the process in Ronda has begun

As of Tuesday night, the process in Ronda has begun. Commissioners of the Town of Ronda met and voted to begin the process of dissolving the town’s charter. The vote by Ronda Commissioners does not immediately dissolve the town but starts a process that will continue with legislators in Raleigh. The town had already received letters from state leaders representing the local area encouraging commissioners to move to dissolve due to financial issues facing the town. According to Interim Mayor Kevin Reece, the earliest that the Town of Ronda would be officially be dissolved is projected to be June of next year. Under North Carolina law, municipalities exist through charters granted by the General Assembly. Dissolving a town requires legislative action and then taxes and municipal services are transferred to the county.

arrested for drugs during a traffic check

One man suspect was arrested for drugs during a traffic check. The Wilkes Sheriff’s Deputies were conducting a license check at the Intersection of Congo Road and Hwy 16. The 29-year-old white male was arrested at the scene and charged with felony possession of cocaine and meth. Deputies confiscated multiple bags of illegal drugs from his vehicle, and he was taken to the Wilkes County Jail.

election year info

This is an election year and North Carolina began sending out absentee ballots on September 4^th. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is October 20^th.  Voter registration forms must be received to the county board of elections office by 5pm October 9^th. Early Voting is October 15 through October 31. The General Election is Tuesday, November 3 with in-person voting at local precincts from 6:30am to 7:30pm. For more information, you may visit the county board of election website or the state board of election website.

theft of equipment

The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office was called regarding the theft of equipment from a North Wilkesboro residence. The property owner reported that a Stihl leaf blower and a Stihl weed eater were taken from their Boone Trail residence. The stolen property is valued at $1250. No suspects were listed with that report; the investigation is continuing.

Boomer Ferguson Elementary will be collecting shoes

Boomer Ferguson Elementary School, in partnership with Funds2Orgs, invites the local community to clear out their closets and support a good cause. From September 14 through November 13, Boomer Ferguson Elementary will be collecting new, gently used, and worn shoes to raise funds for student educational programs. The total funds raised for Boomer Ferguson Elementary are determined by the overall weight of the shoes collected. The donated footwear will be redistributed through Funds2Orgs.

FEMA announced $33 million in funding

FEMA announced $33 million in funding for 20 recovery and mitigation projects to help North Carolina communities recover from Helene and other disasters. FEMA is awarding $30.4 million for 19 Public Assistance projects to reimburse North Carolina communities for the costs of road repairs, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs. In addition, FEMA approved $1.5 million to fund the state’s disaster case management program that supports individuals and families with ongoing disaster needs.

theft from a local resident’s bank account

The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office is investigating yet another report of a theft from a local resident’s bank account. The victim reported that someone took $3300 from their bank account. The wire fraud is currently being investigated and there is no word on suspects. A survey conducted by the Federal Reserve revealed widespread and intensifying fraud across the U.S.— driven by a combination increased digital exposure and rising scam activity that exploits individuals, businesses and financial institutions. You can learn about fraud and how to protect yourself at www.ftc.gov.

named Assistant Principal of Wilkes Central High

Wilkes County Schools is excited to announce that Mr. Matt Taylor has been named Assistant Principal of Wilkes Central High School, effective September 15. Mr. Taylor completed the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program through Appalachian State University in May 2026 and served as a Principal Fellow intern at Mountain View Elementary during the 2025–2026 school year. Before beginning his administrative journey, Mr. Taylor dedicated his career to serving students as a history teacher at West Wilkes High School, where he has served since 2008.

2025-26 North Carolina Public Schools testing results

According to the 2025-26 North Carolina Public Schools testing results presented to the State Board of Education members on September 2, Surry County Schools ranked 33rd out of 115 school systems in overall performance, placing the district in the top 29% of the state. Surry County Schools is also looking to hire a Speech-Language Pathologist and a Payroll Specialist. You can find the link to apply on the Surry County Schools Facebook page.

988 Day today

 The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is commemorating 988 Day today. 988 Day serves to raise awareness and highlight the success of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a nationwide network of more than 200 state and local call centers that provides counseling services for individuals looking for help with suicide, mental health and substance use-related crises.New 988 signage is being installed at state parking facilities throughout Raleigh. The signs are also offered at no cost to any organization that would like to print and install them.