-quality care and continuous learning for children during the summer.
• WNCSource recently started a 10-month Developmental Day program in collaboration with Henderson County Public Schools to serve children with special needs including physical, developmental and/or learning disabilities that require extra support.
• WNCSource thanks the Community Foundation of Henderson County for their generous support and continues to accept donations to fund the 2024 Developmental Day Summer Camp.

Calling all nature enthusiasts and environmental advocates! The City of Hendersonville Stormwater Division is proud to announce its upcoming Stream Clean-Up Event, scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 1st, 2024. 

Join us to preserve and protect Hendersonville's rivers and streams. The initiative, spearheaded by the City Stormwater Division, aims to uphold the integrity of our local waterways while fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. 

Volunteers will gather at Mud Creek, spanning from 7th Ave. to N. Main Street, from 10 am to 1 pm. This hands-on opportunity allows participants to make a tangible difference by removing debris and waste from local waterways. 

"This event presents a chance for residents to actively contribute to the well-being of our environment," says Michael Huffman, Stormwater Division Manager. "By joining forces, we can collectively reduce pollution and promote the longevity of Hendersonville's water resources for generations to come." 

Participants are encouraged to come prepared with outdoor attire and closed-toe shoes, as well as a reusable water bottle. The City will provide essential volunteer materials, including garbage bags, gloves, safety vests, and water. Additionally, the City is equipped to accommodate up to eight individuals with canoes, though attendees are encouraged to bring their own canoes/kayaks for added convenience. 

To register for this event and secure your spot, please visit - https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfHendersonville4/June2024StreamCleanupRegistration 

Attendees are asked to register by Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 5:00 PM.

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1. Volunteer in kayak during stream clean-up event.
2. Group photo of volunteers and bagged litter collected from stream clean-up event.
3. Summer stream clean-up event flyer.

- Officer Haley Thompson with the Hendersonville Police Department has been selected as one of the few officers in the nation to participate in the New Blue Fellowship. The fellowship is a grant-funded program for young people tasked with finding and researching emerging trends in law enforcement. The purpose of the fellowship is to identify forward-thinking young people and incubate their innovative ideas about the future of policing in America. 

“I am extremely proud of Haley,” said Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. “She very clearly represents a bright future bringing new perspectives to traditional policing. I am confident she will produce new thinking to help us meet the future needs of our community. As a legacy officer, there is no one more deserving of this opportunity than her.” 

Officer Thompson is the grandniece of former Hendersonville Police Officer Dennie Enevold, who was killed in the line of duty in 1981. Officer Haley Thompson started working at the Hendersonville Police Department in early 2022 and completed Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) through Blue Ridge Community College. She also has degrees in forensic anthropology and cellular and molecular biology from Western Carolina University. She completed her master's degree in criminal justice from Lamar University in December of 2022.  

“I am grateful and excited to be part of such an important and wonderful cohort,” said Officer Haley Thompson. “As a member of New Blue, I look forward to utilizing research and devoting my time to help present a forward-thinking solution for Hendersonville. I am dedicated to improving the bond between law enforcement and the community through innovative, impactful solutions.” She thanked New Blue and Chief Myhand for giving her the chance to be a part of the fellowship. 

The New Blue Fellowship kick-off meeting will take place in Chicago in June followed by bi-weekly virtual meetings and a research conference in London.  

“We promote the forward thinking of our younger officers knowing that it is they who will lead this profession into the future,” said Chief Blair Myhand. “Haley represents that philosophy.” Chief Myhand explained that when he first learned about the fellowship, he jumped on the opportunity for Hendersonville to be represented. Officer Thompson is the first HPD Officer to be selected for the program. 

New Blue’s mission is to create trust in policing by identifying, empowering, and activating forward-thinking officers and their innovative ideas. New Blue envisions a future where communities and law enforcement agencies collaborate with transparency and a shared dedication to justice. 

To learn more about New Blue, visit https://newblue.org/

In case you missed it, the City of Hendersonville will sponsor its popular Document Shred Event for City residents on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This year’s event will be held in Patton Park located at 114 E. Clairmont Drive in Hendersonville. The Hendersonville Police Department will also offer a Drug Take Back as part of the event for community members to safely dispose of their unwanted or expired medications.

Shred-it will have its shredding truck at the Patton Pool parking lot to allow residents to dispose of sensitive materials. City of Hendersonville residents are invited to bring up to two boxes (or up to 50 lbs.) of paper items to be shredded. Suggested items to shred are financial statements, canceled checks, credit card statements, payroll stubs, insurance forms, old tax returns, forms from doctor's offices, etc. This event is not for business shredding. The public can simply drop their documents off or stay and watch their documents be destroyed. The event will happen rain or shine. If the shredding truck fills up before 10:30, the event will be over.

During this time, the Hendersonville Police Department along with Hope Coalition will host a Drug Take Back event to allow the public to dispose of expired/unused medication, such as prescription and over-the-counter pills, vitamins, ointments, and patches. No chemotherapy drugs, needles, inhalers, or EpiPens will be accepted. The Hendersonville Police Department also provides a permanent medication disposal box located in the lobby of the Police Station at 630 Ashe Street that is available during business hours, Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Drug Take Back portion of the event is open to everyone.

To make this part of a community outreach effort, the City is asking residents coming to the event bring non-perishable pantry items to donate to Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM). Suggested items are listed on IAM’s website at https://www.iam-hc.org/current-needs. 

Additional information on the event is available at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/document-shred-drug-take-back-event 

Questions may be directed to Lu Ann Welter at 828-233-3204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..