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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The skies across Western North Carolina are remaining hazy on Wednesday as wildfire smoke from Canada continues to move into the region.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Ground Level Ozone for all of North Carolina.

Around 3:42 p.m., the DEQ updated air quality alerts from some areas of North Carolina being in a Code Red (unhealthy for all people) to a Code Orange (unhealthy for some sensitive populations, such as those with breathing issues).

AIR QUALITY ALERTS ISSUED FOR NORTH CAROLINA DUE TO SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES

An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency says due to the Code Orange Air Quality Alert, no open burning is allowed at this time.

NEW YORK CITY'S AIR POLLUTION AMONG WORST IN THE WORLD AS WILDFIRE SMOKE HITS NORTHEAST

"Open Burning is generally PROHIBITED on Air Quality Action Days," the website says. "Burning trash and other non-vegetative material is ALWAYS PROHIBITED."

Northerly winds have carried wildfire smoke hundreds of miles down south into the U.S., creating hazy skies and creating potential health problems.

During wildfires, particles from the smoke and ash can enter your body and harm your health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.

BREATHING IN WILDFIRE SMOKE COMPARABLE TO SMOKING 3 TO 11 CIGARETTES A DAY, STUDY NOTES

"Exposure to air pollutants in wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, likely including COVID-19," the CDC adds.

AirNow, a partnership of several government and local agencies, encourages people to monitor their smoke map for current conditions across the U.S. and reduce outdoor exposure during unhealthy air quality times.

MARS HILL - In the Mars Hill Town Board of Aldermen's March 13 meeting, the board and residents spoke of the anticipation surrounding the return of Mars Hill First Fridays, a collaborative project between the town and a number of local businesses designed to spotlight local commerce in the town.

The town also announced it has purchased two Mountain View Road buildings - 55 Mountain View Road and 63 Mountain View Road , which Townn Manager Nathan Bennett said will be razed to meet traffic needs as a result of the county’s increased visitation.

In the board's February meeting, Bennett announced the town had bought the Robinson Building, located at 9 S. Main Street and 15 S. Main Street.

In the March meeting, Bennett relayed more news about additional property acquisitions, announcing the town had purchased two buildings on Mountain View Road, near the corner of Library Street, near Mars Landing Galleries, an art studio owned by Miryam Rojas.

Rojas also co-chairs Mars Hill First Fridays with James Huddle and a team of other local business owners.

Rojas and Huddle also outlined some of their requests to the town to properly carry out the event, including a request for money for temporary or permanent lighting along Mountain View Road.

"We actually put some metal landscape rods and some solar lights, but they're just not really sufficient enough to light up that sidewalk - which isn't really an issue until the later months when it gets darker, but we did ask for funding to help us to find a more permanent solution," Huddle said. "We've been really focused on trying to make sure people are safe during this event. People are spilling over in the streets. That's a good sign and a bad sign."

According to Huddle, the team asked for $1,350 for the light fixtures.

Rojas said another issue she'd like to see addressed by the town is the walkability along Mountain View Road.

"There's no protection - it's very narrow. Two people cannot walk side by side on it," Rojas said. "We have a lot of older kids who come and have ice cream and walk around town. It's just such a beautiful aspect - that it's so safe and wonderful for people to walk around.

"I just saw that there was something planned for a pedestrian plan. We're just hoping that there's some consideration, because with the First Fridays, because ... Mountain View Road is such an important link. We have the town building and the library in and of itself. This is a vital part to our First Fridays success."

Bennett said the town received a N.C. Department of Commerce grant to perform a "small area plan" in which a design engineering firm will assess North Main Street through Mountain View Road to include lighting and streetscaping.

The town planned to submit the proposal the week of March 20, Bennett said.

Huddle said the team is also hoping to incorporate more signage at this year's events to identify sections of the events, as the team plans to provide a food truck island at some point this year.

Bennett said he appreciated the input from the First Fridays team, as the acquisition of the three new buildings will allow the town more flexibility to host events.

"It will be something that we'll really work hard on throughout the year - and we'll be looking at you all for some input, and part of it is business owner input on how everyone wants the area used," Bennett said.

Rojas said she was excited about the town's acquisition of the Mountain View Road buildings.

"It's fantastic," Rojas said. "I would love to put my time and whatever, resources and brain, to (help brainstorm the best use for the buildings with the town)."

Mayor John Chandler thanked Bennett, Rojas and Huddle for their work, adding that many residents are looking forward to the return of the popular monthly event.

"You all did a great job, and everyone's looking forward to it," Mayor John Chandler said. "People were mad that (the events stopped) during the winter. It's been great for the businesses, including at Quill and Honey, and I'm sure for the other businesses, too."

Mars Hill First Fridays will return to downtown Mars Hill on April 7.

MARS HILL - Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is one of only two ski resorts - the other being Cataloochee Ski Resort in Maggie Valley - located within an hour's drive of Asheville.

The Madison County resort may have big changes coming this year, as the resort announced the business has changed owners, according to a press release issued through the resort's Facebook page.

The new owners are Deborah and David Hatley, of Johnson City, Tennessee. The cost was $8.4 million, according to information from the Madison County Register of Deeds.

According to the post, the Hatleys "have planned improvements, enhancements and added experiential amenities to add value to the existing structure, operations and activities" at the resort, located in the Wolf Laurel region of Mars Hill.

"We want to really celebrate and honor the legacy that the English family has taken such pride in creating over the years," said CEO Deborah Hatley. "(We also want to really celebrate) the authentic family-oriented service and opportunity to enjoy this exceptional part of the country year-round ... especially when the season permits the use of the mountains atop skis or a snowboard.

"We have something very special here, and want to enhance its beauty, functionality and comfort to see many more successful seasons on the mountain."

According to the release, the planned improvements will begin this year and will include an updated lodge, restaurant, locker rooms, retail, VIP lounge, operation systems and new rental equipment, as well as enhancements to the resort's snowmaking capabilities.

Visitors' reactions

Richard Jones lives in Georgia and has been a season pass holder for the last three years. He has been coming to the resort for the last six years.

Jones is involved with his son's Boy Scouts of America Troop 580, out of Lilburn, Georgia, and brings large groups of Scouts to visit the resort every year.

Jones said he felt the new owners' first priority should be snowmaking capabilities, as that would allow an expanded ski season.

Jones, who typically makes the trek from Georgia to the Mars Hill resort about six times a year, said he was excited about the Hatley's plans for updated rental gear as well.

While some visitors said they hoped the resort would offer alcohol, others said they would like to see a brewery on the premises.

"It would be nice to have an active restaurant that did serve some type of alcohol," Jones said. "I’m not sure a brewery is the right way to go, but that's just my opinion. Some of the best terrain in North Carolina no doubt, but they are really starting with very little."

Mars Hill resident Jonathan Spindler has been snowboarding at the resort for nearly 30 years.

"I hope they embrace the brewery vibe and have spot for beer and hopefully even live music," said Spindler, who sings in a local acoustic rock band, Burnt Reputation.

Spindler said while he has had a few season passes over the years, with the news of the resort's plans, he and a lifelong snowboarding friend will "definitely" buy a pass for the 2023-24 season.

"It can be the best resort in the state. It sure has the best terrain for it. It just needs proper snow-making equipment and actually blow snow whenever possible," Spindler said. "We do have unpredictable weather and it does get warm out of the blue. That is why they need to make it happen whenever possible because of the short winter season in WNC."

As an experienced snowboarder, Spindler said he would also like to see the resort hold competitions again.

"I hope they also put on some contests again or at least have a dedicated terrain park with jumps/rails, too," Spindler said.

Rob Blake and his family live in Charlotte but have a second home in Mars Hill.

"This is really good news for Wolf Ridge, Madison County, Wolf Laurel," Blake said. "This is what we have all been waiting for. Hopefully they can add Frisbee golf and a brewery to the plan as well. This mountain has incredible untapped potential."

Future plans

According to the release, the new owners have a host of future improvements and enhancements planned throughout the next five years, including:

Spindler said he's excited about the possibility of mountain biking at the resort and said he felt the resort should capitalize on visitors participating in activities such as mountain biking during the "off ski season."

The Mars Hill resident said he hoped the new owners would still run specials on lift tickets "and not price everybody out."

Spindler said he felt optimistic that the news of the new owners was good news.

"This is just fantastic news, and I can't wait to see what happens," Spindler said. "It's only going to be positives."

MARSHALL - Madison residents will soon have a designated spot to celebrate and honor current and former armed forces members, as the county commissioners approved a lease to the county Veterans of Foreign Wars for a veterans park in Marshall.

The Madison County commissioners approved a 10-year lease to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for a piece of property in Marshall's Medical Park Drive facility, the road on which the Sheriff's Office, magistrate, county health department and Hot Springs Health Program sit.

The veterans park is planned for the middle tract of land, fixed between the Sheriff's Office and Hot Springs Health Program, according to BOC Vice Chair Michael Garrison.

The idea for the park comes from Chris Ledford, who has been commander of Mars Hill VFW Post 5483 since 2007.

Ledford said he first attempted to bring the idea for a veterans park to the commissioners 10 years ago. This time around, he worked with former Madison BOC Vice Chair Craig Goforth and former Interim County Manager Norris Gentry, as well as current BOC Vice Chair Michael Garrison.

According to Ledford, during his first attempt at establishing a veterans park in the county, he faced obstacles in finding a location, as the planned spot for the park, at the I-26 Welcome Center in Mars Hill, was owned by the state Department of Transportation.

Ledford said he and the team are working with architect Jason Gilliland from Site Design Studio for the site plans, which are still in the design stage.

When the plans are finalized, Ledford will then take the site plans to the commissioners.

But after all the hard work, the news of the veterans park finally getting off the ground is music to Ledford's ears.

"I'm extremely excited, because it has been a rough road," Ledford said. "I've tried to do this time and time again, but not many people really showed too much interest. Norris, Craig and Garrison have been instrumental in sitting down with me. The county itself, and the new commissioners, have been extremely helpful by donating the land. Everything just kind of clicked this time."

Plans

Ledford said the veterans park will "not be a memorial," adding that he and the design team will aim to make the park more lively than simply supplying a list of names on a monument.

"I'm really just wanting something that's going to look nice, and I want it to be powerful. I don't want anybody to come up over the hill and just see a bunch of tombstone-looking stuff with names on a piece of granite," Ledford said. "One of my plans is we will sell bricks, and people can put a name of a loved one who's a veteran. I want it to honor all veterans. I'm trying to do it to where people, if they have a loved one, or they were in the service, they can get a brick and that will all be displayed there."

According to Ledford, he and the team will aim to honor and recognize not only local veterans, but their families as well.

"When we get my plan all finished, there will be different sections of it, because it's a lot more than just veterans that are affected when people go off to war," Ledford said. "We're going to have a section for mothers, and call it the 'Gold Star' for mothers and fathers and people that have lost sons and daughters.

"I want it to be something powerful, to make people think about the sacrifices that people make for us to live in the country that we do. Of course, we want to remember the people that gave their all. Just because somebody is in the service sometimes, not everybody has to go to war. But when someone signs up and goes into the service, that's honorable."

According to the census bureau, the county had 1,462 veterans from 2017-2021.

But Veteran Services Coordinator Dan Jackson said the number of veterans is closer to 2,500, and he anticipates that number to grow as the county continues to expand.

"We have a flood of people coming into our county, and our population is growing. There are about 2,500 veterans in our county," Jackson said. "Our percentage in servicing them, so far, is quite good in relationship to some locations. We still have a long road ahead of us to take care of all of them."

Despite this number, Ledford said the Mars Hill VFW's engagement is dwindling, something that he hopes will change with the veterans park coming to the county.

"We're a small post," he said. "We don't have a whole lot of money. I don't expect it to be built overnight. But we've got it started anyway."

Ledford has served with the VFW locally since 2007, when there were more than 120 members. Today, the Mars Hill VFW Post has roughly 12 members. As such, the local VFW will most likely need to raise funds for the park.

"There's not many of us left, but we do try to do things for the community. We go to schools and do presentations trying to build patriotism," Ledford said. "We explain what each fold in the flag represents. We also try our best to take care of disabled veterans, if somebody needs a wheelchair ramp, or stuff like that."

Ledford, who served as a combat engineer with the U.S. Army in the first Gulf War, said the Mars Hill VFW Post 5483 is actively looking for new members, and hopes the park will attract new members to help continue to serve the community's veterans.

"I'm hoping that it will attract other veterans to maybe join the post," Ledford said. "I just wanted something to bring the community together."

For now, he is happy to be planning the county's first veterans park.

"I want this to be something positive that the whole county can be proud of," Ledford said.

For more information on Mars Hill VFW Post 5483, visit the post's Facebook page or call 828-450-3913. The post meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. at the Beech Glen Community Center, 2936 Beech Glen Road in Mars Hill.

MARSHALL - Those anticipating attending the Madison County Planning Board's next meeting to gain information on three proposed subdivision projects - including one that will go before the board to be voted on for its final plat approval - will have to wait another two weeks.

Development Services Director Brad Guth became ill and was forced to move the county Planning Board's Feb. 21 meeting.

In that meeting, three different projects will be presented to the board.

Landbank Acquisitions LLC will seek sketch plan approval for a proposed 53-lot major subdivision project, Long Ridge Heights, to be located along 77 acres at 1311 Long Ridge Road in Mars Hill.

The proposed subdivision would be located on the westerly side of I-26 northbound, where Long Ridge Road and Forks of Ivy Road split off.

The proposed subdivision went before the board for a sketch plan review in its July 17 meeting. At that time, the project proposed 29 single-family homesites and was to be located at 1309 Long Ridge Road in Mars Hill.

Former Planning and Zoning Director Terrey Dolan said the proposed subdivision consists of two adjoining parcels, a 35.4-acre tract owned by Donald Walters, and a separate 8-acre piece at the very northern end tip, which is owned by Roy Ledford.

Grandview West

Rhino Site Developers, based in Raleigh, will present a preliminary plat approval on Grandview West, a 19-lot major subdivision proposed for 35 acres along Grandview Road.

Northside Estates

Developer CMH Homes will seek a final plat approval on a 13-lot subdivision located at the intersection of U.S. 19 East and N.C. 1521.

Additional biomass/event venue Land Use Ordinance language changes

The board will also consider additional language changes to the County Land Use Ordinance to reflect the county's two ongoing moratoriums - on biomass facilities and on event venues, or "commercial assembly" venues.

The board will consider eliminating the permitted use ‘assembly hall’ in the Residential-Agricultural (R-A) Land Use District and replacing it with a new term, "special event facility," and the associated definition and standards.

Following a number of complaints from residents about noise from wedding venues in Marshall and Hot Springs, the county set a six-month "commercial assembly" moratorium on event venues such as wedding venues and concert halls. The county extended that moratorium an additional four months on Dec. 28, 2022.

The Planning Board will also consider Land Use Ordinance amendments to address biomass facilities and data centers.

According to the meeting agenda, staff recommends adding both as special uses in the Industrial Land Use District.

The board will also elect a vice chair, as previous Vice Chair Alan Wyatt now serves on the county commission.

The Madison County Planning Board will hear public comments on these projects at its March 7 meeting, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Madison County Public Library's Marshall campus, located at 1335 N. Main Street.