Good morning, Hickory.

Hickory Police arrested 21 year old Hakeim Jamil Coulter on March 20 for possession of methamphetamine, schedule IV controlled substance, and second degree trespass—he was jailed at the Catawba County Detention Facility with a District Court appearance set on the same day.

Angelica Leann Crane (38) from Hickory pleaded guilty at Catawba County Superior Court on March 18th to drug and property crimes including trafficking fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense; she will serve 7 to 10 years in prison and pay a mandatory $100,000 fine and nearly $15,000 in restitution.

Earlier this month, Catawba Valley Community College held its ribbon-cutting event for the new Valley Datacenter Academy, a training facility supported by Microsoft to offer hands-on learning in cloud computing, cybersecurity and IT.

The academy in the Workforce Solutions Complex prepares students for national industry certifications and future jobs—using donated, recycled tech equipment.

The Catawba County Fire Marshal’s Office has banned all open burning effective today at 8 a.m. — the new rule applies countywide, including areas within 100 feet of a dwelling, to lower wildfire risk from dry conditions.

Local fire departments and law enforcement will enforce the ban, which carries fines and court costs for violations.

Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 on Wednesday, March 19, which provides $524 million in aid for recovery efforts in western NC following Hurricane Helene.

The bill directs funds for farmers, home repairs, road and bridge fixes, debris cleanup, and school recovery, — it also extends the emergency declaration until June 30 and allocates $217 million for eastern recovery as the governor seeks $19 billion in federal funds.

Lenoir-Rhyne's softball team swept Belmont Abbey in a doubleheader on March 20 as six Bears combined for 10 home runs.

Lani Warren led the attack and the team won 12—0 in the first game and 14—1 in the second while coach Shena Hollar reached 997 career wins.

Lenoir-Rhyne’s senior catcher Cole Stanford was named Baseball Player of the Week for strong play during week seven—he hit .625 with four home runs, nine runs, and recorded at least two hits in every game—and he also earned the NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week honor.

Comedy Night with Jamie Lissow

Actor and comedian Jamie Lissow, known for his appearances on 'Gutfeld!' and his work on Netflix, will be performing live in Hickory.

28th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival

This annual festival in Hickory will feature a pottery showcase, early buying opportunities for VIP ticket holders, and pottery demonstrations and lectures open to the public.

The Nashville Nights Band: A Tribute to 90's Country

The Nashville Nights Band will perform a tribute to 90's country music at The Premier in Hickory, NC.

Hickory Train Show

12-7 p.m. & 9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau — $8 for adults, free for kids under 12 — Explore the exciting world of model railroading and expand your collection.

Editing Masterclass by Redhawk Publications

8:30 a.m. — Catawba Valley Community College — $150 fee — Boost your editing and self-editing skills with insights from seasoned professionals Tom Rash and Rebecca Caldwell.

Hard to Handle Concert

7-11 p.m. — The Premier — Tickets from $17.45 — Experience a night of live music with Hard to Handle and Hammer Down.