When Brian Thomas and his five-year-old son Banks flew into the Rutherford County Airport on a bright sunny day recently, it was for the purpose of having a final meal with chef Ron McKinney at 57 Alpha Cafe.

Funding from the Biden administration will help Spindale and Rutherfordton transform the congested thoroughfare between them into a pedestrian-friendly 'complete street' rarely seen in rural areas.

The walk along Main Street in Rutherfordton, a town older than the Constitution, takes you past ice cream and fudge shops; a barber and a children's museum; and a tiny park with flower gardens, fairy lights, and benches in the shade.

Family and friends are gathering this week to celebrate Thanksgiving 2023 in various places across Rutherford County.

For those who might not have family in the area and will not have a Thanksgiving dinner, there are free Thanksgiving meals for anyone who needs a meal.

To help support the the Ukrainians and the work of missionaries, donations may be made through:

UKRAINE RELIEF FUND- http://www.onechallenge.org

or send a check payable to: OC International

Write UKRAINE RELIEF FUND in the memo section of check and mail to:

OC International • PO Box 36900 • Colorado Springs, CO 80936-9600

Blue Ridge Honor Flight is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit governed by a dedicated, volunteer board of directors. The mission is to transport America's Veterans to Washington, DC to visit memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends.

Donations are also appreciated in order to fly the veterans to Washington. Make checks payable to: Blue Ridge Honor Flight, 1504 5th Avenue West, Hendersonville NC 28739

A grandson of the late Dr. Billy Graham will be in Rutherford County Sunday, Nov. 5 until Wednesday, Nov. 8 to preach revival messages at Florence Baptist Church in Forest City. All services will be in the sanctuary with the Sunday worship at 11 a.m. Evening services, Sunday-Wednesday, will be at 6 p.m.

The 2023 Carolina Colors Quilt Show hosted by Rutherford County Quilt Guild featured more than 160 quilts on display at Isothermal Community College last week. During the two day show hundreds stopped by to view the quilts on display.

Priscilla Downs, past president of Habitat for Humanity, who volunteers in several different capacities donating at least 10 hours a week, was selected as the Volunteer of the Year at the Volunteer Rutherford annual banquet held recently.

First Baptist Church in Forest City is the oldest institution in Forest City and on Sunday, Oct. 22, the church will celebrate its heritage, recalling its 175 years of history.

The winner of the Best In Show award at the recent Celebration of the Arts moved to Rutherford County about four years ago after she and her family experienced the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway while touring the area from their home in New York City.

The annual Celebration of the arts (COTA) show presented by the Rutherford County Visual Arts Center concluded Sept. 27.

Jerre Thompson Foster remembers the night Don Waters made the first touchdown at the new East Rutherford High School football stadium when she was a senior. From the graduating class of 1963, Jerre, 78, says if her memory is correct, "He ran the whole field" for the touchdown.

Growing up in the Six Points community, Tracy Davis was a huge fan of Betty Feezor. In fact Tracy will go so far as to say Feezor was her hero. Tracy watched the home economist on WBTV-Charlotte as often as possible. During the summer, Tracy would watch Feezor's segment everyday at noon. She later learned Feezor's father was an Extension Agriculture Agent and that Feezor also worked as a home economics agent before joining WBTV.

A senior citizen in assisted living in western North Carolina wishes she could meet Donny Osmond. A Green Hill resident is trying to make that happen through Twilight Wish Foundation.

Sherri Cain, a second year teacher at Mt. Vernon Ruth (MVR) Elementary School, has been named Beginning Teacher of the Year for the Rutherford County Schools. Although she is a beginning teacher, Sherri says she can't remember a time in her life when she didn't want to teach school.

When Hannah Brooks Barnwell was in high school at Burns in Cleveland County people would recognize her as the girl with a camera in her hand. She enjoyed photographing her friends and special events through high school graduation in 2013.

Teagan Hill of Rutherfordton definitely hopes to return to Lake Imogene at Isothermal Community with the American Jet Ski Association (AJSA) series for another racing competition.

The 15-year-old R-S Central student was among 78 racers competing at the summer series event held the weekend of August 12. Approximately 2,000 spectators watched the inaugural AJSA event.

A Rutherfordton student was among a team of college students and specialists who spent five weeks on a Huqoq synagogue dig in Israel from May 28 to July 4.

Some folks in the Southeast plan their vacation and weekend get-aways around the Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show.

An award winning 1957 Chevy 150 Sedan has an amazing story - as do other vehicles entered in the 2023 Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show in downtown Forest City.

Award winning bluegrass artist Carley Arrowood is bringing her music and talents back to her home county this weekend.

She will perform at Spindale's Centennial Block Party on Saturday, August 5 at 6pm and the next day at Florence Baptist Church in Forest City (Sunday, August 6) also at 6pm.

A Union Mills athlete placed in the 67th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland games in Linville.

A petite Viola Goble Tate sat in her navy blue chair at home recently and talked about the past 100 years.