News

The City of Hendersonville welcomes Caitlyn Gendusa as the new Sustainability Manager. This is a new position in the Public Works Department responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring City sustainability strategies. Her role will also include serving as the staff liaison to the City’s Environmental Sustainability Board. 

“I have always had a strong interest in sustainability,” said Caitlyn Gendusa. “Through my professional experience, I worked with various community members and organizations to advance their environmental practices. As someone who calls Hendersonville my home, I couldn’t think of a better position or city to be working in.” 

Caitlyn Gendusa joined the Hendersonville team on Monday, March 20 after previously serving as Land Conservation Manager with Forever Upstate in Greenville, SC. Her five years of service with Forever Upstate also included work as a Land Conservation Specialist before taking on the role of Manager.  Caitlyn also worked as a Sustainability Consulting and Metrics Intern for The Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. She also serves as Board Director for the Hendersonville Community Co-op and as a Board Member for Land Trust Network’s Outreach Committee. Caitlyn has a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and is certified in Sustainability.  

When asked what the most important aspects of the Sustainability Manager’s job are, Caitlyn responded with the following: “Something that stands out to me is how imperative it is that we have balanced growth. Especially as the City of Hendersonville is expected to grow tremendously over the next years, it is more important now than ever to align growth with sustainable practices to ensure the vitality of Hendersonville and future generations.” 

Republican Launches Fresh Effort To Yank Federal Funding Of Public Radio And TV.

Public radio newsrooms have filled the gap in many local markets as commercial radio operators have struggled to make the economics of news operations work. But Texas Republican Ronny Jackson says what those stations are airing amounts to “taxpayer-funded fake news” and he has introduced a bill that would prohibit the government from directing financial support to both affiliates of NPR and public television’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

The proposed legislation, which has been titled the No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act, or the NPR and PBS Act (H.R. 1632) says federal funding could not be used to purchase programming or payment of dues for either one of the national networks.

“When NPR and PBS were established by Congress, it was with the notion that their content would remain unbiased and benefit every American, however, it is obvious that NPR and PBS have abandoned their founding principles,” Jackson said. “For decades, radical Democrats have siphoned hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS under the guise of ‘serving the public’ despite sharing all the same propaganda of any other radical-left corporate news outlet. Taxpayers should not be forced to support biased media like NPR and PBS against their will.”

Jackson’s bill currently has no co-sponsors. It also does not have a companion bill in the Senate. It will likely also face an uphill battle if prior attempts to cut-off public radio and television funding are any indication.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) has introduced a similar bill during the past several sessions of Congress, most recently in 2021 and in 2019. But his efforts have come up short as supporters of federal funding for public radio and television say an open secret in Washington is that members of both parties have no desire to cut their allocation – and many Republicans even quietly support it even as some members of their parties push to eliminate it from the federal budget.

But despite the talk about cutting federal funding, CPB funding has remained in the budget. President Biden’s latest budget proposal released this month includes more money for public media. The latest budget proposal includes $575 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the 2026 fiscal year. That is $40 million more than what was included in the 2025 budget. Unlike most of what Congress spends, the CPB budget has a long lead time to allow broadcasters to plan their programming, based on the amount of money they will have.

If approved, CPB’s latest advance appropriation would include $60 million for the public broadcasting interconnection system and infrastructure in the 2024 fiscal year. The system disseminates content across the public media system, including public safety and alerting messages.

PRESS RELEASE: League of Women Voters of Henderson County to host
“We’re Growing- Now What” presentation on the future development in

Henderson County

The League of Women Voters of Henderson County (LWVHC) will host a panel discussion,
“We’re Growing—-Now What?” on Thursday, March 30th at 5 p.m. in the Kaplan Auditorium of
the Main Library at 300 N. Washington Street in Hendersonville. Planners from the County and
each municipality will provide a thumbnail sketch of their communities and what’s in store as
Henderson County continues to grow.
There will be an opportunity for questions and answers following speakers' presentations.
League President, Brenda Sherrer, said, “We’re excited to host this program, to provide the
public with the opportunity to learn more about the municipalities and county and the plans for
development. No matter where we’re from, we all live here now and have a vital interest in
learning about our community and then influencing its future. ”
Guest planners/administrators are: Alex Carmichael, Laurel Park Town Manager; Pat Christie,
Flat Rock Village Administrator; Michael Malacek, Mills River Planning Director; Matt Manley,
Hendersonville City Planning Manager; Autumn Radcliff, Henderson County Planning Director;
Eric Rufa, Fletcher Planning Director & Zoning Administrator.
Sponsored by LWVHC Home & Observer Team. The event is free and open to the public.
The League of Women Voters of Henderson County is a grassroots, non-partisan organization
that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase the
understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and
advocacy.

LWVHC celebrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by welcoming all members of our com-
munity. For more information please go to the website www.lwvhcnc.org.

 Authorities said an Arden man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 25 in Henderson County on Tuesday evening.

Troopers said Timothy Leslie Sparks, 62, was traveling south about 5:45 p.m. when he was hit head-on. Authorities said a 1998 Dodge Neon as traveling north on us-25 at the Naples Road intersection when the driver made a left turn, colliding with the 2013 Suzuki operated by Sparks.

Troopers said the driver of the Dodge failed to yield, but there's been no word on charges. They said neither alcohol nor speed were a factor in the collision at this time. Sparks

was pronounced dead at AdventHealth hospital in Hendersonville.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSMan killed in Henderson County motorcycle crash | WLOS

Church Street Funeral and Cremation is hosting a one day "tasty tidbits" event.

Wednesday March 29th at 10am...they will have Matthew Gaddy pre-planning specialist speak, then tours of the remodeled facility will begin.

There will be an opportunity to meet the staff of Church Street Funeral and Cremation and all those who attend will receive free gift cards to Binions Steakhouse.

Space is limited. Reserve by calling 828-309-0103.  The event will be held at the funeral home at 125 South Church Street.

Tryon’s Historic Block House Steeplechase Set to Run April 15
More than Just Horse Races. Fun, Food and Fashion for the Entire Family!
March 21, Tryon, NC – It’s time once again for the biggest outdoor celebration of
spring when horses and riders from across the Southeast race to Tryon for the
annual Block House Steeplechase Races.
The 75 th running of Tryon’s Block House Steeplechase, sponsored by the Tryon
Riding & Hunt Club and the Tryon International Equestrian Center, will be held
Saturday, April 15, 2023, once again at the Green Creek Racetrack, located at 6881
Highway 9, Columbus, NC.
Tickets for the annual rite of spring horse race event are available at:
tryonsteeplechase.com.
This year’s event promises to invoke fond memories of historic races with the
tailgate competition, fancy hat contest, hounds’ exhibition, and pony rides. But some
additional plans for this year will ensure new memories for all ages.
Activities in the infield this year include a Kids Zone featuring a chance for kids to
get up close and explore big trucks like firetrucks, big trailers and ambulances, and
more. There will be live music, face painting, a magician, a caricature artist and a
“gold rush” for prizes.
Hailing another gala prior to this year’s race, TR&HC is hosting an evening to
celebrate the Steeplechase with entertainment, dinner and drinks at Tryon Fine Arts
Center Friday, April 14. A limited number of tickets for this event are available by
calling (828) 351-9709.
Tryon’s Block House Races are one of the oldest horse races in the United States,
running since 1946. Now in its 75 th year, the Tryon races were cancelled twice- in
2019 for poor track conditions and in 2020 due to Covid.
“The Block House Steeplechase is a decades-long tradition for the Tryon Riding &
Hunt Club,” says Club President Angie Millon. “It’s an amazing community event that
offers something for every member of the family. It’s a great time to get together
outdoors and enjoy the festivities.”
Block House Steeplechase Races – The History

Tryon Riding & Hunt Club | 6986 S. NC Hwy. 9 | Columbus, NC 28722 | tryonridingandhuntclub.org
From Ireland, “steeplechasing” became popular when foxhunters would race to the
nearest church steeple, chasing other horses and riders through natural terrain,
over ditches and fences, galloping hard to be the first to reach the reach the ‘finish
line.’
Locally, the Block House races were started by Carter P. Brown in 1946 at Harmon
Field. Known as the first steeplechase in western North Carolina, it was a single race
with a tin cup as the winning prize.
Eventually Brown built a racecourse around what had been an old tavern called the
Block House, which gives the Tryon race its name. The course crossed into North
Carolina and South Carolina several times and included a daring ride up Heartbreak
Hill. Officials used flags to let the jockeys know how many times they had been
around the track.
Since then, the Block House Steeplechase has moved—first to Foothills Equestrian
Nature Center (FENCE) and, most recently, to TIEC’s Green Creek Racetrack, where
it’s held today. This move was necessary to insure better footing and improved
safety for horses and riders.
Sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, Tryon’s Block House races are
an enduring and much-loved tradition in western North Carolina. Come join the fun,
food, festivities and fast horses at the largest outdoor springtime event in the
Carolina Foothills.
For more information about the Block House races, the pre-race gala or TR&HC,
please call (828) 351-9709 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In an 'early Tuesday morning news report' from out in Apple Country, grower Kenny Barnwell told WHKP that he fears 70% of the Henderson County Apple Crop has been wiped out due to freezing temperatures that have swept through the orchards in recent days. 

Barnwell says there will be apples as there always are due to different altitudes of apple orchards throughout the county, but he fears the damage to the current crop will be similar to the 2020-21 crop which was almost non-existent.

Henderson County was enjoying 'warmer than usual' temperatures in what was being called and 'early spring', which is always an 'alarm to apple growers' and then the weather turned back to winter with many days and nights below freezing which presented a 'death knell' to young buds on trees.

Henderson County is the 17th largest apple-producing county in the United States and generally speaking....."as the apple industry goes, so goes the local economy".  A more complete assessment will be made as the season further develops.....and news of which will be presented at this news spot as well as on WHKP AM 1450 and FM 107.7.

Just to the South of Hendersonville, down Highway 176....Saluda merchants were enjoying a 'brisk' trend in shopping and dining over the weekend.  With free parking on the Saluda streets and "just across the railroad tracks" on town-owned property, vehicles took advantage of every parking spot without having to pay parking fees to shop in Saluda stores and eat in Saluda restaurants. 

Most of the customers over the week-end were 'tourists' or 'day visitors' coming from neighboring communities that now have paid parking in the amounts up to $1.50 per hour. 

Brevard and Highlands, just West of Hendersonville on Highway 64 also offers free parking in downtown spaces and free parking lots close to the stores and restaurants in downtown areas.