Abby Ramsey - News

WHKP FEATURED IN NATIONAL RADIO MAGAZINE

AM 1450 WHKP has received national recognition in the April edition of RADIO MAGAZINE.

According to WHKP President and General Manager, Art Cooley, the station was chosen for the feature because of recent renovations to the WHKP on-air studios, which included the installation of the latest state-of-the-art digital broadcast equipment, under the direction of station engineer, Dave Lyons.  According to Lyons, these renovations - which have dramatically improved the sound quality of the station - represented a substantial monetary investment by the company.

Several pages of pictures showing the studio remakes in BROADCAST HOUSE are featured in the April edition of the magazine.

RADIO MAGAZINE - created in 1959 - currently has 12,500 subscribers, including radio stations, networks and production facilities across America.

AM 1450 WHKP has been a locally owned and operated business since its sign-on in October of 1946 and is currently celebrating its 62nd year of service to Hendersonville and Henderson County.

Lyons further stated that a listener should be able to receive a much clearer sounding 'signal' from WHKP at 1450 on the AM radio dial once this installation is totally complete.

WHKP PARTICIPATING IN ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM

WHKP has been participating in the adopt-a-highway program.  WHKP General Manager Art Cooley said this came about because of the litter on Signal Hill Road,  He said that the road will be cleaned up once every quarter according to the rules that the program set forth.  Cooley said that part of the reason for the effort was to keep the area clean around our radio tower.  He said that he would encourage other businesses to consider the program as well.  Steve Cannon with the North Carolina Department of Transportation told WHKP News that the volunteers that participate in the program are helpful to DOT because they allow them to focus their resources on other things.  He said that if people want to get involved in the program they should call DOT at 891-7911 for an application.  He said that trash must be picked up four times a year, and when people are finished, they can call DOT to come get the trash bags.

STILL TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF APPLES WERE DAMAGED

It will take a few days to know if recent frost damaged the apple crop according to Adam Pryor, President of the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association.  He told WHKP News that yesterday morning he did not have any frost at his house, but there was heavy frost at his orchard.  He said that he has not had any confirmed reports of damage, but that it will take some time to know for sure.

WADE EDNEY SAYS STRAWBERRIES STILL LOOK GOOD

It does not look like the cold weather damaged the strawberries according to grower Wade Edney.  He told WHKP News that he put row covers on a lot of the strawberries, and also used overhead irrigation.  He said that the blooms still look good at this point, but it may be too early to tell if all of them escaped damage.

COUNTY GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SALE

The Pardee Hospital Board of Directors approved the sale of the Pardee Care Center at a special called meeting on Tuesday according to Pardee Hospital Community Relations Director Lindsey Howell.  She told WHKP News that the center will be sold to Hendersonville Physicians and Associates to be leased to Hendersonville Rehabilitation Services.  She said that the group has said they will honor the tenure of current employees, and keep the quality of care of the patients as a top priority.  Howell said that the group has also agreed to maintain partnerships with agencies such as Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care and the Pardee Pavilion.  Henderson County Commission Chairman Bill Moyer told WHKP News that the county gave preliminary approval to the sale, and that now there will be an upset bidding process.

COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED SEVERAL ITEMS WEDNESDAY

Henderson County Commissioners had several items on the agenda at their meeting on Wednesday.  Chairman Bill Moyer told WHKP News that the board heard a presentation from Andrew Tate, the President of the Partnership for Economic Development about the progress that has been made toward bringing jobs to the area.  He said they also heard a presentation from Pardee Hospital about their budget, and quality of care.  Moyer said that Pardee also requested that their bonds be switched from variable to fixed due to the way interest rates are right now, and the board approved that request.  Moyer said the board also discussed the sales tax distribution, and the fact that they had decided to switch to an advolorem rate.  He said that fire departments were concerned about this, and they requested that they stick to their current advolorem rate, and return sales tax money to the county, and the board approved the proposal. Moyer said the departments made this request because they were worried about being able to finance equipment, and substations.  In addition to these items, Moyer said the board also heard a presentation from Sheriff Rick Davis proposing the use of inmates from the detention center to clean up area roads.  Moyer said that Sheriff Davis requested some funds to start the program, and the board authorized them.  Moyer said that Davis will be letting the board know how the program goes.  He said he is glad that the program is getting started because there have been concerns about litter around the county.

FIRE VICTMS HAVE FOUND LODGING

The victims of the apartment fire off of Hebron Road have found temporary lodging according to Phil King who is with the Henderson County chapter of the American Red Cross.  He told WHKP News that three of the victims are staying in area hotels, and the others are staying with friends and relatives.  He said that there was a lot of smoke damage in the apartment, and that some people lost furniture, and clothing.  He said that after repairs are made to the apartment some of the residents will be going back.  King said that the Red Cross does not have the facilities to accept clothes, or furniture, but they will take monetary donations that are earmarked to help the victims of the fire.

HOWARD TAX SERVICE WAS BUSY ON TAX DAY

Howard Tax Service was busier on April 15th of this year than they were last year according to Wendell Capes who is with Howard Tax Service.  He told WHKP News that a lot of people filed early this year.  He also spoke abut electronic filing, saying the two big advantages to that method are that people get their refunds back faster, and that the IRS can find errors much faster as well.  Capes also talked about the rebate checks that the government is sending.  He said they will be mailed next month unless people filed later.  He said that single working people will receive $600, seniors on social security will receive $300, and married people will get $1200, and an additional $300 for each child under 16 years old.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONTACT LARRY FREEMAN...AT 693-9061, 388-0814, freeman@whkp.com or lfreemannc@mchsi.com