Meeting to be held at Catawba Valley Community College: Alexander Center beginning at 6:00pm. Meeting will be broadcast live on 860wacb.com
America 250 history lecture and music planned for Nov. 14
The Alexander County America 250 Committee invites the public to an America 250 event on Saturday, November 14, at 3:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church. The afternoon will feature a history lecture, “Impact of Veterans and Early Settlers on Alexander County,” by Dr. Warren Hollar, along with patriotic music by Kim Pennell, The Barnes Family, and the Third Creek Baptist Church Praise Team.
Dr. Hollar, a retired school administrator, Bethlehem resident, and longtime newspaper columnist, will provide a historical overview of how early settlers and local veterans helped shape Alexander County and contributed to the broader history of the nation.
The presentation will begin by tracing the influence of early settlers on the area and the role they played in shaping local history. Dr. Hollar will then share a series of short vignettes recognizing the service and sacrifices of Alexander County veterans and their families and their contributions to sustaining the American way of life.
Kim Pennell, The Barnes Family, and the Third Creek Baptist Church Praise Team will provide special patriotic music.
Commissioner Josh Lail, local attorney Daryl Davidson, and the Alexander Central High School JROTC will participate in the event, as well as Pastor Dean Chambers (Bethlehem Baptist Church), Pastor Justin Mauney (Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church), and the Commanders of the three Veterans posts in Alexander County.
Refreshments will be served following the program. The public is encouraged to attend.
The Alexander County America 250 Committee includes Commissioner Larry Yoder, Helen Chestnut, Nancy Coley, Betty Long, Tamara Odom, and Lisa Lowe.
America 250 NC programs in Alexander County are sponsored by Taylorsville Savings Bank, Duke Energy, The Taylorsville Times, and NCDAR – Carolina Emerald Chapter.
The event is presented in partnership with the Alexander County Historic Preservation Commission.
View upcoming Alexander County America 250 events at visitalexandernc.com/calendar.
City of Hickory, Alexander County upgrading water meters
The City of Hickory is upgrading water meters throughout its water system, including those in Alexander County. The county’s share of the project will be paid from its Water & Sewer Fund.
The new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, known as Hickory H₂O, will replace older water meters with new technology designed to provide more accurate and reliable readings, improve water-use information, and help identify possible leaks more quickly.
The new meters will also allow readings to be collected remotely rather than requiring employees to visit each meter for routine readings. Once the system is fully implemented, customers will have access to an online portal where they can monitor their water usage.
Installation of a new meter typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. Water service will be temporarily interrupted during installation, but customers generally do not need to be home. A door hanger will be left after the work is completed.
There is no charge to customers for the new meter or installation. Because older meters can become less accurate over time, some customers may notice a change in measured water usage after a new meter is installed.
Professional Meters Inc. (PMI) is performing the meter installations on behalf of the City of Hickory.
For more information about the project, visit the City of Hickory’s Hickory H₂O webpage at www.hickorync.gov/hickory-h2o. If you have additional questions, please contact Hickory Public Utilities at 828-323-7427.
Alexander County awarded grant to replace 911 consoles
Alexander County has been awarded a $640,184.10 grant from the North Carolina 911 Board to replace outdated equipment at the county’s 911 communications center and improve backup communications capabilities.
The grant was announced during the North Carolina 911 Board meeting on August 28 in Raleigh after being recommended for approval by the board’s Grant Committee.
According to Alexander County E-911 Communications Director Greg Foster, the funding will allow the county to replace four outdated radio consoles at its primary communications center and establish radio console connectivity at its required backup center, located within the Iredell County Emergency Communications Center.
The total project cost is $1,221,836.58. Of that amount, $640,184.10 will be funded through the North Carolina 911 Board grant, while the remaining $581,652.48 will be covered through the State of North Carolina’s Emergency Telephone System Fund (ETSF). No local taxpayer dollars will be required to fund the project.
“This is a crucial upgrade for our center and, more importantly, for the first responders we serve every day,” Foster said. “This investment will provide Alexander County E-911 Communications with modern, reliable, and dependable radio communications capabilities while enhancing our continuity of operations and resiliency.”
County Manager Justin Mundy said the project is an important investment in the safety of Alexander County residents and first responders.
“This grant represents a tremendous investment in the safety and security of our community and the first responders we have the privilege of supporting,” Mundy said. “It ensures our telecommunicators can communicate with our first responders and that our first responders can communicate with us when seconds matter.”
Alexander County appreciates the North Carolina 911 Board Grant Committee for recommending the project and the North Carolina 911 Board for approving the grant.
Renovations at Dusty Ridge Park to begin September 21
Duke Energy will begin renovations at Dusty Ridge Park on Monday, September 21. The boat access area and walking trail will be closed during construction, which is expected to continue through mid-December. The project will not affect the ballfield complex.
Once the project is complete, the walking trail will have reduced elevation changes to make it more accessible and inclusive for visitors. Improvements will also include additional parking for trail and fishing access, a bathroom for boaters, and repairs to the parking lot and boat ramp.
Dusty Ridge Park is located at 360 Dusty Ridge Access Road, Taylorsville.
Crime Stoppers presents National Night Out on October 6
Alexander County Crime Stoppers Inc. invites the community to attend National Night Out on Tuesday, October 6, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Alexander County Courthouse Park (101 West Main Ave, Taylorsville).
National Night Out is a free, family-friendly event that provides an opportunity for residents to meet and connect with local law enforcement officers, first responders, county agencies, and community organizations.
The evening will feature food, live entertainment, activities for the whole family, and a variety of displays and resources. Attendees will have an opportunity to see sheriff’s office and police vehicles, fire trucks, county displays, and more.
National Night Out is designed to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the community while promoting public safety and neighborhood partnerships.
“National Night Out gives us a great opportunity to spend time with the people we serve and strengthen the relationships that make Alexander County such a special place,” Sheriff Chad Pennell said. “We want everyone to come out, meet our officers and first responders, enjoy the evening with their families, and know that we’re all working together to keep our community safe.”
The event is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to bring their family and friends and enjoy an evening of food, fun, entertainment, and fellowship with those who serve the community.
Learn more about National Night Out at https://natw.org/about.