avlwatchdog.org – JOHN BOYLE and ANDREW R. JONES – 2024-12-11 07:30:00
Asheville Watchdog is bringing you the stories behind the staggering loss of life from Helene, the children, parents, grandparents, multiple generations of a single family, all gone in one of the worst natural disasters to hit the mountains of western North Carolina. This is the 10th installment.
Makayla Russell remembers her mom, Cathy Jo Blackburn Minish, as “really funny and outgoing” and who loved nothing more than having a bunch of cousins and nieces over to pile into her bed and watch movies.
“She was really big on family — that was her big thing,” Russell, 24, said of her mother. “That got her excited the most — being able to spend time with family. As long as she was around family, she was at her happiest.”
Minish, a homemaker and mother who lived in Marion, died from landslide injuries, including drowning, during Tropical Storm Helene, according to a death certificate.
Born in Burke County in 1972 to Dianne Elizabeth Benge Minish and the late John Franklin Minish, Minish was 52. She is survived by her mother; her only child, Russell; and four siblings, according to her obituary.
Russell said her mom loved crafts, travel and trips to the beach in Florida or on the coast of North and South Carolina.
“Cathy had an incredible sense of humor and will be remembered for her ability to bring laughter to all situations,” her obituary said. “She loved to shop, and Cathy was a gifted crafter. It brought her great joy to make all kinds of crafts particularly during Christmastime.”
Russell said this holiday season will be particularly tough to navigate. Russell was 23 when her mother died, and she never thought she’d have to inform her grandmother that her daughter had died.
“My great grandma lived to 94, so I was for sure that I’d have my mom for a long time,” Russell said. “And she didn’t get to be a grandma or see me get married or anything like that. So I’m having a really hard time with that.”
Russell, a care management support assistant at a local medical office, lives in Fairview, which is where Minish died. The family has not received details of how Minish died, Russell said.
Minish had traveled to Fairview to stay with her best friend since high school during the storm.
Russell cherishes the many good memories she has of her mother.
“She just was full of life, always happy,” Russell said. “She just always found the good in everything. She tried not to let anybody see if she was worrying or having a hard time. She always wanted everybody to remember her happy and smiling and laughing. She was awesome.”
– John Boyle, Asheville Watchdog
Lula Jackson
Lula Jackson, 63, died at her Asheville home Sept. 27. Her death certificate lists chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as the primary cause of her death, with Tropical Storm Helene noted as a secondary cause.
Jackson had dealt with COPD for at least seven years, according to her death certificate.
Lula Jackson loved Worldwide Missionary Baptist, where she was a “faithful attendee,” part of the choir and part of the anniversary committee, her obituary said. // Watchdog photo by Andrew R. Jones
Her obituary said she loved her pastor and church, Worldwide Missionary Baptist, where she was a “faithful attendee,” part of the choir and part of the anniversary committee.
“When she could not attend [church], her heart was always there,” the obituary said.
“Lula was preparing her song on Friday night, September 27, 2024 when hurricane Helene blew into Asheville and she ascended to her heavenly home,” the obituary said.
Jackson, 63, was the mother of two daughters, according to her obituary. She had at least two grandchildren, a brother and a sister, and a “host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends,” the obituary said.
Her sister and daughter said none of the family wanted to speak to the media. “It’s too soon,” her daughter Nichole Mayfield said when reached by phone.
Jackson graduated from Asheville High School in 1979, according to her obituary. “She was active in the Cougar band and excelled as the drum majorette. Lula loved music and regularly performed in talent competitions,” her obituary said.
She had a music scholarship to Mars Hill University, but decided to start a family instead, the obituary said.
“It is with a heavy heart and fighting tears I must unfortunately inform you all of the passing of my first wife Lula Jackson (Nance),” a Facebook account belonging to Rojam Mayfield posted Oct. 2. “There is never a good time for God to call a loved one home but this is… particularly hard [due] to the tragic situation with hurricane [Helene]. … Lula we loved you, God loved you more. No more pain. I’ll see you on the other shore.”
Asheville Watchdog could not reach Rojam Mayfield.
Nichole Mayfield, Jackson’s daughter, posted a slideshow video showing her dad in her youth and adulthood. He is smiling in each image, sitting on a couch or standing with family, all accompanied by the song “Still Here,” by R&B artist Anthony Q.
On his Facebook account, Rojam Mayfield commented on the video:
“Lula Jackson is looking down smiling.”
– Andrew R. Jones, Asheville Watchdog
Gabriel Gonzalez
Gabriel Gonzalez had gone to work in driving rain at the Ingles distribution center near the Swannanoa River when floodwaters swept him away, according to the Catholic News Herald. Gonzalez’ co-workers called him “the happy one,” the article said, because he was always singing as he loaded tractor-trailers for the regional grocery store chain.
Gonzalez was an Ingles employee who worked in truck loading, according to his death certificate.
He was a Catholic and a mass for his death was celebrated Oct. 25 St. Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville, according to his obituary.
According to his death certificate, the 52-year-old died as a result of landslide injuries. His body was found on U.S. Highway 70 in Swannanoa, next to the Swannanoa River.
The story includes a picture of Gonzalez in front of his red Jeep, standing beside best friend Ulises Garcia, a friend from Swannanoa.
Gonzalez will be laid to rest in his home country of El Salvador, his obituary said.
– Andrew R. Jones, Asheville Watchdog
John David Keretz
John David Keretz, 69, a financial planner who lived in Fairview, drowned during Helene, according to a death certificate. Keretz’s body was found Oct. 1 near Echo Lake about a mile from his home.
Asheville Watchdog made numerous efforts to reach family members but did not hear back by deadline. The funeral home that handled arrangements said no obituary for Keretz was published.
Keretz was an armed services veteran and lived in Fairview, according to his death certificate. He is survived by his spouse, Laurie Ninness Keretz, according to the document.
– John Boyle, Asheville Watchdog
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. John Boyle has been covering Asheville and surrounding communities since the 20th century. You can reach him at (828) 337-0941, or via email at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org. Andrew R. Jones is a Watchdog investigative reporter. Email arjones@avlwatchdog.org.The Watchdog’s local reporting during this crisis is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-09-05 09:01:00
State Sen. Bobby Hanig announced his Republican primary candidacy for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, aiming to challenge Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis. Hanig filed with the Federal Elections Commission, while Roberson plans to run. Hanig emphasizes conservative leadership aligned with the America First agenda. The district, covering 22 northeastern counties, was highly competitive in 2024, with Davis narrowly winning. Hanig, an Army veteran and former state representative, chairs key legislative committees and runs two Outer Banks businesses. He supports tax cuts, border control, pro-life policies, and Second Amendment rights, aligning with former President Trump’s agenda.
(The Center Square) – State Sen. Bobby Hanig will enter the Republican primary for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, hoping to defeat Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and eventually second-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis.
Rep. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck
Michael Lewis via NCLeg.gov
Filing with the State Board of Elections is in December. Hanig has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission. Roberson said he would run in April.
“I’m running because northeastern North Carolina deserves true conservative leadership that will fight for our community and the America first agenda,” he said in a release.
The seat was the most competitive between Democrats and Republicans in 2024 and figures to again be so in the 2026 midterms. Davis outlasted Republican Laurie Buckhout 49.52%-47.84%, winning by 6,307 votes of more than 376,000 cast.
Twenty-two counties are touched in the northeastern part of the state.
Hanig, R-Currituck, is a veteran of the Army. He has served the Board of Commissioners in Currituck County, and was in the state House of Representatives for two terms. By trade, he began as “the pool guy” and operates two businesses serving nearly 400 properties across the Outer Banks.
He’s chairman of the State and Local Government Committee, and serves as chairman within the Committee on Appropriations for General Government and Information Technology. He’s vice chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government.
Four other assignments are Agriculture, Energy and Environment; Education/Higher Education; Regulatory Reform; and Transportation.
“I believe in President Trump’s America First Agenda and my record in the Legislature backs it up,” Hanig said. “I’ve cut taxes for North Carolina families, toughened border control in the state, stood up for life, and defended our Second Amendment rights.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article largely reports factual information about the candidates entering the North Carolina 1st Congressional District race, including their backgrounds, election filing status, and statements of political positions. It mainly quotes Sen. Bobby Hanig’s own words and campaign messaging, especially his alignment with “America First” and conservative values. The coverage uses neutral language without editorializing or explicitly endorsing any viewpoint. However, the focus on Hanig’s quoted statements about tax cuts, border control, pro-life stance, and Second Amendment rights, along with an absence of equivalent direct quotes from the Democratic incumbent or the other Republican candidate, subtly frames the narrative from a conservative perspective. This leads to a slight center-right tilt, as the piece highlights Hanig’s positions without presenting counterpoints or Democratic viewpoints in comparable detail. Overall, it functions as informational content about the race rather than overt advocacy, but the emphasis on conservative policy references indicates a modest center-right leaning.
SUMMARY: Laura Leslie, a veteran North Carolina political reporter with 21 years of experience, will become the new editor of NC Newsline on September 29. Leslie, currently WRAL’s capitol bureau chief, led the innovative NCCapitol project covering state politics across multiple platforms. Previously, she was capitol bureau chief at WUNC public radio and authored the award-winning blog “Isaac Hunter’s Tavern.” An Emmy winner recognized nationally, Leslie replaces Rob Schofield, who retired in August. She expressed gratitude to WRAL and enthusiasm for joining NC Newsline, part of the expanding States Newsroom nonprofit network. Leslie’s last day at WRAL is September 5.
North Carolina’s 2025 crop season shows promise with healthy corn, soybeans, cotton, and apples, a major improvement from 2024’s drought and storm damage. However, challenges remain: Tropical Depression Chantal caused flooding, wet conditions hurt tobacco, and relief payments from last year’s disasters are delayed. Farmers face financial stress due to low crop prices, rising input costs, trade tariffs impacting exports, and labor shortages exacerbated by strict immigration policies and higher wages. The USDA relocating operations to Raleigh raises hopes for better local support. Despite struggles, a bountiful harvest is expected, supporting the state’s agricultural resilience and fall agritourism.
by Jane Winik Sartwell, Carolina Public Press September 4, 2025
The news about crops out of North Carolina farms is good this year: the corn is tall, the soybeans leafy, the cotton fluffy and the apples ripe.
Compared to last year’s disastrous summer, when it seemed flooding was the only relief from extreme drought, this summer has left farmers feeling hopeful. In Wayne County, extension agent Daryl Anderson says this is the best corn crop the county has seen in 50 years.
That’s a major turnaround from last year, when dry conditions decimated cornfields from the coast to the mountains.
Still, no year in the fields is free of struggle. Rainy weather, delayed relief payments, market conditions and dramatic federal policy shifts have kept farmers on their toes.
Crops lie ruined in fields in Person County after Tropical Depression Chantal, which passed through the area on July 6, 2025. Provided / Person County Cooperative Extension
It’s been a wet year — at times, too wet. Tropical Depression Chantal flooded fields in Central North Carolina in early July. Unusually wet conditions all summer hurt the tobacco crop across the state.
Plus, state relief money for the tribulations of 2024 is coming slow. The legislature just approved an additional $124 million to address last year’s agricultural disasters, but farmers still haven’t received the money originally allocated to the Ag Disaster Crop Loss Program in March.
For Henderson County extension director Terry Kelley, the money is an urgent matter. In Kelley’s neck of the woods, apple farmers are still recovering from the devastation Helene wrought on their orchards. Finances are starting to spiral out of control for many.
“Our farmers are really anxious to get that money,” Kelley told Carolina Public Press.
Rains and flooding from Tropical Storm Helene create a massive washout in a Mills River tomato field in Henderson County in 2024. Provided / Terry Kelley / Henderson County Extension
“They’ve got bills due from last year. They’ve used their credit up to their limit and beyond. We need that money. It’s been a long summer of waiting.”
Though Helene upped the ante in the West, Kelley’s anxieties are felt across North Carolina. In Bladen County, where many 2024 crops were devastated by Tropical Storm Debbie, extension agent Matthew Strickland says there’s been a dearth of information about how the program works.
“We are not sure when those payments will be issued and exactly how they will be calculated,” Strickland said. “We were told they’d go out mid-summer. There’s been no update. Who knows when they’ll go out? Nobody really knows.”
The financial pressure extends beyond those delayed relief payments. North Carolina farmers find themselves at the whim of unexpected shifts in both the market and federal policies.
Though both quality and yield are high for field crops this year, the price of those crops at market is low. Meanwhile, input costs continue to rise. This makes for an unsettling financial equation for farmers.
Plus, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have made American crops less desirable overseas, according to Strickland. Before recent tariff hikes, lots of North Carolina corn, soybeans and tobacco made its way to China. Now, not as much.
“With the political trade wars, we’re really worried when it comes to our soybeans and tobacco,” Surry County extension agent Ryan Coe told CPP. “A lot of farmers are still waiting to see what’s going to happen. We don’t have a crystal ball.”
The tariffs haven’t been all bad, though. While some crops suffer, others have found opportunities. Kelley says the lack of Mexican tomatoes on the market has created a higher demand for local Henderson County tomatoes, for example.
Labor, too, is giving farmers pause. Many rely on legal migrant workers, but the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have tightened the market.
“It’s more difficult now to get labor, even with legal workers,” Kelley said. “It’s not available as it once was, and it’s terribly expensive.”
That’s because wages for migrant workers on legal H-2A visas continue to rise. In North Carolina, farmers must now pay migrant workers $16.16 per hour. This number is called an Adverse Effect Wage Rate, and it’s designed to ensure that wages for American workers don’t fall.
A cornfield at Trask Family Farms outside Wilmington on Aug. 29. Jane Winik Sartwell / Carolina Public Press
There’s a chance, however, that going forward, North Carolina farmers may have a bigger say in American agricultural policies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving major operations to Raleigh, in an effort to bring the department closer to the nation’s farming hubs. Some North Carolina farmers are excited about it.
“Having the USDA in this area will be good for all farmers in North Carolina,” said Mikayla Berryhill, an extension agent in Person County, where farms were flooded by Chantal’s heavy rains. “We will be able to show them what specific problems we have here in North Carolina and get help with those.”
In the meantime, it looks like it will be a bountiful harvest of crops here in North Carolina. This fall’s agritourism attractions, from corn mazes and county fairs to hay rides and apple markets, should reflect that agricultural resilience.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content presents a balanced and factual overview of agricultural conditions in North Carolina, highlighting both challenges and positive developments without evident partisan framing. It discusses impacts of federal policies, including tariffs and immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, in a straightforward manner without overt criticism or praise. The article focuses on practical issues affecting farmers, such as weather, market conditions, and government relief efforts, maintaining a neutral tone throughout.
