News

 There's now a target on the wings of the Falcons over at West Henderson.

After winning the 3A Mountain 7 conference in 2022, head coach, Pat Whitaker doesn't expect to be given anything easy this year. "It felt like last year, we snuck up on a few teams that didn't expect us to be as good as we were. I don't think that will happen this year, I think it's going to be a dog fight."

A team that lost some key components to graduation, including quarterback Lukas Kachilo. Now at Gardner-Webb, Kachilo piloted an explosive offense that averaged more than 41 points per game behind his 3,380 passing yards and 43 touchdown tosses.

However, Whitaker also retained several key components. The running back duo of Carson Dimsdale (1,087 yards and 6 TD) and Tayman Howell _653 yards and 7 TD) seek to aid whomever it is as QB1, something still in the works with only weeks to go before seasons start.

"That's something we're working on right now, we have three of them in the mix," said Whitaker.

Plenty of wide receivers have also returned, led by 3-sport star Truitt Manuel and his 1,391 yards and 27 touchdowns. Even with that, Whitaker sees pressure and leadership coming from his returning seniors that did have playing experience last season.

Defensively West has three of its top four tacklers back, including Eban Mann and his 109 stops and 8 sacks.

The first game for West Henderson is on the road, Friday 8/18 at Newton-Conover.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSWest Henderson seeks to repeat conference title, will have to replace graduated QB to do so | WLOS

 To further develop early leadership skills among area youth, East Henderson High School is hosting a first-ever conference of its kind for over 100 rising student leaders from across Henderson County Public Schools.

The vision for the conference came from Katie Rogers, Media Specialist at EHHS. Her winning grant application from the Rotary Club of Hendersonville got the project off the ground. Additional donations from Pardee UNC Health, Jeter Mountain Farm, and Chick-fil-A are also making the event possible.

Student participants will come from the high school Student Government Associations as well as other students interested in learning more about leadership. “Even students who simply need a ‘shoulder tap’ to realize their leadership potential will be welcomed,” said Rogers, who is also facilitating the event. 

As the advisor at EHHS’s Student Government Association, Rogers said that she wanted to build real leaders who could go out into the world after graduation with a set of skills that aren’t necessarily taught in a traditional classroom.

In her grant application to the Hendersonville Rotary Club, Rogers said, “This conference idea will allow my small goal to become much bigger, reaching the entire county.” Rogers said she hopes to expand the conference into a yearly event held at different HCPS high schools.

“My dream is that this conference sparks new ideas and mindsets that will help students lead within their schools and in an interconnected community of student leaders in HCPS,” she said.

In much the same way adult leaders’ conferences take shape, the student conference itinerary will consist of breakfast, opening, and closing keynote speakers, and several breakout sessions that the students can attend.

The Hendersonville Bearcats have been high-octane for years, and every year it seems like someone is ready to fill a void of graduation without missing a beat.

The 2023 squad is no different.

Hezzie Rudisill, whose 1,102 yards don't encompass his game-changing ability, leads the latest group hoping to burn rubber at Dietz Field.

"He just goes about his work, doesn't say a whole lot and just works hard," said head coach Kirron Ward, entering his second year at the helm. "He has a gear that most players don't have and that makes him a guy who's tough to deal with."

On the perimeter, Tayshawn Collins will step into the limelight as a senior after playing a supporting role for the likes of the graduated Eric Rasheed and Lennard Bennifield.

The one missing piece as of right now is also a missing piece of the teams collective heart. Elyja Gibbs, who would have entered his second season as starting quarterback after the first ended early with an injury, died in a car wreck in the spring. The team plans to honor Gibbs with homages to his #10, as well as having his parents as honorary captains for the home opener.

"We're just working, putting it together. We're figuring out our quarterback situation with the loss of Elyja," said Ward. "So that's the biggest thing we're working on, but they've had an outstanding summer. We've put them through the ringer as far as 7-on-7 and competition, and as younger guys they've handled it well."

Part of the offensive load will also be picked up by C.J. Landrum at tight end, but his biggest impact will be on the defensive side. Through two varsity seasons Landrum has racked up twenty sacks, ten in each campaign. As a junior he increased quarterback hurries to 43 from 29 as a sophomore.

"I know on-field play he's going to do his job, he's going to you know command a lot of attention," Ward stated. "The biggest thing for him, when he does get that attention, is just playing through it and leading other guys and encouraging those other guys to make plays."

Many of the plays will have to be hard-nosed. The Bearcats are the outlier in their conference as an air-it-out unit. Every other team, save for Polk County who has a new coach, is run-oriented if not almost exclusive. To prepare, Ward loaded his non-conference schedule with similar teams.

"The biggest thing is preseason and the non-conference schedule," he explained. "We know what teams are going to present, so we have teams like Mountain Heritage that are going to run the ball primarily, West likes to run the ball as well, North is going to have a lot of ability to run the ball too."

While Hendersonville still had a great 2022, finishing second in the Mountain Foothills Conference, they failed to sweep the county rivalries for the first time since 2019. While that's fun fodder for the socials, it wasn't a rallying cry during the summer.

"We try not to worry about it," Ward shrugged. "It was a good game, they were the better team that night, but coming into this year it's a different season."

The Bearcats open the season with a road trip to North Henderson, before hosting West Henderson then completing the rivalry tour by going to East Henderson.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville returns cadre of talented skill players for 2023 | WLOS

 Among the first teams to put cleats to grass Monday for the start of football practice was North Henderson. The Knights hit the field at 8:00 am, streaking the morning dew as they began preparations for what they hope will be a bounce-back year.

"We had probably the best offseason since I've been here," noted head coach Jim Beatty. "Got bigger, stronger, faster in the spring with weight training and had great turnouts for the summer. Kids are dedicated, been showing up, and I think they're hungry."

Last year left a sour taste in their mouths as the Knights battled the injury bug en route to a 3-7 record. Among the injured was three-year starting quarterback Jaxon Willis, who has now moved on to the college ranks. Replacing him is senior Mason Fowler.

"He's done all the work we've asked him to do," praised Beatty. "He's come in the mornings to work on his technique, throwing mechanics, and all that stuff. And then he's done a great job this offseason you know leading and getting us ready."

Fowler won't be going at it alone, though. The Knights believe they have three running backs ready to contribute, led by Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel who paced the team with 218 yards in 2022. Mason Gasperson, a junior, was right behind him with 164 yards.

Those three will have to hit their stride out of the gate as North Henderson faces county rival Hendersonville in the first game of the season.

"We've got to get on a roll early," stressed Beatty, whose schedule follows up with Rosman, Owen, and West Henderson before conference play begins. "We're going to have to be able to run the ball this year. We've got three good tailbacks and the offensive line is experienced, so we've got to run the ball."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Knights will hope to improve on a 31.3 points per game mark. Several starters return, including linebackers Keith Payne and Zach McCraw.

A big factor, literally and figuratively, upfront will be Reese Meadows. "He's really come a long way. He's starting to fill in and just doing things we knew he was capable of doing," said Beatty.

The Knight and Bearcats start their respective seasons on August 18th at North's Glenn C. Marlow Stadium.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNorth Henderson bringing experience into 2023 | WLOS

 The Hendersonville Police Department is reaching out to the public to help find a lost animal's owner.

The department wrote on Facebook that officers had found a sheep in the Wolfpen community on 64 East around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 1.

The sheep is safe and sound with Hendersonville police at the moment, but they're asking the public to spread the word to help find its owner.

Anyone who knows anything about the sheep's rightful owner can call dispatch at 828-697-3025.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSDo 'ewe' recognize this sheep? Hendersonville police looking for animal's owner | WLOS

 Saturday’s severe thunderstorms caused widespread damage across Western North Carolina and the Upstate, including downed trees and powerlines that left thousands of people without power.

News 13 received responses from many viewers who thought a tornado caused their damage. However, none of the severe thunderstorms on Saturday were tornadic. Many of those storms did produce straight-line winds, which can be as damaging as a tornado.

Tornadoes involve rotating winds within a thunderstorm. Straight-line wind is a term used by meteorologists to describe any wind within a thunderstorm that is non-rotating. This includes unidirectional winds and downbursts, an outward burst of strong winds at or near the surface.

Damage patterns provide some clues to the type of storm. For example, if several trees came down by straight-line winds, they would lie in the same direction in nearly parallel rows. A downburst would produce damage in a radial pattern.

Tornado damage is more scattered. For example, trees falling in different directions indicate the thunderstorm had rotating wind.

Straight-line wind damage is much more common than tornado damage.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSWas it a tornado? Here's the difference between a twister and straight-line winds | WLOS

Heads up, stargazers! August will be a great month for moon lovers. That's because two supermoons are on the way.

The first one will be here to kick off the month on Tuesday, Aug. 1, called the "Sturgeon Moon." Peak illumination will be around 2:30 in the afternoon. For Western North Carolina, the best chance to see the full moon will be after moonrise -- just after 9 p.m. Tuesday evening in the southeastern sky.

Sturgeon is considered a supermoon because it appears slightly brighter and bigger than normal. In fact, supermoons are about 16% brighter than an average full moon. This is because the moon is closer than normal at 222,159 miles away.

A few mountain showers will be possible Tuesday afternoon which could result in some cloud debris in the sky around moonrise However, visibility shouldn't be an issue to catch a glimpse of the full moon.

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the Sturgeon Moon is named as such because "the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer."

The next full moon comes at the end of the month on Aug. 30. This will be considered a "Blue Moon" since it is the second full moon of the month.

This time, the moon will be even closer. A blue moon won't happen again until May 2026.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSLook up! Double dose of supermoons in store for August | WLOS

 Hospitals across North Carolina are reporting a slight uptick of COVID-19 cases.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) data, every region but the mountains, Region 6, recently saw a slight increase in COVID hospitalizations.

In Henderson County, AdventHealth Chief Medical Officer Teresa Herbert says those being admitted for other conditions have also tested positive for COVID. Dr. Herbert expects a new COVID booster for fall.

“We are expecting there will be a new monovalent COVID vaccine coming out this fall that will protect against the XBB strains that have been circulating," Herbert told News 13. "Right now, the XBB strains are highly contagious but they're not causing serious illness."

Vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax will release the new vaccine that targets the omicron subvariant. Health officials caution it will be an uphill battle to get people to consider another booster vaccine.

As students head back to the classroom, area health departments and doctor's offices are encouraging parents to check their child’s health records.

Immunizations offer a shield of protection for the entire community. Health officials say during the pandemic,many didn't keep up with their vaccination records. That puts everyone at risk.

“I am concerned our immunization rate has fallen significantly, not just here but across the country," Dr. Herbert said. "So, I'm worried for the winter we'll start seeing an increase in vaccine preventable illnesses."

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and Measles are just two examples of diseases preventable with immunizations. Many mountains health departments are offering clinics leading up to the start of school with walk-in availability to ensure your child gets immunized.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSNC hospitals see slight rise in COVID cases, new booster vaccine anticipated for fall | WLOS

 Vibrio, a bacteria found in salty water and raw or undercooked shellfish, has killed three North Carolina residents so far this summer.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued a statement about the deaths on Friday, July 28, and explained the dangers of swimming in saltwater or brackish water with open wounds or cuts.

Vibrio cases in North Carolina are rare, according to state health officials, with most cases reported during the warmed months -- between June and September. However, reports of the bacteria have increased over the decades, with its geographic range spreading up the East Coast as water temperatures rise.

Health officials say the three most recent Vibrio-related deaths happened in July 2023.

"Two of the three cases had scratches that were exposed to brackish water in North Carolina and another east coast state," a news release said. "The third case also had brackish water exposure in North Carolina, however, the individual also consumed personally caught seafood that was not shared nor commercially distributed."

No links have been found between the cases and the areas where they were likely exposed to the bacteria, and the public health investigation remains ongoing, NCDHHS said.

According to NCDHHS, since 2019, eight of the 47 reported Vibrio cases among North Carolina residents have been fatal. While healthy individuals typically develop mild illness, Vibrio infections can be severe or life-threatening for people with weakened immune systems or chronic liver disease.

State health officials say if you start to see signs of a skin infection after contact with brackish waters or seawater, you should contact your health care provider.

Other symptoms of Vibrio infection can include:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• nausea
• fever
• chills

NCDHHS recommends the following steps to reduce your likelihood of exposure and infection:

• If you have a wound (including from a recent surgery, piercing or tattoo), stay out of saltwater or brackish water, if possible. This includes wading at the beach.
• Cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if it could come into contact with saltwater, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood.
• If you sustain any type of wound while in salt or brackish water (e.g., cutting your hand on a boat propeller or crab pot) immediately get out of the water and wash with soap and water.
• Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after contact with saltwater, brackish water or raw seafood.
• Thoroughly cook all shellfish to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/gallery/vibrio-infections-kill-3-north-carolina-residents-bacteria-2023-summer-symptoms-saltwater-shellfish-open-wounds-beach-seafood?photo=3

NC License Plate Agency, located at 145 Four Seasons Mall Hendersonville, will be closing early three days next week.

Monday, July 31^st will be regular hours, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (August 1, 2, & 3) our hours will be 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

On Friday, August 4^th, we will resume regular hours, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.