by Marisa Sardonia Winners at the 2025 World Beer Cup hold up the North Carolina flag (Photo courtesy of the Brewers Association/World Beer Cup) (WLOS) — Breweries from North Carolina earned 11 medals at the 2025 World Beer Cup with four Western North Carolina breweries receiving gold or silver medals The award ceremony took place on Thursday, May 1, in Indianapolis as part of the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America Winners from other areas of North Carolina include: The World Beer Cup is recognized as one of the most "prestigious beer and cider competitions globally," according to the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild View a full list of winners here MILLS RIVER - Mills River Fire Department Station 2 cast a glow upon the midnight sky Jan which Deputy Chief Gary Livingston said he could see from a mile away When Livingston and four other firefighters arrived on scene flames were billowing out from all corners of the building as sirens blared from the fire trucks inside A triangular cut can still be seen in one of the station's large electrical doors where Livingston said they sawed an opening to access the fire the volunteer fire department lost $1 million pumper truck as well as a fire prevention trailer and brush truck Livingston estimated that both cost $100,000 "This hits home for me personally because I was the chief when this station was built," Livingston said as he mourned the loss of the fire department's oldest substation Responding to the fire alongside the deputy chief Chris Ballinger said he was caught totally "off guard" when the call came in around 1:30 a.m Soot still lined his hands as he sat in the volunteer fire department's main station hours later We were totally not mentally prepared for this," Ballinger said The building still smoldered as investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal stood among the rubble trying to get a grasp on what might have ignited the flames nine hours earlier Both the state and the Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office are working together to find an answer firefighters thought the source was a brush truck the department had prepped the night before getting it ready to fight the fires raging in Southern California More: Mills River Fire Department substation burns down; destroys truck prepped for LA fires "But probably not from what we're hearing now," Livingston said Investigators don't suspect arson to be at play Mills River Fire & Rescue consists of five paid employees and about 60 volunteers some of whom come from families that have worked with the department across generations This small but mighty team was left largely on its own during Tropical Storm Helene minus an extra crew it called in from outside the area before the storm struck on Sept reflecting on his team in the aftermath of Helene and amid another setback Ballinger said the hardest part of the storm response was not having contact with their families Crew members who spent days and weeks at a time in the station had no way of knowing if their loved ones were safe with cell signal wiped out for large swaths of Western North Carolina That was a huge challenge," Ballinger said In places that were cut off by downed trees and power lines firefighters' response was assisted in part by community members and retired firefighters Multiple firefighters pointed out how Mills River was "blessed" to not be hit as hard as Swannanoa Some firefighters' family members are displaced by structural damage to their homes A few neighbors' houses on South Mills River Road were washed completely off their bases who has volunteered in Mills River since 1993 and responded to the fire Jan He worked 11 straight 24-hour shifts in the immediate aftermath of Helene after the Etowah's main station flooded chest high Orr said the storm had a "terrible" impact on his fellow first responders throwing his shoulders forward in emphasis But what's gotten him through is the people working alongside him the Mills River community has come together to support each other and the town's volunteer firefighters of a sense of community that showed out during that time," Jason Livingston said checking in on how the department is doing after the flames raged Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober The University is currently operating under normal conditions Matt McKirahan set up a resource hub to supply food and water to local residents Two months into his job as Mills River town manager experienced the unthinkable when Hurricane Helene hit the community as the nearby French Broad and Mills rivers had flooded highways and fallen trees blocked roads Nothing like this had happened in the town before McKirahan immediately stepped up to offer support to community members working with emergency responders to identify the impacts on the community and the greatest needs of its residents The town started a resource hub in Henderson County to help community members county staff and nonprofit organization volunteers The hub originally provided water and ready-to-eat meals but later added mobile showers and charging stations The hub staff were key in helping Mills River recover and they worked incredibly hard to make sure the community got whatever services we could provide,” said McKirahan “The definition of community changed in the aftermath of the storm Seeing people from every walk of life come together and say ‘How can I help others?’ It was a heartening experience.” McKirahan believes the skills he gained from UNC School of Government and its Master of Public Administration program helped him respond to this challenge and refine his skills as a town manager (Graphic by Gillie Sibrian/UNC-Chapel Hill) “The MPA program and the School of Government alumni network set me up to be as successful as I could be during the storm It created a network for me to be able to reach out to people,” said McKirahan “I relied very heavily on the School of Government we’re going through something that there’s no guidebook for How are we going to get through it?’ That education never ends.” McKirahan functions as the chief administrative officer He is responsible for implementing decisions laws and policies directed by council and coordinating the operations of town departments he provides knowledge and experience to aid elected officials in making informed decisions Service to our state has always been important to him Learn how the UNC-Chapel Hill community has mobilized to support those impacted by the storm. “I grew up in North Carolina and always loved this area,” said McKirahan “Working at the school and then attending there felt like I was making an impact in subtle ways to help make North Carolina a better place.” but knew he wanted to work in a smaller town to have a larger impact on citizens McKirahan’s team — 12 full-time and three part-time employees — is working to reopen facilities Much of the team’s focus is now on longer-term needs and planning for the future and some are dealing with transitional housing We know more people are getting back on their feet and trying to get back to a new sense of normal,” said McKirahan “We’re working through that recovery phase as a town We’re still working with our partners to make sure we address those longer-term needs for our community and residents We’re having conversations about how to plan and mitigate risks moving forward.” scholars in a joint public health master’s program did relief work in three counties Helicopter rescue specialist Matthew Mauzy participated in the state’s largest rescue operation in a decade professor Saif Khairat’s team created a map to pinpoint who needed help and where © 2024 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MILLS RIVER - An early morning fire burned down a Mills River Fire Department substation Jan destroyed everything in Mills River Fire Department Station 2 including three fire vehicles from the volunteer fire department according to Henderson County spokesperson Mike Morgan "The worst part is one of those trucks was being prepped to be sent out to California to help with the wildfires," Morgan said The fire and its cause are currently under investigation by the Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office as well as the North Carolina Fire Marshal's Office as is typical when a fire erupts at a law enforcement or first responder's station according to information that Henderson County Fire Marshal Kevin Waldrup shared with Morgan The building is unmanned, and no one was present or injured during the fire. The volunteer fire department had moved to a new fire station "a year or so ago," Morgan said they got hit pretty hard during (Tropical Storm Helene) There's a lot of good people I know in that fire department," Morgan said MILLS RIVER — The Town of Mills River announced the groundbreaking of an accessible expansion to theplayground at Mills River Park This new addition will create an inclusive and fun space for all childrenand families Thanks to a $263,000 Accessibility for Parks Grant the project will bring exciting newfeatures to the park More: Mills River receives $500,000 grant for Mills River Park Expansion project The updated playground will feature a hillside slide andan accessible pathway connecting the park to Town Hall and the library These additions are designed tooffer children with a variety of abilities the chance to play together in a safe "We're very proud of this new playground addition," said Nicole Sweat Director of Parks and Recreation."It’s more than just a fun space — it’s a place where every child We’re excited to see families enjoying this expanded space together." the existing playground will remain open as much as possible However,there may be occasional closures or disruptions for safety reasons The Town appreciates the community's patience as the project moves forward For the most updated information on closures visit www.millsriver.org or follow the Mills River Parks and Recreation social media channels More: Mills River considering zoning change that would affect nearly half of the town "This playground expansion is our first step in making our park more inclusive," said Mayor Gonce."Thanks to the Accessibility for Parks Grant we’re creating a space that welcomes everyone We’reexcited to continue this inclusive approach as we look forward to the future development on therecently purchased land next to Mills River Park." Construction is set to be completed by April The Town looksforward to seeing the playground filled with children and families enjoying all it has to offer For more information about the project or future park expansions contact Mills River Parks and Recreation Department at (828) 890-2901 or recreation@millsriver.org (WLOS) — A Mills River Fire Department substation has burned down according to Henderson County Fire Marshal Kevin Waldrup Mills River Fire Department's Station No caught fire in the early morning hours of Jan Everything in this station is destroyed," Waldrup said Waldrup said the cause of the fire is still under investigation and the cause is unknown NO STRUCTURES IMPACTED IN CANTON BRUSH FIRE; CAUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION Deputy Chief Gary Livingston has seen devastation like this before I was here when this was built,” Livingston said Livingston was the Fire Chief when the building was opened in 1997 “It’s kind of gut-wrenching this morning for me,” he said We built this station for $204,000 back then it’ll probably be over a million dollars at least.” said Livingston “I’ve been around this for 46 years,” he said “I’ve never been around anything that happened like this He said the fire department had a brush truck in the station that it was about to deploy to aid in the wildfires in California "But that truck was destroyed," he said The substation was a valued asset to response time Livingston said the public shouldn't worry after this setback GALLERY: DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWS ONGOING FIRE AT HELENE DEBRIS SITE IN WEAVERVILLE “We won’t have a truck over here right now to respond to emergencies over here and everybody will be protected just like they have been.” Livingston will now have to start the process of building the substation for the second time in his career We will be better than we were before when we do so.” Waldrop also told News 13 that the investigation will be lengthy due to the nature of the fire Livingston said crews got the call for the fire at 1:29 a.m at the Mills River Fire Department substation on Fanning Fields Road It was built in 1997," Livingston said Henderson County District Attorney Andrew Murray decided Dec 19 to not press charges against three county deputies who shot a Johnson City man after his self-inflicted death in April After reviewing "all facts and evidence" submitted to him by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Murray said in a letter to the special agent in charge "it is my conclusion that the responding Henderson County Sheriff Deputies were legally justified in firing their service weapons at the decedent after he fled from them in a minivan and wrecked his vehicle." Around 6 p.m. April 13, "several" deputies were called to North Mills River Campground, where a 911 caller reported "being assaulted and threated with a gun" by a man she was sharing a campsite with, according to the district attorney's letter and previous reporting from the Times-News "Tell your deputy there is a man up there with a gun that banged me in the head with his head He's a mad man trying to kill people," the female caller said Deputies spoke to the woman at the campground and saw the injuries to her head and arms While she was giving the deputies a description of Brook and his minivan the car drove past the campsite and the deputies The deputies jumped in their vehicles and followed Brook's car with blue lights and sirens activated "The decedent (Brook) accelerated his vehicle on a mountain road with numerous twists and turns before eventually losing control and crashing into an embankment and utility pole," Murray wrote Previous reporting: Henderson DA reviews investigation into 3 cops who shot suspect after self-inflicted death yelling for Brook to "put his hands in the air where they could see them," according to Murray believing their own lives and the lives of their fellow deputies were in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death fired multiple rounds at the decedent," Murray said The shot deputies heard was a fatal self-inflicted gunshot according to medical records from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Six additional gunshot wounds were found during Brook’s autopsy while two others punctured his chest and lungs Though the deputies' gunshots "had the potential to be fatal," as Murray put it Brook had already suffered the fatal shot from his own gun deputies approached the vehicle and saw Brook with a gun in his hand grabbed a ballistic shield from a deputy's vehicle Brook was laying on his back and covered with a white sheet in the middle of the road behind a police car The van’s left side had multiple bullet holes “just above sliding door The car’s left side windows were all broken sheriff spokesperson Johnny Duncan confirmed Dec Murray instructed the agency to close the case file and return all seized evidence to the sheriff's office or the property's owner no further action is required," Murray said The Mills River Town Council is considering rezoning property located in the south and west portion of the town as “rural residential,” a change that would require single-family homes to be more spaced out than under current regulations and limit the ways that land can be used for commercial and industrial purposes The council will hold a legislative public hearing Thursday October 24 to hear public comment on the matter In 2021, the town adopted the Making Mills River 2040 Comprehensive Plan designed to guide the growth of the area into the future A stated goal of this land use plan is to "protect and enhance the rural small-town character of Mills River." However, most of the town is currently designated as “mixed use,” which allows for almost anything to be built Only strip clubs and facilities for disposing of hazardous or radioactive waste are expressly prohibited and amusement parks could be allowed if the town were to issue special use permits Other uses are allowed "by right," meaning they are allowed without special permission from town officials lots for single-family new single-family houses are required to be at least 30,000 square feet you can just about do anything you want by right,” said Jim Foster “It’s like you don’t have any zoning ordinances." For about a year, the town's planning board has been discussing how the zoning could be rewritten in order to ensure Mills River's small-town feel is kept. A new “rural residential” zoning district has been set up as part of the town code but officials are considering whether to apply this new zoning to a large area — ”almost half the town,” said Town Council member Jeff Young The proposed changes would expressly allow certain types of facilities including churches manufactured home parks and medical facilities would be allowed with a major special use permit and enclosed commercial buildings 7,500 square feet or smaller would be allowed with a minor special use permit Lots for single-family homes would need to be a minimum of 1.5 acres the town set up an online survey to gauge residents’ feelings about the proposal “We haven't had anybody opposed to the actual zoning designation itself,” Young said “It's just the map that paints such a large swath There are some misgivings about going that big of a swing—from the least restrictive to the most restrictive.” there is no date set for the town council to vote on whether to apply the new zoning Town Manager Matthew McKirahan said the town council would be legally allowed to call a vote anytime after the public hearing ends—even directly afterward—but council members have indicated they want to use the hearing as an "opportunity to gather information from from the residents via this larger setting to be able to then make a decision at a future time." Mills River Planning Director Michael Malecek said the town recently hired consultants who will make recommendations for further changes to town regulations "There will be a potential proposed new zoning map coming out of the end of that the whole development code for the town will be rewritten from scratch," he said “You're not going to go wrong with any of them because I think we have real good people running Thursday’s hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Mills River Elementary School on 94 School House Rd. It can be watched live on YouTube. For further details, visit www.millsriver.org/rezoning (WLOS) — Authorities are investigating after a body was discovered at a Mills River campground The Henderson County Sheriff's Office 36-year-old Jonathan Lalaonde was found on Jan at the Wash Creek Campsite just before 11 a.m The sheriff's office said they are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death and the process could take six to eight months The sheriff's office said to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation no further details would be released at this time who was later identified as 29-year-old Hayden Elias Brook of Tennessee Officials said Brook then crashed his van on North Mills River Road which was followed by shots fired from the van The Henderson County Sheriff's Office said Brook died at the scene According to the Medical Examiner's investigation report released on Dec Brook shot and killed himself with a 9mm handgun after crashing his van in an embankment following the chase The autopsy says that officers heard the gunshot and returned fire The examiner also noted Brook had consumed alcohol prior to his death the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority approved a $500,000 grant funding request from the Town of Mills River for the Mills River Park Expansion project one of 46 local parks and recreation projects funded across the state through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund received the highest score among all submissions and was ranked as the top priority for funding “This was a highly competitive grant cycle and the outstanding support and hard work of Town staff and the Town Council were clearly reflected in the ranking of [the Mills River Park Expansion] project,” said Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sweat in a press release The $500,000 grant award will help offset funds spent acquiring the property for the Mills River Park expansion More: Mills River's largest land purchase will add 70 acres to Mills River Park the site houses Town Hall and a public library making it a key gathering spot for residents Mills River Park currently spans 55 acres and offers a variety of amenities for visitors of all ages With an average of 7,500 visitors per week Mills River Park is a well-loved destination for outdoor recreation and community activities More: Mills River names Matthew McKirahan new town manager To view the press release from the Office of Governor Roy Cooper visithttps://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/08/29/parks-and-recreation-authorityawards-179-million-local-communities-park-projects-accessibility For additional details regarding the Mills River Park expansion visit https://millsriver.org/280/Mills-River-Park-Expansion This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application William (Will) Quentin McLelland passed away Wednesday SC; and his brother Scott McLelland of Columbia attended Mills River United Methodist Church and then graduated in 2018 from Appalachian State University While at ASU and working part time at Lucy Brock Child Development Program in Boone Will discovered that small children adored him He proudly kept art work the children made for him on the walls in his home He worked as a Manager at Ingles Grocery and enjoyed spending his free time with his friends and family Will’s kind and generous nature was a blessing to all who knew him could always count on a helping hand from Will McLelland A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m 2024 in the Chapel of Mills River United Methodist Church with Reverend Luke Christy and Reverend Sam Smithson officiating The family will receive friends following the Memorial Service in the Fellowship Hall. please consider a donation to the Lucy Brock Child Development Program McLelland has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors the leading real estate company in Western North Carolina has assisted local nonprofit Veterans Healing Farm with the purchase of a new 11.66-acre property in Mills River for its program The property will allow VHF to continue operations after losing the lease on its previous property Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks agent Matthew Rice represented Veterans Healing Farm in the purchase of the property The property was listed by Greenfield Real Estate LLC More: Hendersonville's Veterans Healing Farm seeks new home with lease expiring soon “Our connection began through an online lead and we quickly bonded over my deep appreciation for those who have served our country," said Rice "With extensive experience working with veterans and VA loans I was fully prepared and eager to assist them in any way possible." “It has been an incredible honor to represent Veterans Healing Farm in this purchase,” Rice said “Supporting those who’ve served is both a privilege and a significant part of my business I’m excited to see what lies ahead for this remarkable organization and their new location.” Established in 2013, the mission of Veterans Healing Farm is to enhance the wellbeing of local veterans and their families through a safe peaceful environment that fosters healing and camaraderie The farm's programs focus on brain health and include “agritherapy” — organic farming medicinal herbs — as well as a variety of other therapies and therapeutic activities "Matthew worked tirelessly to find the perfect property to serve as the new home for the Veterans Healing Farm,” said Katherine Kaderabek Vice President–Managing Broker of Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks' Asheville-Biltmore Park office “Matthew shares Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks' passion for and commitment to giving back to our community in positive ways We know VHF helps our nation's veterans and their families thrive and he has been dedicated to doing everything possible to help them continue with their wonderful mission in our community." “I’m pleased to share that the recent transaction for Veterans Healing Farm went exceptionally well,” Rice said “Both the listing agent and lender were fantastic partners and the VHF team demonstrated incredible dedication and enthusiasm in meeting every need along the way.” The property at 138 Kimzey Road in Mills River offers an oversized pond multiple outbuildings including a barn and workshop and a house that will serve as a hub for training and office space the farm will be able to resume operations swiftly while also providing room to grow into VHF’s larger vision for the future Rice was undaunted by the effort required to find the best space for VHF’s mission and needs “Though the property is stunning as it stands VHF chose it for the transformative potential it holds for their mission I believe we toured around 20 properties before we found the perfect one,” said Rice More: WNC veterans to present their second book, 'Brothers and Sisters Like These' To reach an agent in the Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Asheville-Biltmore Park office or to learn more about real estate opportunities with Tate, call (828) 684-8999 or visit allentate.com By Brandy BeardPublished: Feb 2025 at 10:25 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMILLS RIVER (WBTV) - Governor Josh Stein visited Mills River to announce a budget proposal for Helene recovery funding Stein delivered his remarks at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3. You can read more about what his request entailed here: Governor Stein requests $1 billion+ in immediate Helene recovery funding Hurricane Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina in September 2024 Upon taking office in January, Stein spent his first day in Western North Carolina issuing executive orders aimed at rebuilding the region MILLS RIVER — Bone-chilling temperatures are the perfect forecast for the 14th annual Puzzlefest at Mills River Presbyterian Church. While it’s frigid outside, the public is invited to come indoors to help put together a 4,000-piece “Noah’s Ark” puzzle People are encouraged to bring canned food items (including soups The intricate 34” x 46” finished puzzle image depicts a wide variety of animals paired up on land The colorful puzzle will be a fun challenge for amateur and advanced puzzlers and once finished will be framed and hung in the church’s nursery More: Prayer Fence serves as physical reminder of the power of prayer dozens of free puzzles will be available for people to tak.e home with them Mills River Presbyterian Church offers a free Puzzle Swap at the church from 9 a.m.-1 p.m Wednesday and Thursday throughout the year as a continuous outreach service Mills River Presbyterian Church is located at 10 Presbyterian Church Road, accessible from Haywood Road or N.C. 280. For more information, call (828) 891-7101. Visit www.millsriverpresbyterian.org A decision from Henderson County District Attorney Andrew Murray on whether to press charges against three county sheriff’s deputies is imminent following the release of medical and state investigation reports into a Johnson City man’s death in April county deputies “engaged in gunfire with the decedent,” the report said It’s not yet clear whether the dog’s injuries came from Brook’s or a deputy’s gun The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation led an investigation into the incident and submitted their case file for Murray to review spokesperson Angie Grube told the Citizen Times Dec determines whether criminal charges are appropriate I’ve been waiting on the medical examiner – obviously that’s a major piece of it,” Murray said Dec “I will be making a decision on that forthwith.” Murray said he has not received the reports from the medical examiner yet but expects that information to be “a major part of the evaluation.” The SBI deferred questions regarding Brook and the dog’s injuries to Murray who declined to comment further until full review of the case Previous reporting: How Dumbo was found after deadly shooting incident in Mills River What led to the gunfire?Around 6 p.m. on April 13, deputies from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office were called to North Mills River Campground, where a 911 caller reported “a male in the campground waving a gun” and threatening to shoot people, according to the medical examiner’s investigation report and previous reporting from the Times-News He's a mad man trying to kill people," the caller said Law enforcement told the medical examiner that they were called to the same campground the day before for an assault involving a female and Brooks the medical examiner’s investigation report said While deputies were speaking with the woman at the campground April 13 Brook had been drinking before the incident and had a blood alcohol content slightly above the legal limit for driving according to his autopsy and toxicology report Missing a sharp right curve on North Mills River Road More: Cause of death revealed in Mills River officer-involved shooting; dog found wounded Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin previously said that Brook discharged his weapon immediately after the deputies exited their patrol vehicles leading “any reasonable officer to fear for their safety.” Police engaged in gun fire with decedent,” the investigation report details states “officers heard a gunshot and returned fire.” pulled decedent out of (the) van and called for EMS,” the investigation report continues Deputies reported Brooks did not have a pulse Brooks was laying on his back and covered with a white sheet in the middle of the road behind a police car Sheriff releases names of deputies: Sheriff releases names of deputies in Mills River officer-involved fatal shooting When asked if it’s standard procedure for deputies to return to work before a final decision is made in the case I have nothing to do with their employment decisions we will have no further comment on this incident and all questions shall be directed to the NCSBI who conducted the investigation,” Duncan said on behalf of the sheriff’s office when asked further questions about the incident She is a graduate of Indiana University and was the Citizen Times Summer News Reporting Intern in 2022 (WLOS) — MANNA FoodBank has been awarded a total of $7 million in grants from The Community Foundations of Western North Carolina and the N.C Community Foundation to help uplift its new facility in Mills River these funds will support MANNA's infrastructure needs at 99 Broadpointe Drive in Mills River and its long-term recovery efforts from Helene Each community foundation awarded $3.5 million to MANNA "As the sole food bank serving WNC and the Qualla Boundary this generous investment is a shared commitment to ensuring no one in Western North Carolina goes hungry in the face of any environmental or health-related crisis," said MANNA CEO Claire Neal in the release The money will support MANNA’s essential infrastructure needs including providing support toward the 15,000-square-foot freezer purchase and installation of a required sprinkler system permanent racking for its 84,000-square-foot empty shell warehouse and more This will allow MANNA to continue to serve Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary effectively and efficiently during this process and for decades to come MANNA FOODBANK, DEVASTATED BY HELENE, ACCEPTS AND HANDS OUT DONATIONS AT FARMERS MARKET "With immense gratitude to incredible partners like CFWNC and NCCF and all who have come alongside us we are beyond overjoyed to share that this project is now funded," Neal said "We are deeply grateful to both foundations for supporting our mission to provide food with dignity for our neighbors in need for generations to come." MANNA’s new facility has been over 6 years in the making with plans originally set in motion in 2018 when staff and board members recognized the need for a larger including the COVID-19 shut down when MANNA had to pause expansion efforts When construction costs later became prohibitively high MANNA pivoted to searching for an existing warehouse instead of building from the ground up MANNA’s board voted to pursue 99 Broadpointe Drive When the flood waters devastated its headquarters in Asheville MANNA was able to secure a temporary lease for the Mills River warehouse allowing the food bank to move immediately and continue food distribution in the wake of the disaster The next essential steps will be for MANNA to complete the upfitting of the new warehouse over the next 12-18 months while continuing disaster response and food distribution efforts throughout the build-out process When the construction is nearing completion MANNA will host a community engagement opportunity and a celebration MISSION, HCA DONATES $85,000 TO MANNA FOODBANK FOR POST-HELENE RECOVERY MANNA works with a network of more than 250 nonprofit partners to distribute food resources across 16 counties “NCCF has been a strong partner and has been raising funds to support longer term needs,” said Elizabeth Brazas “Donations to both of our emergency funds were made by people from across the country and their support is helping a critical partner become fully operational.” Both community foundations hope that this funding allows MANNA to focus on its mission “Funding MANNA’s capital needs broadly benefits Western North Carolina and will ensure its capacity as the economic fallout from the hurricane continues,” Brazas said The grant to MANNA is the first awarded by NCCF from its Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term recovery resiliency and unmet needs related to Hurricane Helene through grants to nonprofits serving WNC Over $29 million has been contributed to the fund and will be provided to organizations in the months and years ahead we have been collaborating with CFWNC and other organizations throughout the west,” said NCCF President and CEO Jennifer Tolle Whiteside in the release “This grant to MANNA is critical to addressing food insecurity in Western North Carolina It is also a prime example of how community foundations can come together to strengthen nonprofits serving our community in the aftermath of disasters.” The town of Mills River has chosen a new town manager with master's degree in public administration and government experience McKirahan called the job “an honor and a privilege.” “I appreciate the council’s trust and confidence in me as I transition into this new role,” McKirahan said in the release “The town of Mills River is a truly special community and I look forward to working with the council and the town’s dedicated staff to ensure its continued success.” McKirahan now works for the village of Pinehurst as the organizational performance director Here he worked with the village’s strategic planning and performance processes he worked in Raleigh in budget and management services McKirahan was an International City/County Management Association fellow for Fort Lauderdale where he worked on “muti-departmental performance to ensure success against desired goals.” He also has experience in communication and marketing while working at the UNC School of Government Mills River began looking for a new town manager after the resignation of then town manager Daniel Cobb who took another position in Granite Falls the town evaluated 33 applicants with the help of Developmental Associates Five candidates were selected for an “intensive two-day assessment process.” A reception for residents to meet McKirahan will be held at a later date “The Mills River Council selected Matthew McKirahan after final in-person interviews,” said Mills River Mayor Shanon Gonce in the release “The Town Council looks forward to working with him in the future and believes he will be a great fit especially given his background in strategic planning.” Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com Burial and Cremation in Asherville and Arden NC Add a Memory to the Timeline Sign the Guestbook Send Flowers Memorial Tree Plantings she was married for 66 years to the late William Frank Allen She was a daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Smith) Creasman and sister to the late Bud Creasman and Darlene Layton She was also preceded in death by a step-granddaughter Shirley Ann attended Valley Springs School in Skyland She worked at CTS of Asheville for 24 years and at Borg Warner for several years She also worked in the lunch room at Rugby Middle School To cherish her memory are her son Jeff Allen (Karen) Deanna Blankenship (Chris) and Jessica Penland (James) Bill Extine (Courtney); step great-grandchildren Amanda Grimm and Micah as well as a number of nieces and nephews Memorial contributions in memory of Shirley Ann Allen may be made to Mills River United Methodist Chruch Shepherd Memorial Park5045 Asheville HighwayHendersonville, NC 28791 Text Me the Address Show Location on Map Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian72 Long Shoals RoadArden, NC 28704(828)687-3530 http://www.grocefuneralhome.com Show Location on Map All of us grandkids loved our grand parent,s so much We could not ask for a better grandparents than them They have always supported us to the fullest We bless you and hope you are truly HOME now If you are trying to get in touch with Jack and Pat I would talk to Lucille Blair Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" XThe accessibility of our website is taken very seriously We strive to meet WCAG 2.1 AA Web Accessibility standards by routinely evaluating our website using automated evaluation tools and manual testing when required As content changes we review and correct issues and are responsive to our users needs please report them so they may be corrected in a timely manner The damage from Hurricane Helene wrecked the City of Asheville's water system Assistant City Manager Ben Woody and Water Resources Public Information Officer Clay Chandler answered common questions about the current water status Anyone served by Asheville City Water should boil their water vigorously for at least one minute before ingesting it Chandler suggested that if you have access to bottled water What is the difference in a boil water notice and a boil water advisory?"The practical effect for the customers is exactly the same," Chandler said you need to boil it vigorously for at least one minute A boil water notice means there are known elevated levels of bacteria in the water conditions are conducive for elevated levels of bacteria If you are served by North Fork, you are under a boil water notice. If you are served by Mills River, you are under a boil water advisory. More information here What should I do in my home?Turn the breaker off and close the valve for your hot water heater Close the water valves on your kitchen sink bathroom sink and toilet (when not in use) Can pets drink the water from the tap?Water should be boiled before pets consume it Parents/guardians should be cautious when bathing children to make sure they don't get water in their mouths When will the water come back on?There is no set timeline for water restoration When will the boil water advisory end?There is no timeline for the end of the boil water advisory So if I am served by the Mills River facility All City of Asheville customers should boil their water at this time Residents in those areas right now may not see the sediment that might be visible to residents served primarily by North Fork but they should still boil water for consumption Where does the water come from?The majority of the city's water (about 80%) comes from the North Fork reservoir Much of the remainder (about 20%) comes from the Mills River facility A small portion of the water comes from the William DeBruhl facility The water in the North Fork reservoir is extremely turbid water began to flow from the reservoir to the line The top priority was to get a 36-inch bypass line in place to replace the damaged pipe Homes closest to the North Fork facility will be the first to see water return officials could begin putting water into the lines Having the system pressurized allows staff to see where lines in the system are damaged or missing Are there toxic substances in the reservoir water now?"That reservoir is surrounded by 22,000 acres of national forest land so it is one of the most protected and cleanest sources of water in the United States," Woody said but we are not like Jordan Lake in the Triangle the starting point is pristine and clean." "There is no development whatsoever in that watershed," Chandler added Is it toxic?Water staff will be using a coagulant called alum (aluminum sulfate) a common treatment component in water purification This process has been around for at least 60 years The staff will use a boat to apply the alum to the surface of the water and it will clump the particles together and make them heavy enough to sink to the bottom of the reservoir The process will get the water to a state where it can then be put through the filtration system Why don't we have a house-by-house breakdown of who has water?Water is not like power Household water will be restored on an individual basis unlike power where an entire neighborhood may get electricity back at the same time There are about 155,000 to 160,000 customers systemwide Mills River is serving approximately 25% of customers so Chandler estimated about 110,000 to 115,000 customers are without water There is no ability to remotely detect water service and the system cannot target specific customers to restore water service Yongue is the spiritual director at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary a conservation and green cemetery in Mills River She’s dedicated the last 30 years to death work and practices “tonglen,” a Buddhist meditation of “taking” in another’s pain or grief and “sending” out healing in response opened her chest and did the same – letting the immense grief Wisely’s family friends and co-workers were experiencing flow in as pain and out as healing But navigating the levels of loss Wisely’s death presents so steeped in death and the emotions it evokes “There’s still grief – there’s still just the thoughts of their last moments.” When Tropical Storm Helene ripped through Western North Carolina Sept Wisely and Petrucci had planned to wed weeks later family and friends mixed their aquamated remains with the earth and covered the four small mounds with flowers outlined a circle where the family is buried Despite the tragic death of Wisely and her family the sanctuary continues to welcome the grief of others was preparing a grave site with a sanctuary steward which volunteers and family members dug by hand the day before a shrouded body lay strapped to a stretcher “You wouldn’t even really know they’re doing it,” Yongue said Just like you wouldn’t even really know the sanctuary was a cemetery at first glance part of a conservation easement restricting development The sanctuary makes a traditional cemetery look more like a golf course It’s where a loved one can be a participant rather than an observer It’s where a family can tell stories while digging a loved one’s grave It’s also where fear can transform into acceptance – and where life can embrace death and healing can begin More: 'A piece of all of us': Children lost in the storm, mourned in Hurricane Helene aftermath More: Time marches on. Thanksgiving nears. Yet loss from Helene lingers in Green Mountain Jacob Biba is the county watchdog reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times Information from towns and communities in Western North Carolina will be updated and added into this story through out the day Please check back regularly as we continue to update Western North Carolina is littered with small communities and tourist towns Here's how towns around that region of the state faring after the devastating effects of Helene hit the state on Friday and continue to linger as a new week begins The last message posted on the town of Banner Elk's website stated: "We would ask that residents continue to stay off the roads We do not have water and do not have any anticipation of having water service restored anytime soon." evacuated students from campus over the weekend and they were making their way to either Boone (via N.C.184/Tynecastle Highway and N.C A Facebook page called "Visit Banner Elk," showed photos of people gathering at town hall to get food Wi-Fi and water on Sunday and Monday morning People were being airlifted out of the community that was isolated by floodwaters caused by Helene and an escape route along Beech Mountain Parkway has been open The town of Black Mountain was scheduled to hold a town meeting on Monday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. at Town Square (in front of the Fire Department) Town officials and emergency personnel from the police and fire departments will be on hand to provide updates about what is happening These updates will also be posted on the town's social media and website the town's water system was still not in operation Looking for shelter near Black Mountain There are two shelters available at A-B Tech: Get updates on Helene's aftermath: Sign up for text message updates and crucial information in Hurricane Helene's aftermath SwannanoaSearch efforts in Swannona are still underway as the community slowly regains cell service after days of little to no ways of communication according to recent posts from Swannanoa Fire & Rescue Unnecessary traffic has caused delays for responders and we've even had someone honk their horn at us to get us to move our vehicles.. "Look after your neighbor and I can assure you I have seen an amazing display of that in every neighborhood and many neighbors meeting for the first time This event was catastrophic and we have a long way to go Lives and property have been lost and I will ask that you have patience with anyone around you." How can I help? Here's how to donate to those affected by Hurricane Helene. reports of dams about to collapse and breech have come quickly according to social media posts from Asheville City Government "The dam at Bee Tree is functioning as it was engineered Water is coming through the spillway as is the appropriate function Water resources completed multiple fly over visual inspection today for situational awareness Water Resources staff continue to work around the clock to respond to the emergency," read the post Reports from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nations paper Cherokee One Feather in Cherokee indicate that roads on the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee) were closed on Friday due to the flooding but roads have opened in the last few days Cherokee Central Schools are closed through Tuesday Henderson County has implemented a county-wide curfew from 8 p.m The county also has six new resource hubs open across the county NC 28732Mills RiverMills River continues to deal with power outages and not having water The town has implemented a Resource Hub at Mills River Park,124 Town Center Drive to distribute needed supplies to community members curfew implemented by Henderson County until conditions improve Western Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University has suspended classes through Friday “Due to widespread internet and cellular outages Western Carolina University is suspending classes through Friday we advise students not to leave the area due to major interstate closures in multiple areas," read a statement from the school Marshall, like many of the communities on this list, has called a state of emergency for its community. Water is out for much of the town and much of the infrastructure, and town, was underwater over the weekend Marshall updated that the town is still not safe to travel in and will not be for many days to come Madison County is under a state of emergency with "no fuel or additional supplies available for those from outside of Madison County" and ask people to "seek assistance in the community in which you live." there is no thru traffic on I-26 Westbound due to a bridge outage in Tennessee Exit 9 is the last exit available for thru motorists according to the county government webpage Mars Hill's webpage has not been updated with any information concerning Helene, and neither has its social media page. Mars Hill University provided an update on Sunday about conditions on their Facebook page. "Local and state officials continue to advise that travel in the region should be restricted to essential and emergency travel employees should not travel to campus unless requested to do so and officials encourage students to stay on campus," read the post "Power has been restored to most of campus and much of the town of Mars Hill Cellular and internet access are intermittently available." Waynesville is currently under a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and is asking people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary The town is no longer under a boil water advisory Canton has kept residents up to date on its social media page with everything from how to contact FEMA to how to navigate around town in the current conditions Much of the community's downtown area was flooded and work is underway in helping clear the area there was no traffic allowed in the downtown area except for business owners Volunteers helping to clear out the area were directed to walk in to help The town has also been under a boil advisory since Saturday There is little left of the popular tourist town in Rutherford County Much of the community was swept away as the the nearby river ruptured from its banks to sweep away buildings leaving in its wake a mountain of mud and other debris Residents there and in nearby Lake Lure were cut off from much of the outside world right after Helene hit while others who were not in the direct path of destruction were able to travel hours out of the way to get away from the devastated area "The Village of Chimney Rock Government is slowly and surely attempting to dig out We are deeply grateful for all of the love and prayers sent our way we will announce additional information about a public meeting date This will be to begin disseminating essential information for Village residents and businesses," read a post from the Chimney Rock Village Facebook Chimney Rock State Park is currently closed and will remain closed until the park can be assessed for damages Could removal be in the cards for the Mill Pond dam in Marstons Mills The state is funding a preliminary design study to help the town determine the answer The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced that the dam, near the junction of routes 149 and 28 on the Marstons Mills River is one of eight across the state for which officials are weighing the risks and benefits of removal Barnstable is getting a $50,000 share of a total $400,000 allocation for the purpose from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration Amber Unruh, the senior project manager for special projects at the Barnstable Department of Public Works said the grant will provide the technical support "to complete a study that will inform ongoing decision making about the long-term fate of the dam." The dam is acknowledged to be a municipal asset and an important habitat, including for bridle shiner, a fish listed in Massachusetts as a species of special concern and the removal of 2,500 kg of nitrogen from the Marstons Mills River annually," Unruh said The state lists Mill Pond Dam's condition as "fair," but its hazard potential as "significant," meaning that, while there are no existing safety deficiencies at this time, failure would result in environmental damage, economic loss, and disruption of lifeline facilities. According to the National Inventory of Dams The state agency asserts that removing the dam "would improve water quality and restore habitats for migratory and cold-water species" and would also "enhance flood resilience for nearby infrastructure and homes." Unruh said the town is trying to improve water quality at Mill Pond by dredging about 30,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment as well as improve fish passage for river herring that pass through on their way to spawn in Middle Pond A 2017 study by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology said dredging the pond should lead to removing more nitrogen that accumulates in the Three Bays headwaters. This alternative is identified as a non-traditional solution for nitrogen management in Barnstable’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan The town inspects the dam regularly to ensure it complies with standards set out by the Massachusetts Dam Safety Office A 2020 inspection found the overall condition of the dam to be fair but also revealed that the dam had significant vegetation and that the fish ladder needs significant repairs "All recommended remedial actions of the inspections were for the fish ladder, which included replacement of the fish ladder entrance and repair of the fish ladder steps and pools," Unruh said. "In order to address the fish ladder deficiencies, the town partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve fish passage into Mill Pond." Experts say the existing fish ladder should be replaced by a larger one to meet modern fish passage standards They also found that fast-flowing water within the culvert under Route 149 and Route 28 "creates a velocity barrier for small and medium sized river herring." a number of alternatives to improve fish passage within the culverts have been studied but removing the dam has not been examined Additional study is needed to determine what effect the removal would have on the fish run nearby infrastructure and water quality and habitat of Mill Pond and Price Cove Officials would want to take into account how neighbors and the public feel about it Mill Pond was created in the early 18th century when villagers dammed the Marstons Mills River to run a gristmill The pond has since been kept in place for recreation and for its aesthetic attributes and pond habitat On its website, the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition says the pond "is filthy and its waters are impaired." Over time black sediments in a geologic kitchen sink that is filled to overflowing with nitrogen and phosphorus." These contaminants flow down river, the organization states, "heavily" contributing to excess nitrogen into the Three Bays estuary, which the Association to Preserve Cape Cod has tagged among the most severely impaired embayments on Cape coalition volunteers have seen a drop in the annual herring count conducted near the culvert on the south end of the pond The organization says that "herring are like canaries in a coal mine; their presence or lack thereof could keenly indicate trouble within the watershed." Unruh said the state has already pre-selected vendors to work on the dam removal study assessment of sediment quantity in the impoundment identification of the benefits and impacts The study is expected to be complete by June 30 town staff will provide comprehensive updates to Town Council and the public," Unruh said Heather McCarron writes about climate change in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster (WLOS) — People in Mills River will soon have a new place to do their grocery shopping There is now a Publix sign up by the Bojangles restaurant located off of N.C NEW SHOPPING AND RESTAURANT CENTER POTENTIALLY COMING TO MILLS RIVER it will be part of the Marketplace at Mills River complex According to site plans approved by the Town of Mills River Planning Department the plans include a 50,325 square-foot grocery store along with a 10,800 square-foot retail shop building Asa Harris of Harris Development Partners out of Raleigh submitted the plans for the complex.According to the Harris Development Partners' website Harris has worked with leading national tenants in the past The Publix will be just down the road from the Ingles on N.C which opened at the corner of North Mills River Road and N.C has been the only major grocery store in Mills River since 2017 News 13 has reached out to Publix officials and will release information on a construction timeline once it is known Welcome to your comprehensive guide to the 2024 General Election in Henderson County There are big local races happening this year in Henderson County including seats on Hendersonville City Council the Henderson County Board of Commissioners and representation on the county school board Among the most important issues new commissioners will face is the housing shortage that has been exacerbated by destruction from Hurricane Helene state and federal races as well as candidate responses to our questions BPR reached out to all candidates on the state candidate list to fill out a short survey about priorities. If you are a candidate and would like to fill out the survey now, please reach out to news@bpr.org What three words would you use to describe your political values What do you wish the community knew about this office and I’m running for School Board to serve Henderson County I’m running to make sure kids have the supports they need to thrive — from access to healthy school breakfasts and lunches to teacher assistants and social workers I’m running to fight back against those who want to erase or whitewash people’s histories and identities Our schools should be promoting safe gun storage everywhere firearms are in our community And we must enforce a zero-tolerance policy for bullying I’ve spent my career in the nonprofit sector working to improve people’s lives My husband works in our school system and we send our Kindergartener and 2nd grader to our neighborhood school because we believe in the GOOD that is Henderson County Public Schools And I’m ready to put my masters degree in public policy to good use… I’m ready do the hard work it takes to bring people of all stripes together to make Henderson County a leader in public education please check out my website: maryellenforhcps.com and find me on Facebook at: Mary Ellen for HCPS" Making choices for public schools at the school board level should focus on prioritizing high-quality education for all students making sure schools have the staff and resources they need so all kids can thrive and be successful in our competitive world It is our responsibility to make sure structures and transportation are well-maintained and safe Classrooms should not be a place that is used for political agendas there needs to be better advocates in our county for these things and what my intentions are I wish the community knew that our public schools are being de-valued by the current school board with their own personal agendas to segregate our public schools They do not advocate for better pay for our teachers they will not approve free breakfast or lunch for our kids They do not hold our state representatives accountable when it comes to millions of public school tax dollars being stolen from our public schools and given to millionaires through the voucher program so their children already in private and/or religious schools have an unfair advantage by taking public dollars to the tune of $6500 per student but have lived in Henderson County for over 35 years school community and to provide a vision for outstanding educational experiences for our students The board of public education meetings should be attended by the public especially parents to ensure they know what is going on in their school system Robert Bridges and Beth Campbell did not respond to inquiries to fill out BPR’s survey I wish the community knew that the office of Henderson County Commissioner plays a crucial role in shaping local policies and addressing community needs It involves making decisions on everything from infrastructure to budget allocations which ultimately impact the quality of life for all residents Understanding this can help foster greater engagement and collaboration between the community and its leaders It should be a position that is a strong advocate for all communities within the county, The driving force of everything a commissioner does should be for the county’s residents and workforce; to provide the highest quality of life possible Candidate for Commission District 5 Jay Egolf is running unopposed He denied requests from BPR to fill out the questionnaire I wish folks knew how much we care and how hard we work Candidates DJ Harrington and Lyndsey Simpson did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire I've lived in Hendersonville since I was 12 Local officials are beholden to the community that elected them Voting in local elections is a tangible way to effect change and use your voice in your home community Do your research and keep showing up - it really does make a difference City Council is a non-partisan position that demands a balanced unifying approach asserting common sense and accountability within our communities Council members uphold great responsibilities regarding the protection of the environment transparent fiscal oversight with the necessary protection of rights for our citizens and city employees I believe the people hold the power to actively influence their community leaders and public officials to the will of community needs and vision Candidate Colby Coren did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire Have a greater knowledge of how a government office works Candidates Kevin Burnett and Elecia Pilssbury did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire One of the mayor's most important roles is to listen to the village community so that we can work together to maintain the sense of place and fiscal integrity that make the Village of Flat Rock such a special place Thomas Carpenter is running unopposed for the village of Flat Rock council district one Cheryl Stuller is running unopposed for district three They both did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire Keith Reed is running unopposed for council district two and Jim Player is running unopposed for district three Carey O'Cain is running unopposed for mayor Banta and Travis Bonnema are running for town council They did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire I have been a member of the Mills River Planning Board for about 4 years and the Board of Adjustments for around 2 years I wish the community were more aware of how important their participation is to the effectiveness of what we do as a community I urge our residents to be involved in our local government Brian Kimball and Jeff Young did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire I wish the community knew how currently underrepresented they are Candidate Jennifer Capps Balkcom did not return requests from BPR to fill out a questionnaire Thousands across Western North Carolina remain without running water days after Tropical Storm Helene destroyed the main lines that supply the area around Asheville While relief efforts are under way to provide bottled water and food to those in need many are wondering when running water will be restored "We have made measurable progress toward beginning the process of repairing the water system," Ben Woody One water treatment facility — the Mills River Water Treatment Plant — is functional Woody said personnel have reached a milestone in the recovery of the Mills River plant and that customers being served by that plant should begin to receive water "We are beginning to ramp up production at that plant," he said Repairs are underway at Buncombe's biggest source of water "Actual repairs are underway to transmission lines and access roads," Woody said But he cautioned that "damage to the transmission lines is severe." As for the facility at Bee Tree in Swannanoa, Woody said it won't be accessible until access roads can be rebuilt.Previous reporting from the Citizen Times noted that it would be weeks before full water connection was restored after thousands of feet of water lines were washed away Asheville has three water treatment plants: North Fork (located in Black Mountain) and Mills River (located near the Asheville Regional airport) The reservoirs are fed by mountain streams Asheville water distribution sitesThose currently needing water can visit these water distribution sites: 2024 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville after a period of declining health Kathi was born and raised in the mountains of Waynesville They enjoyed traveling all over the United States in their motor home and spent extended time at Lake Chatuge in Hayesville They both traveled to all University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill home football games over the last few years and attended many Tar Heel basketball games and other athletic events in Chapel Hill They loved to be on the campus where her father Skip earned a scholarship to play football years ago Kathi always loved spending time with her extended family and friends She excelled at decorating her home each year for the holidays Her Jack Russell Terriers meant the world to her over the years She also enjoyed reading books and shopping on QVC Kathi and her mother Barbara had a very close relationship and spoke several times a day throughout Kathi’s life Kathi was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dwight who died less than three months before she did; her father N.C.; and her youngest step-son Keith Donaldson of Beaumont N.C.; her oldest step-son Kelly Dwight Donaldson (Julie) of Webster N.C.; a brother-in-law Roger (Vicky) Donaldson of Hayesville N.C.; step-brothers Mike (Kathy) Brady of Flat Rock N.C.; Colin (Sandra) Brady of Virginia; and Christopher (Laurie) Brady of Charlotte The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Memorial Mission Hospital along with the amazing home health teams at Asheville Home Health and Maxim Home Health Kathi was also blessed with supportive neighbors at Chestnut Mountain Golf Club at High Vista in Mills River who got her through the last few months of declining health and a broken heart There will be a private service for family and friends at a later date Kathi will be laid to rest with her husband Dwight at Crawford Ray Cemetery in Clyde in the mountains of Haywood County where they met and were born and raised to help fund research for a cure to ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease visit www.hoponacure.org and dedicate your donation to the memory of Chester Dwight Donaldson or to the charity of one’s own choice in Kathi’s name Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family Kathi Jo was a dear friend and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her I know she had suffered for years with declining health Praying God will give you comfort during this difficult time to announce a budget request of $1.07 billion for Helene rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina Also, $225 million of that money has already been allocated in the third Helene bill, SB 382. Stein’s budget request includes funds to "strengthen the economy remove debris and help school children stay at grade level." “The people of Western North Carolina have suffered tremendously since Helene swept through,” said Stein “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild We can’t forget western North Carolina – and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the state shows up for them.” Stein made the announcement at MANNA Food Bank which works with over 300 community-based nonprofit food assistance partner agencies in 16 WNC counties “MANNA has been an essential resource for the people it serves and its work has become even more critical since Hurricane Helene struck,” said Gov “As these organizations continue the daily work of supporting their community we have a responsibility to support them.” Stein's request included the the categories of strengthening the economy repairing infrastructure and supporting farmers The governor said he hopes this is just round one of relief “There will be an additional appropriation request later in the year for the traditional biannual budget that happens in July but these are high priority funds needed in the first and second quarter of this year so that people can get their lives back together,” he said “Our objective with these funds are to address immediate needs To use existing programs because it route using an existing program rather than creating a new one you can get the money out the door quickly.” Stein emphasized how quickly these funds are needed before tourist season begins 43% of small businesses never reopen without proper support some business will not be here in the summer and we will miss an entire building season before the winter weather comes again in 2025," he said "We cannot miss an entire year of construction." (WLOS) — These are the live updates for Oct 1 following the destruction of Hurricane Helene which came through Western North Carolina Sept Jackson County Public Schools announced that there will be no school for students on Wednesday JCPS will continue to serve meals daily through Friday Smokey Mountain Elementary and Smoky Mountain High School Black Mountain's water and sewer system remains down and a restoration time is unknown town leaders said in a press release Tuesday "Water restoration within the Town of Black Mountain will be dependent on the North Fork water line which received significant damage," the release said Montreat and Ridgecrest remain without power Henderson County Resource Hub locations will be open Wednesday for water distribution and other supplies as they become available A new donation drop-off site has been established at 118 McAbee Court Needed items include non-perishable food items Visit this website for a full list of accepted items and donation information Henderson County is still in a State of Emergency Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers says the town is "on the brink of fully restoring water and power to all residents." Smathers released a statement on X MAYOR OF CANTON DEMANDS BETTER FROM CELL SERVICES AMID ONGOING DISASTER RECOVERY "We won't rest easy until every citizen The mayor added that downtown is open for businesses and volunteers but urged citizens to use caution as there are areas that remain hazardous He also said cell phone service remains an issue for the area Donations are being accepted behind Town Hall (85 Summer Street) Donations will be relocated to IP Sports Complex for distribution Those wishing to volunteer can also gather at the IP Sports Complex Sheriff Quentin Miller confirms that there have been a total of 57 storm-related fatalities in Buncombe County as of 4 p.m No names will be released until all next of kin are reached Buncombe County asks anyone with donations equipment or questions about specific needs to email helenedonations@buncombecounty.org Beloved Asheville is now also taking donations; they are providing food MANNA FoodBank is also launching a critical donations and distribution effort Food and water distribution will start tomorrow Carolina Day School will distribute water from 10 a.m water distribution is available at North Windy Ridge Intermediate School Greg Murphy and Chuck Edwards talk about ongoing relief efforts City of Asheville announces another water distribution site at Asheville Middle School BUNCOMBE, ASHEVILLE WATER DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION (OCT. 1) Buncombe County leaders provide an update on Helene recovery efforts Anchors Charles Perez and Karen Zatkulak spoke with Lillian Govus the Buncombe County communications and public engagement director but that it was still a slow work in progress Trash: The trash pickup has been put on hold indefinitely Curbie Recycling in Weaverville will also remain closed indefinitely Schools: Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools are also closed indefinitely Cell service: There is a tower at 35 Woodfin Street and Govus said there are more resources coming in I believe we will see some big progress with cell service and wi-fi capabilities." Water distribution: Buncombe County has the four sites set up today for water distribution but Govus said the community can expect to see more in the coming days "These are just the first four that were available to open but we are expecting to expand and offer more," she said The City of Asheville and Buncombe County announced water distribution sites for Tuesday and residents must bring their own containers There will be a limit of two gallons per person or five gallons per family there will be four sites: Sandy Hill Elementary Fairview Elementary School and Estes Elementary School Henderson County will have six Resource Hub locations today beginning at 9 a.m Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day's meal and water as it is available Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through Resource Hubs and remain in their cars unless instructed otherwise by volunteers In order for the Resource Hubs to function smoothly officials ask for the public's patience while waiting for their supplies Salvage Station off Riverside Drive made an emotional post on Facebook Salvage Station was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene The extent to which this storm has affected our area is absolutely immeasurable," the post said But the post said the entire crew was safe and taking good care of each other "We were even able to find our three Salvage Station cats who miraculously survived the storm and were eager to be fed and loved on Our community is still in survival mode right now with very little resources Communication is spotty so we will update as we are able.. posted on social media that it will be offering meals to first responders on Oct "Please share this with your first responders and lineman friends and family If your crew can not make it to our store and you need to take it to go please call 828-693-8080," the post said The post said the restaurant plans to open for business to the public on Oct 'IT'S JUST DEVASTATING:' YANCEY COUNTY FACES LONG RECOVERY IN AFTERMATH OF HELENE Biltmore Estate posted on social media that it will remain closed through Oct "This is a heartbreaking situation for our community and region The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority and we appreciate your patience as we assess the damage of last weekend's storm and work to repair communication channels," the post said Updates on Biltmore Estate will be available at its website (WLOS) — A Mills River family is living through its worst nightmare all over again Tommy Bryson was kidnapped and killed by Phillip Stroupe in 2017 committed by a man with a lengthy criminal history who was out on bond A News 13 Investigation in the months that followed looked into the circumstances around Stroupe's arrests and release similar questions are being raised about another heartbreaking crime committed by another man who was out on bond It was July 2017 when the manhunt for Stroupe began after a breaking and entering in Mills River The chase wound through multiple counties and even forced the closure of sections of Pisgah National Forest Tommy Bryson had heard about it all and even warned his son Tommy's cousin Ray Bryson says as soon as he heard the news that Tommy was missing You wish for the best but you know it’s not going to happen," said Ray Ray considered Tommy a brother and even had a term for him.. "We spent almost every day together for 18 years," said Ray NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN BRUTAL HOME INVASION LINKED TO RYAN RICKY HOUSTON'S CRIME SPREE They were just six months apart and grew up together in Mills River it's like he knew everything about me and I knew everything about him you know...it just couldn't be a stronger bond It was Ray's own son who found Tommy's body in a cornfield four days after Stroupe kidnapped and killed him "There for a while you were kind of afraid I remember talking to a lot of neighbors who would go out walking and carry guns That's a shame that our society has come to that," said Joe He says he's worked hard to get through the tragedy the best he can but admits it's been a incredibly difficult "It breaks my heart that all of my kids lost those memories We try not to bring it up much because it brings back that raw emotion so we all know that Papa is in heaven," said Joe News 13 sat down with Tommy and Ray as they shared pictures of the many camping and hunting trips they took with Tommy over the years but it's clear how much the death has impacted the close-knit family "My father was kidnapped and murdered in his driveway...who ever anticipates that?" said Joe "When innocent people die in that way it's hard to even explain to people." his faith has played a big role in dealing with the loss over the last seven years "The way I got through this is I really try to count the blessings around me every day and realize that my dad is in heaven and he don't want to come back here That's what helps me get through it every day," said Joe WANTED MAN CONFIRMED DEAD AFTER WRONG-WAY CRASH IN MADISON COUNTY Ray and Joe say they lived through the nightmare all over again watching Ryan Houston's case unfold how can this be happening again?" Ray said which included an assault on a government official posted bond and led authorities on a chase and manhunt "The first time I saw the story about Ryan Houston It's hard because it brings back a lot of raw emotion," said Joe Joe remembers the anger he felt realizing his father's killer had been arrested just days before but was released on a bond of a total $69,000 "First thought was exactly what happened to Dad when I heard about the back story and the history it's almost an exact-same scenario," said Joe He believes Stroupe and Houston should not have been eligible to have been released on bond "I think the fact you've got a person who's free who shouldn't be people who have chosen a life of crime don't deserve to walk the streets," said Joe you don't know what that's like." both say they are speaking out in order to prompt change within our system a person's criminal past should be a bigger part of the bond decision "I think a judge should have to go back and look at a man's background and if you have a consistent track record of violent crimes why would you even consider letting him out?" he said that gap between when they're bonded out and the trial That's what happened with these poor families and the same thing that happened to my dad." He believes it will take a major push from an elected official to actually make a change "I honestly think at the end of the day the only way this is going to get changed is if someone running for Congress or governor or something can make this change as part of their platform I think that's the only way it will change," said Joe "Someone who shouldn't be free is free and bad things happened," said Joe "I just don't understand why people can't do their jobs These are people's lives that have been taken and families destroyed Where are red flags from justice departments from judges and magistrates to say these people are a nemesis to society why would we let them back in the public?" Both believe something needs to change so that this doesn't happen again I hope somebody can take responsibility and say I should have done something about this and I didn't do it I hate to place blame on any one person or organization or whatever but somebody has to take responsibility and say I can fix this...we can fix this...let’s do it," said Ray As for Stroupe, he was sentenced to life without parole for the first-degree murder of Tommy Bryson He took a plea deal which limits his right to appeal ASHEVILLE - A Southeast hard cider producer has attributed Tropical Storm Helene to the closing of one of its North Carolina taprooms which has production facilities and taprooms in the state and Virginia announced the closure of its downtown Asheville taproom "It is with sadness that we announce the closing of our Bold Rock Asheville taproom After the losses from Hurricane Helene and continued market challenges we are unable to continue operating in this location We have loved being a part of the Asheville community and being able to welcome so many through our doors." executive vice president of Bold Rock's parent company Bryant said water system issues that left Asheville without potable water until the boil water notice was lifted on Nov and unfavorable market projections for the next six to 18 months were part of the deciding factors He said the company considered tourism decline and it didn't bode well for the short- or long-term financial stability of the tourist-driven taproom "Over the last month or so as we were waiting for the water supply to get back online we started digging in deep and trying to understand what the environment was going to look like for reopening," Bryant said In November, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority reported to the Citizen Times an estimated 70% decline in tourism and $584 million in revenue losses in Buncombe County Bryant said a deal was made with the building's landlord to provide payment to end the lease early He did not disclose details on when the lease was to end or the amount the company paid He said the location employed 31 part-time and full-time workers who had been paid regular wages while the business remained closed the employees received notice of the taproom's closure and some staff are working with human resources on relocation to other taprooms and the cidery's Charlotte corporate office many food and beverage establishments remained closed or with limited staff In early November, Wicked Weed Brewing indefinitely closed its Funkatorium brewery and taproom and Cultura restaurant in the South Slope brewing district and laid off staff amid Helene Where to find Bold Rock ciderJohn Washburn and Brian Shanks founded Bold Rock an award-winning craft beverage company that sources locally grown apples The company expanded to North Carolina in 2015 Its 8,000-square-foot taproom in downtown Asheville opened in 2021 Bold Rock's Mills River production facility and taproom Cider is available for retail sale in area stores and across multiple states Bryant said the Asheville taproom closure doesn't impact the Mills River facility and fully staffed and operational for several weeks "Bold Rock has a large production facility and taproom in Mills River and that will always be there," Bryant said "It's a very important part of our brand but the Asheville taproom was driven by tourism and we were concerned if it was going to be there to provide the performance that was needed for that location and that was why we decided to close it He said after Helene the cidery had to dispose of and reproduce some products but the cidery resumed normal production within two-to-four weeks Distribution continued with minimal disruption due to its Virginia production facility Bryant said Bold Rock "absolutely" will consider returning to Asheville's marketplace "It's been a big part of our brand and we had a great staff and enjoyed our staff there but there's too much uncertainty there right now for us to move forward." For more, visit boldrock.com and facebook.com/BoldRockAVL Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times She is a graduate of Michigan State University and covered the arts entertainment and hospitality in Louisiana for several years Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage a regional nonprofit and food supplier for communities in 16 Western North Carolina counties is rebuilding the organization from the ground up after Tropical Storm Helene wiped out its distribution center and headquarters Chief Executive Officer Claire Neal said the facility at 627 Swannanoa River Road was devastated by the storm and flood waters from the Swannanoa River resulting in the total loss of everything from food to warehouse equipment donors and volunteers have come out in droves to support allowing MANNA to pivot and introduce temporary and new permanent distribution and donation sites “To go from the tragedy and the heartbreak our neighbors and everybody here has gone through to seeing the community rally around each other ― check on their neighbors and take care of each other and show up in full force here ― I get chills thinking about it It has been truly wonderful,” Neal told the Citizen Times on Oct MANNA is now accepting donations at its new facility at 99 Broadpointe Drive in Mills River a former FedEx facility near Asheville Regional Airport MANNA’s Director of Marketing and Communications Micah Chrisman said operations were suspended on Sept Food and the fleet of trucks were moved to higher ground in anticipation of the historic storm despite all these measures the facility was flooded all the way up to the rooftop and rendered it completely inoperable,” Chrisman said He said the full extent of the damage wasn’t known until the assessment on Sept as reaching the property was challenging due to the decimation of a large portion of Swannanoa Road Neal said the area around the facility had flooded but hadn’t breached the interior until the recent storm waters ravaged the facility Chrisman said MANNA “immediately shifted gears,” and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture offered to host MANNA’s temporary food distribution and donation operations at the WNC Farmers Market MANNA launched a Hurricane Helene Relief asking for food and water donations and distribution aid to neighbors in need Chief Operating Officer Liz Hipps said by noon they were handing out food boxes curbside and by the end of the day had provided donation boxes to 135 families grocery store chains and anyone who had the means to give were asked to donate to replenish MANNA’s inventory the food bank’s national partner delivered food from a Charlotte affiliate The team said many donations have come from local community members allowing the team to supply regional partners and transport goods to rural neighborhoods Chrisman said communication with some regional partners has been challenging but improving as more areas are finding means of connection said contact has been made with 120 of its more than 240 partners Department of Transportation is assisting MANNA’s drivers with finding open safe routes to access other rural communities and partners Hipps said hundreds of volunteers and nearly 15 MANNA staff members have arrived to the WNC Farmers Market for donation intake regularly volunteers with MANNA and has been pitching in at the farmers market since last Tuesday “Everybody’s been so unbelievably upbeat and positive,” Messer said Hipps said many people have returned daily to volunteer with the nonprofit “We’ve got people coming in from everywhere and they’re bringing in supplies and offering to stay and help which is amazing,” Hipps said MANNA is accepting donations only at the new Mills River facility and will be at the WNC Farmers for at least two more weeks for distributions WNC Farmers Market distribution hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m MANNA is in the parking lot to the left of the entrance Donation and sorting operations will be relocated to a nearby site Hipps said no donations are being turned away including cleaning supplies and toiletries not requiring a can opener).Bottled water.Baby and toddler formula food and wipes.Diapers.“The people who are coming in needing supplies are so grateful,” Messer said “We’re usually able to fill special requests like if they need baby items or bleach or paper towels.” Messer recommends donors drop off donations earlier in the day so the team can sort and distribute them throughout the day Hipps said MANNA needs office and warehouse equipment from trash cans to forklifts to racking Monetary donations may be gifted at mannafoodbank.org (WLOS) — As Hurricane Helene made its way through the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday morning another system caused heavy rainfall Wednesday evening into Thursday morning in Western North Carolina as many were shut down due to flooding and trees down according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol News 13 crews reported serious delays along Interstate 26 East Thursday morning due to disabled vehicles and ponding water on the roadway Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida at around 11:10 p.m there are 72 main road closures and 336 secondary road closures in North Carolina due to flooding FLOODING, POWER OUTAGES REPORTED IN PARTS OF THE MOUNTAINS AHEAD OF HELENE'S ARRIVAL See real-time closure updates at DriveNC.gov. For the most recent updates to the road closures list, go to DriveNC.gov News 13 will continue to provide updates to this story.