Good morning, Hickory.

Sourachay Mysayakhom from Sherrills Ford was arrested on July 11 in Morganton for breaking & entering, larceny after breaking & entering, possession of stolen property and motor vehicle theft after officers responded to a break-in at Overmountain Cycles on North Green Street; his District Court hearing is set for July 14.

Jasmine Deshon Holmes, a 44 year old from Statesville, pleaded guilty on July 10 and received a prison sentence of six to eight years on July 11 for his role in a theft that involved stealing goods worth more than $100,000 from a Maiden company—his co-defendant remains awaiting trial.

North Carolina auto insurance rules changed on July 1 and drivers with less than three years of experience now face a surcharge that lowers over eight years plus minimum coverage limits have increased.

New policies must include underinsured motorist coverage and a five-year lookback for violations may lead to higher rates at renewal.

On July 1, state law allowed auto insurers to add a surcharge on drivers with less than three years of experience that now lasts until they reach their mid-20s—drivers face this extra cost even after their accident-free early years.

The law also raised minimum liability limits, required underinsured motorist coverage, and extended the lookback period for moving violations, so many motorists will see increased premiums when they renew or start new policies.

On July 11, the Hickory Crawdads beat the Lynchburg Hillcats 3-2 at Bank of the James Stadium in Lynchburg as they scored all three runs in the second inning—Enrique Segura pitched 4.1 innings and Antonis Macias had two hits, helping the team improve to 46-36 ahead of a weekend game in Lynchburg.

Big Bang Boom!

10-11 a.m. — Patrick Beaver Memorial Library — Free entry — Enjoy a family-friendly rock concert perfect for kids of all ages in a cozy library setting.

Furniture Festival & Clearance Sale

9 AM – 6 PM — Hickory Furniture Mart — Free entry — Discover amazing discounts on furniture while enjoying artisan displays and demonstrations.

Sunny Ledfurd Live Performance

7-10 p.m. — The Premier — No cover — Enjoy an eclectic mix of tunes from Sunny Ledfurd's broad musical influences.

Summer Heat Mixed Moneyball Tournament

5:30 AM — Carolina Pickleball Club - Hickory — Competitive entry — Enjoy an exciting day of mixed doubles pickleball action under the summer sun.