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Mayor Barbara Volk and Council Member Jennifer Hensley unveiled the HonorAir Park sign installed at the small park on the southern end of Main Street, Hendersonville on Thursday at 4:00 PM.

City Manager John Connet welcomed guests before Mayor Barbara Volk spoke on the significance of Blue Ridge Honor Flight and HonorAir and what their mission means to Veterans and the community.

HonorAir founder and former Hendersonville City Council Member Jeff Miller thanked longtime supporters of the organization before the sign was uncovered and revealed to the ceremony attendees.

 Changes are coming to the way the Hendersonville city government is run and operated.

During the city’s council meeting on April 26, a plan to implement ways to bolster diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) within the government and city limits was proposed.

“It’s all about us establishing the baseline for how our organization moves forward and interacts with our community,” city manager John Connet said. “Some of our community feel like their voices have not been heard, and we wanted to have a process where we did hear those voices.”

According to Connet, a few years ago, council members voted to form a committee dedicated to implementing DEI policies and procedures. The city has since hired AHKIRAH Legal and Diversity Consulting to assist. Over the last nine months, Bahiyya Greer and a team of six other consultants have worked on a DEI plan. Connet said the project cost the city $147,000.

“We’ve engaged in community listening sessions, engagement sessions, change and awareness questionnaires, surveys – some of them have been virtual, some of them have been personal,” Greer said. “It’s really meant to first establish an understanding of the culture here. The work culture for employees and how residents view the work that employees do from a diversity, equity and inclusion-based perspective.”

Although Wednesday’s city council meeting did not have scheduled public comment, Vickie Amato, a Hendersonville resident for 30 years, was among a group of people who showed up to voice disapproval over the DEI proposal.

“Instead of spending money for this stuff, there are people all over this county who need personal advocates. They’re falling through the cracks,” Amato said. “I’m fighting against 'wokeism.' It’s gone too far.”

Fletcher resident Jeff Groh shares Amato’s objection to the proposal.

“Many of us have remained silent for too long, and I’m of the age now where I don’t care. I’m going to say and stand up when I think something is wrong, and this is wrong. It’s destroying our cities," Groh said.

Groh, who frequents Hendersonville, said he doesn’t want the city to turn into Asheville.

“Whether it’s DEI, whether it’s defunding the police, it’s all part of cultural Marxism, and it’s really meant to divide us. Nothing to do with bringing us together, it’s about dividing us,” Groh said. “In their initial contract, before they spoke to one person, it says, ‘to identify and comprehensively address social inequalities.' Before they even started, the assumption was that there’s a problem. It’s a solution looking for a problem, as far as I’m concerned.”

According to Greer, the 119-page DEI proposal is full of data and recommendations. She doesn’t understand how residents could be unhappy with it – especially given the timeframe.

“The proposal was just released. Even some of the city council members shared that they had yet had the time to review the proposal,” Greer said. “We hope that this work that we’re engaged in, as a firm, only amplifies and supports the needs of the people of Hendersonville.”

In June, AHKIRAH and the city will begin a second series of community-based workshops. Workshops be open to the public and held at different locations through August. Details to follow.

STORY COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS'I'm fighting against wokeism,' some Hendersonville residents object to $147K DEI proposal | WLOS

The Hendersonville Police Department invites the community to stop by and have ‘Coffee with a Cop’! On Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am Chief Blair Myhand and members of the Hendersonville

Police Department will be at Black Bear Coffee located at 318 N. Main Street. Community members are invited to drop by, ask questions, converse, and get to know the Officers serving the City.  

The bright lights of Hollywood are once again shining on the mountains of Western North Carolina.

A Hendersonville spokesperson confirms that a movie called "Summer Camp" is planning to use Camp Pinnacle for production.

More than 1,000 locals are expected to participate in the film, according to the production's casting director.

According to Deadline, an entertainment industry news website, the film will star Diane Keaton ("Annie Hall, "Something's Gotta Give"), Kathy Bates ("Misery," "Fried Green Tomatoes"), and Alfre Woodard ("Clemency," "Cross Creek").

Pictures of Keaton in Asheville have surfaced on social media.

Deadline says "Summer Camp" tells the story of three childhood best friends reuniting at a summer sleepaway camp.

Just months ago, Hallmark completed its production of "A Biltmore Christmas," filming at several locations in Asheville and Hendersonville.

If you happen to chat with any of the stars, share your experience with News 13 through Chime In.

STORY COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSMovie starring Hollywood heavy hitters to film at Hendersonville camp | WLOS

One mountain school is celebrating a national award it recently received!

Hendersonville Elementary School is one of 37 Special Olympics Unified Championship schools in the country to make the 2022 ESPN Honor Roll, and the only school in North Carolina.

The school was selected based on the active involvement of the PawPal program.

It's where 5th grade students apply for and spend time with students in the special needs classroom.

To earn the recognition of a National Banner School on the ESPN honor roll, schools must demonstrate inclusion through 10 standards of excellence.

STORY COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville Elementary celebrates 2022 ESPN Honor Roll award | WLOS

 Some city and county leaders in Western North Carolina recently teamed up to take part in a statewide litter sweep.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners and Hendersonville City Council joined forces on Saturday as part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Spring Litter Sweep, which runs from April 15-29.

The litter sweep is part of NCDOT's biannual statewide roadside litter removal initiative, with residents across the state devoting their time to help clean up North Carolina's roadways.

Rebecca McCall, chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, talked about the importance of keeping the community clean in a video.

"First impressions go a long way," the chairman said. "And especially since we're a community where we have a lot of visitors coming to see our area and enjoy our area, we need to be proud of who we are and share that pride with others."

In a video from the county, city councilmember Jennifer Hensley simply encouraged people not to litter.

"I grew up in the 80s and it was the thing, like, 'don't litter, don't throw things out of your car window,'" Hensley said. "I know that trash haphazardly ends up some places, like blowing in the wind and bears getting into the trash. But there are people who generally still throw trash out their window, and it's just unacceptable."

"We encourage residents to volunteer and do your part to keep Henderson County litter free," a spokesperson for Henderson County said.

City and county workers cleaned up areas along Dana Road and Four Seasons Boulevard on Saturday.

Click here to learn more about NCDOT's litter sweeps.

STORY COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSCounty, city officials join forces to take part in statewide 'Spring Litter Sweep' | WLOS

The City of Hendersonville’s Walk Hendo Steering Committee invites the community to provide a second round of input on the City’s new pedestrian plan.

On May 2, and throughout the month of May, the City of Hendersonville will be hosting public input opportunities for anyone who lives in, works in, or visits Hendersonville. A drop-in-style public meeting will be hosted on May 2 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM where the community can share their thoughts about the proposed set of pedestrian projects. An online survey will be launched that day and will run throughout May to collect similar feedback.

The Walk Hendo Steering Committee developed the set of pedestrian infrastructure projects out of last summer’s community input sessions in collaboration with the transportation consulting firm Traffic Planning & Design. Walk Hendo is Hendersonville’s pedestrian planning process to identify the community’s vision, strategies, goals, and recommended actions for creating safe places to walk. The project began in the spring of 2022 and is expected to be completed in the late summer or early fall of 2023.

Public Input Opportunities

In-Person

• City Operations Center Assembly Room - 305 Williams Street in Hendersonville
• Tuesday, May 2, 2023
• Drop-in anytime 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Virtual

• Online Survey
• Beginning May 2, 2023
• Visit https://www.hvlnc.gov/walkhendo to learn more.

The community’s input will be used to further develop the Walk Hendo Pedestrian Plan. Once the plan is adopted, the City and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) can use it to direct how we build projects, make policy choices, design programs and events, and apply for new types of funding.

Walk Hendo is made possible with a grant from NCDOT. It is led by Asheville-based transportation consulting firm Traffic Planning & Design. Contact Rachael Bronson at Traffic Planning & Design for more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.575.0133.

Additional project details are available at www.hvlnc.gov/walkhendo.

The City of Hendersonville is improving the water storage capacity of the North Fork Mills River Reservoir. The watershed and reservoir are located on completely forested, public lands within the Pisgah National Forest and have provided water to Hendersonville and surrounding areas for approximately 100 years. Over time, sediment has naturally accumulated within the reservoir which has begun to infringe on the water intake structure's ability to receive water. 

“We recognize the importance of protecting our natural resources and are committed to ensuring that the North Fork Reservoir continues to provide clean water for our community," said Lee Smith, Water and Sewer Utilities Director for the City of Hendersonville. “Protecting natural water resources and working with partners like the U.S. Forest Service allows our community to enjoy life-sustaining natural water sources while protecting and sustaining our forests for future generations.” Utilities Director Smith explained the project is a proactive step to preserve the water source.  

To ensure this pristine water source can continue to serve the community, the reservoir's water level will be temporarily lowered and accumulated sediment removed. The sediment will be temporarily stockpiled and then transported outside of the national forest for proper disposal. This process is known as "dredging," and will increase water volume along with improving water quality. Construction work will begin the week of April 24, 2023, and is expected to last several months until August 2023. 

The construction area within Pisgah National Forest will be surrounded by safety fencing, and signage will be posted in the area. Forest users are advised to avoid entering construction zones for their safety and should exercise caution on the national forest roads due to increased construction traffic. Motor vehicle access to Wash Creek Road (FS 5000) from the North Mills River Campground to the Wash Creek Group Camp and Hendersonville Reservoir Road to the Trace Ridge Parking Area will be restricted during certain construction work activities that present safety hazards on weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  

“The U.S. Forest Service has partnered with the City of Hendersonville for many years to achieve sustainable, multiple-use land and resource management to meet the diverse needs of the community,” said District Ranger Dave Casey, Pisgah National Forest. “Dating back to 1911, the legislation that authorized the federal government to purchase lands in the east, such as Pisgah National Forest, was focused on protecting the headwaters of our rivers and streams that had been decimated at the time. After 100 years of water supply to Hendersonville, we’re proud to continue that access to this remarkable resource for our local communities.”

The City of Hendersonville has provided clean, high-quality drinking water for over one hundred years. Currently, approximately 75,000 people across Hendersonville and Henderson County utilize the water system for affordable, trusted drinking water. The City currently sources water from three locations - the North Fork Mills River Reservoir and Bradley Creek located in Pisgah National Forest, and the main stem of the Mills River. A similar dredging project was completed in 2019 to remove accumulated sediment from Bradley Creek. Water travels from these sources to Hendersonville's water treatment facility where treatment occurs before traveling through pipes to homes and businesses across the community.   

Additional information on the North Fork Reservoir Dredging Project is available at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/projects/north-fork-reservoir-dredging  

 On April 19th, 2023, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested Adrian Oneal Branch and Taylor Nicole Crawford for various controlled substance related crimes. Detectives had obtained federal indictments for Branch based on his involvement in a previous investigation. Branch was taken into custody without incident and found to be in possession of suspected Fentanyl. A subsequent search warrant was served at Crawford's residence where Detectives located additional suspected Fentanyl. Both Branch and Crawford were taken into custody and charged with various crimes related to the suspected Fentanyl that was located.

In total, Detectives located and seized Fentanyl, marijuana, methadone, Percocet, cocaine, $2,721.00 of United States currency, and one firearm. Branch was indicted for six counts of Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Fentanyl and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Additional arrest warrants for the items located during Branch's arrest and search of Crawford's home were issued, but have not been served on Branch at this time. Branch is currently being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center under no bond.

Crawford was charged with Felony Trafficking in Opium or Heroin Lvl 3, Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin, Felony Trafficking in Opium or Heroin Lvl 2, Felony PWISD Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Vehicle/Dwelling for Purpose of Sell/Deliver a Controlled Substance x2, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule IV Substance, and Misdemeanor Child Abuse. Crawford is currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $1,800,000.00 secured bond.

Fentanyl is a widely available and highly addictive man-made opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose. Using this calculation, the amount of fentanyl seized from Branch and Crawford could have potentially been responsible for up to 66,000 deaths.

Sheriff Lowell Griffin stated, "I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our Detectives and Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. These arrests and seizures will have a significant impact on the distribution of controlled substances in Henderson County and beyond. We remain committed to keeping our community safe by removing dangerous drugs and individuals from our streets."

 A man from Hendersonville will spend at least six years behind bars after pleading guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise in the area.

A press release from District Attorney Andrew Murray says during Henderson County’s two-week trial term that began on April 3, 2023, Dax Edward Suarez, 42, of Hendersonville, pled guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise.

"To be guilty of Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, the State must prove the defendant violated a series of continuing felony drug laws and that the defendant acted as a manager in concert with five or more other violators," District Attorney Murray explained. "In addition, the State must prove the defendant gained a substantial income or resources from his/her drug enterprise."

Through a multiple-month extensive investigation, the Henderson County Drug Task Force was able to establish the defendant, Suarez, along with many others, was involved in the distribution of large quantities of Methamphetamine in the county and the surrounding area.

Investigators were able to establish probable cause on December 20, 2019, for a blue light stop of a vehicle operated by Suarez. An inspection of the vehicle turned up multiple ounces of meth. The defendant was arrested without incident.

Suarez pled guilty and was sentenced to 83 months minimum and 113 months maximum in prison by the Honorable Peter Knight as part of a plea arrangement.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville man pleads guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise | WLOS