Christen MacKorell, class president of her Gardner-Webb University Physician Assistant (PA) Studies cohort, is the first PA student in the state of North Carolina accepted into the North Carolina Medical Society's Leadership College through the Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership.

The 2016 Women Together keynote speaker Anita Woodley promises laughter will be a part of her performance. But between laughs, she hopes women will take home the message that early detection is key and that cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence.

Basketball Playoffs

In girls play, before the postseason starts, either R-S Central or East Rutherford will play in the SMAC title game on Friday (2/19) at R-S Central. The two faced off in the SMAC semis on Wednesday for the right to play for the title.

Jimmy Means knew by age 14 that he wanted to be a race car driver, a decision he remembers expressing to his school's driver's education teacher.

Super Bowl

Well, a league leading defense is now 10-2 in the Super Bowl, unfortunately, it wasn't the Panthers who led that category. Denver dealt Carolina a heartbreaking 24-10 loss in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday

Caroline Toney was the girl next door for her husband, Matt.

In October 1976, Jeannie Smith was a 15 year old who was new to the area. In order to meet new people, she said, she joined band and drama at school. During a cast party, she met a "dreamy, but shy" guy who she hit it off with. He began to look for her at school and came to sit with her in the band section during football games.

Whirlwind romances don't always end up in happily-ever-after. But for Scott and Emily Bowers, it did.

Here we are Super Bowl 50! Denver (12-4) versus Carolina (15-1).

Moms who attended Mom's Night Outreach at Florence Baptist Church recently had an opportunity to learn about fresh starts.

Being a parent is tough. But, it's a journey you aren't alone in, and a new group that meets each week at the Clara Allen Family Center in Forest City serves as a reminder of just that.

They won the NFC South, the regular season No.1 playoff seed, beat Seattle and then destroyed Arizona. That leaves only one place left to go....the Carolina Panthers will heading to the Super Bowl.

Local business owner Gene Sisk says that to be successful in business, you don't just have to have a good idea. You also have to put in a lot of effort.

"When you own your own business, there's no going home at 5 o'clock," he said.

So, here is a quick round up of High School basketball from this past week. All eight teams had just one game this week due to exams.

Embodying the same bold and adventurous spirit as the Wright Brothers and that First Flight, the Rutherford County Airport operates in the belief that great things come from humble beginnings. Built in 1975, it officially marked 40 years in business in 2015. Already famous for its so-called "Hundred Dollar Burger," this scenic country airport is small, yet mighty - and growing by the day.

"The Greek word for church is kyriakos, which means congregation or assembly - we are an assembly," said Travis Smith, founder and facilitator of Sacred Ale. "We all come with different ideas, but a common purpose."

The stage was set last Tuesday as East Rutherford visited and R-S Central for a county showdown on the hardwood. At the end of the night, the R-S Central boys and girls basketball teams were celebratory.

The children who were infants and toddlers when KidSenses opened 11 years ago are now teens. And as they've grown, the museum that has provided an opportunity for learning through play has decided to grow with them.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American job tenure is 4.6 years. Not so for Larry Thomas, who has worked in his current position as Gardner-Webb's police captain for nearly 40 years.

I can remember I was really young, maybe three and Clemson was playing N.C. State on TV in football. My mother was actually accepted to N.C. State, so I could have chosen to root for the Wolfpack.

When she was younger, Patsy Hope Mitchell was active, playing tennis and describing herself as "fit." Even after she was diagnosed with clinical depression and bipolar disorder, she kept exercising.

In her mind, Shannon Kuykendall always told herself she couldn't lose weight. She'd tried Weight Watchers and gym memberships and had lost 20 to 30 pounds.

There isn't much to say...Carolina was beaten by Atlanta on Sunday. They will not follow as the third team to go undefeated in regular season history of the NFL. This brings up a very important Sunday upcoming for the Panthers. Let's look at the playoff race as the final week of the season is here.

It's not every day that Santa visits Little Red School in Forest City. But some gifts, it seems, just can't wait until Christmas Eve.

That gift was the return of Jacob Alexander to Forest City. Jacob, a petroleum vehicle operator in the Army, has been deployed to Kuwait since February. It was the wish of his daughter, Aubrey, 4, for him to be home this Christmas.

Normally, a review of the year would come about this time, but since Christmas comes this week, here are some things I would like to see upcoming in the sports world. This is in random order.