News-Topic

11/05/2025

Stevens out, Dellinger in on Lenoir city council

Jonathan Beal and Crissy Thomas are returning to Lenoir City Council while David F. Stevens will be leaving after Tuesday night's election.

Beal (848 votes) and Thomas (836) received the most votes and were followed by fellow incumbent Ike Perkins and newcomer Rebecca Dellinger who received 23 more votes than Mayor Pro-Tem David Stevens. Alex Moss (342 votes) and Janet Huntsinger (334 votes) were the other candidates for council.

In Hudson, Richard Blevins, Rick Shew and Jim Engleman, Sr. were elected as town commissioners. Chris Mann was edged out by Engelmann by six votes.

Granite Falls council winners werer Ritch Bolick, Larry Knight and Jamie Hagerty. Martin Townsend, Faith Nuff and Stacy Brim were also on the Granite Falls ballot.

Tracy Townsend becomes the new mayor in Granite Falls besting Bill Fields, 332-87. Mayor Caryl Burns did not seek re-election.

Hagerty is new to the Granite Falls council.

In Gamewell, Eddie Pippen, Wilford Beane and John Hall were elected to town council. Barbara Pennell was elected mayor.

In Cedar Rock, Randy Dula, Dan Anderson and Josh Anthony were chosen for town council. Bob Floyd won the mayor's race.

Cajah's Mountain's two council members will be Ronnie Setzer and Lloyd Robbins.

In Blowing Rock, Wanye Miller, Douglas Matheson and Pete Gherini were elected to town council while Charlie Sellers won the mayor's race.

W. Allen Spencer was elected mayor of Rhodhiss while Joyce Karn and Mike Phillips were elected to town council.

Keith Warren is the winner of the Sawmills mayor's race while Clay Wilson and Rebecca Powell Johnson were elected to town council.

10/22/2025

Oct. 22

Jonathan Williams Erskine, 36, driving while subject to impairing substance, open container, reckless driving

Oct. 21

Felicity Faith Tyler, 22, 2506 Arch Way Hudson, injury to personal property, trespassing. No bond.

Larry William Keller, 36, parole violation. No bond.

Oct. 20

Joshuan Daniel Sainz, 27, 2599 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, DWI, failure to report accident, hit and run. $1,000 bond

Karen Marshall Calloway, 60, 3408 Old Homestead Pl Lenoir, s*x offender at/near child premises. $100,000 bond.

Lisa Michelle Moses, 50, 506 Harper Ave. Lenoir, possession of m**h with intent to sell, distribute or manufacture, maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for controlled substance. $20,000 bond.

10/17/2025

Caldwell County Arrests
Oct. 16

Roy James Byrd, Jr. 39, 2130 SW Haven Cir, Lenoir, domestic violence, assault on a female. No bond.

Shea Marquian Suddreth, 48, 2310 Grove Rd. Hudson, breaking and entering, attempted breaking and entering, larceny. $20,000 bond.

William Forrest Wiseman, 42, general delivery, littering, possession of Schedule II drug. $3,500 bond.

Randy Glenn Isaacs, 56, 831 Montclair Cir NW, Lenoir, possession of m**h. $5,000 bond.

Mario Duane Taylor, 36, 415 Stonewall St. Lenoir, failure to appear. $1,000 bond.

Travis Dwayne Enloe, 57, 206 North Fairview Dr. Lenoir, failure to appear, possession of m**h with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute. $375,000 bond

Juan Carlos Delgado Cabrera, 45, 2970 Clarks Chapel Rd. Lenoir, driving while subject to impairment, child abuse, driving with license revoked. driving left of center. No bond.

Malia Carol Coffey, 61, 1207 Honeycomb Pl,. Lenoir, possession of m**h with intent to sell, manufacturer or distribute, destroying evidence, resisting arrest. $115,000 bond.

Christopher James Dean Aadland, 40, homeless, child abuse. $10,000 bond.

10/16/2025

Oct. 15 - Arrests

Weston Drewdell Snelgrooes, 32, 1903 NW Valway Rd., Lenoir, probation violation. $20,000 bond.

Eugen Liston Broach, 41, general delivery, posssession of m**h. $5,000 bond.

Warren Hoyt-Alan Dooley, 50, general delivery, breaking and entering, larceny, obtaining property by false pretense. $30,000 bond.

Robter Bradley Michaux, 40, 2145 NW Frontier Way, Lenoir, probation violation. $10,000 bond.

Jessie Leroy Simerly, 27, 65 King Dr., Taylorsville, assault with a deadly weapon. No bond.

Tiffany Michelle Rich, 32, general delivery, Lenoir, probation violation, possession of m**h. $25,000 bond.

Ronald Earl Smith, 43, 1007 SW Pennton Ave., Lenoir, failure to comply w/ non-support. $500 bonnd.

Mitchell Drew Hampton, 60, 114 Palmer St. Lenoir, intoxicated and disruptive, trespassing. $1,000 bond.

William Brandon Hibbert, 24, 455 Pine Mountain Rd., Hudson trafficking in m**h, possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver controlled substance.

10/16/2025

Correction: Lloyd Robbins and Ronnie Setzer are running for Town of Cajah's Mountain Town Council, not mayor. Our apologies for the error.

10/16/2025

Hudson man gets $1 million bond for allegedly trafficking m**h.
William Brandon Hibbert, 24, of 455 Pine Mountain Rd., Hudson, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with trafficking in m**h and possession or a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. He is currently being held in the Caldwell County Detention Center under $1 million bond. More details to follow.

10/14/2025

Caldwell County Arrests
Oct. 13

Zachary Darran Fralish, 37, failure to appear. $3.000 bond.

Janson Robert Pope, 31, parole violation, s*xual exploitation of a minor. $500,000 bond.

Robert Dwayne Neely, 36, assault on a female, communicating threats. $1,500 bond.

Andrew Dillon Barlow, 23, failure to appear, $55,000 bond.

David Flake Stafford, 52, driving while license revoked, expired registration, no liability insurance, failure to produce registration. $2,000 bond.

David Adrian Flores, 45, driving while subject to impairing substance

10/03/2025

Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps will become the next Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools .
Dr. Phipps will
remain fully engaged through December 2025 to ensure a seamless leadership
transition and will continue to serve as an advisor to the District and Board of Education
for some time after.
The WS/FCS Board sought out Dr. Phipps to help navigate significant financial and
operational challenges. Caldwell County Schools and the Caldwell County Board of
Education view this selection as a compliment to the successful systems, extraordinary
stability, academic success, and financial health that Dr. Phipps helped establish during
his tenure at CCS.
"While we are certainly bittersweet to announce Dr. Phipps' departure, the fact that he
was selected to solve a high-stakes crisis elsewhere is a testament to the robust
foundation he is leaving behind," said Darrell Pennell, Chair of the Caldwell County
Board of Education. "The stability and strength of our system are not dependent on one
person. I want to reassure our students, staff, and families: Our operations will continue
as normal, focused entirely on the great education CCS is known for.”
To ensure this continuity, the Superintendent’s Cabinet will remain in place, including the
Assistant Superintendent of Education Program Services, Dr. Katrina McEllen; Assistant
Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Thomas Howell; Assistant Superintendent of
Auxiliary Services, Andy Puhl; Assistant Superintendent of Finance/Chief Financial
Officer, David Johnson; and Chief Information Officer, Nathan Pope. This experienced
and prepared leadership team guarantees the uninterrupted flow of all operations.
Dr. Phipps expressed his gratitude for this time in Caldwell County, which he plans to
call home after he retires from education. “It has been the privilege of my career to
serve Caldwell County Schools.

The Caldwell County Board of Education is prepared to immediately begin a thorough
and transparent search process for the next permanent Superintendent. Further details
regarding the search timeline will be shared in the coming weeks.
# # #

Caldwell County Schools

10/03/2025

BREAKING NEWS
Caldwell County schools superintendent Don Phipps has accepted the same position with the Winston-Salem Forsyth schools.

He will start Dec.1.

This is developing story. More to follow.

10/02/2025

Arrests
October 1

Brian Newport, 53, 1941 28th St. NE Hickory, larceny. $1,000 bond

Joshua Dent Townsend, 36, 4060 Forest Oaks Rd. Patterson, failure to appear. $2,500 bond

Mathew Lawrence Farthing, 35, 1315 NW Lenwell St. Lenoir, possession of stolen property, failure to appear, resisting arrest. $70,000 bond.

Zachery Nathaniel Kerse, 25, 2617 Collettsville Rd., Lenoir, assault and battery, communicating threats. No bond.

Tony Richard Wyatt, Jr., 45, 207 Whitnel Pl SW Lenoir, domestic violence, assault on a female.

09/26/2025

Arrests

Sept. 24

Jose Isai Sambrano, 32, 2443 Gabriel Ln. NW, discharge of firearm violating local ordinance. $1,500 bond.

Jason Chantel Gibbs, 37, 203 Abington Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear, non-support. $1,000 bond

Jerry Mikeal Sluder, 42, 1060 Warrn Pl. NW. Lenoir, unauthorized use of motor vehicle. No bond.

Christopher Naphies Gibbs, 19, 1449 Roy Dula Pl Lenoir, failure to appear. $10,500 bond.

Rodney Dale Reese, 35, 1779 Lee Pearson Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear. $1,000 cash

Demontay June Michauz, 21, 532 Beall St. NW Lenoir, possession of ma*****na, drug paraphernalia. $1,500 bond.

Jessica Augustin Davidson, 47, 4192 Dug Hill Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear. $1,202 bond.

Sabrina Denise Williams, 50, 1832 29th Ave. Dr. NE Hickory, breaking and entering, injury to personal property. No bond.

Adam Franklin Kirschner, 47, 3842 Calico Rd. Lenoir, assault on a female, domestic violence, larceny. No bond.

Sept. 25

Xzavier Marquis Rowan, 24, 3623 Clarks Chapel Rd. Lenoir, fugitive extradition. $15,000 bond.

Keith Edwin Parsons, 49, 1781 Cajah Mountain Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear. No bond.

Luther Lee Penley, 47, 3845 Calico Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear, $1,000 bond

Charles Everette Biship, 40, 708 Pine Mountain Rd. Hudson, failure to appear. $1,883 bond.

Mary Danette Roark, 46, 4195 Peachtree Ln. Granite Falls, possession of schedule II controlled substance, probation violation, $30,000 bond.

Tasha Renee Prestwood, 43, 1249 SW Fairview Der. Lenoir, failure to comply nonsupport. No bond.

Timothy David Cook, 35, 1259 Hopewell Rd. Lenoir, probation violation. $60,000 bond.

Joel Brandon Crisp, 35, 1312 Gilbert Pl Lenoir, comunicating threats, unauthorized use of vehicle. $2,500 bond.

Kenneth Scott Haas, 62, 4742 Ike Starnes Rd. Granite Falls, indecent liberties with a child. $100,000 bond.

James Tyler Ollis, 36, general delivery, possession of schedule II controlled substance, assault, possession of drug paraphernalia. $10,000 bond.

William Tyrone Davis, 46, 3520 Smith Rd. Lenoir, failure to appear. $20,000 bond.

Cheyenne Nicole Winebarger, 24, 26 Berkley Ave. Granite Falls, failure to appear. $500 bond.

Justin Matthew Conway, 39, 1944 Freedom Ln. Hudson, probation violation. $100,000 bond.

Scottie Jean Shelton, 47, 818 Abington Rd. Lenoir, possession of m**h. $5,000 bond.

Matthew Orain McKinney, 58, 2465 Hayes St. Lenoir, failure to appear. $3,260 bond

09/10/2025

On Wednesday, September 10, at approximately 9:10 a.m., the N.C. State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Caldwell County on U.S. 321 at River Bend Drive involving three passenger vehicles.

On Wednesday, September 10, at approximately 9:10 a.m., the N.C. State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal collision in Caldwell County on U.S. 321 at River Bend Drive