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Two retiring Hendersonville police officers were honored Wednesday for their service to the city.

The Hendersonville Police Department held its annual award luncheon Wednesday at Bay Breeze Restaurant, where they also recognized the retiring officers.

Capt. Bruce Simonds, head of the patrol services bureau, is retiring after nearly 30 years with the department. Hired in 1990, he was promoted to Police Officer II in 1995 and to master patrol officer in 1998.

Two years later he was promoted to lieutenant. In 2012, Simonds was named captain of the patrol services bureau, a position he held until retirement.

Standing in front of many of his colleagues Wednesday, Simonds thanked the Lord for keeping him safe for 28 years and eight months of service, as well as his wife and the city for everything they gave him.

“The city of Hendersonville has been good to me,” Simonds said. “I love it and I thank them for everything I’ve done here.”

Retired officer Jeff “Tank” Tankersley began his law enforcement career with the Asheville Police Department, where he served for 10 years. He then worked in probation for the N.C. Department of Public Safety from 2000 to 2012, serving as a reserve officer with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in that timeframe. He joined the Hendersonville Police Department in 2012.

Chief Herbert Blake reflected on the careers of both officers.

“I hate to see both of these guys go,” Blake said. “Life is about how you come and how you go, more so than anything else. I want to make sure everybody in here understands how much I appreciate the service that Bruce Simonds provided as a captain... He was as dedicated as anybody could ever be.”

“Tank loved this police department,” Blake added. “He always volunteered to do things that we couldn’t get other to volunteer to do. This is a tremendous day in the history of the city’s police department because we’re losing two indelible personalities that will never be replaced.”

HPD awards

The 2018 award recipients were also honored, after being selected by their peers.

2019 Lifesaving Award – Officer Cameron Singleton

Chief’s Award for School Crossing Guard – Julia Alston

Chief’s Award for Outstanding Team – Team 2

Lt. Dale Patton
Sergeant Bruce Darrah
Officer Michele Hoyle
Officer Zeffrey Childress
Officer Adalberto Morales

Reserve Employee of the Year – Reserve Telecommunicator Olivia Orr

Telecommunicator of the Year – Tiffany Henderson

Rookie of the Year – Officer Austin Putnam

Inez Norman Award for Excellence - Office Personnel of the Year – Melissa Justus

Detective of the Year – Nathan Smith

Bill Powers Leadership Award – Supervisor of the Year – Lt. Jimmy Case

Police Officer of the Year – Officer Colby Allman

$1 million Powerball prize means a new guitar for Southern gospel singer    

 Lloyd Dockery of Lowell said he’s got a million reasons to sing after winning a $1 million Powerball prize.

The Southern gospel singer bought his Quick Pick ticket for Saturday’s drawing when he stopped to get gas at the Lowell Mini Mart on McAdenville Road in Lowell.

“When I saw how much the jackpot was I almost bought two tickets,” said Dockery. “But then I figured, if I’m going to win, I only need one.”

He didn’t find out he had a winning ticket until he read the paper Monday morning and saw that someone won $1 million. He pulled out his ticket, put it next to the paper, and started checking the numbers.

“When I saw that I got three of the numbers I thought, ‘Well, I hope I get the other two,’” Dockery said. “When I saw that I matched all five I shouted, ‘I’m a millionaire!’”

He checked the numbers four different times before he believed what he saw.

“I had to make sure it was real,” Dockery said. “It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

Dockery claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $707,501. Dockery plans to give some of the money to his church, pay off his house, and get a new guitar.

“I need to make sure I have a good guitar if I’m going to keep singing,” Dockery said. “I go to retirement homes and perform Johnny Cash. Everybody loves Johnny Cash.”

The ticket matched the numbers on the five white balls to win $1 million. The ticket beat odds of one in 11.7 million. He was one of only seven in the country to win $1 million in the drawing. The jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is $750 million or $465.5 million cash.

Ticket sales from draw games like Powerball make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million a year for the state. For details on how $13.8 million in lottery funds made a difference in Gaston County last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.

Take a Hike with Your Pet on Bearwallow Mountain    

Benefit Hike Will Support Local Animal Rescue and Conservation Work

Attention pet parents and pet lovers! Tails and Trails, a hike for people and pups, will take place on Bearwallow Mountain on April 27th at 10 a.m. Proceeds from this event will directly support Blue Ridge Humane Society and Conserving Carolina. All are welcome, even if you do not have a pet!

The 2-mile roundtrip hike will take you to a nearly 360 degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, atop a privately-owned property recently protected permanently from development. Bearwallow Mountain forms part of the upper rim of Hickory Nut Gorge and contains a scenic grassy meadow at its summit, making it the perfect location for a group hike and picnic spot.

Bring your dog and your energy to this integral event and enjoy a hike in support of local conservation and animal rescue. Please plan to have your dog on a leash.

To register, please visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/get-involved/fundraising-events/tails/. Registration for this event includes your choice of a t-shirt or tote bag, and there is no registration cut off. If registration is made prior to April 20th you will receive a T-Shirt/tote at the event. Registrations after April 20th will need to pick up a T-shirt or tote at the Conserving Carolina office. New entries will be accepted on the day of the event at a booth at the trailhead of Bearwallow Mountain Trail.

Following their regional win in February, the Hendersonville High School “Cats” mock trial team competed March 8-9 in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice High School Mock Trial Competition at Campbell Law School in Raleigh, N.C. and earned multiple awards.   

Operated by the Carolina Center for Civic Education (CCCE) and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), the NCAJ High School Mock Trial Competition annually involves 90 teams from nine regions in the state, during which students review cases and create their arguments for the prosecution and defense sides.

At the State competition this month, the Hendersonville “Cats” defeated J.H. Rose High School out of Greenville, N.C., in the first round, and narrowly lost in the second round to Village Christian Academy of Fayetteville, by a combined score on three ballots of 246-240.

At State, the HHS Cats earned three “Best” Awards from the scoring jurors and trial judge – the most ever won by HHS at a state competition under Coaches Jerry Smith and Kathryn Wells. Madelyn Ball and Ellie Stout were each awarded “Best Attorney” awards, and Ball also earned “Best Witness” from the judges.

“Star” Awards, which are given to each other by competing teams for best witness and best attorney, were awarded to Jay Mullinax (Attorney), Stout (Witness) and Ball (Witness and Attorney).

Cats team also included Quinn Albert, Clara Hockenberry, Martha Smith, Miriam Smith, and Mireille Soss. This year’s team was also the sixth team to advance to the State competition under Coach Smith.

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^{Horizon Heating & Air Named HCEF’s “2019 Small Business Sponsor”}    

– In honor of National Public Schools Week (March 25-29), Horizon Heating & Air has donated $20,000 in unrestricted funds to the Henderson County Education Foundation, making the local business the Foundation’s “2019 Small Business Sponsor.”

This is the second year that Dan Poeta, owner of Horizon Heating & Air, has made this significant gift that will support public education in Henderson County throughout the calendar year by impacting each facet of the Education Foundation’s programming and services.

“Giving back to the community has been a tenant of our business since we opened in 2010,” Dan Poeta said. “We are honored to support the Henderson County Education Foundation and the work they do to prepare the future workforce of Henderson County through the Leader in Me initiative and their investment in the needs of educators and students in our school system.”

Horizon’s gift will support the expansion of the Leader in Me in the 2019-20 school year, bringing the school transformational model to Hillandale Elementary and Apple Valley Middle – the district's first middle school to implement the Leader in Me. Additionally, the donation supports the Foundation’s fundraising events, including the annual Golf Classic on October 14, which is the largest fundraiser. The Golf Classic raises funds to support workforce development and curriculum initiatives in local schools.

“Unrestricted gifts like this one from Horizon are so important to our nonprofit because they help leverage other donations. This kind of support during ‘National Public Schools Week’ is significant because it tells the public that investing in our schools builds a strong community,” said Executive Director Summer Stipe. “We continue to be so grateful for Dan’s generosity and commitment to supporting educational excellence in Henderson County Public Schools.”

About the Henderson County Education Foundation: Founded in October 1986, the Henderson County Education Foundation, HCEF, has provided resources aimed at improving the educational experience for Henderson County students and citizens for 32 years. The mission of the Henderson County Education Foundation is to develop resources to support educational excellence in the Henderson County Public Schools.

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HENSON REPRESENTS TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY AND THREE MILLS RIVER PRECINCTS IN WESTERN HENDERSON COUNTY   

.N.C. Rep. Cody Henson (R-113) will not seek re-election in 2020, the lawmaker said in an announcement Tuesday.

Henson’s wife, Kelsey Henson, was granted a protective order against him in February, and earlier this month the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office issued a criminal summons in a cyberstalking complaint also filed by his estranged wife.

Henson, who has two young children, said in the announcement that “I believe it is in the best interest of my children to step away from the political scene for now and be there during these exciting times in their lives.”

The following is the full text of Henson’s announcement:

“I have said this many times but it truly has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in the NC House for the past 2 terms. We have been able to accomplish many things since first being elected that will make our district and our great state even better places to live, work and do business.

“Since December 2015, I have promised to represent Transylvania, Polk and Southern Henderson Counties with the mountain values that were instilled in me early in life and that people from around the world come to our small corner of North Carolina to experience.

“As you all know I have two beautiful children that are growing up quicker than any parent would like. When I started this journey Bo was only 5 months old and Presley wasn’t even thought of. Now Bo is 3 and Presley is going on 8 months and I couldn’t be more blessed with them.

“With that said, I wanted to let you all know that I will not be seeking re-election in 2020. With Bo starting school soon I believe it is in the best interest of my children to step away from the political scene for now and be there during these exciting times in their lives.

On National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 28, 2019, Friends of DuPont Forest will host the 2nd annual DuPont Forest Festival, an event celebrating the adventure, wildness, and beauty of DuPont State Recreational Forest.   

On National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 28, 2019, Friends of DuPont Forest will host the 2nd annual DuPont Forest Festival, an event celebrating the adventure, wildness, and beauty of DuPont State Recreational Forest.

“We are so excited about year two of the Festival and we are in the process of planning hands-on activities for kids and adults to learn more about the history and wildlife of DuPont while sharing information about how we can best conserve and protect the Forest we love,” says Sara Landry, executive director of Friends of DuPont Forest.

Friends of DuPont Forest is now accepting proposals for Forest Festival activities. The organization invites members of the community to share their outdoor knowledge and lead a demonstration, tour, or lecture. To put your name in the hat, visit www.dupontforest.com. The deadline to submit proposals is April 16th, 2018.

Possible activities include:

Science Experiments

Wildlife Hike

Tree Identification Hike

Fly Fishing Demonstration

Multi-use trails education

Yoga

History tour

Mountain Bike Tours

For questions about the proposal process and / or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sara Landry at 828.713.2368 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2019 Blue Ridge Parkway Season Preview Events set for April 3 & 4

(NC/VA) - The National Park Service invites the public and media to attend its upcoming Blue Ridge Parkway Season Preview, an open house style event highlighting Parkway activities and upcoming projects. The Parkway is hosting two Season Preview events this year. The goal of these events is to promote awareness and understanding among Parkway communities, neighbors and visitors of the National Park Service’s stewardship mission.

WHO: The public is invited to attend.

Parkway Superintendent J.D. Lee

Members of the Parkway’s management team, staff and partners

WHAT: National Park Service staff will be on hand at each event to provide a “behind the scenes” look into the Parkway. Attendees can explore information stations* with park staff and partners at each station to answer questions and discuss upcoming projects.

WHEN &

WHERE: NOTE – TWO DATES & LOCATIONS

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

American Legion Building, 333 Wallingford Road

Blowing Rock, NC

Thursday, April 4, 2019

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Virginia Horse Center Mezzanine, 487 Maury River Road

Lexington, VA

Link to Season Preview News Release

NC Event Page on Facebook

VA Event Page on Facebook

*2019 Blue Ridge Parkway Season Preview - Station List:

Parkway Basics and Background

Parkway Visitation/Visitor Spending Effects
Parkway 101/Parkway by the numbers

Visitor Use Opportunities

Interpretive & Educational Opportunities
Recreational Opportunities
Special Park Uses/Permits
Volunteer Opportunities
Traffic Safety

Facility and Road Projects

Upcoming Paving and Pavement Preservation Projects
Bridge Maintenance Projects
Cone Manor House Rehabilitation
Bluffs Restaurant Rehabilitation
Mabry Mill Rehabilitation

Resource Management

Citizen Science Projects
Vista Management & Restoration

Parkway Partners

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (NC)
Blue Ridge Parkway Association
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Eastern National (NC)
Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway

The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park to the north with Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south. The route travels the crests, ridges, and valleys of five major mountain ranges, encompassing several geographic and vegetative zones ranging from 600 to more than 6,000 feet above sea level. It provides visitors with many varied vistas of scenic Appalachian landscapes ranging from forested ridgetops and mountain slopes to rural farm lands and urban areas. The parkway offers a “ride-a-while, stop-a-while” experience that includes scenic pullouts, recreation areas, historic sites, and visitor contact stations. It is known nationally and internationally for its designed landscape as a scenic motorway. www.nps.gov/blri

Children turning 5 on or before Aug. 31 will need to register for April 9-11, but first they can meet their teachers and climb aboard a big yellow school bus at the Kindergarten Readiness Rally on April 2!

Presented by Smart Start Partnership for Children and Henderson County Public Schools, with special thanks to Western Carolina Community Action and Children & Family Resource Center, the annual Rally is the ideal opportunity for children and families to acquaint themselves with their new school communities and learn how to prepare for their very first day of school.

At the Rally, parents will have the opportunity to confirm their designated school district, learn which documents to bring to registration, and meet their children’s teachers and administrators. School nurses within the public schools will also be at the Rally to talk to parents and families about immunizations, the required North Carolina physical, and any emergency health plans their student may need.

The district’s new ESL Family Liaison will also be at the Rally to talk to families whose home language is Spanish, discuss registration requirements, and share additional resources through the district’s ESL Family Center.

While the families learn about registration, children can participate in fun learning activities conducted by kindergarten teachers from HCPS elementary schools, which parents can replicate at home to support school readiness. In addition, 36 local nonprofit organizations that work with children and families will host fun, hands-on activities that promote logical thinking, pre-math skills, literacy, color recognition, fine motor skills, and more.

Activities include practicing the “lunch line” using pretend food and lunch trays provided by Smart Start, child fingerprinting and safety information by the Hendersonville Police Department, and learning about school bus safety on board a school bus provided by HCPS. Every kindergartner who attends the Rally can take a book home, choosing from old classics and new favorites, in both English and Spanish.

Parents with a student already enrolled in school can still benefit from attending the Rally by meeting their kindergartener’s future teachers and administrators, and by asking any questions about the kindergarten program at HCPS. The Rally will take place from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville.

To see pictures from last year’s Rally, parents can check out the “Kindergarten Readiness Rally” Facebook event, cohosted by Henderson County Public Schools and Smart Start Partnership for Children via www.facebook.com/HCPSNC.

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