The News-Record & Sentinel

02/12/2023

The Marshall Christmas Pageant is canceled due to rain.

02/12/2023

New details about Madison County Industrial Park emerge as project gets rezoned. The proposed industrial park will feature 4 buildings.

Find out what county operation’s building it will move into here.

The proposed Madison County Industrial Park, set to be located at the current county maintenance facility, was rezoned to Industrial Nov. 21.

01/12/2023

On Dec. 11, the Marshall Board of Adjustment will vote on a proposed Redmon Road campground. A similar project along Frisby Road was approved within the last two months.

Get the details on the project here.

The Marshall Board of Adjustment will vote on a campground project, Marshall Mountain Campgrounds, proposed along 40 acres, on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.

22/11/2023

The Madison County Planning Board voted to table its vote on Russell Blevins and Clif Parker’s application to remove the 50-foot setback requirement from the county Ridge Protection Ordinance.

The planning board will vote on the issue in its next scheduled meeting Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Marshall library, located at 1335 N. Main St.

17/11/2023

A man escaped a prison transport van while en route to court in Greeneville, Tennessee Oct. 18 and has been on the run since.

The FBI said an eyewitness spotted Sean Christopher Williams, 51, in Jackson County at 11:30 a.m. this morning.

Williams is currently on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list and has ties to North Carolina with previous residences in Cullowhee and Burlington.

The list says Williams is wanted “for two counts of r**e of a child, sixteen counts of esp. aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of aggravated sexual battery (under 13).”

Read it here.

The FBI said Sean Christopher Williams was spotted in Sylva Nov. 17. Williams escaped out of a prison transport van Oct. 18 while en route to court.

17/11/2023

The Appalachian Trail remains closed from Interstate 40 in Haywood County to Max Patch, as the Black Bear Fire has spread to nearly1,200 acres and is 0% contained, the United States Forest Service announced this afternoon.

Read about it here.

The U.S. Forest Service said Black Bear Fire in Haywood County had burned nearly 1,200 acres and is 0% contained as of 11 a.m. Nov. 17.

16/11/2023

Portions of the Appalachian Trail, including from Interstate 40 in Haywood County to Max Patch, are closed in response to the Black Bear Fire.

U.S. Forest Service officials told The News-Record & Sentinel the "fire activity was very active" and had burned roughly 150 acres. As of 4:30 p.m., the fire was 0% contained.

Read about it here.

The U.S. Forest Service said the Appalachian Trail is closed from Interstate 40 in Haywood County to Max Patch in response to the Black Bear Fire.

16/11/2023

Recreation on the French Broad River is a crucial part of Hot Springs’ identity, so when word broke out that Nantahala Outdoors Center’s parking lot would no longer be available for public access to visitors, MountainTrue stepped in.

The organizations are now in talks to allow for public use at the site, one of the only public access points in Hot Springs/Madison County.

Get the story here.

Jack Henderson, a trail manager with MountainTrue met with residents in Hot Springs to discuss the future of one of the town's river access points.

10/11/2023

Russell Blevins, the former Madison County Planning Board chair from 1997-2001, is going before the planning board to attempt to remove from the Madison County Ridge Ordinance the 50-foot setback requirement for building on ridges.

Blevins says he feels the rule is arbitrary and forces him to build on the side of slopes, which more risky and more costly.

But residents say doing away with the 50-foot setback requirement will only usher in more developers and will destroy the beauty of what makes Madison County "The Jewel of the Blue Ridge."

Read about it here.

The planning board will meet Nov. 17 to hear a developer's request to scrap the county's ridge protection ordinance's 50-foot setback requirement.

08/11/2023

The Hot Springs Town Board added 2 new members, while Marshall has a new mayor.

Hear from the newly elected here.

While incumbent board member Jeanne Gentry received the most votes, Dan Myers and Wendy Stancil beat out fellow incumbent alderman Vaughn Barnett.

08/11/2023

Hot Springs added two new members to its town board.

Incumbent board member Jeanne Gentry will be the lone holdover from the previous board. Elsewhere, Marshall will have a new mayor.

Read about it here.

While incumbent board member Jeanne Gentry received the most votes, Dan Myers and Wendy Stancil beat out fellow incumbent alderman Vaughn Barnett.

07/11/2023

*****On Nov. 12 Marshall Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 125th anniversary. *****

A commemorative worship service will be held at 11 a.m. with special guests: speaker Rev. Dr. Byron A. Wade, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina and Rev. Dr. Cameron Murchison, Jr., Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina.

The community is invited to participate in, both, the 11:00 a.m. service and the 1:00 p.m. covered dish meal following service at 165 S. Main St. in Marshall.

This church has a distinguished history. When the railroad first rumbled into Madison County in the late 1800s, it brought trade, travel, tourism and evangelism to remote edges of Western North Carolina.

On Nov. 12, 1898, a new congregation was chartered in Marshall as Couper Memorial Presbyterian Church. The founders quickly made plans to build on a rise overlooking the old Catawba Trail/Drovers’ Road, the rails, and the French Broad River. Soon their sanctuary stood on the site, and a long record of Christian outreach began.

Early activities in the wider community included establishing Marshall Academy on Hill Street, the first public school in Marshall. The congregation also opened a recreation center on Main Street to provide an activities space for local youth. A free, public library was established in the old Couper Memorial Church in June 1901.

Evangelism in Madison County included coordinating with other Presbyterian communities at Walnut and Hot Springs, as well as a school, chapel and hospital at White Rock.

In 1950 the current brick building emerged from the metamorphic escarpment at 165 S. Main St., under the new name Marshall Presbyterian Church. Its distinctive front staircases, portico, bell tower and octagonal spire became landmarks. And its community outreach expanded.

Through the decades, this congregation’s work has evolved to include its current support of Scouting, Neighbors in Need, addiction recovery groups, Quaker Circle, artistic and cultural initiatives and other services. Its annual Community Christmas Eve Service inspires locals and seasonal visitors alike.

Marshall Presbyterian’s mission statement echoes its sense of calling: “Broadly, deeply, joyfully sharing the good news of Christ with Marshall and Madison County for 125 years.”

07/11/2023

While Spring Creek residents know it, there is an American hero living among us in Madison County.

The News-Record sat down with Silver Star recipient Michael Wess, who reflected on his time in Vietnam, and one friendship in particular that still means the world to him today.

As a Navy corpsman, Wess did not carry a firearm. On one September 1968 day, Wess and his Marines company came under mortar fire. The heroic, selfless actions of Wess on that day earned him his Silver Star.

Get the story here.

Michael Wess, a Hot Springs resident, served as a Navy corpsman with the United States Marines in the Vietnam War, earning a Silver Star Medal.

06/11/2023

Madison Middle School students were helping peers say no to drugs during Red Ribbon Week.

We spoke to four local youths about why it was important to them to get involved in helping their fellow youths to make healthy choices and to have a stigma-free environment where they could speak on mental health issues.

The News-Record also sat down with Madison Substance Awareness Coalition Director Heather Sharp and Paige Rizzuto, a local health education coordinator, about the student organization Madison Patriots Prevention Partnership (MP3) and it’s anti-vaping initiative.

Read it here.

The school's Madison Patriots Prevention Partnership, or MP3, participated in its largest Red Ribbon Week, which takes place Oct. 23-31.

03/11/2023

The Mars Hill police chief was fired Oct. 16 for a policy breach, according to Town Manager Nathan Bennett.

The town called an emergency meeting in September, which resulted in his suspension without pay, Bennett said.

Read about it here.

Town Manager Nathan Bennett said Jon Clark was terminated Oct. 16 for a policy breach. Clark had served for Mars Hill Police Department since 2016.

31/10/2023

A Madison County child's lead poisoning has led to a recall and a nationwide investigation into WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit pouch purees.

Hear from members of our county health department, including County Health Director Tammy Cody, here.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned parents in an Oct. 28 release of lead levels found in the WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches.

30/10/2023

Hunters called the Madison County Sheriff's Office Oct. 28 to report they had found human remains along Stackhouse Road in Marshall, part of the Pisgah National Forest lands.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

Read about it here.

Hunters found human remains in a "remote wooded area" in the Madison County area of Pisgah National Forest. The FBI is investigating.

30/10/2023

With the election 8 days away, Hot Springs candidates weighed in on Robert E. Lee plaque, tourism and other issues during a debate last week, which was moderated by Norris Gentry and coordinated by the League of Women’s Voters.

The five candidates answered questions submitted by residents. Hear their responses here.

Five Hot Springs Town Board candidates met Oct. 24 to answer questions on a range of topics, including vacation rentals and a Confederate statue.

27/10/2023

Mars Theatre Brewing Company’s just celebrated their 1-year anniversary taking over the company.

Owner Scott Spruill has aimed to make the brewery a community-oriented venue, and he has revitalized the historic building by offering movie nights, trivia, and even hosting reunions for families and graduating classes.

That community feel is vitally important to Spruill, who moved to Western NC after his son died of an asthma attack at 20 years old.

Spruill called the venue Mars Hill's “own 'little ‘Cheers.’”

Read about how he’s outletted his grieving by turning his attention to the venue here.

Mars Theatre Brewing Company owner Scott Spruill said the ownership team celebrated its one-year anniversary in October.

23/10/2023

Madison County residents Keith Griffin, Daniel Nash and Jay Tipton were selected to participate in the International Lineman's Rodeo in Kansas on Oct. 14.

Griffin and Tipton’s three-man team even earned the top prize in the senior division.

Hear from the men about what it means to represent the county as the top award winners here.

Madison County residents Keith Griffin, Daniel Nash and Jay Tipton were selected to participate in the International Lineman's Rodeo Oct. 14.

20/10/2023

Downtown Mars Hill is getting a new bakery. Check out this article from Citizen Times:

High Ridge Bakery is expected to open by early Novemberaccording to owner Meghan Graham.

Graham, a former English as Second Language teacher, has been baking for more than 10 years, and her sourdough breads have been a bit at the hit at the Mars Hill tailgate market.

Now, they’ll be available in her store front. Hear from Graham about the community’s excitement about the store here.

Megan Graham, a former English as Second Language teacher, will open High Ridge Bakery in downtown Mars Hill. She has been baking for 10 years.

17/10/2023

Starting Oct. 28, the Madison County Courthouse will move its operations to the N.c. Cooperative Extension, as the county is doing renovations on the courthouse, which is one of the oldest in the state.

In last week’s commissioners meeting, the county commissioners debated on the best course of action for the remaining $3.8 million in state funds appropriated to the courthouse.

The News Record will have another story this week on the commission’s plans moving forward.

Find out how long the county plans to operate it’s courts from the Extension Center in the story here.

According to a release from County Manager Rod Honeycutt, courthouse operations and offices will move to the Extension Center beginning Oct. 30.

12/10/2023

Marshall Native Gardens and the Madison County Garden Club will host its second annual Fall Native Plant Festival, a free all-day event featuring workshops and talks from local gardeners.

The festival will have a free shuttle from Marshall Ingles to the Marshall library. There will also be a native plant sale, as well as workshops on controlling invasive species, tree identification and a talk on this year's featured native plant: azaleas.

Find out more here.

Marshall Native Gardens will host its second annual native plant festival, a free event with workshops and talks, Oct. 14 at the Marshall library.

10/10/2023

A message from Mars Hill United Methodist Church:

Mars Hill United Methodist Church will be open for silent prayers for the Mideast crisis this Thursday, Oct. 12, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The church is located at 201 S. Main Street, Mars Hill.

Come any time within the hour, leave in silence by 6 p.m.

10/10/2023

Spring Creek's dual car show/pie contest reminds residents of a "simpler time."

Hear from the emcee and other Spring Creek residents about what makes the contest and the community so special here.

The Spring Creek Car Show and Pie Contest took place Sept. 23 at the community center, and staff raised funds for repairs to the community center.

09/10/2023

Mars Hill gallery spotlights 8 local LGBTQ+ artists in exhibit to run through Oct. 28.

The News-Record spoke with 3 of the featured artists, including the artist-in-residence, Brennan/Connie Henshaw, and Southern Equality Studios’ creative director Liz Williams about the impact they hope to make with the new exhibition, “Expansive.”

Hear from them here.

Southern Equality Studios' Expansive exhibition runs through Oct. 28 at Weizenblatt Gallery, located at 79 Cascade St. in Mars Hill.

07/10/2023

A Newport, Tennessee-based organization told the town of Hot Springs it will fund half of the costs for a replacement Robert E. Lee Dixie Highway marker plaque on the monument on which it sits, at 311 U.S. 25/70 behind Spring Creek Tavern.

Board member Jimmy Moore said donors would cover the rest of the costs. But will the town choose to go ahead with a replacement plaque, or instate an "alternative solution," like an earlier proposed memorial to the Cherokee original settlers?

Read it here.

A group told the Hot Springs Town Board it would pay half the costs of a Dixie Highway marker plaque if the town votes to approve its replacement.

06/10/2023

West Asheville’s Hole Doughnuts was rated the second highest rated doughnut in the country on Yelp earlier this year.

Now, the owners are bringing a location to Marshall. Noodle Hole will focus primarily on noodles but will still offer doughnuts as well, and will be in downtown Marshall, in the space previously occupied by Ivy and the Poet.

Read about it here.

Hallee and Ryan Martin, owners of Hole Doughnuts, say Noodle Hole will focus primarily on noodles and will serve one doughnut flavor at a time.

05/10/2023

Bobby Hicks has brought plenty of acclaim to Madison County, winning 10 Grammy Awards as a fiddle player with Ricky Skaggs, and playing with Bill Monroe before that.

But now his wife is helping to bring national attention to Madison County, as Cathy Hicks won the USA Pickleball National Indoor Championships in Atlantic City Sept. 20-23.

Read about it here.

Marshall's Cathy Hicks won three gold medals at the USA Pickleball National Indoor Championship Sept. 20-23, including two with Candler's Cat Case.

04/10/2023

David Robinson was not the only person recognized with a Lunsford Award last month, as longtime radio host John Roten was also recognized with an honor.

Roten told The News-Record ""I feel kind of like a ball boy that somehow is named the Most Valuable Player."

Read it here.

John Roten, a longtime Lunsford Festival emcee, was recognized with a Lunsford Award at the festival Sept. 23 at Mars Hill University.

29/09/2023

Happy National Coffee Day! Go get some of Mars Hill’s own Notorious Coffee Roasting to celebrate.

Celebrate National Coffee Day with a bag of Notorious Coffee!

29/09/2023

Former Madison High principal David Robinson was honored Sept. 23 with the Lunsford Award, as longtime friend Roger Howell presented the family with the award.

Howell told The News-Record his friend was an “exceptional musician and exceptional human being.”

Hear from others about Robinson’s impact here.

Former Madison High principal David Robinson was honored with a Lunsford Award Sept. 23 during the Lunsford Festival at Mars Hill University.

26/09/2023

The town of Mars Hill will use American Rescue Plan Act funding to replace a wastewater pump station and rehabilitate another lift station, Town Manager Nathan Bennett announced earlier this month.

Mars Hill Town Manager Nathan Bennett announced the town will use American Rescue Plan Act funding to replace a wastewater pump station.

25/09/2023

Melissa Upchurch, Marshall's 1st woman pastor, reflected on the end of her 12-year tenure in Marshall, as she has moved back to Arkansas to be closer to family.

“It’s the people,” Upchurch said to The News-Record of Madison residents during her first visit to the county.
“I met the people, and I thought, 'Gee, I could thrive here.' And I did thrive.”

Hear more from her here.

Marshall Presbyterian Church pastor Melissa Upchurch participated in her last church service Sept. 17 as she has moved back home to Arkansas.

23/09/2023

Madison residents weigh in on biomass facilities as work group holds its first listening session earlier this week.

One proposed change is to distinguish between large and small biomass facilities in the land use ordinance, but residents said the proposed definition for biomass facilities itself is too vague.

Hear about other concerns raised by residents in the Sept. 18 meeting here.

With its biomass moratorium set to expire in May, Madison County's biomass workgroup held a public listening session to hear feedback from residents.

22/09/2023

The commissioners agreed to change the parks and recreation board’s bylaws after the department board chair said the board’s had only one quorum in the last three years.

The board was cut from 14 to 10 members, with some commissioners, including Jeremy Hensley, advocating for the board to be cut back to 5 members in the future.

Read it here.

The Madison County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved bylaws to lower the number of parks and recreation board members from 15 to 10 members.

21/09/2023

The state Department of Public Instruction’s western regional director commended Madison County Schools' work in the annual report released last week.

Find out the six schools’ grades in the state’s report cards here.

In response to the annual report, the state Department of Public Instruction's western regional director highlighted Madison County Schools' work.

19/09/2023

The Madison County Fair rodeo returns next weekend. We spoke to a number of barrel racers, horse and bull riders and the local rodeo clown, as well as the program coordinator about the rise of cowboy culture in the media, and how the local pastime is about family traditions and paying respect.

Read the story here.

The Madison County Championship Rodeo returns to the Madison County Fairgrounds in Marshall for the county fair rodeo edition Sept. 29-30.

15/09/2023

Sept. 23 may be the busiest day in Madison County’s history, as Art on the Island returns to Marshall for its 11th annual event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Blannahassett Island.

Also on that day, the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival, Madison Heritage Arts Festival and the Apple Butter Festivall will take place.

Read about Art on the Island here.

Madison County Arts Council's Art on the Island will return to Blannahassett Island Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

18/08/2023

Friends of Madison County Animals has named Eva Wolf its new program assistant. She replaces Tricia Ruscoe, who had served in the role since 2016.

Madison County's lone pet pantry introduced Eva Wolf as the new program assistant, replacing Tricia Ruscoe.