St. Stephens News

With a new elementary school opening in Catawba County in less than a year, Catawba County Schools is preparing redistricting plans that will affect children in kindergarten through sixth grades in the St.

HENDERSONVILLE North Henderson athletic director Scott Rhodes said his school has narrowed its search for a football coach to two candidates and hopes to finalize its choice on Monday, but would not comment ...

“Bless ed are the feet of the righteous and how shall they preach except they be sent”

The Saint Stephens Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the third anniversary of pastor Rev. via Montgomery Advertiser

“I think Obama is a refreshing newcomer”

Eyes flashed, voices rose in enthusiastic testimony as approximately 20 people met Tuesday night at Saint Stephens Baptist Church in Tarboro. via Daily Southerner

“It would call attention to Gastonia, call attention to the church and the role of church in terms of seg-regation and integration”

The pastor of a Gastonia church met this week with Jeb Stuart, a Gastonia native and Hollywood screenwriter of blockbusters like "Die Hard" and "The Fugitive," who is scouting locations in the area for his next ... via The Gaston Gazette

Mooresville High will be the top seed for the 18th annual Catawba County Easter Baseball Classic, which opens with four games on Monday at the Legion Fairgrounds Field. via IHigh

“Many very egocentric malcontents just screwed up nomenclature.”

The Star Party at Mount Pleasant Middle School scheduled for last Friday had to be postponed because of rain. It's been rescheduled for this Friday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The question in my last column about the number of planets drew some interesting response. I heard from Drew Gilmore, a Mount Pleasant High School graduate who is now assistant director of the Sudekum Planetarium in Nashville, Tenn.

His mother, Carol Gilmore, from Concord, sent him my column. Drew told me that, according to the International Astronomical Union, our solar system officially has eight planets. Three dwarf planets -- Ceres, Eris and Pluto -- don't count as actual planets based on the IAU definition. Read more

Three Catawba County students were named Catawba County Schools Shining Stars for February. Matthew Deal, Melodee Osborne and Darien Gerami were recognized at the Catawba County Board of Education meeting.

The Shining Stars Character Recognition Program honors students who go above and beyond in exemplifying good character. One winner is selected from the elementary, middle and high school levels. They receive a trophy, certificate, Dairy Queen gift meal and a $50 savings bond donated by BB&T. Read more

“I really want to stress that. We need people to help set up events, work them, clean up, everything. ... It takes a lot of helping to make this a success.”

With Taste of Lexington 's entertainment line-up expanding this year from a few days to an entire month of weekend activities, more volunteers are required, said festival organizer Charlie Alexander. via The Dispatch

“I guess I've always been that kind of person”

Like the typical teenager, Vonna Wood enjoys her friends, pets and music. Unlike your typical teenager, she helps take care of her mother.

In addition to school and sports, the 13-year-old has nursed her single mother through serious illnesses and still finds time for charitable work on the side. Though she avoids attention for any of this, she recently won countywide recognition for her quiet work.

Vonna has strawberry blond hair, a shy smile and a strong throwing arm.

Though she is an above-average student and athlete, her quiet manner helps her blend in among the other kids at Arndt Middle School in the St. Stephens area. Read more

The Bandys High School Drama Department will present its first murder mystery dinner theater with the play, 'Touchtone `M' for Murder,' on March 7 in the school drama room.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 and include the meal and the show. To purchase tickets, contact Cindy Lohr at 828-241-3171 extension 5216 or e-mail her at Cynthia_Lohr@catawba.k12.nc.us. Seating is general admission.

The show focuses on Sam Slade, a famous but inept detective who enlists the audience's help in solving a mystery. Read more

The Catawba County Schools expect to begin construction soon on a new elementary school to ease crowding in the St. Stephens area -- and accommodate students from Sweetwater Elementary, which is set to close after next school year.

Snow Creek Elementary is planned for a half-wooded, half-open 22-acre site on Snow Creek Road, off Sulphur Springs Road near St. Stephens High School and Arndt Middle.

The school system will open bids for the project Feb. 13 and hopes to start construction by the beginning of March, construction coordinator Rick Sain said. Read more

Two Catawba County governments are making plans for new or improved public parks.

City of Hickory officials have asked Duke Energy to help them plan a long-sought park at property the city owns on Cloninger Mill Road at Lake Hickory, next to its sewer treatment plant.

They asked Duke to contribute up to $17,000 to help pay for a park plan for the 25-acre site, and Duke officials agreed to consider the request. Because the city doesn't yet have a design, it doesn't know how much it would cost it to turn the property into a park. Read more

“We are honored to have Dr. Dixon to speak at the banquet”

Dr. Troy Dixon will speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Banquet Saturday night in the Mobley Atrium at Edgecombe Community College. via Daily Southerner

Webcams around the World Last year I offered a sample of New Year Webcams , linking it with my previous post about New Year around the World and the different time zones. via Tales from here and there about this ...