Area News

By MICAH HENRY Taylorsville native Kim Pennell, RN, BSN, age 63, has seen a thing or two in her long career as a nurse. Recently, she was challenged to set down her experiences in a book for the encouragement of others, including young nurses entering the profession. Entitled A Nurse I Am… Because Of Whose…

A keen-eyed motorist who called in a tip led to the apprehension of a band of teenage robbers, according to officers. On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., the North Carolina Highway Patrol received a call from an individual who was following a vehicle possibly involved in a robbery. The caller reported seeing…

Alexander County Animal Services has confirmed March 18, 2026, that a skunk found on a property in the Hiddenite Community has tested positive for rabies. The skunk was submitted to the North Carolina State Laboratory for testing after it was suspected of exposing several cats. The property owner contacted Animal Services to report the incident…

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Raymond Curtis Lomax, W/M, age 42, and Adrianna Lynn Lazo, W/F, age 24, both of Honaker, Virginia, following a traffic stop, according to Sheriff Chad Pennell. Deputies seized 72 grams of Methamphetamine. Lomax and Lazo has been charged with the following: • Two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine •…

By MICAH HENRY Residents in Stony Point escaped a house fire unharmed, along with their pet, on Saturday evening, March 14, thanks to a working smoke alarm, according to Stony Point Fire Chief Scotty Abernathy. The fire was reported at 8:08 a.m. Saturday at 696 Marvin Church Court. Abernathy said the blaze was a working…

According to Sheriff Chad Pennell, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, along with the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal and North Carolina Department of Insurance, responded to investigate a fatal fire on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 38 Royal Russell Road in Taylorsville. The call was initially reported as a welfare check at…

A house fire was reported about 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, at 146 Skyview Hill Drive, off of Linneys Mill Road, said Chief Coty Fox of the Vashti Fire Department. Vashti and Hiddenite fire departments from Alexander County and Central School Fire Department from Iredell County responded. The home has a Union…

Provisional ballots approved last Friday, March 6, made a slight change in the vote totals for Alexander County races in the March 3, 2026, Primary Election, according to unofficial results from the Alexander County Board of Elections. A total of 13 provisional ballots were counted of the 21 submitted. The turnout was 5,801 out of…

By ANGELA FARR KING Alexander County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin addressed the Ellendale School community on their Family Night, which was held March 5, about the recent news that Ellendale Elementary School will soon transition to Ellendale School of Innovation and Inquiry. The first thing that Dr. Griffin did was apologize to those in…

When families and neighbors thrive, our community is stronger. Right now, the need for stronger communities is greater than ever. When a neighbor needs support, Alexander County Family YMCA (and the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina) stand ready to help, whether it is: • Ensuring more kids have a safe space to learn, grow, and…