Featured Articles
City manager updates council members on road-clearing efforts, major capital projects
BY DONNA SWICEGOOD Statesville City Manager Ron Smith on Monday expressed appreciation to street crews and emergency personnel for their response to the back-to-back storms that dumped ice and snow
N.C. Elections Board sends letters to voters with unvalidated ID numbers
Special to IFN RALEIGH — The N.C. State Board of Elections is sending letters to more than 241,000 North Carolina voters who provided identification numbers when they registered to vote that
Five inmates face felony charges after fatal overdose at Iredell County Detention Center prompts ICSO investigation
IFN Staff Five Iredell County Detention Center inmates face felony charges following a criminal investigation sparked by the overdoses of two inmates, including one who later died. About 8 p.m.
IFN Q&A: MGSD Superintendent Jason Gardner
IFN Staff The Mooresville Graded School District continued its climb into the upper echelon of North Carolina public school districts this fall. Based on the latest academic performance data released
Survey: North Carolinians remain sharply divided on President Trump, his policies and direction of U.S.
Special to IFN North Carolina remains politically divided one year into President Donald Trump’s second term, with a new Catawba-YouGov Survey showing the president at 44 percent approval to 51
Chairman Angell resigns his seat on I-SS Board as a result of altercation with another board member
IFN Staff Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education Chairman Kevin Angell has resigned from the board in the wake of his altercation with fellow board member Mike Kubiniec after the January
Mooresville Arts announces winners of 13th Annual Winter Juried Exhibition
Special to IFN Mooresville Arts on Monday announced the winners of its 13th Annual Winter Juried Exhibition. This year’s exhibit attracted 146 submissions from 80 artists. Out of the 146
Iredell Health System welcomes new doctor to Family Care Center of Troutman
Special to IFN Iredell Health System announced the addition of Dr. Kimberly Vass-Eudy to Family Care Center of Troutman, a new family medicine practice, which opened Monday. Vass-Eudy has been
Pine Lake Prep Jr. Robotics team gearing up for World Competition
Special to IFN After winning first place in Core Values at the state competition held in Greensboro, Pine Lake Prep’s Jr. Robotics team, the “SPORKlings,” have qualified for an international
Voter registration deadline quickly approaching for March primary election
Special to IFN RALEIGH — North Carolinians who want to cast their ballot in person on Primary Election Day — March 3 — must register to vote by Friday,
Iredell Arts Council invites community to event featuring work of photographer Peter O’Reilly
Special to IFN The Iredell Arts Council invites the community to an evening of art and conversation featuring photographer Peter O’Reilly on Tuesday, February 4. The program will be held
Haynes running for District 3 seat on I-SS Board of Education
Special to IFN Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education member Cindy Haynes has launched her campaign to continue serving as the District 3 representative. Haynes, who was appointed to the board
Iredell County Government Career Opportunities ($2,500 New Hire Bonus)
These positions are subject to pre-employment screenings. Iredell County does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, genetic information, or handicapping
Iredell County Public Library to present ‘Stories Are Magic’
Special to IFN The Iredell County Public Library is preparing to present “Stories Are Magic,” a premier series of events featuring a talented ensemble of professional magicians, storytellers, and theatre
ICSO Felony Arrests: January 22-29
IFN Staff The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported the following felony arrests: JANUARY 22 ♦ Breanna Amber Garcia, 31, of no fixed address charged with conspiracy to sell narcotics, possession
North Carolina ranks first for domestic migration, remains among fastest-growing states in U.S.
Special to IFN RALEIGH — North Carolina remains one of the fastest-growing states in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this week. Despite a nationwide slowdown in
City of Statesville Career Opportunities (January 31)
The City of Statesville is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, non-disqualifying disability or
Rotary Club of Greater Statesville presents five Rotarians with Paul Harris Fellow Awards
Special to IFN The Rotary Club of Greater Statesville presented five Rotarians with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award on January 22. The recipients are Maureen Moore, Anne Ellenburg, Scarlett
Motorists who were ticketed for honking car horns, noise violations during ‘No Kings’ rally planning to sue Statesville Police Department
IFN Staff An attorney for 13 motorists who were cited for a noise violation while driving past a “No Kings” rally in Statesville is planning to file a federal lawsuit
West Iredell Fire Department hosts annual awards dinner (Photos)
BY KEVIN IMM The West Iredell Fire Department held its annual awards dinner on Friday, January 30. Awards were given out to several members for their hard work and dedication
MGSD teacher nominated for National LifeChanger of the Year Award
Special to IFN Park View Elementary School teacher Jessy DeFrancisco has been nominated for National Life Group’s 2025-2026 LifeChanger of the Year Award. The award recognizes and rewards the very
Sheriff: Two suspects charged with helping wanted sex offender avoid arrest
IFN Staff Two people suspected of helping a registered sex offender who had active arrest warrants avoid apprehension face felony charges in Iredell County. Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced
Purple Heart Homes CEO applauds signing of Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act
Special to IFN Purple Heart Homes officials are excited about the passage and signing of the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act (H.R. 224), bipartisan legislation that removes long-standing barriers preventing
NCDPI launches initiative celebrating choice in public schools
Special to IFN RALEIGH — With 229 magnet programs, 138 early college high schools, 211 charter schools and more than 500 career and technical education courses in 14 career pathways,
Registration open for Rescue Ranch’s spring and summer Critter Camps
Special to IFN Parents of preschool to eighth-grade students can now register their children for Rescue Ranch’s 2026 Critter Camps, spring break and one-week summer camp sessions offering hands-on educational
Viewpoint: If adults received grades for Citizenship, how would you rate?
BY JEFF CORBETT At the end of the Christmas holidays, while up in the attic putting away decorations for another year, I stumbled upon an old taped-up box hidden away
Gov. Stein declares State of Emergency ahead of winter storm
Special to IFN RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday issued a new State of Emergency to ensure the state qualifies if federal assistance is needed to respond or recover
Statesville Health & Fitness Expo set for March 1
Special to IFN The Second Annual Statesville Health & Fitness Expo is set for Sunday, March 1, at the Statesville Civic Center. The event, which takes place from 12 to
Food for Days needs community support to sustain backpack meals ministry
Special to IFN Food for Days backpack meals ministry is asking the community to help support its efforts to ensure children facing food insecurity don’t go hungry. The ministry, which
Birth Announcements: January 12-24
Special to IFN The Birth Place at Iredell Memorial Hospital announced the following births: JANUARY 12 ♦ A boy, Ramiro Ismael Catarino Garcia, born to Raul Catarino Hernandez and Claudia
Iredell County Farm Bureau to host candidates forum on February 12
IFN Staff The Iredell County Farm Bureau will hold a forum on Thursday, February 12, for candidates running for a seat on the Iredell County Board of Commissioners in the
Veteran firefighter retiring after 36 years of dedicated service
BY KEVIN IMM After providing more than 36 years of service to the communities of Salisbury, Statesville and Troutman, Jeff Leaptrott has decided to hang up his turnout gear for good.
Pine Lake Prep Debate Team members take home Silver Awards
Special to IFN Pine Lake Prep’s Speech and Debate Team recently competed at the Cavalier Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament at Durham Academy, competing against 54 other schools from 15
Iredell County Public Library welcomes Community Navigator intern
Special to IFN Mackenzie Gates has joined the Iredell County Public Library staff as the Community Navigator intern at the Statesville branch library. Gates, who is currently pursuing her Social
Statesville Kiwanis Club donates $20,000 to support 4-H youth programming
Special to IFN The Statesville Kiwanis Club recently made a generous $20,000 donation to Iredell County 4-H and Iredell County Cooperative Extension to help purchase a 15-passenger van, expanding youth
EnergyUnited returns to normal operations after winter storm
Special to IFN In the wake of Winter Storm Fern, EnergyUnited officials expressed their thanks its members for their patience and support. The cooperative also extends sincere appreciation to EnergyUnited
School Spotlight: Cool Spring Elementary
BY KARISSA MILLER Cool Spring Elementary School teachers and staff believe in the potential of all students and maintain positive, consistent expectations, which has resulted in higher student engagement and
Salvation Army keeping warming shelter open through Sunday; donations needs to sustain effort
BY DEBBIE PAGE The Salvation Army of Iredell County, its board of directors, and a group of dedicated volunteers worked together over the weekend to open a 24-hour emergency warming
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged in December
Special to IFN RALEIGH — North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted December 2025 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point
United Way of Iredell County kicks off annual Love United Iredell campaign
BY DONNA SWICEGOOD Nine local nonprofit organizations are seeking community support to fund a variety of short-term projects, ranging from providing pet food to home delivery meal clients to giving
Mooresville Rescue Squad Foundation accepting applications for college scholarships
Special to IFN The Mooresville Rescue Squad Foundation is offering several scholarships to local high school seniors who are graduating in 2026. These scholarships range from $1,000 to 7,000 each.
Carolina Specialty Care joins Iredell Health System
Special to IFN Carolina Specialty Care, a highly respected multi-specialty medical practice located on Old Mocksville Road in Statesville, has joined Iredell Health System, effective January 26. The practice will
Food Lion to open new store in Statesville on January 28
Special to IFN Food Lion has served the Statesville community for more than five decades, and on Wednesday, January 28, the retailer will open a new location at 1909 E.
NCDOR opens 2026 individual income tax filing season
Special to IFN On Monday, January 26, along with the Internal Revenue Service, the N.C. Department of Revenue officially opened the 2026 individual income tax filing season and began accepting
Flow Automotive of Statesville donates $11,000 to local nonprofits, plus $5,000 to pay off student lunch debt
BY KARISSA MILLER Flow Automotive of Statesville recently donated $5,000 to Iredell-Statesville Schools District to help pay off student lunch debt. Alex Paschold, group president of Flow Automotive of Statesville,
Iredell County Government Career Opportunities ($2,500 New Hire Bonus)
These positions are subject to pre-employment screenings. Iredell County does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, genetic information, or handicapping
EnergyUnited crews face deteriorating road conditions in aftermath of winter storm
Special to IFN EnergyUnited crews were prepared to respond to a spike in power outages as temperatures dropped overnight across the cooperative’s 19-county service area. After Winter Storm Fern blanketed
McBride named assistant vice president of Iredell Physician Network
Special to IFN Detmetiros McBride has been named assistant vice president of the Iredell Physician Network, a part of Iredell Health System. McBride has more than 20 years of experience
ICSO Felony Arrests: January 16-22
IFN Staff The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported the following felony arrests: JANUARY 16 ♦ Shardae Shaquan Fields, 34, of Carlyle Drive, Charlotte, charged with being a fugitive from justice.
Iredell County public safety officials urge residents to take precautions during and after winter storm
Special to IFN As ice and snow moved into the region on Saturday evening, Iredell County public safety officials urged residents to take precautions to prevent injuries commonly associated with
Viewpoint: When a doctor in Congress calls out the Healthcare Giants, it’s time to act
BY SALLY NIX When Congressman Greg Murphy confronted insurance executives during the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on January 22, he did not merely ask tough questions. He pulled























