News

Additional I-40 Slide Repairs in Progress
Repairs expanded for additional safety:

NC Department of Transportation engineers have expanded the size of a repair project beside Interstate 40 to increase safety for motorists traveling in the area near the Tennessee state line.

After expanding the project, engineers granted Harrison Construction an additional 30 days to complete all repairs.

Transportation officials hope the additional repairs will better help prevent future slides and closures near the Harmon Den exit.

“The benefits of performing these additional repairs should pay off in the long run,” NCDOT resident engineer Nathan Tanner said. “It’s wise to perform this additional work now while we have the opportunity. The extra repairs should help keep traffic moving through the Pigeon River Gorge for a long time instead of reducing lanes again at a later date.”

Engineers are targeting the weekend of May 3 as the new date to reopen all four lanes to through traffic near mile marker 7. Traffic has been reduced to one lane heading in each direction since Feb. 28.

A rockslide on the night of Feb. 22 closed all four lanes between the state line and exit 20 for five days, which allowed NCDOT and contract crews to clear debris. The closure also allowed crews to transform the two eastbound lanes into one lane each direction with a concrete median and new lines at the slide.

The cleanup and repairs have included removing more than 10,000 tons of debris, installing rock anchors, hanging wire mesh and building a retaining wall. Additional repairs include additional scraping of rock, more anchors, and expanding the area covered by wire mesh.

Motorist driving through the area should expect delays, especially during peak hours. Attentive driving will play a critical role in reducing the possibility of crashes. The speed limit has been lowered to 45 MPH until the repairs are complete to protect transportation crews in the work zone.

“Everybody has been working long days and with the weather turning, long weeks,” Tanner said. “We’ll continue that effort until we’re able to safely open up the interstate.”

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

Due to multiple sources stating the forecast for Friday, April 12th is between 70%-100% chance of rain in the morning hours followed by thunderstorms, the Special Olympics Henderson County Spring Games will be rescheduled to May 3rd, 2019.

All times on that date will remain the same. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We know this day means a lot to our athletes, friends, and families. Hope to see you in a sunny May!

Event features free activities and information
Families are invited to Chimney Rock State Park’s Earth Day Celebration at Blue Ghost Brewing Company in Fletcher on Saturday, April 27, from 2 – 6 p.m. Local environmental educators, including Chimney Rock State Park rangers, Chimney Rock Management, LLC naturalists, biologists and other environmental and outdoor enthusiasts, will share the work that they’re doing to protect the beautiful landscape of Western North Carolina. There will also be hands-on activities for kids of all ages.
“Earth Day is a reminder that human action affects the environment and in turn affects humans,’ said ranger Katherine Scheip. “Chimney Rock State Park’s Earth Day Celebration is a time to learn more about our natural environment through education, games, art and science. We hope to spark curiosity, action and fun with our event!”
Admission to the event is free, and youth ages 5-15 who collect six stamps through the event’s Discovery Trail program will earn a day pass, which allows them free day admission to the Chimney Rock section of Chimney Rock State Park. Chimney Rock is the focal point of the greater Chimney Rock State Park. Chimney Rock State Park’s annual Earth Day events have become a popular attraction, with attendance growing steadily each year.

Box 1: Presenters include:
Art Easel Rider
Blue Ridge EVE Club
Conserving Carolina
Chimney Rock Management, LLC.
Earth Shine Nature Programs
National Cave Rescue Commission
Foothills Equestrian Nature Center
Gorges State Park
Holmes Educational State Forest
Lake James State Park
NC Clean Air- Western Division
Water Cookies
Frugal Backpacker
Kids Senses Museum
Town of Lake Lure Parks and Recreation

About Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is a still-developing international outdoor destination located 25 miles southeast of Asheville on Highway 64/74A in Chimney Rock, N.C. It is recognized as one of the Southeast’s most iconic sites and popular travel destinations. The Park’s 535-million-year-old monolith called Chimney Rock can be accessed via the 500-stair Outcroppings trail or by the Park’s 26-story elevator inside the mountain that has just been renovated with state-of-the –art equipment. Once on top, guests can enjoy 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. The Park also features one of the highest waterfalls of its kind east of the Mississippi River, Hickory Nut Falls, at 404 feet. Hickory Nut Gorge, one of the state’s most significant centers of biodiversity, is home to 36 rare plant species and 14 rare animal species. The Rumbling Bald section of the greater State Park off of Boys Camp Road in Chimney Rock and Eagle Rock are the only other areas of the Park that are currently open
to the public. A destination for travel groups, weddings and special events, the Chimney Rock section of the Park also hosts innovative educational programs for schools, homeschoolers, scouts and summer camps. Visit Chimney Rock’s website at chimneyrockpark.com.

A few North Carolina lawmakers want to "spring forward" for good by making daylight saving time permanent in the state.

A state House committee voted on Wednesday for legislation that would avoid the twice annual time shift and have later sunsets for good-but only if Congress passes a federal law allowing states to observe daylight saving year-round.

Other states are considering similar conditional legistation on this subject. President Trump also favors the idea in a positive way, in implementing permanant daylight saving nationwide.

North Carolina bill sponsor Rep. Jason Saine of Lincolnton cited studies in suggesting a permanent shift could result in fewer health-related and transportation deaths and otherwise decrease energy consumption in the winter months. But in turn it would also mean children wait in the dark more for morning school buses.

The measure now goes to another House panel.

Tarheel state legislators are coming up with, and advancing new ways to demand the reporting of child abuse, the prosecution of offenders and the protection of children from sex offenders who are on the internet.

The senate underwent a unanimous vote on Wednesday for legislation called the "SAFE Child Act".

The measures now heading to the House required people to report felonies or "crimes of abuse" against young people to local law enforcement. They will however face a misdeamenor if they fail to do so.

This bill also extends the statute of limitations for misdeameanor "crimes of abuse" from the current two years to 10. There are currently no time limits on prosecuting felonies or other certain misdeameanors. Existing bans on social media netoworking by certain convicted sex offenders also would be altered due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Turns out, fewer high school seniors dropped out of school in Henderson County during 2017-18 school year, bucking a trend of rising or stagnant rates that spanned much of the decade.

Looks like Henderson County Public Schools had 64 dropouts for 2017-18 school year, that was quite a reduction from the previous year's 82 students, according to the consolidated data report by N.C. Department of Public Instruction. It's the lowest dropout rate the school system has had since 2014-15. 

Stay in school, and make the very most of your education!

The Henderson County Board of Health heard detailed reports, Tuesday on the health department's annual communicable disease report, along with the specifics on quality improvement measures for teen services and safe sleep initiative.

Director of nursing Crystal O'Dell presented the communicable disease report, which showed an increase in confirmed cases for 2018.

Forty- two cases were confirmed last year, compared to 23 in 2017. The number is a decrease from some recent years, which includes 51 cases in 2016, 47 in 2015, and 56 in 2014.

One of our local education institutions here in Henderson County, Apple Valley Middle school community has proudly rallied around a teacher and coach whose house was lost in a fire Saturday.

Ryan Koch, a seventh-grade English and language arts teacher and baseball coach, and his family lost their home to the weekend fire. His wife, four children and dog survived the fire, but the family was left without a home.

A GoFundMe page was set up, to where money could be pledged, and at this point it has raised more than $7,200 in the past three days. The school has collected a roomful of donations from students, teachers, and members of the community.

if you would like to make a donation, log onto: GoFundMe.com/house-fire.

Kim Gasperson-Justice, Henderson County’s clerk of Superior Court, has been sworn in as the county’s newest district judge. She was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to fill the spot previously held by Peter Knight, who was appointed to replace Resident Superior Court Judge Mark Powell, who retired in the fall.  

Peter Knight appointed Christina Goodson as acting clerk. She is an assistant clerk in charge of civil cases. He also appointed a committee to review candidates to serve until the next county-wide election cycle in 2020. Filing is in December for the March 2020 primary and the November 3rd, 2020 general election.

Picture courtesy of Asheville Citizen-Times.

Harrah's Casino inched closer to becoming the new naming sponsor for the Asheville Civic Center, but gets opposition from the Civic Center Commission. 

Harrah's submitted a 5-year bid for $3.25 million in naming rights, compared to the current sponsor U.S. Cell who offered $923,000 over the same five-year period. Harrah's bid could expand to $5.75 million if extended to a ten year period, ending in 2030. 

In a 3-2 vote against the Harrah's offer, the Asheville Civic Center Commisssion said they did not feel that bringing a 'casino gaming name' to Asheville was appropriate and 'inconsitent with Asheville's Community identity' and favored staying with the lower-bid of U. S. Cellular. Several others on the commission disagreed and said that the 'casino' name would not appear on the building. Those board members in favor of Harrah's bid said the $3.25 million dollars would allow the civic center to make much needed patron improvements. 

The Asheville City Council, who has the final say, is expected to vote on the matter in May.