Vance Rally Triggers Early School Release in Henderson County

Vance Rally Triggers Early School Release in Henderson County

Four schools release at 1:30 to clear roads before closures

Four public schools in Henderson County, North Carolina, dismissed early on Monday, Oct. 19, as Vice President J.D. Vance visited the area. Sugarloaf Elementary, Edneyville Elementary, Apple Valley Middle School and North Henderson High School all released students at 1:30 p.m., according to Henderson County Public Schools. Superintendent Mark Garrett announced the one-day change on the night of Oct. 18, linking it directly to traffic and security planning for the vice president's visit.

District cites patrol warning of Highway 64 shutdown

The district said the North Carolina Highway Patrol had informed school officials that Highway 64 and nearby roads would be shut down for a period on Monday afternoon. The Vance event was held on Chestnut Gap Road. To get students, buses, student drivers and families clear of the area before closures began, the four schools closest to the affected corridors were ordered to dismiss early. Families with pickup problems were told to contact their student's school, according to the district notice shared on Instagram.

Warehouse rally backs Balkcom and Whatley before midterms

Vance spoke at Hyder Warehouse in Hendersonville at a midterm rally hosted by Trump 47 Committee Inc., a Trump-aligned political action committee. Doors opened at 10 a.m., with Vance originally scheduled to speak at 1:15 p.m.; live coverage placed his remarks at about 3 p.m. He campaigned for Jennifer Balkcom, the Republican candidate for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, and Michael Whatley, the Republican candidate for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat. An estimated 200 to 300 people packed the warehouse, according to WLOS reporting republished by national outlets.

County warns of 1-to-4 traffic impact on U.S. 64 East

Henderson County government warned drivers to expect travel impacts from 1 to 4 p.m. along U.S. 64 East in Hendersonville and urged motorists to be patient and seek alternate routes. The county also flagged heavier traffic around 1:30 p.m. because of the four early dismissals. School officials said bus routes and parent pickup would be affected, while sheriff's and county alerts pointed to slow rolls and congestion near the rally site.

Helene aid pledge headlines rally as campaign push continues

At the rally, Vance focused part of his remarks on Hurricane Helene recovery, announcing 858 million dollars in additional Department of Transportation disaster relief to rebuild eight major corridors, including I-40 and the Pigeon River Gorge. He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had committed 7.5 billion dollars to Helene rebuilding, according to WISTV and NC Newsline. Vance closed by urging turnout on Nov. 3, saying America belongs to those who love it. WBTV reported that President Donald Trump is expected to campaign in the Carolinas days after Vance's stop, underscoring North Carolina's role in the November midterm fight. The school district described the early release as a single-day measure, with no further closures announced.