Good morning, Hickory.

25-year-old Tony Ray Kirkland II from Statesville pleaded guilty on May 6 at Catawba County Superior Court to trafficking methamphetamine, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and assaulting a detention officer, receiving six to eight years in prison and a $50,000 fine after a vehicle stop on January 25, 2022 revealed drugs and a jail incident on October 8, 2024 led to further charges — the case was investigated by Hickory Police Department and Catawba County Sheriff’s Office —.

Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory will live stream its graduation ceremony on Friday for remote viewers—this event marks President Whitt’s final commencement at the school.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a digital resource today called North Carolina DB101 to help people with disabilities navigate public benefits like social security disability insurance, food and nutrition services, and Medicaid.

The site features an Estimator Tool (that calculates the impact of earnings on benefits) to help users plan for work.

On Tuesday, high school baseball playoffs saw 1A Draughn win 12–1 over Gray Stone Day School to advance and host Highland Tech Friday—while in 3A the Indians advanced with a 17–3 win over St. Stephens and in 4A the Spartans earned a 7–5 win over Southeast Guilford to set up a Friday matchup with Watauga.

In Tuesday’s first round high school softball playoffs, in 1A the Draughn Wildcats defeated The North Carolina Leadership Academy 12—0 and will face Mountain Island Charter on Friday, while in 2A Maiden won 4—3 over Bunker Hill to end the Bears’ season at 20—7 and West Caldwell beat Morehead 3—2 to host Randleman on Friday. In other divisions, West Lincoln won 10—0 over Bandys with the Trojans finishing at 14—10 and West Wilkes won 15—0 over Patton to end the Panthers’ run at 9—15, while in 3A East Lincoln won 1—0 over Fred T. Foard (with the Tigers finishing at 13—10), East Rowan defeated Freedom 12—0 as the Patriots ended at 10—17 and Hibriten edged South Point 7—6 to face East Lincoln on Friday, and in 4A Alexander Central beat Mount Tabor 15—0 to host Davie County and South Caldwell won 14—2 over Porter Ridge to play Hough on Friday.

Charlotte Grappling & BJJ Championship

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Hickory Metro Convention Center — Registration fees apply — Experience the excitement of one of the largest mixed grappling tournaments in the world.

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac Tribute

7:30-9 p.m. — The Hum — Tickets available — Experience the exceptional sounds of Fleetwood Mac brought to life by The Chain featuring Dani Kerr from America's Got Talent.

Swingin’ Under The Stars

6:30-9:30 p.m. — Sails on the Square — Free entry — Experience the Hickory Jazz Orchestra performing beloved big band classics under the night sky.

37th Annual Spring Fling

9 AM – 3 PM — Catholic Conference Center — $17 — Engage in crafts, educational sessions, and activities like line bingo for a fun and informative day.

On-Site Tour of Senior Living Facilities

9 a.m. - 7 p.m. — Greens at Hickory — Free entry — Explore award-winning senior living facilities committed to quality care and engaging activities.

AWKN Conference

7 PM – 1 PM — Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau — Check event page for pricing — Big adventures await in Hickory, showcasing the local community's heritage and outdoor activities.

ACCW Live Wrestling Event

6-9 p.m. — Brookford Community Building — Tickets available now — Experience an epic Steel Cage Showdown for the Apple City Championship in Hickory.