The Valley Echo looks back at a busy 2022

Championships, changes and challenges shaped the news in the Swannanoa Valley

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 30, 2022

The daily grind of community journalism doesn’t allow an abundance of time for reflection. Between interviews, photographs, research, writing and editing, I typically find myself hurriedly crisscrossing the Swannanoa Valley while covering local news and lining up future assignments.

But, the change of pace that comes to town this time of year, as many of us step away from work to spend more time with family and friends, often provides an opportunity to consider the year that was before turning our attention to the months ahead.

While the stories of the new year are still waiting to be told, 2022 was a busy year for local news, and through the generous support of local businesses, The Valley Echo was there to bring it to readers, free of charge. Personally, as I enter my 10th year producing stories about the people, places and events in this community, I’m thankful for the continued support of advertisers and readers. I still believe local news matters to the Swannanoa Valley, and the feedback I’ve received confirms many in this community feel the same way.

I was honored to witness some incredible moments over the past 12 months, including some unprecedented athletic accomplishments for local high school programs, a change in the Town of Black Mountain’s local leadership, the arrival of new businesses with strong local ties and significant changes for popular existing establishments.

So, before we count down the final seconds and toast the New Year, let’s take a look at The Valley Echo’s most popular stories of 2022. Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to bringing you more local news in 2023.

January

Heavy snow blanketed the Swannanoa Valley in the early days of 2022, as local nonprofit organization PubCorps invited volunteers to clear sidewalks in downtown Black Mountain. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

The year began with a thick blanket of snow covering the Swannanoa Valley, with some areas seeing as much as 10 inches. While Town of Black Mountain Public Services crews cleared massive piles of snow from the roadways, local nonprofit organization PubCorps rounded up volunteers to clear downtown sidewalks, allowing businesses to reopen.

February

Black Mountain mourned the passing of singer-songwriter and longtime resident Jimmy Landry, who passed away Feb. 21, 2022, at the age of 64. *Photo courtesy of Sarah Yontz*

Things picked up in February, as the Owen High School swim team captured a Western Highlands Conference title on its way to a ninth-place finish in the Western Regional meet. The performance earned the Seahorses their first appearance in a state championship meet in over a decade.

Former Owen running back Shawn Gibbs, who graduated as the school’s all-time leading rusher, welcomed his own personal milestone early in the year when he was named head coach of the Fort Valley State University football program. The longtime assistant coach, who developed a string of record-breaking running backs at N.C. A&T University, wasted no time leaving his mark at FVSU, where he led the team to its best record (8-2) in over a decade and a 31-21 victory over rival Albany State in the 32nd Annual Fountain City Classic.

Another Swannanoa Valley native, Hunter Begley, launched his solo recording career with the release of his self-titled debut EP. The project showcased the musician's versatility and ability to relate with listeners through his distinctive blend of alternative country and folk music.

While young singer-songwriters emerged throughout the year, the Swannanoa Valley mourned the passing of longtime resident and influential figure in the local Western N.C. music scene, Jimmy Landry. The Arlington, Virginia native, who moved to Black Mountain in the early 1990s, was known for his “collaborative and cooperative spirit,” according to his longtime friend and fellow singer-songwriter, David LaMotte.

As the month came to a close, the gymnasium in Asheville Christian Academy was rocking, as the Lions girls basketball team closed out its 2021-22 campaign with a dramatic win in the NCISAA 3A State Championship. The Lions, led by head coach John Williams, were behind by 15 points in the second half before Emma Larios buried a pair of 3-pointers in the final seconds to capture the title.

March

Black Mountain’s youngest artists put the finishing touches on their work, which is featured on the chamber of commerce rocking chairs located throughout town. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

The month of March began as former Black Mountain Fire Chief Scottie Harris announced his resignation from the department, citing the need to be closer to family with his return to the Triangle area. Harris led the department for nearly three years, and was succeeded by current chief, John Coffey, who accepted the position in July.

As The Valley Echo celebrated two years as the Swannanoa Valley’s online source for community news, some of the area’s youngest artists met at the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center to create art that is now featured on the many rocking chairs throughout town. As the month drew to a close, former Warren Wilson College President Dr. Lynn Morton announced her retirement after five years in the position.

April

A snowy start to the 2022 Black Mountain Greenway Challenge 5K & 10K couldn’t keep the 130 runners who participated in the annual fundraiser off the trails in April. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

While spring did eventually come in April, the snowy weather for the annual Black Mountain Greenway Challenge 5K & 10K was undeterred. The race, which raises money to support the town’s greenway system, featured 130 runners along The Oaks Trail and Veterans Park. This 2023 iteration of the event could face even colder temperatures, following the recent announcement that the race was combined with the annual Valentine 5K, creating the Valentine Greenway Challenge 5K & 10K, to be held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

The month brought big changes to the Owen Warhorse football program, when former head coach Brint Russell announced his resignation after one season at the helm. The school introduced former Pisgah offensive coordinator Zach Gibson as the leader of its football program three weeks later.

May

Randy Giles and Mellie Macsherry celebrate the opening of The Lowdown, which brought craft beer, wine and more to Mellie Mac’s Garden Shack in May. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

As the weather warmed up in the Swannanoa Valley, BAD Craft founder Randy Giles partnered with Mellie Macsherry, owner of Mellie Mac’s Garden Shack, to bring a unique new business to Black Mountain. The Lowdown, which serves a wide variety of local beers, wines and cider in the center of the popular nursery, embodied the collaborative spirt of the local community, according to Macsherry. “We all work together down here,” she said of the business. “That’s one of the great things about this town.”

While the Owen High School Class of 2022 took a stroll down memory lane, through the hallways of their former schools, longtime principal Meg Turner announced her intention to step down after graduation. Turner was succeeded by Swannanoa Valley native Dr. Samantha Sircey, who was stepped into the role in June.

As the 2021-22 school year came to a close, senior Mattie Lehman was recognized as the Owen Athlete of the Year.

June

Students, faculty and staff at Black Mountain Primary and Elementary Schools said goodbye to beloved Physical Education teacher John Gibson on the final day of school. Coach Gibson, as he is known to generations of children in Black Mountain, retired from his position after 34 years.

A bright blue sky covered Warhorse Stadium, June 11, as the 127 students in the Owen Class of 2022 walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. The graduation ceremony featured keynote speaker Jack McMahan, valedictorian Bailey Mundy and student speaker Daniela Mejia-Chavez.

Nearby, at the West Campus of the Black Mountain Home for Children, the nonprofit organization showed its appreciation for the good and faithful service of Tom Campbell, as the former president retired after 17 years in Black Mountain. Campbell, who was succeeded by James Harmon, concluded a nearly four-decade professional career working with disadvantaged youth.

July

Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams, who held his first head coaching position at Owen High School, memorializes Jim LeVine in a speech before the Warhorse Classic golf tournament. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

A summertime tradition returned to the normally quiet streets of Montreat, July 4, as the Montreat Conference Center hosted its 53rd Fourth of July Parade. The event brought hundreds of spectators to Lookout Drive, Appalachian Way and Assembly Drive, where Grand Marshals Ron and Ann Vinson led the procession.

Some well-known names with ties to Owen High School came to town this summer, as Hall of Fame Coach Roy Williams and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson returned for the Warhorse Classic, honoring the late Jim LeVine. The annual golf tournament, which is organized by Owen graduate and longtime head football coach Kenny Ford, raises money to support the Warhorse football program.

The longtime owners of a historic bed & breakfast in Black Mountain announced their retirement in August, as Doug and Jenny Bowman said goodbye to the Red Rocker Inn. The Bowman family operated the inn, which was built in 1897, for 15 years, before selling the business to Michael and Katy Clavin Cys this summer.

August

The warm months invited local residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors, as the Sourwood Festival - hosted by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce - returned to downtown for its 44th year. The weekend gathering packed the streets with tens of thousands of festival-goers and hundreds of booths.

A feature published by The Valley Echo, Aug. 26, revealed the latest findings of the Cragmont Community DNA Project, which connected a military family from Italy to relatives in Black Mountain. The initiative, co-administered by Black Mountain natives Regina Lynch-Hudson and Leslie Whittington, reconnects former residents of the historically Black community from which it takes its name.

September

Robert Goodson leads discusses the history of the Tabernacle Cemetery, as the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center concluded its Walk Through History tour in September. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

The fall brought about the beginning of an unprecedented run by a pair of Owen Athletic programs, as the Warhorse cross country team charted a course for a run at a state championship while Warhorse soccer embarked on a winning streak that would last longer than anyone realized at the time.

Buncombe County Schools announced the appointment of Swannanoa native, Dr. Rob Jackson, to the office of superintendent, and the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center wrapped up its annual Walk Through History Tour in one of Black Mountain’s oldest cemeteries.

October

Music has always played a significant role in the Swannanoa Valley, but no artist from the community has received as much acclaim for their talent as Black Mountain native Roberta Flack. A permanent exhibit unveiled by the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center in October explores the local roots of the five-time Grammy Award winning singer, who was born in 1937 before moving to Arlington, Virginia as a child. A spokesperson for Flack announced in November that the signer would no longer perform, citing a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

As a kid in Swannanoa, Ryan Perry never imagined he would one day film a music video for his latest single in the middle of Warhorse Stadium, where he played football while attending Owen, making the production of “My Hometown,” released in October, a surreal experience. The song, available on major streaming services, and accompanying video, draw heavy inspiration from the artist’s Valley roots.

A trio of legendary Swannanoa Valley athletic figures were celebrated, Oct. 21, as Jager Gardner, David Weaver and Joe Hyder were inducted into the Owen High School Hall of Fame. A ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was held in the school’s media center, while each new member was recognized on the field during halftime of the Warhorse football game.

The Asheville Christian Academy volleyball team was two months into its season as the month wound to a close, and the Lions had yet to lose a match. That winning streak continued, Oct. 29, as head coach Torri Render and her high-flying team capped a 24-0 season with an NCISAA 3A State Championship in front of a lively home crowd. The title was the 14th in the history of the program, which posted an undefeated championship season in 2017.

November

Owen sophomore Davis Kendall scored 50 goals, as the Warhorses claimed the program’s first state soccer championship in 2022. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

Winning was in the chilly fall air throughout the Swannanoa Valley, as the Owen Warhorse soccer team won a thrilling double overtime in front of its home fans, Nov. 16, advancing to the NCHSAA 2A State Soccer Championship. The Warhorses, led by first-year head coach Trei Morrison, celebrated their historic regional victory with hundreds of home fans before heading to Greensboro three days later to capture the program’s first state title in thrilling fashion. While completing a championship soccer run was a remarkable feat, it also represented an unprecedented accomplishment for Owen Athletics.

Less than two weeks before the soccer team squared off for the hardware, the Warhorse cross country team hoisted its own state championship trophy. Led by senior Elijah Jones, who finished first in 10 of the team’s 12 races, Owen, under head coach Bob Sadlemire, claimed its first state cross country title since 2008.

The fall championship runs marked the first time in the school’s 67-year history that two programs claimed titles in the same athletic season. Both teams were recognized by the Black Mountain Town Council during its December meeting.

Residents of the Town of Black Mountain chose new leaders, Nov. 8, as the polls closed for the 2022 Buncombe County General Election. Former mayor, Mike Sobol, returned to the office with a successful campaign against incumbent Larry Harris, while newcomer Alice Berry won a seat on the town council. Bill Christy, who was appointed to the town’s governing board in 2021, retained his position.

December

The Black Mountain Christmas Parade featured nearly 60 entries and approximately 1,000 participants in 2022, as the Swannanoa Valley gathered downtown to usher in the Holiday Season. *Photo by Fred McCormick*

The streets of downtown Black Mountain were packed, Dec. 2 and 3, as the Swannanoa Valley ushered in the Holiday Season Holly Jolly and the annual Black Mountain Christmas Parade. The weekend festivities began with spectators lining the sidewalks along Sutton Avenue and Cherry Street, where the Owen Warhorse Regiment Marching Band played an assortment of holiday songs to kick off Holly Jolly. The crowds returned the next day as the annual parade, which featured nearly 60 entries with approximately 1,000 participants,

As temperatures fell around the Swannanoa Valley, the kitchen of a new “all day eatery” that brought new life to an old landmark was heating up. The Pure & Proper, which opened Dec. 7, debuted a unique concept inside the former Pure Oil service station on East State Street. The restaurant, offering breakfast lunch and dinner, was established by four local residents with diverse culinary backgrounds.

While 2022 was nearing its conclusion, the Town of Black Mountain accepted a gift of 26 acres of undeveloped land. The four parcels, valued at approximately $2 million, were given to the town with no restrictions, and represent an “amazing opportunity” for future use, Town Manager Josh Harrold said. The wooded property, located east N.C. 9 and north of I-40, is in close proximity to 25 acres of land the town received in 2017 from the estate of Mary Hemphill, who stipulated the land be used as a park.

Community News, Business, Sports, Lifestyle, Art & EntertainmentFred McCormickDecember 30, 2022