Iredell Free News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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,

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

IFN Staff The Mooresville Police Department reported the following felony arrests: JANUARY 1 ♦ Octavius Lamon Black, 36, of Mount Vernon Church Road, Iron Station, charged with speeding to elude

Special to IFN Horizon Church will host its annual Soup-er Bowl Sunday Soup & Chili Cook-off on Sunday, February 8, following the 10 a.m. worship service. The public is invited

Special to IFN RALEIGH – N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson has announced that the state price gouging law is in effect after Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency

IFN staff Iredell County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bert Connolly signed a State of Emergency Declaration on Friday due to the anticipated impact of snow and excessive ice caused by

BY KARISSA MILLER The Iredell County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night unanimously approved a request to allow a high-density commercial development on River Highway near Mooresville. The request was

IFN Staff Organizers of the annual Historic Sharpe House Burns Night have rescheduled this year’s event due to the forecast for inclement weather this weekend. The Burns Night event is

IFN Staff A Lincolnton man is charged with using an electronic communication device to solicit a minor to engage in sexual activity with a minor following an investigation by the

IFN Staff Retired educator John Sherrill is running for the District 3 seat on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education. “I’m running because I feel I understand the needs of

Special to IFN With weather forecasts calling for ice and snow accumulations that may disrupt electrical service to homes, Iredell County public safety officials are urging residents to take precautions

IFN Staff The Statesville Police Department reported the following felony arrests: JANUARY 5 ♦ Janiyah Unique Allison, 21, of Lakeview Drive, Statesville, charged with larceny by servants and other employees.

IFN Staff Two southern Iredell County residents face felony drug charges, including drug trafficking, following a multi-agency investigation. Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests Jacques Malic Pharr, 30, and Brittany

Special to IFN RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein held a briefing Wednesday to provide updates and guidance as a winter storm approaches North Carolina. The governor was joined by N.C. Department

BY DONNA SWICEGOOD NorthPoint Development Executive Vice President Caleb Moore said the decision to invest $51 million in a Statesville project was an easy decision. “There was really something special

Special to IFN Troop 373 and Pack 373 from Grace Baptist Church worked together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to make a meaningful contribution to the community by delivering

Special to IFN RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday declared a State of Emergency as North Carolina prepares for the impacts of a major winter storm.  “A winter storm is

The Town of Troutman has openings on three town boards: Town of Troutman Board of Adjustment Voluntary Appointed Position-$0.00 Annually Position: Alternate (ETJ) Term Length: 2 Years Overview & Purpose: The Board of