ReachingROCO, a local media company and the first youth and young adults publication in Rutherford County, is proud to announce the launch of its highly awaited Summer 2023 Graduate Edition. Now available at www.ReachingROCO.com, the edition highlights the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of local students.

Other Rutherford County Teachers of the Year are: Cisily Murray, Carver Center; Elementary Schools- Becki McAbee, Cliffside; Sandy Helton, Ellenboro; Allison Dorsey, Harris; Jen Rock, Mt. Vernon Ruth; Holly Toney, Pinnacle; Ali High, Rutherfordton; Mignone Whitaker, Spindale; Beth Travis, Sunshine; Allison Kennedy, Forest City-Dunbar; Forrest Hunt Elementary, Kyra Bumgarner; Middle Schools- Chase, Joe Jessen; East Rutherford, Alisha Fowler. High Schools- Beth Carroll, Chase; Rhonda Hollifield, East Rutherford; Emily Mullins, R-S Central; Stephanie Rice; Rutherford Early College High School (REaCH) Sheila Ledford, Rutherford Opportunity Center.

US Marine Alan Marston cried when he tried to explain his feelings about his first visit to the war memorials in Washington, DC. Marston, of Rutherford County, was among veterans on the Blue Ridge Honor Flight (BRHF) on April 29.

"In our little house there's always room for one more" is certainly a true statement for the Charlie and Gina Greene family of Ellenboro.

A small pocket park in downtown Rutherfordton has taken on a new meaning and is springing alive with new plants, trees and a mini-garden. It is hoped to be an inspiration to all those who knew and loved the late Butch Melton.

(Editorial note: Airplane pilot Gene Meade from Casar spent much of his career teaching people to fly planes. Although retired from instructing, Meade said he flies for fun now, but said he was interested recently to read a story by Susan Hewitt, a former flight student from 1979. Susan, who lives in the Six Points area, wrote her own story about flying out of the Polkville grass strip in a Piper Cub under the instruction of Meade. Susan said she flew about 10 years after receiving her pilot's license, but gave up flying when her baby daughter was born. Susan writes her story).

The State of North Carolina designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail and four months into the year, many of the Rutherford County trails continue to be visited every day by locals and tourists. 2023 marks the 50th year anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act and fortunately for people in the state and the millions who visit here each year, there are trails for everyone. The Year of the Trail's goal is to inspire people to try out trails, showcase trails' importance, boost recreation tourism, promote trails' safe and responsible use, and advance diversity and inclusion on trails.

Attired in a t-shirt with the inscription "The Legend Has Retired" Jim Bishop stepped out of the radio business after 40 years last Friday at WCAB, the station where he spent most of his career and owned since 1984.

Magnolia Long goes to work as the Community Development Director (CDD) for the Town of Rutherfordton each day excited to make Rutherfordton an amazing place to live, work and play.

Tears running down her cheeks, Ms. Jane said the crying was for "greatness that I can have a roof that doesn't leak."

Herman Douglas Logan of the Chase community is a quiet kind of guy with a story that makes the listener thankful to hear it and wished it had been made public years ago.

20 teams compete in Carolina Isobots - Cargo Connect

Jenna Bridges, a former Chase Trojan swim team champion, recently broke records as a member of the Louisiana State University (LSU) women's swim team. As a participant in the 200-yard butterfly championship final, she overtook four swimmers during the final 50 yards to take home the third individual gold medal of the meet for the LSU team. She finished with a school record time of 1:54.18. The previous time was held by Kara Kopcso in 2016.

Johnny McFadden knows a lot about milking cows, raising beef cattle and racing cars. He has met two United States presidents, talked for about 25 minutes -- in person -- with one of the most beautiful and famous actresses of all time and also ran a productive dairy farm in Rutherford County for 70 years. Today he's a beef cattle farmer off Hudlow Road.

The Night to Shine 2023 sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation brought thousands of special needs guests and twice that many volunteers together in over 600 churches across the country on Friday, February 10 for an evening to celebrate each other.

The theme for this year's contest was "The 200th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail: Moving the Stars and Stripes Westward". Students from 3rd through 8th grades in public, charter, private and homeschools were invited to enter.

These three couples featured today have been married more than 50 years and share their stories of half-century

of marriage with our readers. They also have a connection with the Rutherford County Senior Center.

With a common goal to build the Rutherford County "community stronger together" several hundred people gathered Sunday for a worship service at R-S Central High School.

There are exercise clubs, sewing clubs, civic clubs and after-hours clubs in Rutherford County. Car clubs, card playing, youth clubs, running and walking clubs also claim the interest of many. The number of clubs around Rutherford County is endless and the subject matters are just as numerous.

Dancing has always been an important part of Kennedy Ruff's life and after competitive dancing for at least 11 years, she earned a spot on the Honey Bees dance team for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

Nestled on 28 acres of land in Union Mills off Hudlow Road is one of Rutherford County's best kept secrets. Though well known to the hundreds who attend training or teach at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT), the majority of Rutherford County residents might be unaware of its mission and how they might become involved in the intercultural center.

All the food was cooked for the Thursday evening Dec. 22 meal at the New Beginnings Soup Kitchen (NBSK) in Rutherfordton as volunteers waited for the drive through serving line to begin at 4:30p.m. Hundreds were expected to receive the free pre-Christmas dinner of turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans, rice and dessert.

Walking into the Yellow Rose Forge shop where Billy Salyers and his business partner/son Joseph Salyers are at work, a person immediately recognizes a sense of brotherly love and a cause.

Writer Jean Gordon compiled a few Christmas stories we thought you'd enjoy reading this week.

A new mural in the library at Ellenboro Elementary School is so much more than a stunning, eye-catching painting of a reading book path through a quiet forest with lanterns lighting the way while forest animals look on.