EDITOR’S NOTE: The Statesville City Council will consider a proposal ton Monday to name the new fire station in honor of William T. “Woody” Woodard. By President Eric Todd Scott

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR Tucked away in the woods on a hill behind a church in western Iredell County lies a hidden family cemetery. It isn’t a church graveyard. In fact,

BY JOHN A. SHERRILL As I sat in my recliner one evening, watching some useless television show, I noticed movement through the picture window out on the front lawn. It

TO THE EDITOR: As one who knew him nearly as long as his mother and father, I resonate when I consider and remember personal characteristics of Robert Wayne Stamey. Each

BY GENE HOUPE Each year we come together as a nation on Veterans Day to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of brave Americans who have served our country

BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER The Hebrew prophet Jeremiah cried out on behalf of his people and nation. It was wracked by rampant greed and deceit, and the lives of

BY DAN GITRO Here’s a recap of the contract controversy that had volunteer fire departments across Iredell County concerned — and justifiably so — about losing their primary source of

BY BLAKE PALMER Within Iredell County’s 2022-20 23 fiscal year budget message was a reminder that county residents will be on the receiving end of a property revaluation in 2023.

BY MIKE FUHRMAN In today’s hostile climate, it takes more than a little courage for elected officials and those with future political aspirations to cross party lines. That’s why it’s

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the run-off election for two at-large seats on Statesville City Council to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the run-off election for two at-large seats on Statesville City Council to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the run-off election for two at-large seats on Statesville City Council to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and

EDITOR’S NOTE: Iredell Free News invited candidates in the Statesville mayoral race to make their final pitch to voters, outlining their experience, vision, goals and plans for the city. This is

Contract dispute with volunteer fire departments brings real issue to light BY MIKE FUHRMAN The rift between Iredell County government officials and many of the volunteer fire departments that honorably

BY DARREN CAMPBELL Recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers is challenging nationwide. To recruit top-tier law enforcement officers, agencies must compensate and provide benefits that compete with similarly situated positions

BY DAN GITRO This week I am going to highlight the important work done by ECOM, a department within the county that most of you would think I would never

BY STEPHEN DE MAY From the grocery store to the gas pump, North Carolinians are all feeling pinched by the rising costs of many of the products we rely on daily.

BY JEFF JAMES On June 1, the results from the latest North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWCS) were released. The survey began as part of the North Carolina Governor’s

BY DAN GITRO As we celebrate our nation’s 246th birthday on Monday, Americans are divided more than at any other time in modern history. One thing we can’t lose sight

BY DAN GITRO Two big things happened at Tuesday night’s Iredell County Board of Commissioners meeting that will directly impact residents and fire and rescue personnel of this great county:

BY DAN GITRO Iredell County officials are moving forward with a plan to implement a countywide radio system for emergency responders. Iredell County currently uses three primary radio systems utilizing

BY MIKE FUHRMAN In most elections, you can classify candidates for elected office into two distinct groups — the known and the unknown. The first group is typically made up

BY JOHN GREEN What an absolutely eventful and wild year we have had in healthcare. Each May, in conjunction with National Hospital Week (May 8, 2022 – May 14, 2022), I

BY BECKY WAGNER Over the course of the last two years, we’ve heard a lot about nurses all across the globe as they’ve helped navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. National Nurses

BY RUSSELL W. CHAPMAN JR. This letter is in response to your recent editorial regarding Maureen Purcell and her competence to continue to serve as Iredell County register of deeds.

BY MIKE FUHRMAN The Executive Committee of the Iredell County Republican Party handed Maureen Purcell the gift of incumbency in January 2021 when its members nominated her to serve as

BY MIKE FUHRMAN After more than 30 years in this business, I am rarely surprised by anything that happens at a local candidates’ forum. On Thursday night, during the Iredell

BY MIKE FUHRMAN The stakes are incredibly high as Statesville voters prepare to go to the polls to select the city’s next mayor. It has become abundantly clear to me

Books that deal with controversial topics often reflect teens’ real-life situations BY COOPER HALL All around the world books are being banned in schools. This means a lot of students

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR This year, the Statesville library will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To wrap up Women’s History Month and celebrate National Library Week in April, I’d like to highlight

BY TODD CARVER The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education has experienced a great deal of scrutiny lately due to certain books in our schools’ libraries. I would like to take

BY JOE HUDSON Don’t bother calling me for continued discussion of the Duke and Carolina basketball game; I’m not home. I must go down to the seas again, to the

Edtor’s Note: Paula Price made the following comments during the April 4 meeting of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. BY PAULA PRICE Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Members of

BY JANE HINSON April 4-10, 2022, is National Public Health Week. I want to take this opportunity to thank the individuals who work at the Iredell County Health Department, which

BY THERESA KNIGHT The Mooresville Graded School District Board February meeting included over three hours of school improvement plan presentations by the principals of each school in the district. Presenter

BY MIKE FUHRMAN The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education has taken a stand for common sense and for parental rights in the face public pressure from a group of would-be