News

WITH AIRFARES TO SARASOTA AS LOW AS $45 FROM AVL.  

 STARTING FEBRUARY 22 2019.  

Asheville Regional Airport is co-hosting a press event with an airline spokesperson to make an exciting new air service announcement...announcing Allegiant's new low cost service to Sarasota.

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, having experienced 28 consecutive months of growth, and 12 consecutive months of double-digit growth. The momentum is continuing, and Tuesday morning an announcement will be made about the fourth new nonstop route to be added in just three months, and the sixth new route announcement this year.

The new service to Sarasota will be the eighteenth nonstop destination available from AVL, and brings the airport to a 64% increase in nonstop flight options in the span of just one year. This level of growth is unprecedented at AVL and is notable within the aviation industry, as well. The growth is also a reflection of the economic strength of the western North Carolina region, as well as its continuing national recognition as a popular tourism and business destination.

2018 Holiday Shipping Deadlines   
The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office and domestic addresses*:   

Nov. 6 – APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) USPS Retail Ground®

Dec. 4 – APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP Code 093 only) Priority Mail® and First-Class Mail®
Dec. 11 – APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 14 – USPS Retail Ground
Dec. 18 – APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express®
Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)
Dec. 20 – First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
Dec. 20 – Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 20 – Priority Mail
Dec. 20 – Alaska to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 22 – Alaska to mainland Priority Mail Express
Dec. 22 – Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail Express
Dec. 22 – Priority Mail Express
*Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before December 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time and other conditions. Some restrictions apply. For Priority Mail Express® shipments mailed December 22 through December 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two (2) business days.  

Busiest Mailing and Delivery Days
Thanks to more people shopping earlier and shopping online, the Postal Service’s “busiest day” notion is now a thing of the past. Instead, the Postal Service now has a busiest time, and it starts two weeks before Christmas. Beginning the week of Dec. 10, customer traffic is expected to increase and the Postal Service expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week during these two weeks. The week of Dec. 17-23 is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week. During this week alone, the Postal Service expects to process and deliver nearly 3 billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including greeting cards.

Skip the Trip and Ship Online
Consumers don’t even have to leave home to ship their packages, simply visit usps.com. The Postal Service anticipates Dec. 17 will be the Postal Service’s busiest day online with more than 8 million consumers predicted to visit usps.com for help shipping that special holiday gift. It’s predicted that nearly 105 million consumers will visit the USPS website between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. And usps.com is always open.

It’s estimated nearly 400,000 consumers will use the Click-N-Ship® feature and other online services on Dec. 17 to order free Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and even request free next-day Package Pickup.

New for this Year
Packages and cards have been sent on time, now what? USPS Informed Delivery™ is the Postal Service’s free daily digital preview of what’s coming to your mailbox. This holiday season, not only can you manage your packages and sneak a peek at cards headed your way, you can also see some exterior images of magazines and catalogs — all from your mobile app, dashboard, tablet or computer. Informed Delivery™ is one more way the Postal Service is helping you anticipate, communicate and celebrate this holiday season.

Additional news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing and shipping deadlines, can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom: usps.com/holidaynews.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Henderson County 2019 Reappraisal   

The 2019 Countywide Reappraisal becomes effective on January 1, 2019. Valuation Notices will be mailed to taxpayers around February 1, 2019. We expect that approximately 68,000 notices will be mailed. State law requires that reappraisals be conducted at least once every eight years; however, in 1995 Henderson County began conducting reappraisals every four years. The last reappraisal was conducted in 2015.

At this time, it’s too early to predict what the new values will be because our staff is working to appraise all properties. We have scheduled a number of public information sessions where citizens can learn more about the upcoming reappraisal. We have also published a Reappraisal Guide in order to educate our citizens about the reappraisal process. The schedule for our upcoming public information sessions and an electronic copy of the Reappraisal Guide can be found by visiting the Tax Department’s website at https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/tax/page/2019-reappraisal.

TO BE FILLED BY FORMER SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTT MEDIA SPOKESPERSON      

Earlier this week, Hendersonville City Manasger John Connet made this announcement in a press release:

“On November 7, 2018, City Manager John Connet announced Allison Nock as the Communications Manager for the City of Hendersonville. A newly-created position, the Communications Manager will work to ensure information about news, programs and services from City departments and elected officials are delivered efficiently and effectively to media organizations, employees and the public.”   

The city’s new Communications Manager is leaving a similar position she has held for the past several years with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department of out-going Sheriff Charlie McDonald. Her departure from the sheriff’s department comes less than one month before Sheriff-Elect Lowell Griffin will be officially sworn into office on December 3rd, when a new sheriff typically fills some positions at the HCSD with new people.

The City Manager gave WHKP News more details Thursday on this new full time position and on Allison Nock. He told Tippy Creswell that for several years, the job of “public information officer” for the City has been part-time and was held by Tara Ledbetter who left her City employment “...to go back and work in her family’s business”.

Connet said that after Ledbetter left the job, the City evaluated the position...and decided that because of city government’s “...need for improved inter-action with the media and providing information for our citizens, it was important to make this a FULL time position which would create a good conduit between the City and the local media”.

Nock’s salary has been set, he said, at “roughly $55 thousand per yeas plus all other benefits that City employees get, including retirement and medical benefits”...Connet added, “...but her base salary is right at $55 thousand.”

Allison Nock, said Connet, will have “standard office hours from 8am to 5pm and she will be “on call” 24 hours per day, 7 days per week”.

“Her duties will be helping our City departments get their message out, from water breaks to street closures, making sure the citizens are aware of the services we provide, and working with the media to co-ordinate press releases, coming up with new educational programs, and improving the way we (the City) communicate with our public.”

By Larry Freeman and Tippy Creswell

Steve Scoggins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, N.C.,  this week was elected convention president.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina's 2019 officers are Steve Scoggins, president (center); Micheal Pardue, first vice president (right); and Matthew Ledbetter, second vice president (left).

Steve Scoggins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, N.C., was elected convention president.

Micheal Pardue, pastor of First Baptist Icard in Connelly Springs, N.C., was elected first vice president.

Matthew Ledbetter, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sylva, N.C., was elected second vice president.

Scoggins and Ledbetter both ran unopposed, and Pardue was elected over Perry Brindley, associational mission strategist for the Buncombe Baptist Association, in the only race that had multiple candidates.

Of the 697 ballots that were properly cast, Pardue received 418 votes (60 percent), and Brindley received 279 votes (40 percent). Ten ballots were improperly cast.

Scoggins was nominated by Michael Barrett, messenger from Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Pleasant Garden, N.C.

Pardue was nominated by Ed Yount, a messenger from Woodlawn Baptist Church in Conover, N.C.

Ledbetter was nominated by Jeff Isenhour, a messenger from Arran Lake Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C.

ABOUT STEVE SCOGGINS, SENIOR PASTOR HENDERSONVILLE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION   

Pastor Steve previously served as Senior Pastor of FBC from 1992 to 2001. He came back to FBC Hendersonville in 2014. He has pastored churches in Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama. He has a BA degree from Samford University, and an MDIV from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Steve and his wife, Karen, have five grown children, and eleven grandchildren. Over the years he has developed a pattern of preaching through books of the New Testament on Sunday mornings, and the Old Testament on Wednesday nights, with "Rabbit Chasing" question and answer sessions.

Steve's focus for his life and the church is to Lift Up Jesus and Love People

Favorite Scripture: John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.".

Campaign Sign Disposal in Henderson County   

The Henderson County Parks and Recreation Jackson Park office building parking lot located at 801 4th Avenue East has been designated as the drop-off location for all campaign signs beginning Wednesday, November 7, 2018. There will be signs in place to direct citizens to the proper area for disposing of the campaign signs. Please place the signs in piles by candidate. Candidates may pick up their signs any time afterwards.

If you require additional information, please contact Henderson County Parks and Recreation at (828) 697-4884.

2018 HENDERSON COUNTY GENERAL ELECTION.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY GREG NEWMAN, CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT GASPERSON JUSTICE, REGISTER OF DEEDS LEE KING, AND GOP SHERIFF'S  CANDIDATE LOWELL GRIFFIN WERE ALL UNOPPOSED IN TUESDAY'S GENERAL ELECTION.  

ELECTION RECAP:  

MARK MEADOWS GETS ABOUT 60% OF THE VOTE FOR CONGRESS IN HENDERSON COUNTY   

EDWARDS, MCGRADY, HENSON WIN FOR NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY;    

HOLT, EGOLF, CASE WIN FOR SCHOOL BOARD;   

EDNEY, MCCALL, LAPSLEY ELECTED COUNTY COMMISSIONERS   

LOCAL VOTER TURN-OUT WAS 56.78%; 48,803 VOTED IN THIS ELECTION; OF THE 85,948 REGISTERED VOTERS IN HENDERSON COUNTY  

BOARD OF ELECTIONS UNOFFICIAL RETURNS (RETURNS ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL THE FINAL CANVAS):

U.S. HOUSE VOTE FOR 1)

Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Mark Meadows REP 28,889 59.44%
Phillip G. Price DEM 18,826 38.73%
Clifton B. Ingram, Jr. LIB 891 1.83%
NC STATE SENATE DISTRICT 48 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Chuck Edwards REP 29,334 60.51%
Norm Bossert DEM 19,145 39.49%
NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 113 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 10 of 10
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Cody Henson REP 8,647 61.54%
Sam Edney DEM 5,405 38.46%
NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 117 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 25 of 25
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Chuck McGrady REP 20,507 60.10%
Gayle Kemp DEM 13,616 39.90%

HENDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 1 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Michael Edney REP 28,936 60.08%
Patricia (Pat) Sheley DEM 19,224 39.92%
HENDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 3 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
William G. Lapsley REP 34,100 100.00%
HENDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 4 (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Rebecca McCall REP 34,318 100.00%

HENDERSON COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Kim Gasperson-Justice REP 34,944 100.00%
HENDERSON COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Lee King REP 34,567 100.00%
HENDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF (VOTE FOR 1)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Lowell Griffin REP 35,750 100.00%

HENDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (VOTE FOR 3)
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
Amy Lynn Holt 24,603 22.58%
Jay Egolf 22,700 20.84%
Dot R. Case 20,863 19.15%
Stacey Caskey 17,162 15.75%
Ted Beddingfield 16,470 15.12%
Randy Ward 6,761 6.21%
Write-In (Miscellaneous) 379 0.3

THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WON IN HENDERSON COUNTY; TWO OTHERS INVOLVING SELECTION OF JUDGES AND BI-PARTISAN ETHICS COMMITTEE FAILED IN HENDERSON COUNTY   

PROTECT RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH   
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
For 29,142 61.90%
Against 17,936 38.10%

STRENGTHENING VICTIMS RIGHTS  
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
For 30,962 64.97%
Against 16,693 35.03%

MAXIMUM INCOME TAX RATE OF 7.0%  
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
For 29,869 62.57%
Against 17,866 37.43%

REQUIRE PHOTO ID TO VOTE  
Precincts Reported: 35 of 35
View Contest Details
NAME ON BALLOT PARTY BALLOT COUNT PERCENT
For 31,064 64.35%
Against 17,210 35

Veterans Day Salute and Breakfast

The Town of Fletcher will honor its Veterans on Saturday, November 10th at 9:00 a.m. with its Annual
Veterans’ Day Salute and Breakfast. This event will be held at Fletcher Town Hall, located at 300 Old
Cane Creek Rd. This year’s Salute will feature a flag ceremony and keynote speaker Marybeth Burns,
Blue Ridge Honor Flight.

Attendees are invited for breakfast at the conclusion of the Annual Veterans’ Day Program.
This event is FREE and opened to the public thanks to our sponsor,
United Federal Credit Union

For more information about this event please visit www.FletcherParks.org or call the Parks and
Recreation Department at 828-687-0751.

"For anybody who wants to have a nice day in the woods, Dupont Forest is a pretty good spot for it”   

Bruce McDonald is the Ranger at Dupont State Forest and he tells WHKP News that they’ve had more folks than normal enjoy Dupont State Forest through the summer...and this fall, visitor numbers at Dupont look about like normal, he says.

Of course the falls are a big attraction at Dupont and numerous unfortunate and tragic accidents have happened around those falls. Ranger McDonald says Dupont has been part of an area wide effort to improve waterfall safety.

“We’ve changed some of the signage and designated a viewing area around the falls”, he told WHKP News. The trouble is, “Folks get near them and they’re not making good decisions...we’ve got some rules about climbing and being above the waterfalls, but not everybody follows the rules.” So, he says, “We’ve put a physical barrier on it that doesn’t detract from the beauty but still keeps the waterfalls safer.”

The waterfalls at Dupont Forest are a popular attraction not only in the warm weather season, but pretty much year around...and that’s certainly the case right now with the fall leaf change and the color in the forest.   

Ranger McDonald says Dupont State Forest will have some new restrooms opening soon, “...and we’re working on things in the trail system so that they’ll function well.”

Especially in seasons like the fall, says McDonald, they see a lot of visitors in the forest “...especially when we have daytime temperatures up in the 50s there are a lot of folks in the area who want to get out and have a day in the woods.”

McDonald says the real highlights of Dupont Forest depend on what a visitor is looking for. “We have the waterfalls that are fairly easy waterfalls to see and enjoy that are well worth the walk for people who aren’t necessarily outdoor type people.”

And he points out, too, that there are frequent mountain bikers in Dupont Forest...there are the trails to enjoy and some folks bring horses for horseback riding...”...it’s just all depends on what folks are looking for. For anybody who wants to have a nice day in the woods, Dupont Forest is a pretty good spot for it”, says McDonald.

And that’s surely true on a nice day in the fall.

By Larry Freeman and Tippy Creswell