Tryon News

George and Betty Stephens lived the ultimate love story, their children say. Old-timers may remember George Stephens as Mecklenburg County's police chief back in the 1960s.

This old traditionalist was dismayed to read the Sun Journal's Dec. 16 article on the joy of making gingerbread houses.

Tryon Palace will host the second of two candlelight tours from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, with fireworks capping off the evening.

Candles shone from the windows of Tryon Palace on Saturday, and fire baskets and candle globes lined the pathways of the grounds so that hundreds of visitors could celebrate the holidays in 18th century style after dark.

Order it online at newbern300.com, or find it in several area shops. n Swiss Bear Downtown Development has commissioned a limited-edition anniversary charger that is available for $99. Sales of the plate benefit the nonprofit organization.

As a phrase, Tumultuous Reign has a certain ring, the association with dictators and religious leaders.

Here's the announcement on the Tryon Daily Bulletin's Web site. A web-only subscription will cost $50 a year.: The tryondailybulletin.com website is still available in "free trial" mode this morning while we work out the last few details of the technical transition to a subscriber access website.

Tryon Arts and Crafts will host an interactive open house and continue their "Exploring the Arts" series from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at373 Harmon Field Road in Tryon.

Polk County residents will be able to drop off recyclables at several locations starting Dec.

State lawmakers and investigators are scrutinizing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for its attempt to influence the national health care debate through direct mail and possibly illegal automated phone calls.

Growing up, Edward Barnes Ellis Jr. road his bike all over downtown New Bern. As he cycled by the images and statues of the bears in the city, Ellis wondered why they all had long, red, curled tongues hanging out of their mouths.

Seeing the brick road under layers of asphalt on one of New Bern's oldest and most traveled thoroughfares prompted one local preservationist to look harder at the city's history in the early 1900's and record his findings in his second self-published book.

The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancey's Art Show and Holiday "Friendraiser" is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec.

A national traveling exhibit on Abraham Lincoln opens an eight-week stay in New Bern on Sunday.

Published: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 4:30 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 8:54 p.m. This holiday season, Operation Toasty Toes and the Henderson County Heritage Museum are honoring the men and women from Henderson County who have served their country since Sept.

Asheville-based HomeTrust Bank announced Thursday it is adding a sixth partner to its statewide network of mutual savings banks.

Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. Industrial Federal Savings Bank President and CEO Sid Biesecker said Tuesday a partnership with five other mutual savings banks in the state will help the 80-year-old Lexington financial institution stay independent and provide more services.

A graduate of Asheville High and Western Carolina University, she has been with the bank for three years and serves as manager of the Reynolds office and as a commercial lending officer.

Historical characters - some specific and some generalized - are beginning to appear around New Bern as part of a public art project aimed toward the city's 300th anniversary in 2010.

Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 4:30 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. Apple Valley Middle School will hold a fall workday on Saturday.