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WHKP AM and FM will broadcast two Hendersonville Honeycrisps baseball games this year!

On opening day May 18 WHKP will broadcast "fan fest" from 10am till 2pm at Berkeley Park,and then at 2:30pm we will broadcast the Yard Birds at Honeycrisps baseball game.

May,18th is a big day at Berkeley Park...we will celebrate 75 years of the park by broadcasting the game this night beginning at 6pm.The ballpark is located at 69 Balfour Road.

 

The City of Hendersonville is studying the feasibility of connecting the Ecusta Trail to the Oklawaha Greenway and they’re inviting the community to share their input! 

 

Last year, the City of Hendersonville secured a Feasibility Study Grant from NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division. This grant aims to investigate options for seamlessly connecting the Ecusta Trail near downtown Hendersonville with the Oklawaha Greenway in Jackson Park and the 7th Avenue Historic District. Aptly named "Above the Mud," in homage to its proximity to Mud Creek, this project signifies a significant step towards enhancing local connectivity and recreational opportunities. 

 

The City of Hendersonville and Henderson County have made great strides in building a connected greenway network that includes the Ecusta Trail, the Oklawaha Greenway, and the Clear Creek Greenway. While working to build longer segments of the trail and greenway network, the City of Hendersonville is also committed to bridging smaller gaps to seamlessly connect these larger trails. 

 

Since receiving the grant, the City has been identifying routes that prioritize pedestrian and cyclist comfort, garner community support and are feasible for funding and construction. The project team has identified two alternatives that align with the project’s overarching goals.  

 

Community members are invited to participate in the “Above the Mud” survey to provide input on how they envision using this future greenway. Feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the project's direction and ensuring it reflects the needs and desires of the Hendersonville community. 

 

Join us in shaping the future of our city's greenway network! Take the survey at publicinput.com/abovethemud before April 30, 2024. For additional information on the "Above the Mud" project, please visit hendersonvillenc.gov/abovethemud 

 

UNC Asheville and Blue Ridge Community College Renew Direct Admission Program for Transfer Students

FLAT ROCK, N.C. – A program that offers graduates of Blue Ridge Community College to opt for direct admission to UNC Asheville, North Carolina's premiere public university for liberal arts and sciences, has been renewed through the Direct Admission Program.

On March 27, Blue Ridge Community College President Laura B. Leatherwood and UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort formally signed a memorandum of understanding, reaffirming their commitment to a collaborative partnership. This partnership aims to enhance student pathways to success in Henderson County, Western North Carolina, the broader State of North Carolina, and beyond.

“I am grateful to President Leatherwood for renewing the Direct Admission Program and her ongoing collaboration with UNC Asheville to assure that we are a destination of choice for Blue Ridge Community College graduates,” said Chancellor van Noort.

“Those Blue Ridge transfer students who come our way will find an abundance of vibrant, innovative program options from mechatronics, new media, business, and atmospheric sciences to our top majors: psychology, environmental studies, and biology,” van Noort added. “They will also experience a range of high-impact learning experiences like internships, collaborative undergraduate research, and community-based learning, and benefit from our commitment to student success and career-readiness.”

The Direct Admission Program is built on the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). The Program allows currently enrolled Blue Ridge Community College students a direct-entry pathway to UNC Asheville upon graduation. The Program requires completion of the Blue Ridge Community College associate's degree for guaranteed admission. There is no additional fee to participate.

“It’s an honor to continue our partnership with UNC Asheville to maximize the higher education pathways available to Western North Carolina learners,” said Dr. Leatherwood. “This direct admissions agreement will encourage students to prioritize their professional development beyond their years at Blue Ridge Community College. By experiencing the best of our respective institutions, graduates will one day enter their careers with highly respected credentials from both Blue Ridge and UNC Asheville, ultimately resulting in a stronger workforce. I’m grateful to Chancellor van Noort for visiting our campus today to formalize these shared aims to enable student success and increase access to a brighter future.”

Students who wish to participate must satisfy the following conditions:

• Be a currently enrolled student at Blue Ridge in a degree-seeking capacity;
• Submit a UNC Asheville application for admission by UNC Asheville deadlines;
• Submit the application fee or waiver and fulfill all commitment action steps;
• Be in good standing at Blue Ridge and other institutions attended;
• Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at Blue Ridge and;
• Enroll at UNC Asheville within one academic year (within the next two regular terms) of completion of the Associate’s degree.

The Program affords Blue Ridge Community College students access to information about academic programs, faculty, and staff at the UNC Asheville campus, which will facilitate their transition. The Transfer Promise Program prioritizes the ability to receive admission, financial aid, registration, and orientation communications early in the transition process, which sets Blue Ridge students up for maximum success at both institutions.

UNC Asheville also has previously established Direct Admission Programs in collaboration with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, South Piedmont Community College, and Haywood Community College. Students transferring to UNC Asheville can pursue degrees in more than 65 programs through these programs. UNC Asheville consistently ranks among the top 10 public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, earns recognition as a “Best Buy” in the Fiske Guide, and is featured in the 2024 edition of Colleges Worth Your Money.

For more information on the program, visit www.unca.edu/admission/apply/partnerships. Information about admissions to Blue Ridge Community College is available at www.blueridge.edu/admissions.

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The City of Hendersonville, NC is undertaking an Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan project to improve accessibility in all aspects of its services. A Transition Plan is required by ADA regulations for all municipal entities with more than 50 employees. 

“Our City has always believed that facilities, programs, and services should be accessible to all members of the community,” said Public Works Director Tom Wooten. “Our goal with this Transition Plan is to mark where we are succeeding now and where we need to improve going forward.” 

The Transition Plan will involve an assessment of accessibility barriers on City-owned public right-of-way as well as sidewalks within NCDOT’s right-of-way. Barriers can include insufficient sidewalk width, absent or non-compliant curb ramps, level changes (trip hazards), and other items. A plan for remediation of barriers will be created and implemented over the coming years. 

“We recently completed our Walk Hendo Pedestrian Plan which identifies areas and projects to improve the pedestrian experience in our City,” said Tom Wooten. “Committing to this Transition Plan update shows that Hendersonville today and Hendersonville going forward is investing in growing accessibly.” 

Key to the ADA Transition Plan process is public input. Community collaboration enhances the ADA Transition Plan by ensuring focus isn’t just on accessibility barriers, but also on the lived experience of those with disabilities in the community. 

Hendersonville community members are encouraged to take the survey below and to spread it to other members of the community. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be available until the end of April 2024.  

Community Engagement Survey: https://survey.precisioninfrastructuremgmt.com/c/Hendersonville 

Hendersonville has contracted with Precision Infrastructure Management (PIM), a consulting firm with extensive experience in ADA-related projects, to perform, manage, and draft the final ADA Transition Plan with close City support. Those wishing to communicate with PIM and offer additional feedback, can do so by contacting: 

 Two more people have been charged in an ongoing arson investigation in a Henderson County storage unit fire earlier this month.

On Tuesday, March 26, Henderson County Sheriff's Office said its property crimes detectives have charged Rebecca Lynn Luna and Martin Alfaro, both of Hendersonville, with breaking and entering-related felonies in an overnight fire on March 2 at Smart Stop Self Storage on Spartanburg Highway.

On Tuesday, March 26, Henderson County Sheriff's Office said its property crimes detectives have charged Rebecca Lynn Luna and Martin Alfaro, both of Hendersonville, with breaking and entering-related felonies in an overnight fire on March 2 at Smart Stop Self Storage on Spartanburg Highway.

They have each been charged with the following:

  • Felony Breaking & Entering (4 counts)
  • Felony Larceny after Breaking & Entering (4 counts)
  • Felony Conspiracy to commit Breaking & Entering (4 counts)
  • Felony Possession of Stolen Goods (4 counts)

A community pharmacy for Pardee patients, teammates, and community members has been announced, it will be called Pardee RX.

This pharmacy will offer a wide variety of generic, along with brand-name drugs, all the while providing a good selection of over the counter meds, vitamins, supplements, and other supplies. 

Pardee RX is now open, in the vicinity and adjacent to the Pardee Blue MD primary care office, located at 1027 Fleming St.

Hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. For additional info and details on this new pharmacy in Hendersonville, call 828-435-8142.

 

STORY BY WHKP'S TYLER SAMS.

As of Sunday night, the ACC BASKETBALL CONFERENCE has put four of their conference teams in the SWEET SIXTEEN. 

North Carolina defeated Michigan State 79-73.

North Carolina State defeated Oakland 79-73.

Clemson defreated Baylor 71-64.

Duke defeated James Madison 93-55. 

In 2016, the ACC broke NCAA RECORDS for MARCH MADNESS by putting SIX ACC TEAMS in the SWEET SIXTEEN. 

Those teams were North Carolina - Duke - Syracuse - Miami - Virginia and Notre Dame. 

 

 A new trail and reconstructed creek in East Flat Rock are providing residents of the Dodd Meadows Community access to nature in their own backyard.

On Friday, March 22, volunteers planted native trees by the creek to officially complete the restoration.

Henderson County Habitat for Humanity partnered with Conserving Carolina, which secured a grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the project.

It’s a continuation of another project completed last spring to revitalize the community garden in the Habitat for Humanity neighborhood.

Linda Saturno, president and CEO of Henderson County Habitat for Humanity, said the nonprofits are striving to provide a safe and sustainable environment for all to thrive.

“This actually gives these children access to nature and to help them appreciate nature and studies have shown that nature actually improves mental health outcomes later in life,” she said.

Contractors removed invasive plants from the entire four-acre area and restructured the creek to return it to the original location.

The section of Bat Fork Creek eventually flows into the French Broad River.

Kieran Roe, Conserving Carolina executive director, said the project will be beneficial for the environment in the long run.

“In some ways, what we are trying to do is recreate what was here prior to these human impacts that, really, turns out were not beneficial for the health of the stream," he said.

And the nonprofit assistance is still not done with the area.

Henderson County Beekeepers Association plans to put close to 30 beehives at the far end of the trail this summer.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNew trail, restored creek provides East Flat Rock community backyard access to nature (wlos.com)

 
 
 
 
 

The Henderson County League of Women Voters will present a forum on the First Amendment and
Access to Public Records at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Avenue West.

The program will feature Hendersonville Lightning Editor Bill Moss; N.C. Press Association Legislative Counsel and First Amendment specialist John Bussian and Henderson County Attorney Russell Burrell. The panel will discuss citizen and media access to information, freedom of information and how access is determined. The program is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.lwvhcnc.org.

Detectives with the Special Investigations Unit of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office on Friday charged a 43-year old Pisgah Forest man with sex offense crimes after investigating a relationship between Smith and a minor, the sheriff's ofrice said.

Christopher Raymond Smith was taken into custody by detectives and charged with two counts of statutory rape and one count of crime against nature. He was jailed under a $250,000 bond.

The sheriff's office requested that anyone additional informationcontact Lt. Brad Woodson at 828-694-2985 or Detective Donnie Ross at 828-694-5714.