2024 marks my 15th Cycle To The Sea (CTTS). Back in 2010 when I started this journey, I never thought the allure of the road would still be this strong. For those who don't know, each year, I, and other disabled hand-cyclists, join with a group of able-bodied bicycle riders and other volunteers for the annual Cycle To The Sea. CTTS is an 180 mile trek from Charlotte to North Myrtle Beach that we make peddling with just our arms. We travel 60 miles a day for three days to raise awareness and funds for the Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program (ASAP).

On Monday, Oct. 7, the educators of Pinnacle Elementary School had their first official meeting since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina. But unofficially, these educators and their principal, Ashley Twitty, had been seeing a lot of each other since the storm.

Almost a year before Hurricane Helene brought destruction to Rutherford County and western North Carolina, Stuart Beam and Preston Green, began a Jersey milk operation on Beam's family farm in Harris. They went to Mills River and moved 67 cows to Forest City to begin their milk production business.

A construction company in Shelby is answering the call to help veterans in Rutherford County and is partnering with the Cpl. Chris S. Ebert Marine Corps League Detachment #1221 in Forest City to make this happen.

A Forest City watercolor artist and calligrapher, Donna Savolovic, was honored recently as a piece of her work, "Strange Fruit" now hangs in the Andrew Carnegie Library at Livingstone College in Salisbury.

There are absolutely no words to describe the tragedy and destruction Hurricane Helene brought to Rutherford County, Western North Carolina and other areas on Friday. There are no monetary damage estimates available yet, but here in Rutherford County, millions and millions of damage has been caused and lives lost.

Dr. Harry (Tiger) VanderWal, who grew up in Rutherfordton and graduated from R-S Central, and his wife Echo VanderWal, a physician's assistant, knew at an early age they would go to Africa to practice medicine. Perhaps never in their wildest dreams or prayers could they have imagined what their work would be today.

History has been uncovered, the forgotten are remembered and a community has a common purpose.

Rolling onto the Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris, with his tennis gear in his lap, Conner Stroud, 24, of Rutherford County wore an unforgettable smile that resonated with his hometown, family and friends around the world.

Jerry Kirby is accustomed to answering questions about his bright orange 1972 Pontiac GTO classic while attending car shows. He answered several questions when he drove the car to the Hot Rides Cool Nights Car Show in Forest City recently.

JJ Ervin is heading across the United States this fall to watch his favorite NFL team play football -- the Seattle Seahawks.

Five years ago on June 25, 2019, Josh and Deana Hallman of Ellenboro received the most horrific news of their lives. Their 16-year-old daughter, Olivia Jordan Hallman, was killed in a car crash on Bostic-Sunshine Highway.

On a picture perfect July 27 Saturday morning, the late Rev. Billy Honeycutt's wife, Terry, their children, John and Beth, grandchildren and friends, gathered to dedicate a swing in loving memory of Honeycutt. The swing is at the corner of 2nd and Cleghorn streets in Rutherfordton, just beyond the Purple Martin Trail.

Like some people, Randy Whitener grew up with an excitement for rodeos, especially bull riding - via the television screen. There was a certain enthusiasm for a young boy to watch a cowboy get his hand securely wrapped with bull rope in order for the rope not strip from his hand as the chute opened and the bull ride began.

The Rutherford County Library System has loaded up its bright new teal bookmobile and is headed to outlying areas across the county. Although the premiere stop for the bookmobile occurred on Wednesday, July 10 in Green Hill, the full schedule for all stops will be released the first of August. After a 30-year hiatus when the bookmobile came off the road (1990s) the new bookmobile has people across Rutherford County quite excited to see these wheels rolling again.

Katie Krueger, 22, the area director for YouthWorks in Rutherford County, has been coordinating mission projects here with dozens of volunteers and adult leaders since June. The final YouthWorks team leaves the first week of August and their impact on Rutherford County has been amazing, said those who have worked with the youth.

A photography student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, is spending her summer of 2024 in Forest City, photographing the Coastal Plain League's Forest City Owls.

The week of July 6th marks the 10th anniversary of the first horse show ever hosted at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring. The occasion will be marked at Saturday Night Lights with special fanfare surrounding the $120,000 Camp Electric Co. Grand Prix CSI 3*.

Family fun, food, games, live music and fireworks are all on tap for the July 4 holiday weekend festivities in Rutherford County and across the region.

It's summer. Look around. There are numerous activities everywhere for children and youth reminding us the warmest season is upon us.

Among the most popular is swimming as more than 120 children and young people are involved in the sport.

The 2024 Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) Summer Games concluded June 2 and more than 20 Special Olympics athletes from Rutherford County returned home winners in their respective games. Accompanying the athletes were 19 coaches, chaperones, family and friends from Rutherford County.

Volunteers are helping to wash clothes for those who've been flooded out as well as offering shower facilities for the victims.

While in Texas, volunteers are stationed at Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church.

The Griffith Rutherford Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is pleased to announce the winners of the State JAC, Southeastern Division (seven southeastern states) and National levels of judging of the 2023-2024 Junior American Citizens Contest (JAC).

Vietnam War veteran, Steve McCurry, was emotional when he recalled his trip to Washington, DC with the Blue Ridge Honor Flight in April. McCurry, who spent a year in Vietnam during the war, had never been to Washington before and said he will never forget the experience.