Local and State Headlines for March 12, 2018

Winter Weather Hitting WNC

Parts of Western North Carolina are under a winter storm warning through midnight tonight.  Higher elevations in Yancey, Mitchell and Avery Counties could see up to five inches of snow in the latest system moving in.  Buncombe and surrounding counties are under a winter weather advisory all day today with several inches of snow possible in higher elevations.  Cold temperatures overnight could cause slick roads in Tuesday's morning commute as well.  

Lake Resigns As App State Tennis Coach

Longtime Appalachian State tennis coach Bob Lake is stepping down from his position.  Lake submitted his resignation amid controversy of alleged racist comments by one of his players.  He was suspended in January and has not coached the team since then.  The men's team compiled more than 200 wins during Lake's 18-year tenure.  Former App State tennis player and volunteer assistant coach Jake Maddocks will serve in the interim. 

More Students Arrested For Threats In Henderson County

Two more students in Henderson County are facing charges of threats against a school.  The 16- and 17-year-old went through the hallways of West Henderson High School on Friday and reportedly threatened to shoot up the school.  The Henderson County Sheriff's Office says the threats were only a hoax, but the teens still face charges of communicating a threat of mass violence at an educational facility.  Another West Henderson student was arrested earlier in the week for threats against Rugby Middle School students. 

Mars Hill Names New University President

Mars Hill University says its next president is Tony Floyd.  Floyd comes to the school from Coker College in South Carolina, where he has been serving as executive vice president.  The board of trustees has announced Floyd will begin his tenure on June 1st.  Outgoing president Dan Lunsford is retiring after 16 years as president.  Floyd told the crowd during the announcement that he recognizes the responsibility that comes with the school's tradition.  

Food Manufacturer Growing Into New Weaverville Facility

Weaverville is the new home for an expanding manufacturer of plant-based meat products.  'No Evil Foods' has been operating in Candler and now finds it needs more space due to product demands.  The company also plans to hire 15 more employees before the end of the year.  It will move into the former building of Arvato Digital Services.

UNC-Asheville Heading To NIT

The basketball season continues tomorrow night for the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs.  The men's team accepted a bid to the National Invitational Tournament after winning the Big South regular season championship.  They are scheduled for an 11 p.m. Eastern tip in Los Angeles against Southern Cal.  The Trojans were left out of the NCAA tournament despite finishing runner-up in the Pac-12 regular season standings and conference tournament.

Suspect Arrested In Multi-Campus Assaults

The CMPD says a man has been arrested for a string of sexual assault and battery incidents around area college campuses.  David Keith Kenney was accused of inappropriately touching a student and then later an employee at CPCC Friday.  Police later connected Kenney to three sexual battery cases reported near UNC-Charlotte.  He tried to run from officers after someone reported him as a suspicious person, but he didn't make it far.

Sheriff's Deputy Killed In Crash

An Edgecombe County sheriff's deputy is dead after a crash.  The state highway patrol says the accident happened on Route 111 around 6:15 last evening when the southbound patrol car collided with a northbound vehicle.  The deputy died at the scene.  His name has not been released.

Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Field

Crews will remove a small plane from a field in Wilson County today.  The plane made an emergency landing off Williford Road near the Nash County line on Saturday.  Authorities say the plane was traveling from Fayetteville to Washington, DC when a fuel pressure issue forced the landing.  The pilot was not injured and there is minor damage to the plane.



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