Area News

  On January 7, 2026, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, arrested Tony Elias Swaney in connection with the murder of Bethany Lee Brown, stated Sheriff Chad Pennell.   On April 10, 2022, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the mother of Bethany Brown reported her missing to…

Editor’s Note: The following is a synopsis of headline articles from January through June 2025. See next week’s issue for a recap of the second half of the year. JANUARY Hiddenite residents Jenna and Rodney Roberts delivered 78 Christmas stockings to residents of Swannanoa, N.C., who had been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Gifts for the…

By ANGELA FARR KING There was once a time when students had more limited options when enrolling in Alexander County Schools. They could choose either a college path or a career path and those paths did not overlap or cross very often. As 2026 approaches, a team of school leaders recently sat down to discuss…

During Taylorsville Police Department’s Annual Shop with a Cop event, held Dec. 22, 2025, students were selected from each city school (Taylorsville Elementary School, Alexander Central High School, Student Success Center, and Alexander Early College) and met officers at Walmart for a special day of shopping and connection. “Thanks to the generosity of Walmart, the…

Filing closed on Friday, Dec. 19, for Alexander County candidates to run for positions in the March 2026 Primary Election. The candidates are as follows: • Board of Education: District 2 — Rob Argüelles, (incumbent, Republican) will face Chris Smith (Republican). District 3 — Matthew Reese (incumbent, Republican) is unopposed. District 4 — Joshua Dagenhart,…

By KARISSA MILLER Special to The Times Using a carving knife and a few other tools, Dean Wright can transform a piece of basswood into a work of art. Wright, 88, of Bethlehem, has been carving wooden figures by hand and teaching wood carving for more than three decades. “It’s my therapy. It keeps me…

Nancy K. Sharpe of Taylorsville was inducted into the North Carolina Republican Party Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on November 8, 2025, representing the 5th Congressional District. The celebration was held at the Koury Center in Greensboro. Every two years since 1982, the Republican Party honors an individual from each Congressional District for induction…

The Town of Taylorsville is announcing that trash service customers whose trash is normally picked up on Thursdays will be picked up on Friday, Dec. 26, this week, due to the Christmas holiday, said Aaron Wike, Public Works Director for the town.

Candidates filing on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, at the Alexander County Board of Elections were: • John Andrew Warren (Democrat) NC House of Representatives • Steven Hodnett Warren (Democrat) Alexander County Board of Commissioners • Tim Fox (Republican) Board of Education District #6 • Ryan Mayberry (Republican) Alexander County Board of Commissioners The deadline for…

Alexander County candidates for several countywide offices in the 2026 Election have filed to run for positions this month, as filing opened Dec. 1 at noon. The candidates which had filed as of Tuesday evening, Dec. 16, are as follows: • Board of Education: Rob Argüelles, School Board District 2, Matthew Reese, School Board District…