Good morning, Hickory.

On Tuesday (11:55 a.m.), Newton (in Catawba County) police said 20-year-old Brent Lee Edmondson died when his 2024 Kawasaki motorcycle struck a Honda CRV at the NC Hwy 16 and East 20th St intersection, and a Claremont woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A Conover man was arrested for possessing a machine gun after a Long View shooting—where a round struck the apartment near a sleeping bystander.

Hickory Police arrested Jerimi Meshon Sims, 44, from 8th Avenue Drive S.W. on March 20 — he faces charges for assault, drug trafficking, controlled substance offenses and domestic violence and remains in custody with bond set at $170,000 — with court appearances on April 10 and 14 in Newton.

At its Monday night meeting, the Catawba County Schools Board of Education reviewed key policies on board authority, governing principles and the code of ethics with board member Leslie Barnette leading the discussion after missteps in January.

Board members researched and summarized seven assigned policies and chairman Tim Settlemyre thanked everyone for a productive exercise — steps that may lead to clearer district guidelines.

Sandy Jarvis said the new Catawba County Moms for Liberty chapter was founded in January to unite parents on issues of education policy, including parental rights and safe sports for girls — she has met with local school superintendents to stress that the group is not against the schools and will set more goals soon. This chapter aims to inform and empower parents as new priorities are planned.

On March 25th, Attorney General Jeff Jackson advised North Carolinians to delete their 23andMe accounts and private health information because the company filed for bankruptcy over the weekend—state investigators are watching the case after a data breach in October 2023 raised concerns about whether personal data might be sold. The advice comes as the state works to protect residents’ confidential genetic data.

On March 25, the #8 ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Baseball team won 12—4 against Concord to notch their 25th win and extend their six-game streak.

The Bears will travel to Lincoln Memorial for a SAC series starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.

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.

SAFe® 5.1 Product Owner/Product Manager Classroom Training

9 AM-1 PM — Hickory North Carolina — Early Bird Price: $1199 | Gain your SAFe® PO/PM certification with interactive sessions and hands-on learning.