The Transylvania Times

06/30/2025

In a 3-2 vote Monday county commissioners passed an $81 million budget that includes a property tax increase and a streamlined fire tax effective July 1.

After more than a month of budget meetings, specially called workshops and public hearings, Chairman Jason Chappell and Commissioners Teresa McCall and Larry Chapman voted in favor of County Manager Jaime Laughter’s fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $81,342,524.

This is a 4.1% increase from last year. It includes a property tax rate of 41.05 cents per $100 valuation, a 2.68 cent increase from the revenue neutral rate of 38.37 cents.

In a 3-2 vote Monday county commissioners passed an $81 million budget that includes a property tax increase and a streamlined fire tax effective July 1.

06/30/2025

Just days after flooding from Hurricane Helene tore through Pisgah National Forest and caused major damage to Pisgah Forest Stables, its owner Jerry Dean said his family business’ chances of survival were slim to none.

Nine months later, the stables are back up and running.

Dean and his workers started giving rides through Pisgah National Forest to visitors again June 14.

But the small business’ troubles are not over.

After major construction delays from federal budget and staffing restrictions pushed back the stables’ season start date, Dean said low attendance numbers in the forest are now making it hard to stay afloat even though horses and riders are back out on the trail.

“I think the tourism is way down,” Dean said. “Whether it’s because of the economy or whether it’s because they’re not sure (about) the infrastructure; and what is going to be available to do; where to stay; and that kind of thing.”

Just days after flooding from Hurricane Helene tore through Pisgah National Forest and caused major damage to Pisgah Forest Stables, its owner Jerry Dean said his family business’ chances of

06/30/2025

Work on the ‘old gym’ at Brevard High School which was previously halted in April could resume this month, according to School Bond Project Manager Beecher Allison.

Allison gave an update to the Joint Bond Project Subcommittee Tuesday in which he said the NCDPI review is complete and permits for the project should be in hand by the end of the week.

The new project manager said in a previous school board meeting he was “frustrated” with the NCDPI review process.

Work on the ‘old gym’ at Brevard High School which was previously halted in April could resume this month, according to School Bond Project Manager Beecher Allison.

06/28/2025

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06/24/2025

More than 50 conservatives gathered in front of the Transylvania County Courthouse Saturday to combat recent “negative” protests which have occured in Brevard and to bring forward “patriotism” and “love” at the Transylvania County GOP’s “TRUMP-A-PALOOZA 2025.”

Participants at the president-praising event donned American-flag apparel and MAGA merchandise and celebrated President Donald Trump with a look-alike contest; Trump trivia; a card signing; and a dance party to the Village People’s “YMCA.”

“We have seen a lot of events down here that seem to be negative,” Transylvania GOP Chair Herschel Johnson said. “What we want to do is just bring something down here that’s patriotic. Just talk about love. Not run down anybody. Show our love for America and what the president has been doing.”

More than 50 conservatives gathered in front of the Transylvania County Courthouse Saturday to combat recent “negative” protests which have occured in Brevard and to bring forward “patriotism” and “love”

06/24/2025

Saturday marked the first Juneteenth celebration for Brevard’s Michael Hartz.

Juneteenth was officially declared a federal holiday in 2021 but has been celebrated by some for more than a century. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

“I did not know what Juneteenth was until just four or five years ago when it became a holiday and I think it’s so important,” Hartz said. He heard about the local event as a member of the Transylvania NAACP.

“You know it could be more important than the Fourth of July,” he said. “Fourth of July we just escaped a tyranny of government but Juneteenth celebrates tyranny over people and slavery. I think it is more important.”

Saturday marked the first Juneteenth celebration for Brevard’s Michael Hartz.

06/17/2025

Dispensary and h**p store owners and managers in Brevard say they very rarely have teens attempt to enter their stores, but when they do, the children are turned away every time.

“If you’re not 21 — at all, period — we don’t let you come in here,” said Nathan Golden, manager of The Plug Smoke Shop in Brevard.

With the rise in smoke shops, h**p stores, v**e retailers and dispensaries in Brevard city limits, parents, local officials and the CARE Coalition have raised concerns about these stores’ locations near schools and other childcare facilities as v**e and h**p product popularity continues to rise among adolescents.

Owners and managers of these shops say, locally at least, teens attempting to buy their products is not an issue.

Golden said he does not see high school-aged children even try to enter his store.

“From what I hear, the majority of the kids are buying them (h**p and v**e products) online,” he said. “It’s easier to access, they don’t check age and it’s not regulated properly. Anybody can just buy in bulk with a regular credit card.”

Editor’s note: The following story is the third part of a multi-part series looking at h**p stores, smoke shops, v**e retailers and convenience stores in Transylvania County which sell new

06/17/2025

A report released Friday by the CARE Coalition raises concerns over the recent proliferation of licit drug retailers in Brevard as a “growing health concern, especially for local youth.”

The CARE Coalition is a public health organization administered by the Transylvania County government and works to reduce substance use in the county. The coalition conducted a study to analyze the 12 retail outlets which sell recreational licit drugs such as cannabis, kratom, ni****ne, v**es and to***co in Brevard city limits.

The report from the study analyzed the types and varieties of products sold at these retailers, how they are advertised and packaged and what the stores’ policies around age are. The study mapped where these stores are located in comparison to schools and went into detail about the mind-altering and addiction-forming effects of some of their products.

The report raises a number of concerns surrounding the stores, but mainly centers on the lack of regulation in the industry which could cause increased adolescent use of licit drugs and lead to further issues with addiction to ni****ne, alcohol or even illegal substances.

“The data is very clear that the earlier you use ni****ne, cannabis, alcohol, any mind-altering substance, as a young person, the more likely you are to build up a substance-use disorder,” said Kristen Gentry, program director of CARE Coalition. “From that lens, none of them are safe for younger people.”

Editor’s note: The following story is the second part of a multi-part series looking at h**p stores, smoke shops, v**e retailers and convenience stores in Transylvania County which sell new

06/12/2025

Editor’s note: The following story is the first part of a multi-part series looking at h**p stores, smoke shops, v**e retailers and convenience stores in Transylvania County which sell new “licit drugs.” Check back in each issue of The Transylvania Times for the next part of the series.

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H**p shops paved the way as some of the first stores in the county to sell recreational licit drugs as they found new ways through complicated cannabis laws and avenues to market to new customers. Although, unlike the alcohol and ni****ne industries, they are largely unregulated.

As of June, six stores within Brevard city limits market themselves as h**p stores, cannabis shops or dispensaries. Another six stores are smoke shops or v**e stores which also sell cannabis products.

Catherine Artzt was one of the first to bring the burgeoning industry of h**p to Brevard. She is the owner and CEO of Brevard H**p and French Broad Cannabis. When she got her business started in 2019, there was little-to-no market for legal cannabis products in town.

Editor’s note: The following story is the first part of a multi-part series looking at h**p stores, smoke shops, v**e retailers and convenience stores in Transylvania County which sell new

06/10/2025

GALLERY: Rosman High School Graduation 2025

Click here to view this item from transylvaniatimes.com.

06/09/2025

Due to mechanical difficulties with our air conditioning, we have closed the office for the day. Please feel free to leave a message with any one of our staff if calling the office. For immediate assistance, call Lisa Stadelman @ 304-860-2196.

06/09/2025

Brevard High School conferred 187 students during its graduation ceremony at the Brevard Music Center Friday afternoon.

Editor's note: In 2024 The Transylvania Times published a gallery with photos of each of Brevard High School's 183 graduates. Due to technical limitations this year, The T. Times only