Good morning, Hickory.

The Hickory Police Department is investigating a fatal crash on North Center Street near 22nd Avenue NW on July 20 at 9:10 p.m. when a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by 38-year-old Jordan Phillip Daughaday collided with a 2016 Nissan Frontier driven by 70-year-old Charles Christopher Cagle (excessive motorcycle speed was a factor and no charges have been filed).

49-year-old Joshua Kyle Wright of Candler was arrested by Hickory Police on Friday (July 18) on a felony fugitive warrant for aggressive driving and hit and run in Georgia and he was held at the Catawba County Detention Facility with a $200,000 secured bond; he appeared in District Court in Newton on the morning of July 21.

North Carolina’s June 2025 report showed the unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 percent—unchanged from May and 0.1 percent higher than last year.

The report also showed overall employment dropped by 3,023 while nonfarm employment increased by 5,000 with gains in health, construction, leisure and hospitality services and a 4,000-job drop in trade, transportation and utilities.

The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program and law enforcement agencies are launching a seven-day initiative — Speeding Catches Up With You — to catch drivers who exceed speed limits, with officers patrolling highways from today until July 27.

Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the ninth year after posting a 3.72 team GPA, tying for the best athletic program GPA at the school.

The Bears will begin their season in Hickory on September 5-6 with a Season Opening Invitational—facing Lees-McRae, Mount Olive and Florida Tech.

Three players from Hickory Metro took part in Monday’s East-West All-Star Games in Greensboro where top high school players competed in basketball and soccer.

The event, founded in 1949 to support a coaching clinic, featured a women’s game that ended 97 to 85 and a men’s game that ended 98 to 83 — marking a competitive start.

Hickory FC midfielder Antonio Pineda was named the 2025 Golden Ball winner by the National Premier Soccer League for his seven goals this season — including game-winning goals on May 19 and June 7 that helped secure key wins over Appalachian FC.

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.

ASICS XC Night

6-8 p.m. — Fleet Feet Hickory — Free entry — Gear up for your XC season with exclusive insights and gear at Fleet Feet.

Metallica & Guns and Roses Tribute

7-11 p.m. — The Premier — $17.45 - $519.00 — Experience a night of classic rock as tribute bands King Nothing and Appetite for Illusion rock out to legends Metallica and Guns N' Roses.