listen live
Tyler Sams

ON AIR STAFF
Tyler Sams
full schedule

on the air
scattered clouds 47° Mar 28's Weather
Clouds
HI: 51° LOW: 42°
Your Forecast

News

Henderson County Company Receives President’s “E” Award for Exports
in Washington DC Ceremony

The photograph shows from left: US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Equilibar export manager Julie Detmering, Equilibar president Jeff Jennings, and Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Gilbert Kaplan.

 May 23, 2019— Equilibar, an engineering and manufacturing company in Fletcher, NC, received the 2019 President’s “E” Award for Exports during a May 23 ceremony in Washington, DC. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any US entity can receive for making a significant contribution to an increase in U.S. exports.
US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross presented the award to Jeff Jennings, Equilibar president, and Julie Detmering, exports and customer service manager.
Equilibar was recognized for its deliberate commitment to export expansion, including international certifications and global networking. “The company's exports to 61 countries were particularly notable,” said Juanita Harthun, Senior International Trade Specialist with the US Department of Commerce. “Equilibar's achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs.”
Equilibar specializes in designing and manufacturing patented fluid control valves and back pressure regulators for research and industry. Founded in 2007, the company has 21 employees and also provides a steady stream of work to local machine shops and other partner businesses.
“Exports have played an integral role for Equilibar since it was a brand new start-up company operating out of my basement,” said Jennings. “We are committed to working with researchers around the world to advance technology. It’s exciting to play a role in green energy, clean water and other important global efforts.”
Equilibar fosters local STEM education by serving as a sponsor for the Henderson County Public Schools Robotics Team and supporting West Henderson Science Olympiad and other educational projects. The company is also involved with area environmental efforts including Friends of DuPont Forest.
In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and recognize America’s exporters. In 2018, U.S. exports were the highest on record with U.S. services at $821.1 billion and U.S. exports of goods reaching $1.7 trillion, demonstrating how American private enterprise can not only survive, but thrive, in the international market.
American companies are nominated for “E” Awards through the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Record years of successive export growth and an applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan are significant factors in selecting winners. In total, Secretary Ross honored 48 US companies with the President’s “E” Award for demonstrating a sustained increase in export sales.
For more information about Equilibar, visit www.equilibar.com

 

###
For press release information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
828-650-6590
Cell: 828-329-4052

An evening of music, food and fellowship will excitedly take over Laurel Park June 8th with the Jump Off Rock Music Festival.

The festival, presented by the Friends of Laurel Park, will last from 5-8:30PM Gates open at 4:30PM.

The musical entertainment will be Asheville-based band Dashboard Blue.

This will be the group's third year in a row playing at the festival, according to Friends of Laurel Park President Ed Mattern.

The five-piece band plays a variety of tunes, including rock, R&B, disco, pop, country and more, according to the band's website.

Tickets are $10 and children 12 and under will be admitted for free.

To purchase tickets, log onto www.friendsoflaurelpark.org, or pick them up at the Laurel Park Town Hall, the Visitors Center and Crate Wine Market and Project.

On June 6, Senator Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) and his NCGA colleagues will hold a special session at the Old Capitol in honor of the anniversary of D-Day. Several events will occur throughout the day to commemorate the veterans who served on this historic day 75 years ago.On June 6, Senator Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) and his NCGA colleagues will hold a special session at the Old Capitol in honor of the anniversary of D-Day. Several events will occur throughout the day to commemorate the veterans who served on this historic day 75 years ago.On June 6, 1944, the allied invasion of Normandy, commonly referred to as D-Day, became the largest seaborne invasion in world history. Thousands of Allied forces lost their lives during the invasion, and countless more were injured. Their sacrifice and strength laid the groundwork for an Allied victory over Germany in Europe.Veterans of D-Day and WWII are invited to attend the special legislative session so that they may be honored for their courage and sacrifices. Senator Edwards would like to extend a personal invitation to these veterans to be his special guest to the events. Please reach out to Senator Edwards’ office if you are a D-Day veteran or if you can recommend one, so that they may be recognized before the NC General Assembly.Throughout the day, special honorary events will occur to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives on D-Day, including 39 North Carolinians.“As this historical event begins to fade into forgotten history we owe it to these brave men and women, and to our future generations to celebrate and memorialize the strength and valor that the United States military showed on D-Day,” said Senator Edwards. “Our veterans and their families deserve to be recognized and remembered because they are the reason that we continue to have the freedoms that make this country, and our state great. The NC Senate wants to show our respects to those who put their lives on the line for our country.

Itinerary for the 75th Anniversary D-Day special session 9:30 a.m.: Military Band prelude. Military Reenactors, Military vehicles & equipment on Capitol grounds before and after ceremonies; 10:00 a.m.: Senate Session at Old Capitol - Lt. Gov. presiding (30-45 min.) D-Day Veterans in attendance will be honored during Session, The French Consul and French Consul General give presentations; 11:00 a.m.: House Session at the Old Capitol; Noon: Military Band - National Anthems of U.S. and France; Officers, Diplomatic Representatives, and Color Guard proceed to WWII Monument where the names of the 39 North Carolinians killed on D-Day will be read; Officers and Diplomatic Representatives conduct wreath-laying ceremony at WWII Monument; Firing Party Three-volley salute; Bugle call of TAPS; Flyover; and Military Band - recessional.

Ceremony planning is underway, but details will not be finalized until closer to the event. For more information, please visit NC48.com/Dday.

Monday Night Live!
June 10 - 24, 2019

Every Friday Night / 7pm-9pm / Free

Visitor Center

201 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC

 

Experience an array of talented musical artists on a pleasant summer evening at the Monday Night Live! concert series. This year’s concert series features an eclectic line-up from blues to classic
country. The free live performances happen every night Monday night from June 10 - 24 at the
Visitor Center, 201 South Main Street, from 7pm-9pm. Enjoy the fresh air, bring a chair and delight
in the one-of-a-kind experience you'll get from this unique outdoor music venue.
Bring a chair and sit back, relax and enjoy the music from 7pm-9pm. Seating area opens after
5:30pm; early admission is prohibited. Please leave your pets comfortably at home, Hendersonville
City ordinance prohibits animals in the event area. Admission is free. Alcoholic beverages, backpacks
& coolers are prohibited.
In case of inclement weather the concert will be postponed until 8pm; if the weather does not
cooperate by 8pm the concert will be cancelled.
For additional information call the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority at
(828) 693-9708, 800-828-4244 or online at visithendersonvillenc.org
The Monday Night Live! concert series is coordinated, produced, and sponsored by Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.

2019 Concert Schedule:

June 10: Johnnie Blackwell (classic rock)
June 17 Mojo Brothers Blues Band (blues)
June 24: Dog Whistle (classic country)

News of a possible structure fire at the Gem & Mineral building on Main street, that occurred early on Tuesday morning, called for firefighters who responded to 400 N. Main. Upon arrival there was no apparent smoke visible, firefighters immediately entered the building making sure everyone was evacuated, they did find a light haze of smoke on the first floor. As the investigation continued on through the morning the cause of smoke was secluded to an HVAC motor, which had overheated, and then pushed smoke throughout the building. Firefighters were able to isolate the incident, and shut power off, afterwards the building was ventilated to let all smoke escape. There was no damage done to the structure.

The Heritage Museum held a Tribute to Veterans Friday at the Veterans Hall in the Health and Human Services Building in Hendersonville.

During the program, Sheriff Lowell Griffin led the Prayer for Veterans, the Henderson County Honor Guard led the Presentation of Colors, Viva Voce performed with music and songs and Mike Murdock led the Pledge of Allegiance, during the ceremony.

Carolyn Justice gave an update on veterans, and Hilliard Staton was the guest speaker.

More than 80 people attended this exceptional event.

Ford Named Henderson County Public Schools 2019 Teacher of the Year

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (May 24, 2019) — Megan Ford, a 7th grade math and science teacher at Flat Rock Middle School, was named Henderson County Public Schools’ 2019 Teacher of the Year on Friday at the Teacher of the Year luncheon sponsored by AdventHealth at the Hendersonville Country Club.

Ford has spent all nine years of her teaching career at Flat Rock Middle, where she once walked the halls as a student. Ever an Eagle, Ford said, “I decided to teach to be a part of the community that made me who I am.”

“She’s a phenomenal teacher,” said Assistant Principal Bruce Gilliam. “Kids are just pulled in by her enthusiasm (and) love math when they’re in her classroom.”

“Not only is Megan a great teacher, she adds value to the school outside the classroom,” said HCPS Chief Human Resources Officer W. Scott Rhodes, who remembers hiring Ford nine years ago when he was principal at Flat Rock.

Whether it’s keeping the scorebook for athletic events, managing concession stands, helping coach the dance team, or organizing class trips, Ford is there lending a hand – and often leading the effort. Gilliam said Ford leads her Professional Learning Community, has served on the School Improvement Team, and spent last summer spearheading a project to freshen up student bathrooms with fresh paint and inspiring quotes. This summer, she’s tackling the teacher workrooms with her peers.

“It doesn’t matter what the need is,” Rhodes said. “She has been one to step up and help lead.”

“I want to be the constant in these kids’ lives because for some of them, I am the only consistent adult they see on a daily basis,” Ford said. “My job as a teacher, first and foremost, is to teach them to be good human beings – but I have to model that first.”

Like all 23 nominees from each elementary, middle and high school, Ford was nominated by her peers for the designation of her school’s Teacher of the Year. Following extensive interviews with a selection committee comprised of an administrator, parent, board member and the previous teacher of the year, Ford was selected to represent Henderson County Public Schools as its 2019 Teacher of the Year.

In addition to a Teacher of the Year plaque and $1,000 from AdventHealth, Ford received an all-expense paid trip to a state education conference and a Teacher of the Year class ring by Jostens. Following Friday’s reception at the country club, Ford returned to Flat Rock Middle, where she was welcomed by East Henderson High’s drumline, serenaded by Flat Rock Middle’s chorus, and surprised by her family, students, and fellow teachers with flowers and handmade posters.

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that in 2018, 72,048 visitors to Carl Sandburg Home NHS in 2018 spent $4.3 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 62 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $5,346,000.

“North Carolina has 10 national park units. Our state ranks second in the nation in terms of local community jobs supported by national park visitor spending. North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in terms of park visitor spending in communities near these 10 parks,” said Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is proud to share Sandburg’s legacy and help contribute to our local and state economies.  National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy as well, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service.”

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. The report shows $20.2 billion of direct spending by more than 318 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 329,000 jobs nationally; 268,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $40.1 billion.

Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending, about $6.8 billion in 2018. Food expenses are the second largest spending area and visitors spent $4 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and convenience stores.

Visitor spending on lodging supported more than 58,000 jobs and more than 61,000 jobs in restaurants. Visitor spending in the recreation industries supported more than 28,000 jobs and spending in retail supported more than 20,000 jobs.

GARDEN JUBILEE:
The Henderson County Tourism Authority presents their ever popular Garden Jubilee plant sale this Saturday and Sunday 9 till 5 on Main Street Downtown.Director Beth Carden tells WHKP over 265 vendor spaces have been leased,and this years show may be the biggest ever.

The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.

Memorial Day Travel

As of this morning, the department has suspended most road construction activities on major routes to make travel easier for drivers. This hold on construction projects will continue along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes until Tuesday evening on May 28. 

To safely navigate the highways during Memorial Day weekend, remember these tips:
•    Avoid distracted driving. Focus on the road and let everything else wait until you arrive at your destination.
•    Use alternate routes, when possible, to avoid traffic congestion.
•    Don’t tailgate. Leave space between vehicles gives you more time to react.

Don’t forget, you can check real-time traffic conditions and road closures by visiting DriveNC.gov.

Click It or Ticket Crash Simulation

Memorial Day weekend also kicks off the Governor’s Highway Safety Program Click It or Ticket campaign. Law enforcement is increasing patrols to ensure that drivers and their passengers are buckling up every time they get in a vehicle.

A recent crash simulation shows what can happen to those not wearing seat belts at 45 mph. Wearing a seat belt helps keep you from being ejected in a crash and increases your chances of surviving by 45 percent in a passenger vehicle and up to 60 percent in a pickup truck. 

Not being properly buckled could cost you up to $179 in fines or worse…your life.

This weekend do your part and make sure everyone is buckled up.