Google invites community to visit new Lenoir data center
As work continues at its large-scale data center in Lenoir, Internet search and applications giant Google has invited the community to a celebration Wednesday, beginning at 3 p.m.

New SuperCenter offers improved amenities
Caldwell County shoppers will get their first look inside the new Lenoir Wal-Mart SuperCenter Wednesday morning when the store has its grand-opening celebration.

Youth Fishing Day casts a net on fun
In an effort to promote safe and fun activities for children, the North Carolina Forest Service, Tuttle Education Sate Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission joined forces Saturday to host the Youth Fishing Day at Tuttle Education State Forest.

Debate swirls around tax hike
The Lenoir tax increase debate will carry on for at least another week, and even then it may not be resolved.

Test time? No sweat
Local students will once again be put to the test, and area schools are busy preparing them to make the grade.

Granite Falls Budget: No fee or tax increase
An increase in the coming year's budget and no fee increases have the Granite Falls budget committee pleased.

Crash victims identified
The names of the men seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday on Mission Road near Spartan Drive have been released.

Learning life lessons from a well-loved pig
One can never underestimate the bond between humans and the animals they love. From the moment author Sy Montgomery first encountered Christopher Hogwood she immediately made a connection, and he became an instant part of the family.

School system honors top rookie teachers
Teachers, principals, Parkway Bank employees and others gathered Thursday at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center to recognize the achievements of some of Caldwell County's first-year teachers. The nominees, along with their friends and families, anxiously awaited the announcement of this year's winners.

Mission Road wreck sends 3 to hospitals
Three men were seriously injured after a violent collision on Mission Road in Sawmills Wednesday evening near the intersection with Spartan Drive.

Cajah's Mountain celebrating 25th anniversary
The Town of Cajah's Mountain will celebrate its 25th anniversary Saturday. The event will be an open house, but because the town is so close-knit it may feel much more like a family birthday celebration.

Humane Society offering Bark in the Park
Tales will be wagging, paws strutting and prizes flying when pet lovers and their furry friends unite this weekend to raise money for other animals in need.

Thuss scales back duties
After being defeated in the Republican primary May 6, Caldwell County Commissioner Dr. John Thuss has resigned from all county-related boards, with the exception of his commission seat.

Caldwell County's top teacher
The basic definition of an educator is one who is trained in teaching. But to those students whose lives are touched in the Caldwell County School system each day, they are heroes.

City Council may choose to raise tax rate
Based on a survey at the end of Monday night's budget work session, a majority of the Lenoir City Council appears willing to increase the city's property tax rate for the first time in three years.

Accused shooter faces second murder charge
A Hickory man is facing another count of murder following the death of his wife from injuries related to a shooting last week.

Crash kills Lenoir man
A Lenoir man suffered fatal injuries Saturday night in a motor vehicle accident that ejected him from his vehicle.

Education pegged for lion's share of county budget
The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners began analyzing the internal figures contained in the 2008-09 fiscal year budget, during a work session Monday at the City-County Chambers in Lenoir.

Taking care of their needs
There are days that Tracey Vines sits and wonders why the Lord took her best friend from her more than a year ago. But as she celebrates the second Mother's Day without her husband Darrell, the laughter and smiles on the faces of her two young children push away those painful memories.

Mother's Walk pays tribute to choosing life
Janie Sedgwick thanks God every day for hearing the heartbeat of her third child in the womb. She said it prevented her from making the biggest mistake of her life.

Caldwell County's precipitation up slightly
Rainfall in Caldwell County has been much more frequent this year than last, but the county's total amount of precipitation is not much greater than the 2007 total after the year's first four months.

Man killed in dispute
A domestic dispute turned deadly Thursday night, leading to the arrest of a Hickory man on murder charges by officers with Lenoir Police Department.

Presenting the Class of 2008
The ceremony: Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Curriculum graduation at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday.

Walking with a PURPOSE
Relay For Life raises funds to

Tornadoes reported, but none confirmed
A series of thunderstorms that moved across Caldwell County at dusk Thursday evening didn't put any tornadoes on the ground, according to weather reports, but it sure felt like a scene from the “Wizard of Oz” for about an hour.

County weighs its options for new cellular tower site
Caldwell County is studying where to place one of the communications towers off St. Mark's Road at the northern end of the county near Blowing Rock that will be part of the new emergency wireless system.

Doomed dog attacks kennel of kittens
As office personnel with Caldwell County Animal Care and Control escorted a lady through the shelter searching for her lost cat Wednesday, they made a sad and shocking discovery.

Party leaders express support for candidates
Caldwell County political party leaders expressed optimism about their candidates' chances in the Nov. 4 general election, the day after Tuesday's primary contests.

Foothills Readiness Center officially dedicated
Members of the 630 Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and 1450th Transportation Company celebrated the past and welcomed the future Wednesday as they invited the community to tour a place they have called home for nearly a year.

Wig Bank wins national award
It's no secret to Caldwell County residents that the Wig Bank of Caldwell County is an amazing organization working at the forefront to provide much needed services to residents who have been faced with cancer.

Shake-up on county board
Caldwell County voters voiced their displeasure at last year's tax increase and sent a clear signal for change Tuesday, ousting two incumbent Republican county commissioners.

Dogs will be put to sleep
Time has nearly run out for a majority of the pit bulls confiscated by Caldwell County Animal Control nearly one month ago after a drug raid uncovered a suspected dogfighting operation in Dudley Shoals.

City Manager Bailey suggests 5-cent hike in property-tax rate
Emphasizing a need to increase municipal wages and the removal of dilapidated buildings, Lenoir City Manager Lane Bailey unveiled his 2008-09 fiscal year budget proposal Tuesday night that requests a 5-cent property tax increase.

Star power
In his 93 years in this world, Grady Barlowe of Lenoir has never seen a U.S. president in the flesh. The lifelong Democrat, like approximately 1,000 other local residents, wasn't going to miss his chance on Sunday.

Tax rate unchanged in proposal
Caldwell County interim County Manager Bobby White unveiled his 2008-09 fiscal year budget at Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting in the City-County Chambers in Lenoir.

Land plan draws fire from citizens
An overflow crowd representing the Yadkin Valley community swelled the City-County Chambers Monday morning to urge the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners to delete language recently adopted in the county's comprehensive land use development plan.

Clinton to arrive in Lenoir at 3:15 p.m.
The time and location of former President Bill Clinton's visit to Lenoir today have been released by the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Health director to determine dogs' fates
The final decision as to what happens to the 40 pit bull terriers seized in a drug bust one month ago will be up to county's health director, following a resolution approved by the Caldwell County Board of Health.

Parkway Bank customers warned of e-mail scam
The latest e-mail scam may not wipe out the computer, but it could wipe out the bank account.

Former president coming to Lenoir
Conducting a campaign blitz less than 48 hours before voters go to the polls, former President Bill Clinton has scheduled a stop in Lenoir on Sunday. The visit is designed to bolster support for Clinton's wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, in her Democratic presidential nomination fight against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Harper Band to take stage Sunday
Once again, the legacy of award-winning band director Capt. James C. Harper will be on display as the Harper Concert Band takes the stage Sunday.

Postal Service looks to stamp out hunger
With the rising grocery costs and price of gas continuing to soar, many people in Caldwell County are forced to make the decision between basic needs and food.

STICKER SHOCK - How is Caldwell coping?
Like many other Caldwell County residents, Lenoir resident Carol Taylor is frustrated with the rising cost of food and other basic necessities.

Crash sends 3 to hospitals
Speed and possibly alcohol are considered as factors in a head-on collision that sent three people to the hospital with injuries Thursday evening.

Day of Prayer offerings for troops, youth
Citizens of Caldwell County joined their neighbors near and far Thursday, asking God to help them spread messages of hope and love during the National Day of Prayer.

Google gives up 2008 incentives
Caldwell and the City of Lenoir will receive $2 million in unanticipated tax revenue this summer because Google has delayed its requests for tax rebates. However, the windfall will be a one-time boost as the Internet search and applications giant is expected to cash in its incentives beginning next year.

Butterfly season is here
Hudson's annual Butterfly Festival will be a mixture of old favorites and new additions as downtown Hudson welcomes throngs of visitors Saturday for its biggest event.

Patterson's new building means new opportunities
More space, better parking and updated amenities are just some of the reasons that members of the Patterson Fire Department are glad to have a new home. They also realize that many windows of opportunity have been opened.

Schools team up to present Romeo and Juliet
The sets have been brought in from New York. The professional costumes have arrived, and the balcony has been built. Soon it will be time for the curtain to rise, and for some of Caldwell County's most talented actors to shine as the drama departments of four Caldwell County schools present Shakespeare's classic “Romeo and Juliet.”

Valmead associate wins top honor
Encouragement, time, support, and love are just some of what the associates in the Caldwell County School system provide to the children they encounter on a daily basis.

Library auction will focus on autographed novels
In the second week of December, Cindy Cox began a letter-writing campaign. She composed and sent more than 250 letters to some of the most renowned authors in the country, asking for an autographed copy of their books to be put up for auction to benefit the children's department of the library.

Firefighters battle blaze over two days
Representatives with Kincaid Furniture Plant 1 said it probably will be at least Wednesday before more than 200 people can return to their normal duties.

BI-LO closing
The BI-LO grocery store in Lenoir will close its doors today and reopen next week as no-frills vendor Food$mart, according to a company statement.

On the way to see ‘The Boss'
None of the more than 50 students that left Granite Falls Middle School Monday bound for a Bruce Springsteen concert in Greensboro were even born when his “Born In The USA” album was selling out in record stores and sending fans into a frenzy. But thanks to Mike Telesca, the business technology teacher at the school, “The Boss” has a whole new fan set of tweens and teens in Granite Falls.

One-stop voting enters final week
Voters across Caldwell County have been taking advantage of early one-stop balloting sites to make their choices in the 2008 primary election.

A day of safety for children
From bicycles and boats to automobiles, every day the potential for accidental childhood injuries is out there.

Recognition of service
Several area businesses and organizations are able to better reach and help the community because of the dedication of the retired volunteers who continue to selflessly donate their time in service to others.

Special Response
When a situation gets sticky, officers with Lenoir Police Department know they have reliable backup from members of the Special Response Team.

Jobless rate falls in March
Unemployment rates across North Carolina dropped in 86 counties during March, including Caldwell.

Providing service through cycling
Rotary clubs in Caldwell County will join forces to make a difference in the county by offering a cycling event for the second straight year,

Gas pains
Up, up, up and away. That seems to be the trend with the prices of gasoline these days, and there doesn't appear to be any end in sight, at least not for the immediate future.

Robbery suspect reeled in
Hudson police officers have charged a Lenoir man with common law robbery in the same week that his pending armed robbery charges were dropped.

School system honors volunteers
Time is one of the most valuable gifts a person can offer to others. Several community leaders, school administrators and educators gathered to pay homage to local volunteers and announce the winner of this year's Lorraine S. Mummert 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award to Kings Creek School's Lynn Dillard, during Thursday's luncheon at Cedar Rock Country Club.

Beam receives Broyhill award
Throughout history, women have worked hard to attain the rights they have today, but those rights didn't come without much struggle and sacrifice.

SAY program director leaving SCHS
Since it began more than two years ago, the Sovereign Alliance for Youth (SAY) program at South Caldwell High School has received praise for its efforts to meet the needs of “at-risk” students and helping to reduce the number of dropouts in Caldwell County.

Students to compete in auto repair contest
The Automotive Systems Technology Department at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is known for providing students with the tools needed to enter the workforce. Two students in the program will be putting the skills they've acquired in the program to the test at today's state competition in Mooresville.

Pit bull fighting suspect in court
As originally suspected, the case involving dozens of abused pitbulls now has officially become a dog fighting case.

Pulitzer winner to detail Granite Rocks' story
Little has been said about the summer of 1951 and how Granite Falls landed itself a place in Cooperstown. But, with the 57th anniversary of the Granite Rocks' first professional baseball game just days away, an award-winning journalist is ready to bring that story back to life.

Lenoir Council plans Veterans Memorial improvements
During Tuesday's Lenoir Committee of the Whole meeting at City Hall, City Manager Lane Bailey detailed plans to improve the site of the Veterans Memorial located in downtown at the intersection of Main Street and West Avenue.

McHenry threatens legal action over ad
The increasingly bitter campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress in the 10th District took another twist Monday when a Hickory law firm representing Rep. Patrick Henry's campaign released a cease and desist letter sent to primary challenger Lance Sigmon that threatens legal action if Sigmon does not remove a video advertisement from circulation.

Wilson Creek PUD passes
The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning request for a proposed development at a current campground located along Wilson Creek at its meeting Monday night in the Tammy Austin Conference Room in Lenoir.

An opportunity to make a difference
Appalachian State University head football coach Jerry Moore has seen a number of difference makers during his long tenure on the sidelines with the Mountaineers.

Shelter welcomes new director
Melissa Teague spent part of her first day at work chasing down a trash truck in high heels.

End of an era: Bernhardt-Seagle closes
On Saturday, George Bernhardt Jr. turned out the lights and locked the doors of Bernhardt-Seagle Hardware. And with that final turn of the key, 179 years of Caldwell County history came to a bittersweet end.

Caldwell's got talent
It may have been a dreary day outside, but the talent of local students shined brightly inside Saturday as hundreds of people celebrated a day of artistry at Kaleidoscope 2008 Festival of Arts at Hibriten High School.

Diversion of patients happening more often
Caldwell County patients in need of medical transport and who are seeking care at their physicians' home hospital increasingly are being sent to other facilities, according to the county's emergency management supervisor.

GFPD makes cocaine arrest
A St. Stephens High School senior remained in custody Friday after local law enforcement found 13 grams of cocaine in his vehicle Thursday afternoon.

CCC&TI hosts Lions Vision Van for free screenings
For some, it was a chance to give back to the community. For others, it was an opportunity to receive free medical treatment. Either way, Friday's visit from the See the 21st Century Vision Van helped hundreds of people discover whether they suffer from eye diseases.