Lenoir County commissioners approve economic development financing, DSS legal funding and insurance-funded settlement

The Lenoir County Board of Commissioners opened its first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 5 by honoring the late Commissioner Roland Best before approving a series of economic development, budget, and administrative actions, including financing for a new industrial shell building and additional legal support for the Department of Social Services.

Mike Parker: The joy of spending time with family

As 2025 ended and 2026 was being born, I had the opportunity to spend a week with my children and grandchildren at North Myrtle Beach, SC. Each year, we try to travel somewhere together to put aside our jobs and daily demands and focus on family. This year, all my children and all but one of my grandchildren made the trip.

Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Fibermaxxing, is it right for you?

Gone are the protein obsessed, in case you haven’t heard, the current social media trend taking over Tik Tok is fibermaxxing.  The practice of fibermaxxing is the about increasing or maximizing your fiber intake in order to boost digestion and overall health.  It works best when you slowly integrate additional fiber in your diet.  Dieticians recommend doing this by increasing your intake of whole foods, like beans, berries and whole grains.  

Evelyn Dove Coleman: Just Turn Around In The New Year

"Abou Ben Adhem" is a poem by James Henry Leigh Hunt. It describes a man awakened during the night by the light of an angel in his room writing on a tablet. Abou asked the vision what he's writing and he answers that he's writing down the names of those who love the Lord. When he learns he is not one of the names being written down, he asks to be recorded, then, as one who loves his fellow man.  The next night, the angel returns and lo, Abou Ben Adhem's name is at the top of the list.