News

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS MAGAZINE

The 36 page "home for the holidays"magazine published by WHKP's Peaks Publishing is now available.

Pick up your free magazine at any of our 50 plus advertisers in this years issue.

You can also get a copy at the Henderson County T.D.A Welcome Center on Main Street,or at WHKP here at Broadcast House.This magazine is the only holiday event magazine for Henderson County.

You can also view the 2023 issue on line...go to whkp.com and on the right hand side click the "home for the holidays" button there to see the PDF.

Tanger Outlets just announced it is acquiring the Asheville Outlets as part of the company's growth strategy.

In a release, Tanger reported the center was purchased in an off-market transaction for $70 million in cash.

In a statement, Tanger says they plan to elevate the center’s food and beverage offerings and add high-performing retail partners.

"We are excited to add Asheville Outlets to the Tanger portfolio. Asheville is a dynamic and growing market with outsized potential," said Stephen Yalof, President and CEO of Tanger. "Asheville Outlets is the dominant shopping experience in the market and will benefit from the rapidly growing residential population and tourist visits for years to come. As part of the Tanger platform, we will drive additional value by increasing center productivity through selective re-merchandising, elevating the center's food and beverage offerings and adding high-performing retail partners."

In a statement to News 13, a spokesperson said, "Tanger is excited to join the Asheville community! Effective Nov. 13, Asheville Outlets is now owned and operated by Tanger. Shoppers can continue to expect access to best-in-class stores, events and programming. Tanger plans to expand collaborations with iconic brands as well as locally owned businesses, further positioning the center as a destination that celebrates community and culture. The center will officially be renamed Tanger Outlets Asheville in January 2024."

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSTanger acquires Asheville Outlets in $70 million deal, plans to enhance shopping experience | WLOS

 A school resource officer for Henderson County Schools was pleasantly surprised at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Donnie Ross expected to be honored as the North Carolina Grange Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2023. Ross, who works at Rugby Middle School, was actually presented with the National Officer of the Year honor.

Sheriff Lowell Griffin broke the news to Ross. He explained to the school board that her good work is a testament to Ross as a person.

“This is not something that’s trained at the academy,” Griffin said. “This is not something that’s forced upon them from our office on First Avenue. This is something that comes from within.”

Along with Ross, SRO Shawn Metcalf was recognized for his efforts in protecting students and others in the Four Seasons Drive McDonald’s incident.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County school resource officer unexpectedly named National Officer of the Year | WLOS

This fall the City of Hendersonville is launching a new brush collection pilot program, with the goal of using technology to make operations more efficient and environmentally conscious. Brush trucks will run on an ‘as needed’ basis, lowering fuel consumption demands and eliminating unnecessary trips.  

“We are rearranging our brush collection service to save fuel, time, and wear and tear on our equipment,” stated Public Works Superintendent Brandon Mundy. “We will still be collecting brush each week, but it may not be on the same day as the customer’s garbage service.” He explained that City residents should still have their brush on the curb line prior to their scheduled garbage collection day, as the trash trucks will be marking the location of the piles for the brush collection trucks to pick up. Brush collection will occur later in the day after piles have been marked. This collection process is expected to prevent a brush truck from driving around looking for brush piles and instead will let the truck go directly to the piles later in the day. 

In addition, customers can track garbage, recycling, brush, and leaf collection trucks on the website using the ‘Track-A-Truck’ interactive dashboard. This online application shows the near real-time location of trucks as they drive along their collection routes. It is also a way to see what day of the week garbage will be collected in an interactive way. This online map was made possible by the Public Works and Engineering Departments to give customers additional information on their collection routes. To view the dashboard, please visit https://www.hvlnc.gov/trackatruck.

On November 7th, 2023, the Henderson County Drug Task Force with assistance from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Asheville Police Department, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed multiple search warrants in Henderson and Buncombe county. Executed search warrants were related to Operation Drip Pressure, a ten (10) month investigation by Detectives into the sell and delivery of illegal controlled substances by Zachery Micah RICE.

On November 7th, 2023 at approximately 8:30pm, Detectives with the Henderson County Drug Task Force, and members of the Henderson County Special Weapons and Tactics Team initiated a vehicle stop on a vehicle being operated by RICE. A short pursuit ensued around the area of Bob’s Creek Rd and US Highway 25S. Following the conclusion of the pursuit, RICE and two (2) other occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody; Darion Laquinton DAVIS, age 28 of Asheville, NC and Mahogany Shanice ALTMAN, age 23 of Atlanta, GA were taken into custody with RICE.

Following the vehicle stop of RICE, Detectives with the Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office executed three (3) separate search warrants at homes in Buncombe County. Search warrants were executed at the following locations:
275 Deaverview Rd Apt 18, Asheville, NC
88 Sky Exchange Dr Unit 202, Asheville, NC
128 Briar Glenn Dr Apt 303, Arden, NC

As a result of these search warrants and the vehicle stop on RICE, Detectives located and seized the following items:
Approximately 28 pounds of Methamphetamine
Approximately 4 pounds of Fentanyl
Approximately 4 pounds of Marijuana
Approximately 11.0 grams of Crack Cocaine
24 dosage units of Ecstasy
72 dosage units of Oxycodone
1 dosage unit of Xanax
$62,977.00 of United State currency
6 firearms (1 fully automatic Glock pistol)
1 bulletproof vest

Zachery RICE, Darion DAVIS, and Mahogany ALTMAN were all taken into custody in Henderson County. They were all three (3) charged with the following:
Trafficking in Methamphetamine by Possession lvl 3
Trafficking in Methamphetamine by Transport lvl 3
Maintaining a Vehicle for the purpose of sell/deliver a controlled substance
Possession of weapon of mass destruction

RICE and DAVIS are currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $2,500,000.00 secured bond. ALTMAN is currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $2,030,000.00 secured bond.

The following individuals were also taken into custody as a result of the executed search warrants:
Charmaine Vapreece FAIR:
Trafficking in Opium/Heroin by Possession lvl 3
Currently held at the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $100,000.00 secured bond

Gerome PARHAM:
Trafficking in Opium/Heroin by Possession lvl 3
PWISD Schedule II Controlled Substance x3
PWISD Schedule I Controlled Substance
PWISD Methamphetamine
Currently held at the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $200,000.00

Additional search and arrest warrants may be forthcoming as Detectives continue their investigation. The estimated street value of the illegal controlled substances seized as a result of this operation is approximately $1,634,100.00.

Mary Virginia Barnett Ashe died on November 5th after a long illness.

Mary was a lifelong resident of Henderson County, known and loved by many.

She was employed by WHKP RADIO in Hendersonville from 1952 until her retirement in 2019, a total of 67 years.

Mary was the daughter of Allen Francis Barnett and Frances Irene Taylor Barnett of Mills River.  Her family inclluded brothers Jimmy, Jack, Joe and  an infant Johnnrnett. Her sister, Shirley Dockery, preceded her in death on January 6th of 2023.  She is survived by three sons - Dennis Marvin Ashe of Hendersonville; Daniel Allen Ashe of Ollympia, Washington and David Lee Ashe of Rutherfordton along with two great grandchildren, four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was employed by WHKP RADIO in Hendersonville from 1952 until her retirement in 2019, a total of 67 years of the station's 77 year history and was one of the stockholders for a number of years. She was a faithful member of Refuge Baptist Church for many years and later attended Sunday School at Hendersonville First Baptist Church. 

Mary was a faithful servant of the Lord all her life and a wonderful mother and homemaker.  She loved working in her home and yard as well as being a gracious hostess to both newcomers and family members, equally welcome in her home.

A memorial service will be held at Mills River Presbyterian Church at 10 AM on Wednesday, November 15th.  

In lieu of flowers, the familly requests that donations be made to Four Seasons Hospice.

TODD STARNES RADIO SHOW HEARD WEEKDAYS 12 til 3 PM ON WHKP AM 1450 & FM 107.7

Newsmax Launches Todd Starnes Show
Newsmax launched “The Todd Starnes Show” last week. The one-hour show will be broadcast on the network’s N2 platform. Viewers will be able to watch live at 3 p.m. eastern on Newsmax.com and the network’s social media platforms.

Newsmax also announced plans to simulcast the third hour of “The Todd Starnes Radio Show.” Viewers will be able to watch that show on Newsmax.com at 2 p.m. eastern.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the great team at Newsmax,” Starnes said. “Chris Ruddy has built an incredible brand – a truly fair and balanced network.”

Printpack is set to permanently close its facility in Hendersonville at the end of the year, according to paperwork filed at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The closure will mean 90 employees will lose their jobs.

A similar announcement was made in 2012 when employees were told by officials that the plant would be closing, but it never happened.

Printpack still has a facility in Madison County.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSClosure of Hendersonville plant by year's end will leave 90 without jobs | WLOS

Over 200 people packed the Thomas Auditorium at BRCC Thursday night for the Henderson County Planning Board vote to approve or deny Tribute Development Company's proposal at the Etowah Valley Golf Course.

Voting to approve the project's master plan to build 200 homes on Etowah Valley Golf Course was Hunter Marks, Jared Owenbey, Linda Bradley, Jim Miller and chairman Steve Dozier. Voting to deny the project was Rick Livingston,Bruce Hatfield and Robert Griffin.

The developers application to build a 200 lot subdivision primarily on what is now the South Course at Etowah can move forward now and all three nine holes at Etowah will most likely remain open for at least a year.

 Emergency crews  were called to the scene of a Henderson County home after two people were trapped Thursday afternoon in a partial retaining wall collapse.

Officials at a home on Lindsley Court tell News 13 crews were repairing a retaining wall on the property when part of it collapsed, trapping two people.

One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries with the second extricated and airlifted to Mission Hospital around 11 PM

Some of the agencies assisting include Edneyville and Dana Fire departments, Henderson County EMS, Henderson County Rescue Squad and Henderson County Sheriff's Office.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS1 person rescued after part of retaining wall collapses, crews trying to free 2nd person | WLOS