More details emerge about plane crash in Shenandoah National Park
A pilot from California on a solo cross-country trip died in a plane crash in Shenandoah National Park on Monday, August 31. Nicholas Hellewell, 35, of San Luis Obispo, California was piloting a single-engine, four-seater Piper PA-20-135 when he crashed about a half-mile from Skyline Drive in the Buck Hollow Trail area. Hikers discovered the plane wreckage in a heavily wooded area on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and alerted park officials.
“Nicolas was on an adventure of a lifetime travelling the U.S. in his Piper PA-20 plane,” a family statement posted on Hellewell’s Facebook page said. “On Tuesday, September 2, he died in a plane crash in Virginia. He made many stops along the way with family and friends. Please treasure the time you spent with him. He will be missed!”
Shooting on Blue Ridge Parkway leaves 1 injured
One person was shot and injured after an attempted break-in on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Citizen Times reports. Officers responded to a call of shots fired shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 4 near Craggy Gardens. The shooter and owner of the vehicle called 911 to report the incident. The injured suspect was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville.
Asheville City Council to set up a Stormwater Task Force
Some great news for the French Broad River! Asheville City Council and city staff have announced they will set up a Stormwater Task Force to analyze where and how the City’s stormwater and sewer systems are failing. The task force will then put together an action plan to fix the problems.
The City of Asheville has persistent water pollution problems that disproportionately affect the majority African American community of Southside and contribute to the overall poor water quality of the French Broad River, the organization Mountain True said in an email. The goal of the new task force is to improve the water quality for all Asheville residents.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive exit brown information and direction sign on road highway in Markham Virginia in spring with trees – courtesy of Getty Images by ablokhin
