News

Dolly Parton, We Will Always Love You

Dr. Glenn Mollette

I was in the third grade when my teacher announced that President Kennedy had been shot. I was in the parking lot of an auto parts store in Englewood, Ohio when I heard on the radio that Elvis had died. I will always remember where I was when I learned the sad news that Dolly Parton had died.

The first time I saw Dolly was on The Porter Wagoner Show. For a long time, Wagoner’s female guest artist was Norma Jean. He always introduced her as “the pretty miss Norma Jean”. Then, one Saturday night there was a new guest singer. It was Dolly. Dolly was a young rising star who caught the attention of Wagoner. He knew she was an awesome talent.

The parting song that she wrote for Wagoner became a major hit. “I Will Always Love You” was a phenomenal hit for Parton but then became a mega hit when it was sung by Whitney Houston in the 1992 movie The Bodyguard. Houston’s version of the song has sold over 24 million copies worldwide and has over 800 million downloads on Spotify.

Dolly made an indelible impression on all of us. Anyone who ever heard her sing or watched her in a movie was touched by the person of Dolly. She wrote great songs. She was an amazing singer and fabulous actress. She was a smart business person. Her success brought her more and more successes.

There is nothing that any writer or television/radio person can add to Dolly. All we can do is grieve and embrace all she gave us, which was a lot. She had 25 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Song chart. She had many other popular songs like “9 to 5” and “Islands in the Stream”. She made at least 23 movies including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise. She won eleven Grammys out of 55 nominations. She had many business adventures including Dollywood, a theme park in Sevierville, Tennessee. She owned Dolly Wines, a line of cake mixes with Duncan Hines, a pet accessories line called Doggy Parton and a plethora of fragrances. She had apparel and beauty products and Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop. Recently, she was working on building a hotel in Nashville called Song Teller Hotel.

Her net worth has been estimated to be between $450 to $650 million.

We loved Dolly for a lot of reasons. She was a real person. The plastic surgery and her super success never tarnished her ability to connect with people on all levels. Her Imaginations Library project has gifted millions of books to children. Her financial support of hospitals and medical research was also in the millions. She supported multiple humanitarian causes which helped and encouraged so many.

I saw her in the Ryman Auditorium just a few years back. She was doing an acoustic performance with no bells or whistles and only a small ensemble of musicians. It was a simple show to raise money for struggling Nashville musicians. My wife and I were able to buy seats in the balcony and then sat for a mesmerizing two-hour show of Dolly just giving us her best in song and performance. I believe that’s how she lived her daily life and that’s one of many reasons why we will always love her.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is the author of 14 books. His column is published in all fifty states. He is the graduate of numerous schools and the founder of Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana.
Global Media | P.O. Box 1238 | Newburgh, IN 47629 U

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Leaders from some of the world’s largest economies are arriving in Asheville as the Grove Park Inn prepares to host high-level G20 Finance Track meetings this weekend — while local groups plan demonstrations criticizing the event and questioning its connection to western North Carolina’s recovery.

The meetings begin Saturday, with finance ministers and central bank governors from some of the world’s largest economies, including China, Russia, and the U.S. Sources with the U.S. Treasury Department say some dignitaries began arriving Thursday, with others expected Friday.

The Grove Park Inn is expected to be closed to the public during the meetings.

The G20 Finance Track brings together top economic and financial officials for discussions about issues, including interest rates, national debt and global economic growth.

UNC Charlotte economics professor Dr. Matthew Metzgar says coordination between countries can help prevent economic problems from spreading globally.

“What I think is a big purpose to these meetings is to avoid a large, say, global recession. If you can have coordination and information to avoid something like that, it does keep our economy going and keep the regular families going," Metzgar said.

Those discussions can have an impact beyond government offices, including on borrowing costs, economic growth and household finances.

But some local organizers question why the U.S. Treasury, running the event, chose to have the meetings in western North Carolina. The premise is to highlight Helene recovery with millions in federally-approved taxpayer funds. But much of the money approved by elected officials in D.C. still hasn’t come through nearly two years after Helene.

Alyssa Morgan with the WNC Alignment Table says the focus is misplaced.

“They’re here to discuss financial priorities and economic growth, none of which has to do with rebuilding the WNC area or helping our communities at large, both in this country and in the world. They’re here just to talk about making money," Morgan said.

Demonstrators Prepare for G20 Protests

Meanwhile, groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, plan to join local grassroots organizations for a demonstration Friday afternoon. Organizers say they plan to hang banners along downtown overpasses around 4:30 p.m. to protest the meetings and call attention to what they describe as economic inequities.

GROUP PLANS EVENTS TO PROTEST ASHEVILLE G20 GATHERING

Demonstrators say federal recovery funding remains stalled and want to use the G20 meetings to draw attention to what they believe are unmet needs in the region.

The contrast has created two very different views of the weekend: Federal officials promoting Asheville as an example of recovery and local organizers arguing the area still needs substantial rebuilding and assistance.

Grove Park Inn responds

The Grove Park Inn says hosting world leaders is consistent with the hotel's long history.

A spokesperson provided the following statement:

For more than a century, the hotel has welcomed world leaders, dignitaries and travelers from around the globe, and we look forward to serving as one of the host locations for the G20 meetings.

With global finance leaders arriving and demonstrations planned downtown, Asheville is set to become the focus of both international economic discussions and a local debate over what recovery should look like for western North Carolina.

STORY COURTESY OF WLOS TV13

GAMES
Robbinsville: 7
Franklin: 31
FINAL

Hendersonville: 33
West Henderson: 7

Madison: 7
East Henderson: 34
FINAL

Dobyns-Bennett: 31
Asheville: 32
FINAL

Maiden: 27
A.C. Reynolds: 8
FINAL

Watauga: 14
T.C. Roberson: 41
FINAL

R-S Central: 52
North Henderson: 12
FINAL

Pisgah: 42
Swain County: 12
FINAL

Albemarle: 19
Chase: 44
FINAL

Asheville Christian: 8
Lakeway Christian: 62
FINAL

Cherokee: 7
Tuscola: 7
Postponed due to weather

Christ School: 50
East Rutherford: 14
FINAL

Erwin: 30
Mountain Heritage: 28
FINAL

Hayesville: 6
Enka: 49
FINAL

Mitchell: 28
McDowell: 7
FINAL

North Buncombe: 42
Rosman: 30
FINAL

Polk County: 12
Newton-Conover: 56
FINAL

Smoky Mountain: 62
Andrews: 13
FINAL

Webb: 21
Asheville School: 48
FINAL

SCORES COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS.

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — In Henderson County, a 34-year-old man is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Jeffrey Todd Queen is currently being held at the county's detention center.

The sheriff's office said Queen was charged with the following:

Third-Degree Exploitation of a Minor, 10 counts
Second-Degree Exploitation of a Minor, 10 counts

His charges stem from an investigation related to possessing and sharing child sex abuse material.

An investigation is still ongoing, with no other information being released at this time.

STORY AND PICTURE COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

Detectives are investigating the shooting deaths of two men in their 20s whose bodies were found outside their home in Edneyville, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies found the men, identified as Sergio Reyes Ramos, 29, and Jose Danillo Martinez, 20, during the early morning hours Monday after the sheriff’s office received a call about an unresponsive person in the yard of a house on Chestnut Stump Road.

Deputies responding to the call conducted a sweep of the area and found the bodies of Ramos and Martinez.

Investigators later determined that the victims had each died of one apparent gunshot wound. Both resided at the home located on Chestnut Stump Road off Stepp Mills Road in Edneyville, the sheriff's office said.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing. There is no threat to the public, the sheriff’s office said.

FLAT ROCK, N.C. (WLOS) — For the first time in North Carolina’s 2026 11th Congressional District race, shared the stage at their first joint public forum on Aug. 27.

Candidates Jamie Ager (D-N.C.) and State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-N.C.) participated in a candidate forum on agriculture.

If you were hoping to hear how the 11th Congressional candidates differ, you might have to wait a little longer. But the Ager and Balkcom argue that’s not always a bad thing.

During the forum, Republican Balkcom and Democrat Ager frequently found common ground on issues affecting farmers.

“No, I think we agree mostly on this. I’m glad we do. I’m glad we’re supporting farmers,” Balkcom said.

Ager agreed on the need to increase domestic production.

“I think you’re totally right about the fact that we need to create more production here at home, in America," said Ager.

The candidates also agreed that rolling back regulations and making farming more affordable are important.

“I think we’re good. We agree that rolling back regulations are good for the farm, and that’s what we need to do,” Balkcom said.

At another point, Ager said, “I think we totally agree,” prompting Balkcom to laugh and ask, “What did he say?”

Ager and Balkcom both have farming backgrounds, which they say helped create some common ground during the forum.

“We’re both farm kids, and that helps bring some more camaraderie,” Ager said.
Balkcom echoed that sentiment, while taking a slight jab at her opponent.

“I think we both love agriculture. I think we both want to protect it. I just have been fighting for it," Balkcom said.
Their views on tariffs were also similar, though there were some differences.

Balkcom said more agricultural manufacturing should be brought back to the United States.

“Let’s do more making fertilizers here. Let’s build more tractors here. Let’s have those parts here, built and bringing jobs back,” she said.

Ager said tariffs should be viewed as a tool rather than an end goal.

“Tariffs are just a tool; they’re not the end goal," Ager said.

He also pointed to the impact retaliatory tariffs can have on farmers.

“To me, those tariffs had the unintended consequence of retaliatory tariffs that devastated so many farms and the only thing to do then was bail them out, which was not a good outcome, not a good scenario. So, we gotta be more strategic with how we do these things," Ager said.

Anyone looking for firm differences between the candidates at Thursday’s agriculture forum had to look closely.

Candidates were asked a total of seven questions, and one of the areas where they differentiated the most was trade, tariffs and immigration policy.

Ager said the country needs meaningful, long-term immigration reform.

“That was probably a point of difference between us in that we need meaningful long-term immigration reform, and that’s a root cause problem for a lot of things that are happening in America," Ager said.

Balkcom emphasized border security and legal immigration.

“I believe in secure borders. For me, we have to do it the right way. We have to do it the legal way. And I think that’s the best way to help produce and give our workers for our farms. So, there is a little differentiation there," Balkcom said.

This was Ager and Balkcom's first forum together since Balkcom was added to the race. Balkcom was picked to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards, who dropped out after the House Ethics Committee found substantial reason to believe Edwards violated House rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces.

The 2026 General Election is on Tuesday, Nov.3.

Agribusiness Henderson County presented the moderated forum, stating that questions were prepared in advance and that there would be no questions from the audience.

The forum addressing agriculture issues was at the Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College.

STORY COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

Dolly Parton, Country Music Icon, Dies At 80.

Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur who became one of country music’s most beloved and enduring figures, has died. She was 80. Her death was announced today by her family. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Born in rural East Tennessee, Parton rose to national prominence in the late 1960s and built a career spanning more than six decades. Her signature songs included “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” She sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards.

Parton also became a major film star, businesswoman and philanthropist. Her Dollywood theme park helped transform tourism in East Tennessee, while her Imagination Library provided hundreds of millions of free books to children.

Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at 82.

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A Hendersonville company that supplies emergency lighting for fire trucks and other first responder vehicles across the country says its future is uncertain as a long-running supply agreement is set to end Monday at midnight.

HiViz Lighting CEO Sam Massa said the company provides products used on about 80% of new fire trucks in the United States.

HiViz manufactures some products at its Hendersonville facility, but has also relied on Vision X — a company owned by Australian auto-parts company Amotiv — to make others. Massa said HiViz began experiencing longer lead times and product-quality concerns after Amotiv acquired Vision X.

HiViz says it decided to begin manufacturing more of those products in Hendersonville. Massa claims that decision led Amotiv to terminate the supply agreement and attempt to renegotiate during the termination period.

HiViz also alleges Amotiv is withholding manufacturing tools, design files and rights that would allow the company to make certain products itself in North Carolina.

“If we don't get it, we're out of business,” Massa said. “I mean, if we don't get our tooling, it's a very fine line.”

Amotiv disputes that HiViz will lose access to products.

In a statement released through Vision X, the company said it continues to supply HiViz and intends to keep doing so while the companies work to resolve their commercial dispute.

“Vision X supplies HiViz today and has repeatedly confirmed our intention to continue supplying them into the future while we engage with HiViz to resolve the commercial dispute,” the statement said. “Our products will remain readily available to the American emergency-services community.”
A spokesperson also told News 13, "On Friday, we shipped all available product to fulfill HiViz customer orders. HiViz recently placed significant orders for additional inventory. We shipped a substantial volume of product today and will continue to process all HiViz orders as soon as possible."

HiViz says it has enough inventory to continue supplying first responders for several more months. However, Massa said the company is still facing an uncertain transition as the legal dispute continues.

STORY COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

On Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, the North Carolina Apple Festival will take place in downtown Hendersonville. The street festival starts at 10:00 am on Friday, September 4 with the opening ceremony taking place at 10:30 AM at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.   

Main Street will be closed to traffic between Caswell and 7th Avenue for the festival, with street closures starting on Thursday, September 3. No parking will be allowed on Main Street after 2:00 pm between Caswell and 7th Avenue. Main Street will be closed until Monday, September 7, following the parade and festival cleanup.   

For the safety and comfort of pets, non-service animals are discouraged at the Apple Festival. Festival attendees should leave pets comfortably at home. No drones are permitted to fly in the festival area. 

Parking is available in city surface lots and the parking deck on 5th Avenue West. During the Apple Festival, the parking deck will be operating with a card-only,  $10 daily flat-rate fee. During peak festival hours, volunteers will be present to assist users at the gates. To assist with weekend festival traffic, the parking deck gate at Church Street will be enter only and the 5th Avenue parking deck gate will be exit only.  

The City Hall parking lot located at 160 6th Avenue East will be dedicated as handicapped parking on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of Labor Day weekend. Additional parking information on City of Hendersonville managed parking can be viewed at www.hvlnc.gov/parking. 

Bicycle parking will be available at the end of Main Street Friday and Saturday only, right off the Ecusta Trail. This parking will be managed by Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Bike-Walk HVL & iDaph events for a small fee. The riding of skateboards, bicycles, and other vehicles is not allowed in the festival footprint. 

Please be aware that many privately owned parking lots in Hendersonville charge for parking. Ensure you follow all posted signage to prevent the chance of being towed.  

For more information on the Apple Festival and entertainment schedules, visit https://www. ncapplefestival.org/    

Hendersonville Farmers Market  

On Saturday, September 5, the Hendersonville Farmers Market will take place from 8 am - 1 pm on Maple Street adjacent to the Historic Train Depot. More information can be found at hendersonvillefarmersmarket .com  

The King Apple Parade  

On Monday, September 7, the King Apple Parade will take place in downtown Hendersonville at 2:30 pm. The parade viewing area extends along Main Street from 5 points to Kanuga/Caswell. Spectators are requested to refrain from watching the parade south of Caswell, as this section is designated for float departure. 

Street closures beyond the Main Street festival closure will occur to accommodate the parade route and parade staging areas.   

Parade Street Closures:  

Parade staging will occur on Oakland Street from Asheville Hwy to 6th Avenue West and along Bearcat Blvd in front of Hendersonville High School. The southbound lane of Asheville Hwy will also be used for staging after 1:30 pm when the detour route begins. 

  
Additional information for parade participants and spectators can be found at https://www. ncapplefestival.org/   

Parade Detours:  

Motorists approaching the parade area will be directed to a detour route.   
Southbound traffic traveling towards downtown on Asheville Hwy (US-25) will be diverted to Fleming St for Hwy 64 W and Church St connections.  
Westbound traffic on Hwy 64 will be directed to 7th Avenue and Maple, or Locust and North Main. 
Commercial motor vehicle traffic traveling inbound on 4 Seasons Blvd (US-64) will be rerouted via Duncan Hill/Signal Hill to reach Asheville Hwy (US-25) or Dana/Tracy Grove for southside connections.  
Immediately before the parade, South Main Street will close for the parade unloading area. 
 

Government Office Closure  

The City of Hendersonville government offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day. Garbage, recycling and brush collection for City of Hendersonville customers will not be taking place on Monday, September 7 due to the City's holiday schedule. Collection for Monday customers will be delayed by one week with collection resuming on Monday, September 14, 2026. Any extra bagged garbage from Monday customers will be picked up on September 14. 

The Housing Assistance Corporation Receives Community Impact Award
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - 8/20/2026 - The Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) is the recipient of the 2026 Community Impact Award for its work in home repair. The award is a prestigious statewide recognition honoring organizations that make a significant difference in their communities through their accomplishments in affordable housing.
The recognition comes at a particularly meaningful time for Western North Carolina, where the need for safe and affordable housing has grown exponentially following Hurricane Helene. While HAC established a dedicated Disaster Recovery Department in response to the unprecedented storm damage, its Home Repair Department has continued and grown its work addressing critical health and safety needs in homes throughout the region.
"Every home represents a family that has been through a difficult time, and being able to help them return to a safe and stable living environment is incredibly rewarding,” said Morgan Monshaugen, Director of Home Repair and Disaster Recovery. “I feel blessed to be part of an organization that makes such a positive impact in the community where I live and work."
HAC's ability to respond to both urgent repair needs and the extraordinary demands created by Hurricane Helene highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing the region’s ongoing housing challenges. Strengthened by long-term partnerships with funders, contractors, volunteers, community organizations, and local governments, HAC continues to build and leverage relationships to grow its impact.
Funding is available to assist homeowners in Henderson County with critical home repairs, and HAC is encouraging its neighbors to reach out and apply. At the same time, HAC is seeking volunteers of all skill levels to join them in this important work. Whether you have years of construction experience or want to lend a helping hand, there is a place for you in their effort to strengthen communities across the region.
“Home repair is much more than fixing a house,” Monshaugen said. “When we repair a home, we are helping preserve a family's stability, protecting an investment, supporting a person's ability to age in place, and keeping safe, affordable housing in our community. We are honored to receive this recognition because it reflects the lasting impact that this work has on the people and communities we serve.”
The Housing Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit organization committed to providing safe, affordable housing to people of limited income throughout Western North Carolina.
For more information about the Housing Assistance Corporation and its ongoing efforts, please contact:
Margaret Lebeck, CEO
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you,
Jennifer Kelly
Resource Development Manager
PO Box 2057 | Hendersonville NC 28793
Cell 828.808.3418 | Fax 828.692.3009

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