Area Breaking News

By MICAH HENRY A large crowd turned out in memory of the late firefighter Phil Hartis to dediate the flagpole at the Alxander Central Fire Academy in his honor on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. Chief Justin Deal, instructor for the Academy, along with Crystal Hoke, Alexander County Schools Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE)…

Alexander County will conclude the 2023 Summer Concert Series with a performance by The Extraordinaires on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. on the Rotary Performance Stage at Alexander County Courthouse Park. The concert is free and open to the public. The Extraordinaires is a popular band from the Hickory/Charlotte area that can perform…

To provide enhanced service to local veterans, the Alexander County Veteran Services Office will move to the Alexander County Services Center, located at 151 West Main Avenue in Taylorsville. The new office location will become effective on Monday, October 9, 2023. According to Veteran Services Officer Cherry Kilby, the move will provide a larger space…

The Alexander County Board of Education will be hosting a community “town hall” meeting on Tuesday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m. at the Alexander County Auditorium on the campus of Alexander Central High School. The purpose of the town hall is the following: 1. To share information about the current state of the budget for…

Resources for Resilience (RFR), in partnership with Vaya Health, is offering free “Listening Circles” to all Alexander County residents affected by the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams closure. This includes all former employees, their families, and members of the wider community. “Listening Circles” are planned for Tuesday, September 26, and Thursday, September 28, from 3:00…

By MICAH HENRY Alexander County Schools administrators, principals, some staff and selected parents met on Monday, Sept. 18, at Alexander Central High School to discuss paths forward to address a looming school budget shortfall. The problem has evolved due in part to a gradual decline in student enrollment during the past decade or more, explained…

By MICAH HENRY Alexander County native Danny T. Dyson, of Taylorsville, retired Clerk of Superior Court, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from N.C. Governor Roy Cooper, presented by his predecessor, retired Clerk of Superior Court Seth W. Chapman, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in the Alexander County Superior Courtroom. Dyson retired Friday,…

The Alexander County Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition met in the Alexander County Health Department conference room on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. The Substance Use Disorder Coalition was initially formed as a sub-committee of the Healthy Alexandrian Committee. This was in response to the focus priority areas from the Community Health Assessments that are given…

Statesville resident Cheryl Parker, who has Alexander County roots, is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “My maternal…

By MICAH HENRY Michael A. “Mike” Millsaps, age 55, has been officially named the Police Chief for the Town of Taylorsville, Interim Town Manager Aaron Wike announced Sept. 14. Millsaps had been served as Interim Police Chief since Sept. 1. Millsaps follows retired Chief Douglas Bowman, whose last day was August 31. A 15 year…