Area News

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…

The Centers for Disease Control observes Suicide Prevention Month every September. It’s a time to raise awareness about suicide as a serious public health problem and to highlight the role that everyone plays in preventing suicide. Part of making suicide prevention month a success is having the right resources to communicate and the right messages…

As elections administrators across North Carolina gear up for elections in 2023 and 2024, they will be tasked with implementing new photo ID rules for voting in person and absentee by mail. Patrick Wike, Alexander County Elections Director, said photo ID for voting has been on a roller coaster ride in North Carolina. Photo ID…

By MICAH HENRY An Alexander County Career and Resource Fair was held Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the East Taylorsville Baptist Church gym for local displaced workers, following the sudden August 26 closure of the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture plants. This continues the outreach efforts of local and state entities and area employers…

A Hickory woman has died following a head-on collision in western Alexander County last weekend. On Friday, September 8, 2023, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Alexander County on US 64 near Church Road, according to Master Trooper Christopher M. Casey of the Highway…

Alexander County Career & Resource Fair set for Tuesday, Sept. 12 Don’t miss the 2023 Alexander County Career & Resource Fair on Tuesday, September 12, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at East Taylorsville Baptist Church gymnasium (644 1st Ave. Dr. SE, Taylorsville). This event is designed to help those displaced by the closure of MG+BW…