News

POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Nearly 5,000 acres are burning in Polk County as crews battle three separate wildfires.

The latest acreage and containment from the North Carolina Forest Service is as follows:

Black Cove
2,706 acres
0% contained on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge
Burning timber on steep terrain
Deep Woods
2,545 acres
0% contained on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and in the Holbert Cove community
Burning timber on steep terrain
Fish Hook
199 acres
50% contained on private land near Lake Adger
Forward progress of the fire has been stopped, containment is expected to increase
Multiple structures have been destroyed.
On the afternoon of March 23, for the first time since the three fires ignited, Polk County residents were able to hear from fire officials and ask questions inside and in the hallway of a packed government building for an hour.

"We've already actually evacuated everything that we felt was important," said Kim Callaway. "Now we're just staying at the house and trying to do what we can to get our house prepared if the firemen need to show up and hold the line."
Callaway lives off Green River Cove Road and is waiting for whatever comes next. Others were concerned about how they were going to find out the latest information.

P"We live in a rural area, and so not everyone has internet here or even has great cell service," Melissa Holland said. "It's very spotty."
Holland lives in Mill Spring and said many are relying on word of mouth; she's hoping for a more consistent line of county communication.

"We don't want to push out misinformation," Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge said.

Nearly 5,000 acres are burning in Polk County as crews battle three separate wildfires. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

Arledge said his team is working to keep people informed about the fires that he describes as "historic" in his county.

"It may not be acreages and stuff like that, but it may be some different items that we're working on so the public will have an idea about what's going on," he said.
Residents learned at the meeting that Polk County is transitioning away from Nixel emergency text alerts to Everbridge.

Sunday evening, flames illuminate the night sky as downed trees from Helene continue to challenge fire crews.

"There are some roads and trails, but a lot of those roads have been affected by Helene, so you can only go so far, and the next thing you know, it's a ravine or a washout, and you can't [go] any further so that has hampered construction on those areas," North Carolina Forest Service Public Information Officer Jeremy Waldrop said.
LOCAL BUSINESSES RALLY TO FEED FIREFIGHTERS AS POLK COUNTY FIRES PROMPT EVACUATIONS

Multiple structures and outbuildings are destroyed according to Polk County Emergency Management as crews continue to put in fire lines with dozers, fly in water drops and execute burnouts.

STORY COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

With Henderson County officially under a BURNING BAN until further notice, pictured here is smoke from adjoining Polk County (Tryon) where burning fire is not contained.

Statement on Dismantling the Department of Education

March 20, 2025

RALEIGH — Donald Bryson, President and CEO of the John Locke Foundation, issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education:
"Today’s executive order from President Trump signifies a deliberate attempt to restore educational authority to the states and eliminate a federal bureaucracy that has long burdened local school systems with costly and unnecessary mandates. Education is, at its core, a state and local responsibility, and North Carolina is more than capable of determining how best to educate its students without interference from Washington.
For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has imposed regulations and compliance costs that often exceed the federal funding states receive. By removing this bureaucracy, we open the door for greater flexibility, innovation, and accountability in education policy—allowing parents, teachers, and local leaders to craft solutions that best serve their communities.
Shuttering the Department of Education would not mean all federal education funding would end. The most effective way to continue supporting education while respecting state sovereignty is to block grant federal education funds directly to states. A block grant system provides state and local leaders the greatest flexibility to address their unique needs—without requiring a federal agency to micromanage how those dollars are spent.
While today’s order is a noteworthy milestone, in order for the Department to close, Congress must follow through and take legislative action. Until then, this remains an ongoing effort to return power to the states and put students first.
The John Locke Foundation has long championed state and local control over education decisions. We would welcome a proposal from Congress to transition federal education funding to a block grant system."

 Henderson County deputies are asking for the public's help after a home was struck by gunfire Wednesday night.

In a social media post Thursday, March 19, the sheriff's office said deputies responded to the Riverstone community around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday after multiple reports of gunshots.

Officers at the scene found a home on W. Hiawassee Road had been hit by gunfire.

The incident is under active investigation, and the sheriff's office is asking Riverstone residents to check their security cameras for suspicious activity between 11 and 11:45 p.m. on March 19.

Anyone with video footage is asked to send it to Henderson County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Stephanie Barbosa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office or use the “Submit a Tip” feature on the mobile app.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSGunfire hits Henderson County home; deputies seek public's help

The City of Hendersonville has scheduled its seasonal mulch giveaway program to begin on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Mulch will be available for pick up on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This schedule will continue until May 16^th or until the material is gone. 

The mulch will be distributed at the old Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 80 Balfour Road in Hendersonville. The Public Works Department will have a staff member on-site to operate the backhoe and load the material. 

In addition to mulch, the City will be offering composted leaves as a separate material. These leaves were collected during the fall of 2023, ran through a grinder, and composted for a year. This compost should be an excellent addition to your vegetable and flower gardens. 

The initial two weeks of the giveaway will be exclusively for City residents. Volunteers will be on-site to assist with residency verification, so please have your ID ready upon arrival. 

Commercial vehicles are not allowed, this includes dump trucks and any other marked commercial trucks or trailers. 

For questions about this program, please contact the Public Works Department at (828) 697-3084. 

Being accessible, listening, and answering questions for the people of WNC are among my favorite activities, even if we might not always agree.
That is why in my first term as a congressman, I held eight in-person town halls, and recently I was eager to host my ninth one in Asheville.
It’s always valuable to engage in discussions with the folks in our mountains about concerns or questions you have.
If you were unable to attend my town hall, stay tuned for my upcoming tele-town hall by following me on social media and subscribing to my newsletter.
Keeping our government open and serving the American people
The U.S. House voted on a clean, long-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep our government open and providing critical services to the American people.
A CR is not the preferred method to keep our government funded. However, with a looming shutdown, the House was able to collaborate with President Trump on a bill that funds our federal government and reduces non-defense spending.
It’s disappointing that 212 Democrat House Members chose a government shutdown instead when just in December, not one voted “no” on the CR.
This CR funds core government services; protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients from payment disruptions; and strengthens veteran health care and housing programs as well as our defense. The long-term CR will also enable the House to keep our momentum to continue delivering an America First agenda and go after the waste, fraud, and abuse of your hard-earned tax dollars.
I will continue to fight for lower costs, safer communities, and common-sense legislation that will ensure a better future for folks in our mountains.
Town of Canton to receive over $40 million dollar grant

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers and I announced that the Town of Canton will be receiving a $40,780,000 grant as a result of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 and the American Relief Act.
This grant will revolutionize the town’s water and wastewater systems by funding the design and construction of stormwater improvements, water tank and waterlines, and a new wastewater treatment facility to serve the residents of Canton for decades to come.
WNC makes strides in recovery after Helene
Western North Carolina has a long way to recovery, but we’ve certainly made great strides.
As we’re nearing the six-month mark since Helene hit our mountains, I wanted to share some of the milestones we’ve achieved.
FEMA has approved applications for more than 157,000 households in WNC and more than $400 million has been awarded for disaster-caused needs. Additionally, more than 6,000 families have received nearly $19 million for repair or replacement of private-access roads and bridges.
One of our greatest challenges has been debris removal, especially from waterways, but as of this week, nearly 5 million cubic yards of debris have been cleared from public right of ways and another 600,000 cubic yards of debris were removed from waterways.
While there’s more work to be done, we’ve achieved more than most communities in this period of time. Our mountain folk have shown resilience throughout the response and recovery process, and I’m proud of the way everyone continues to show up for one another during these difficult times. I’m optimistic that together, we will rebuild our communities even stronger and better than before.
Bringing the federal government to folks across WNC
In keeping with my office’s motto of being “First in Constituent Services” and helping folks post-Hurricane Helene, my office has brought the Carolina Cruiser all across our mountains for mobile office hours.
In February alone, the Carolina Cruiser made 15 stops where members of my team heard about the issues that matter to WNC communities, answered questions about disaster recovery, and assisted with federal agencies. During these office hours, my team heard from nearly 400 individuals.
It is my goal as your congressman to remain accessible to you. In addition to mobile office hours, I hold Chat With Chuck meetings to hear from constituents one-on-one. Most recently, I was glad to discuss with 10 constituents their concerns and answer their questions individually.
If you’re interested in scheduling a meeting with me, please fill out the form on my website at edwards.house.gov/chatwithchuck.
If you want to stop by mobile office hours for assistance navigating a federal agency or to just provide feedback, stay updated on the office hours schedule by following the Carolina Cruiser on X and Facebook, and visiting my website at edwards.house.gov/carolinacruiser.
SBA extends deadline for physical damage loans

If your business suffered damage from Hurricane Helene, the Small Business Administration has extended the physical damage loan application deadline to April 27, 2025.
For the application and additional information, visit the SBA website linked here.
With my warmest regards,

 Demolition for the longtime Canton Paper Mill is officially underway. Zeb Smathers, the mayor of Canton, told News 13 that the process is expected to take about two years.

On Wednesday, March 19, Smathers said it's bittersweet to see the mill start to come down because while it signals the start of their new chapter, the town is also officially saying goodbye to the century-old structure.

"Never forget the ones that came before and put the sacrifices in, at the end of the day we're just carrying on their legacy," said Smathers.

In March 2023, then-owner Pactiv Evergreen announced the closure of the Canton paper mill. The news shocked the town, as the mill was one of the largest employers in Haywood County, and the closure led to the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The mill was sold to Spirtas Worldwide, a demolition and redevelopment company in January 2025 after Hurricane Helene delayed the finalization of the sale.

Last month, a settlement was reached for Pactiv Evergreen to pay the town of Canton and the state $6.25 million in financial restitution over the mill's closure. This comes from a May 2024 lawsuit filed by former attorney general and current governor Josh Stein, claiming that Pactiv breached a grant agreement and owed $12 million to the state.

Mayor Smathers said the settlement marked a new chapter for the town, and he's excited to see what's in store for the future of the mill site.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSDemolition of century-old Canton paper mill underway

A tractor trailer driver was issued two citations following a 16-vehicle pileup just before the Peter Guice Bridge (also known as the Green River Bridge) on Interstate 26 East on the morning of March 17.

Trooper John Creasman with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol gave News 13 more details of the incident on March 18 after an investigation. Creasman said Phillip Buchanan, 42, of Flat Rock was issued a citation for reckless driving and also a citation for lane violation, saying tractor trailers are supposed to be in the right lane on that section of I-26 East.

Creasman also said speed was a contributing factor.

"Traffic was stopped after there were reports of debris in the roadway. People were saying there was a truck that lost a load of construction cones, but when troopers arrived, the debris was gone," Creasman said. "The tractor trailer failed to reduce speed and collided with 15 of the vehicles that were already stopped in the right lane."

Creasman said three people were injured in the accident.

"The three people were transported to (UNC Health) Pardee. None of the injuries were life-threatening," Creasman said.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSDriver cited for reckless driving, lane violation after 16-vehicle pileup on I-26

The Fletcher Police Department has arrested a Fletcher man for exploitation of a minor.

According to arrest warrants for Brandon William Moses, 25, he was arrested on 10 counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor.

Moses was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Detention Center on March 16 on a $75,000 bond.

He made his first court appearance on March 17 and waived his right to counsel, according to court records. His next court appearance will be his disposition hearing on April 1.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSFletcher man arrested on 10 counts of 3rd-degree exploitation of a minor