Good morning, Hickory.

On April 15, Hickory awarded Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company its Business.

Well Crafted. Legacy Award for over 100 years of service to the community, recognizing its role in providing soft drinks, coffee, tea, and snacks across 17 counties.

Kincaid Upholstery celebrated a new era with a ribbon cutting under new ownership by KMC Furniture LLC — led by CEO Max Dyer, family member Kim Kincaid, and Chief Commercial Officer Cole — marking a fresh start for the local business.

The City of Hickory Community Relations Council will host its third annual Multicultural Festival on Saturday, April 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. in downtown Union Square — featuring diverse cultural performances, vendors, and awards with a special Quilt of Valor presentation.

Hickory High alumni are planning a scholarship fund to support high school seniors by passing on their legacy.

Jay Johnson said the initiative is meant to benefit future graduates.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is accepting registrations for Truck Driver Training courses in Western NC.

Mandatory orientations will be held on April 27 (Hudson), April 30 (Wilkesboro), and May 4 (Newland) before enrollment.

On Monday, April 20, the county board in Newton approved merging the three school systems: Catawba County, Hickory City, and Newton-Conover (3-2 vote) after a four-hour public hearing.

Ida Clough, the NAACP president, spoke today against a proposed school merger in Catawba County as community members learn about changes in local education.

State officials warned businesses and government agencies about a new cybersecurity threat when a compromised Axios update could install malware.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson urged reviews of systems to isolate any issues after record data breaches in 2025 exposed nearly 9.3 million personal records.

Lenoir-Rhyne Track & Field athletes met on Thursday and set new school records as Lewis Budgen broke the 10,000-meter record and Sharonda Priester ran the 400m hurdles in record time; the team will compete at the SAC Championships on April 29-30 in Emory.

The Catawba Valley Community College softball team swept Surry Community College at Stanford Park on Monday, April 20 with scores of 10-1 and 12-2, hitting a total of seven home runs across two games—now the Red Hawks await the Region 10 tournament starting on April 30.

Matthew Gray and Thomas Wlazlowski set new school records during the Wake Forest Invitational on April 20 with outstanding performances in pole vault and the men’s 5000 meters — the Mountaineers will host the John Weaver Invitational April 24 — April 25 at the Randy Marion Track and Field Complex.

Holly Zador was promoted to Associate Head Coach by Lenoir-Rhyne on Monday, April 20 — she will begin her second season with the women’s soccer team in the fall after helping the Bears win a top regional title last season.

On Monday, Apr. 20, the CVCC Red Hawks swept Patrick and Henry Community College in a three-game series—scoring 32 runs, with standout performances from key hitters.

The team will host a conference game Wednesday at Henkel-Alley Field at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds.

Live Again Tribute Fest

5-9 p.m. — The Premier — Ticketed event — Enjoy a night of powerful tribute performances from iconic rock bands.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans vs. Hickory Crawdads

7:59-10:59 p.m. — L. P. Frans Stadium — Tickets available — Enjoy a live baseball matchup between the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Hickory Crawdads.

Green Day Tribute Concert with Confetti Cannon

7-11 p.m. — The Premier — Tickets starting at $17.45 — Enjoy explosive punk covers that will tickle your nostalgia glands.

Paul Gilbert Concert

7-10 p.m. — The Premier — Tickets from $29.25 — Experience the guitar virtuosity of Paul Gilbert with exciting new music from his album WROC.