Good morning, Hickory.

A pilot was airlifted after a Cessna crashed along the Hickory airport runway—officials have not released his name as of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a 21-year-old woman died in a house fire near Drexel as a state agency began investigating the incident.

Officials inspected the scene after a plane crashed at Hickory Regional Airport around 8 p.m. Tuesday — they were seen photographing the area on Wednesday morning.

Burn bans in Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties and on National Forest lands were lifted on April 2 at 8:00 a.m.—widespread rain lowered fire risks and now allows open burning while residents must still follow safety rules amid drought concerns.

The Catawba County Fire Marshal's Office lifted the burn ban on all open-burning activities at 8:00 a.m. April 2, and restrictions were also removed in Burke & Alexander Counties as well as from state and federal areas; officials ended the ban after weather conditions reduced wildfire risks.

After 30 years of service, H.P.D.

Police Chief Reed Baer will retire on July 1. He was appointed by City Manager Warren Wood in February 2023 and led a team of 122 officers and 35 civilians.

Today the City of Hickory offers housing rehabilitation programs for city homeowners needing repairs through two main plans.

The Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program provides loans up to $25,000 for home improvements (such as roofing, plumbing, and wiring) while forgiving half the loan if the home is maintained as the primary residence for five years, and the Urgent Repair Program offers forgivable loans up to $12,000 for urgent repairs (to prevent displacement).

Frye Regional Medical Center announced yesterday that Tim Kagle has been named its new vice president of operations — he will lead operational strategies and drive efficiencies to improve patient care.

Kagle brings over 27 years of health care experience from leadership roles at hospitals such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s rehabilitation network.

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.

Trial by Fire - Journey Tribute

7-10 p.m. — The Premier — Tickets from $17.45 — Experience the music of Journey as TRIAL BY FIRE transports you back to their iconic 1996 era.

Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville

7:30-10 p.m. — The Green Room Community Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience a tropical musical journey filled with favorite Jimmy Buffett hits and island vibes.

Derby Day Celebration

Afternoon — Salt Block Foundation — Ticket includes two drink vouchers — Dress in festive Derby attire and enjoy live music, Southern cuisine, and best-dressed contests.