Area News
2026 Election candidate filing begins December 1, 12 noon
The Alexander County and N.C. State Board of Elections have announced the following 2026 Election information: The statewide Primary Election will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The General Election will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The candidate filing period for the 2026 Elections starts at noon on Monday, December 1, 2025, and ends…
Read MoreSpotlight: ACHS Principal Brian Lewis
By ANGELA FARR KING Principal Brian Lewis took the lead at Alexander Central High School to begin this school year back in the Summer of 2025. He is certainly no stranger to ACHS. In fact, Lewis said, “It feels like home.” Brian Lewis is a graduate of Rutherfordton Spindale High School in Rutherfordton, NC, where…
Read MoreBill Glad, former Alexander Recreation Director, succumbs
Former Alexander County Recreation Director William Richard “Bill” Glad, 74, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2025. According to his obituary information, Glad died at the Taylorsville House in Taylorsville, following a long battle with dementia. He was born July 8, 1951, to William Matthew Glad and Irene Randich Glad of Joliet, Illinois. Bill was…
Read MoreCrews battle brush fires, outdoor burning discouraged
Local firefighters and North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) personnel have been busy with brush fires, as the region has been extremely dry and windy lately. NCFS Alexander County Forest Ranger David Huffman said that on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, crews responded to a 1/10 acre fire off Starnes Lane in Bethlehem, with NCFS extinguishing the…
Read MoreFull Nov. SNAP benefits to be loaded on EBT cards Nov. 14
NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) leaders expect full November SNAP benefits to be loaded on recipients’ EBT cards today, Nov. 14, 2025. The development follows the U.S. House and U.S. Senate resolution to end the federal government shutdown announced late Wednesday evening, and subsequent guidance from the USDA on Thursday to states…
Read MoreCaring for the Community: Alexander Health Dept.
The Alexander County Health Department stands at the front line of community wellness, delivering essential services that protect, prevent, and promote better health for residents every day, according to a county press release. From prenatal care and dental services to restaurant inspections and disease prevention, the department’s reach touches nearly every household in the county.…
Read MoreVeterans’ Day ceremony held Nov. 11
A number of local veterans and their families gathered on the blustery, cold morning of Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at the Disabled American Veterans – VETCOM (Veterans’ Committee) building on Carrigan Road in Taylorsville. This event marked the observance of Veterans’ Day in Taylorsville. Cadets with the Alexander Central Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps…
Read MoreRoad rage incident, shooting reported
A road rage incident, which authorities say stemmed from a drug deal gone wrong, resulted in the arrest of three men. On November 6, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a report of a possible road rage incident near the intersection of County Home Road and Millersville Road,…
Read MoreAdair, Army veteran, loves to serve others
By WARREN HOLLAR Special to The Times Sgt. James Adair, an 85-year-old retired Army veteran with 20 years of global service, will light the Bethlehem Star for the 2025 Christmas season. He has devoted his life to serving his country, community, and church. James and his wife, Mickey, married for 65 years, have lived across…
Read MoreAddressing poverty at its roots: Springs Group offers solutions
Springs Group, an Alexander County non-profit organization formed late last year, hopes to address poverty and help people working through recovery from substance abuse and other obstacles. Dr. Lori Mason, an educator and an Alexander County native, is founder of Springs Group. Its mission is “enabling individuals and families to thrive through holistic support to…
Read More