Iredell Free News

Special to IFN The Mooresville Graded School District hosted its inaugural First LEGO League Regional Qualifying Tournament on Saturday, November 15, at Selma Burke Middle School. This event brought together

Special to IFN The Birth Place at Iredell Memorial Hospital announced the following births: NOVEMBER 5 ♦ A girl, Aria Garcia Melos, born to Jennifer Melos and Jesus Ivan Garcia

Special to IFN RALEIGH — To recognize and raise awareness of safe antibiotic use, Gov. Josh Stein has proclaimed the week of November 18-24 as North Carolina Antibiotic Awareness Week. The

BY DONNA SWICEGOOD In his next to last official meeting as mayor, Costi Kutteh cast votes to approve two highly contested agenda items during Monday’s Statesville City Council meeting. Kutteh,

Special to IFN After more than a decade, the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser benefiting Fifth Street Ministries’ community kitchen enjoyed another successful year with over 100 guests sharing a meal

IFN Staff A Statesville man faces a felony charge in connection with the theft of an enclosed trailer containing thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the

Special to IFN The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center will welcome the holiday season with “A Be-Jeweled Christmas,” a sparkling Christmas open house celebration at the historic Lucas Mansion, located

BY KEVIN IMM Troutman Fire & Rescue personnel, along with the N.C. Forestry Service, were dispatched to a grass and woods fire on the Barium Springs property about 10:41 a.m.

Special to IFN RALEIGH — A new audit by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor (OSA) shows that while federal COVID-19 public emergency funds provided to North Carolina have been

BY REP. TODD CARVER I wanted to take just a moment to temper expectations this week about the Medicaid funding situation in North Carolina. The reason I feel it is

Special to IFN Iredell Health System’s Skilled Nursing Facility has been recognized as a Best Nursing Home for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report. Since its debut in 2009,

Photos BY Wayne Atkinson Photography, Hannah Elsenboss, and Paige Jackson Special to IFN Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center and the N.C. Falconers Guild joined forces on Sunday for their 7th

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

IFN Staff The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported the following felony arrests: NOVEMBER 4 ♦ Jean Marie Anderson, 43, of Cross Country Road, Statesville, charged with maintaining a dwelling or

BY KEVIN IMM The Harmony Fire Department, N.C. Forestry Service and County Line Fire Department were alerted for a large grass and woods fire on Sheffield Road in Harmony about 2:20

BY TAYLOR BURRIS As the holiday season approaches, the Lonely Children’s Fund continues to make a difference in the lives of children and teens in foster care in Iredell County.

To the Editor: The Troutman Town Council has been handed an opportunity to fix what they screwed up on January 4, 2021, when they hired the current town manager, who

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

Special to IFN Iredell Memorial Hospital earned a fourth consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an

Special to IFN Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of more than 30 individuals on various felony and misdemeanor drug charges as part of the ICSO Fall Narcotics

BY DEBBIE PAGE Niagara Cares, the charitable division of Niagara Bottling, partnered with Feed the Children, Food For Days, Iredell-Statesville Schools, and the Mooresville Graded School District on Tuesday to

BY KARISSA MILLER Exchange Club of Troutman officially chartered the Vikings Exchange Excel Club at South Iredell High School Friday afternoon. The new club has about 30 members. Excel clubs

Special to IFN RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein has directed the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships to make recommendations to effectively implement the newly created Workforce Pell grants to

Special to IFN Cornerstone Christian Academy held its annual Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, November 12, welcoming students, families, and community members to honor those who have served in the

BY DEBBIE PAGE Troutman interim town manager and finance director Justin Mundy, who joined the town’s administrative team in September of 2021, is leaving to become Alexander County manager beginning

Special to IFN More than 200 attendees enjoyed the fourth annual Heart of Jazz at the Statesville Civic Center on November 7, raising a record $88,000. Net proceeds will benefit

IFN Staff A Statesville woman faces several charges, including felony assault, in connection with an incident at Third Creek Middle School on Wednesday morning. Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced

BY KEVIN IMM Mooresville Fire – Rescue and Shepherds Fire – Rescue, along with N.C. Forest Service personnel, extinguished a grass and woods fire encompassing more than two acres on

Special to IFN Raleigh — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) expects to process full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments by Friday morning. Approximately 600,000

Special to IFN United Way of Iredell County is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award and the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. Established by the

Special to IFN Local business owner Bob Gates was presented the N.C. School Boards Association Champion of Education Award on Wednesday, November 12. The Champion of Education Award recognizes individuals

Special to IFN Mitchell Community College on Thursday announced a new guaranteed admission agreement with North Carolina State University, reinforcing its commitment to expanding educational access and promoting student success.

BY BRANDY TEMPLETON American Renaissance School’s Donovan Cook Center was packed with students and guests on Monday for an event to honor veterans. Foods & Nutrition Director and After School

Special to IFN Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. with more Americans dying from it than any other type of cancer. With November being Lung

Special to IFN Christian and family-friendly country and comedy artist Shellem Cline reached a career-defining milestone on Sunday night, earning the title of Artist of the Year in the Inspirational/Gospel

IFN Staff The Mooresville Police Department reported the following felony arrests: OCTOBER 17 ♦ Nathaniel Phillip Knox, 48, of Grandview Drive, Flushing, Mich., charged with possession of stolen property and

BY DEBBIE PAGE Troutman Town Council members voted on Monday to contribute $150,000 to the Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County’s (HPCIC) efforts to build a grief and bereavement

Special to IFN Troutman Elementary School teachers Bethany Crisp and Emily Hawkins’ students honored the veterans connected to their classrooms by writing heartfelt thank-you notes. “We love our veterans and

BY DONNA SWICEGOOD Serving in the U.S. Marine Corps prepared Nicole Webb, a graphic designer and student at Mitchell Community College, for life outside the military. Webb was one of

BT KARISSA MILLER The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve the district’s $274 million budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chief Finance Officer Adam Steele told the

IFN Staff The Troutman Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that occurred Sunday afternoon on Duck Creek Road. Officers responded to a report of a motorcycle crash in the

Special to IFN RALEIGH — For the fourth year in a row, North Carolina students increased their scores and participation in Advanced Placement exams, outpacing the national average and setting a

Special to IFN The Iredell Arts Council, in partnership with the Full Bloom Film Festival, will present a special screening of “Stop Making Sense,” the groundbreaking concert film directed by

IFN Staff An eastern Iredell County resident faces a felony charge in connection with a stolen backhoe that was recovered in a field near Statesville. Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell

Special to IFN D1 Training, a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training, will be reopening a new location at 221 Norman Station Boulevard in

Special to IFN The anxiety trap, often called the cycle of avoidance, happens when we avoid situations that can cause anxiety or emotional distress. Avoidance provides temporary relief before the

Special to IFN Iredell County Emergency Medical Services is once again giving back to the community through a countywide food and clothing drive, which runs through November 15. Members of

Special to IFN Broad Street United Methodist Church will host its 2025 Fall LEAP Lecture and Preaching Series on Sunday, November 16. The series, which celebrates leadership, excellence, and preaching,

Special to IFN Iredell County and the City of Statesville announced the following closings and schedule changes for Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. City of Statesville City

IFN Staff The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported the following felony arrests: OCTOBER 31 ♦ Angel Fabra Martin, 48, of Nabors Road, Statesville, charged with obtaining property by false pretenses,

BY KARISSA MILLER West Iredell High School’s Junior ROTC cadets and students held the school’s 41st annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday morning, delivering a heartfelt and powerful tribute to