Area Breaking News

Last week, forecasted heat indices ranged from 99 to 104 during July 3-6, 2026, in the area. The heat index is how hot it feels when you combine temperature and humidity. Alexander County Emergency Medical Services Director Jeffery Sigmon stated that paramedics received four calls for heat-related illness last week. Patients ranged in age from…

Some books are written from research. Some are written from imagination. And then there are the books that can only come from a life lived in the fire — books born out of the kind of suffering that no one asks for and few ever talk about openly. UnBAREable Grief: Grief We Would Like to…

The candidates for the Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board election in November 2026, have been finalized. Bryant Chapman, 31, and J.D. Sink, 50, have filed to run for the two open seats. Chapman, of the Little River Community, raises beef cattle and feed crops, is in pork production, and operates a sawmill…

Troyer wins $1,000 Shopping Spree     Buy Local Challenge 2026 Winners Top Prize winners • Grand Prize, $1,000 Spree – Teresa Troyer. • Second Prize, Town of Taylorsville $500 Prize – Brent Warren. • Third Prize, Dollywood passes – April Bennington. • $100 winner – Gene Levan. • Biltmore trip (merchant) – Apple City…

Water quality tests are in and the Wittenburg Access Swim Beach in Bethlehem reopened today, July 7, 2026. While the swim beach is normally closed on Wednesdays, the beach will be open on July 8 and the rest of the week, according to Alexander County Public Information Director Gary Herman. The swim beach had been…

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction is hosting a combined hiring event on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., for correctional officer candidates at the NCWorks Career Center – Iredell County in Statesville. Full and part-time positions are available at the Alexander and Piedmont Correctional Institutions. A $3,000 sign-on bonus is…

Happy 250th Birthday, America! May God Continue To Bless Our Great Country!

The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center celebrated the grand opening of its new Geology Information Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the historic Lucas Mansion. The ceremony brought together community leaders, elected officials, project supporters, and visitors to commemorate the completion of an exciting new attraction that showcases the geology,…

  Cierra Ferguson, an assistant principal at Oakwood Elementary and W.M. Jenkins Elementary in the Hickory City Schools system, was recently named principal at Southwest Primary School. Hickory City Schools Super­in­tend­ent Dr. Jen­nifer Griffin expressed appreciation and support for Ferguson in her new role. “Ms. Ferguson is an innovative and student-centered leader who brings a…

Chief Coty Fox of Vashti Fire-Rescue, Inc. would like to invite the community to come out to the 49th Annual Vashti Day Celebration on Saturday, June 27, 2026. This year’s celebration will include breakfast and the festive parade. Breakfast will be from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and is dine in or carry out. It…