Montreat Minute – May 23, 2025
The Montreat Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday May 28, 2025, at 5:00 pm in the Town Hall Community Room for the purpose of receiving comments on the proposed 2025-2026 budget. This meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed. For streaming instructions, CLICK HERE.
Council Considering Requiring Bear Proof Trash Containers
As reported in the May Town Council meeting summary, the Council discussed and is considering requiring residents to have approved bear proof trash containers. It is a proven fact that the number one cause of in-town bear activity is access to food sources found in trash. If we are able to contain our trash, bears will go elsewhere to forage for food.
Therefore, the Council has asked Town staff to study and consider all aspects of requiring residents to have bear proof trash containers. There are many issues related to this, which is why staff are studying the subject. We will be seeking public input on the subject as well. Watch the Montreat Minute and the website for more on this subject. Please know that nothing will be done until the subject has been thoroughly studied and public input has occurred.
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan This Sunday, May 25th
The Montreat Scottish Society invites everyone to the annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan this Sunday, May 25th, at 11:00am at Anderson Auditorium. The Kirkin’ will be preceded by an outdoor (weather permitting) 30 minute performance of the Montreat Scottish Society Pipes and Drums corps on the Auditorium lawn.
Come celebrate Montreat’s Scottish heritage (Scottish roots not required!). Lunch will be available immediately following the service in the Galax dining room at Assembly Inn.
Presbyterian Heritage Center Opens Hurricane Helene Flood Exhibit
The Presbyterian Heritage Center in Montreat has opened a moving and very interesting new exhibit, Stories from the Storm: Hurricane Helene in Montreat. Montreat residents, Town and conference center staff, students, and aid workers share stories, images, and videos documenting their experience during and after the flooding from Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024.
The exhibit is in the Presbyterian Heritage Center, 318 Georgia Terrace, Montreat. Hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 4pm and Saturday, 12pm – 4pm. Admission is free. For more information on the exhibit, including a video, CLICK HERE.
Meet (Again!) Justyn Whitson, Montreat Patrol Officer
We regularly profile a Montreat Town staff member or Town Council member. Today we are featuring Justyn Whitson, Patrol Officer, Montreat Police Department.
He’s back! We are delighted that Justyn Whitson has returned to Montreat as a full-time Patrol Officer. Justyn worked for the MPD for eight years, left in 2019, and returned in December. We are fortunate he decided to return. But first, a bit about Justyn.
He was born at Mission Hospital and raised in Black Mountain. As a typical young person growing up in the mountains, he was constantly outside riding his bike with friends, swimming in the Black Mountain pool and local streams, and simply enjoying the outdoors. After graduating from Owen High School, Justyn enrolled in the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at AB Tech. Intrigued with learning, Justyn continued at AB Tech in the Emergency Medical Training Program. Shortly after, the AB Tech faculty asked him to teach EMT classes. He did so for more than eight years.
He came to Montreat in 2011 as a reserve officer and was sworn in as a full-time Patrol Officer in 2012 under then Police Chief McClintock. During his tenure with the MPD, Justyn continued teaching at AB Tech. But he also became certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) to teach Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support classes. He also became the AHA’s Training Center Coordinator, overseeing the 160 AHA instructors. In 2019, he left the Montreat Police Department and began a teaching/training consulting business. Although he enjoyed life as a patrol officer, he appreciated moving from “reactive” responsibilities to “proactive” responsibilities in teaching emergency medical classes.
As if he didn’t have enough to do, Justyn volunteered for the Black Mountain Fire Department in emergency response. He stayed busy, as approximately 80% of the calls the Fire Department receives are medical emergencies. He still volunteers and is the president of the BM Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Last fall, Justyn began talking with MPD’s Chief Jeff Eaton and Captain Tim Bradley about returning to the Department. Justyn knew of Jeff’s and Tim’s excellent reputations and began as a full-time Patrol Officer in December.
When Justyn is not working, he spends time with his wife of 18 years, Alex. They have a daughter, Ashtyn, who is seven. Then, the week after Hurricane Helene, baby Paxton was born. Because of the disaster circumstances here, they had to travel to Hickory where Paxton was delivered. As a family, they enjoy just being together, doing many of the same things Justin did as a child—walking, being in the water, and enjoying mountain life.
“I’m thankful to be back”, Justyn said. “Montreat is a wonderful place to work and the absolute best place to be a community oriented police officer. Everyone is so friendly.”
We are very glad to have Justyn back and benefit greatly from his experience, teaching abilities, and friendly personality.
Updates and Reminders
- A reminder that Town Offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. Trash pick-up will be delayed until Tuesday. Of course, our Police Department will be working 24/7.
- Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!
- Do you receive Montreat Code Redalerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane and wildfires? To learn more about Code Red or to be added to the list, CLICK HERE.
Questions or Comments?
Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angela Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a great holiday weekend!
