The Index of Hickory Hound Stories from 2025 onward

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Cultural Infrastructure - Link to Google Doc Index

The institutions, spaces, and systems that support creative expression, shared identity, and community cultural participation.

Economics & Resources - Link to the Google Doc Index

Analysis of the forces shaping Hickory’s material future—labor, land, water, industry, and the generational choices that determine who thrives and who’s left behind.

News & Views - Links to Google Doc Index

A running chronicle of Hickory’s evolving story—connecting headlines, community shifts, and strategic insight into a single, readable report.

Socio-Economic & Cultural Intelligence - Link to Google Doc Index

In-depth investigations into the evolving dynamics that define Hickory’s economy, institutions, and civic life—linking data, lived experience, and structural analysis to reveal how communities rise, fracture, or rebuild.

The Big Picture - Link to Google Doc Index

A comprehensive overview of civic, economic, and cultural dynamics—connecting patterns, reflecting on trends, and framing long-term community direction.

The Shrinking Center – Link to Google Doc Index

Displacement of the Middle Class. Stories and analysis revealing the erosion of economic security, trust, and voice for working and middle-class Americans.

 

 

 

 

Hickory, NC Economics

Beyond the Bond: Building a High-Wage Future for Hickory - March 27, 2025

Catawba River Crisis: Charlotte’s Water Demand and the 25-Year Strain on Catawba County - April 8, 2025

The Catawba River Crisis: A Foothills Fight for the Future - April 16, 2025

Can Hickory’s Youth Turn a River Crisis Into a Tech Revolution? - April 22, 2025

 

The Foothills Corridor

Economic Collapse Warning: Why the Foothills Corridor Must Act Now - April 29, 2025

The Interstate 85 Megalopolis: Wake-Up Call for the Foothills Corridor - May 1, 2025

 

The Big Picture

How Globalization Shattered the American Spirit - April 15, 2025

Communities of the Catawba River

Communities of the Catawba River: Where the River Begins - 5/27/25

Communities of the Catawba River: Where Industry Rose and Power Shifted - 5/29/25

Communities of the Catawba River: Where Water Becomes Power and Wealth - 6/3/25

 

Compendium of Socio-Economic Intelligence- A structural audit of a region’s economic, social, and cultural foundations

The Center Cannot Hold: Hickory’s Uneven Growth in a Fractured County (Infrastructure) - 6/10/2025

From Mill Town to Housing Hotspot: 25 Years of Hickory’s Housing Costs - (Housing) - 6/18/2025

Food Security in Hickory and the Foothills: A Growing Public Health Crisis - (Food) - 6/24/2025

Hickory 2025: 15 Segments That Tell the Whole Story (from the Compendium) - (Video Overview) - July 1, 2025

Deep Dive: Health Security in Hickory and Catawba County: Access, Aging, and the Health System - (Health) - July 3, 2025

 

 

News and Views

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | March 29, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | April 5, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | April 13, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | April 20, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | April 26, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | May 4, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | May 10, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | May 17, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | May 25, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 1, 2025 

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 8, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 15, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 22, 2025

Hickory, NC News & Views | Hickory Hound | June 29, 2025

 

Faces of the Shrinking Center - Chapter 8 contains the links to the entire series at  the bottom. (Chapter 8)

Stories on Medium

The Catawba River Crisis: A Foothills Fight for the Future - Apr 17, 2025 

Message from the Heart of the Foothills of Western North Carolina to the Coastal Elite - Apr 18, 2025

What Happens When a Southern Mill Town Bets Its Future on Robots and a River - Apr 21, 2025 

The Extraction Economy: Rebuilding America from the Roots Up - Apr 29, 2025 

The Shrinking Center:  A Portrait of a Country That Forgot Itself - May 5, 2025 

America’s Servant Sector Economy - May 12, 2025

References to where we are today - (Referendum, Consent Agenda, Tent, Airport, Pools)

Since September 2011, we have had over 27,500 unique views on this blog. That equates to a growth rate of over 25% from year to year and like compound interest going into an investment account, the momentum continues to build.

As a member of the new media, whose roots are based in the vestiges of the original newsprint media, we attempt to be at the forefront of the news. Our goal is not to be intrusive, but to get to the heart of the issues that we face in this community. We are here for the people.

The issue of the day in Hickory is the Referendum. And below are links going back over time in relation to this issue that have brought us to where we are today.


The Referendum
Ward Voting Discussion - Lakeland Park - September 11, 2012

Ward versus At Large and the Referendum -- Jay Adams - 9/11/2012

Green Park Neighborhood Association Debate on Referendum - September 10, 2012

No Steps Forward either -- Silence DoGood  - 9/10/2012

 "No Change!" will not work. - 9/8/2012
 
 Why the Million Dollar No-Bid Tent on Union Square Matters -  9/4/2012

 Items of Relevance going into Tonight's Referendum Forum - 9/4/2012

 The First Step... - 9/1/2012

The Definition of Cronyism and the Million Dollar Tent - 8/31/2012

Enjoyed the Ward Voting Debate on Hal Row's Show - Harry Hipps - 8/29/2012

Hal Row's Show - Ward Voting Referendum Debate - August 29, 2012

William Shadup Gets It -- Letter in the HDR from Sunday - 8/28/2012 

CEG on Hal Row's Show - Vote Yes on Referendum - August 27, 2012

No Steps Backwards... Whatever! - 8/26/2012

 Hickory Ward Voting Referendum Forum - School of Government - August 20, 2012

Letter to HDR and a message about Council Self Interests - 8/17/2012

 Vestigia Nulla Retorsum - Moving Forward - 8/7/2012
 
The Mayor on Hal Row - The Tent - The Referendum - August 6, 2012

Sometimes Going Back is Going Forward -- Let's Fix This!!! - July 31, 2012

Ward Referendum Voting Meeting - Patrick Beaver Library - July 28, 2012

Catawba County Board of Elections accepts City's Referendum Date and Language - July 24, 2012

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of July 17, 2012 - Special Meeting on Ward Specific Voting Referendum


The Mayor on Hal Row's Show about the Ward Referendum - July 16, 2012

A Message to Hickory about the Ward Specific Voting Referendum - July 16, 2012
 
Ward Specific Voting Referendum Discussion - Catawba County Board of Elections - July 10, 2012

Hal Row's Gracious words about CEG and the Petition Drive - 7/7/2012

Ward Specific Voting Petition Certification - Catawba County Board of Elections Vote - July 3, 2012

Ward Voting Petition Drive Successful on to the Election - July 3, 2012

July will not be boring - 6/28/2012
 
Mayor Wright - Hal Row - Ward Specific Elections - 3/6/ 2012 

Hal Row's First Talk - CEG discussion about Ward Specific Voting - The Interview - 12/16/2011

The History of At-Large voting in Hickory - The HDR articles and Council Minutes Documents
- 11/14/2011

1967 - How we got where we are today - 11/11/2011

1961 -- A lesson in Hickory's History - 11/10/2011

Press Conference on Ward Voting Referendum -- 9/20/2011



The Consent Agenda
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 15, 2012 -- Addendum on Consent Agenda Policies & Public Participation - 5/16/2012

City of Hickory HooDoo about Consent Agenda Process & Citizens - 5/13/2012

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 1, 2012 -- Rebecca Inglefield requests items F & G be removed from the Agenda - 5/2/2012 - (related to Union Square Structure)


The Union Square Structure
And here is a big problem... - 8/14/2012

Rudy Wright's and this Council's Philadelphia moment?  - 5/8/2012  

Now up to $420,000+ for the Tent on Union Square - 4/30/2012

Union Square Canopy Cost Figures - 4/23/2012

$285,000+ : Bang for the Buck??? - 3/23/2012

 Hickory Farmer's Market questions the Big Tent on Union Square - March 17, 2012

No Public Hearing for the Big Tent on Union Square - 1/2/2012

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 20, 2011 -- Addendum on Union Square's largest Awning yet - $285,000 - 12/20/2011


Airport - includes other links

City of Hickory takes over operations at Airport - River Hawk Aviation OUT - 12/9/2011


The Pools
Proposal to Hickory City Parks & Recreation Department Commission and the Hickory City Council - Dr. Joseph Inglefield - 2/20/2012

Citizens for Equity in Government - Pool Protest at City Hall - 12/29/2010

Charlotte Observer covers the City Pools issue  - 12/26/2010

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 21, 2010

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 21, 2010 - Addendum to Decommission and Permanently Secure Ivey and Ridgeview Pools

Why We Must Act! - Citizens for Equity in Government

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of November 16, 2010 - Addendum on the Hickory City Pools
 City Pools issue displays Local Officials' Myopic Views

REBUILDING & EMPOWERING FROM THE BOTTOM UP -- Citizens for Equity in Government

Citizens Of Ridgeview address the City Council about the City Pools Issue

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of July 20, 2010 - Addendum on the Hickory City PoolsMore than Pools

Hickory City Pools -- Told You So 8)

Continuing the Rant - The City of Hickory's Budget

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of June 15, 2010

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 4, 2010

HDR Editorial - Hickory council needs a member with vision

The City Council Candidate Forum Last Night - 10/29/2009 - (Audio Available)

From the Hickory Daily Record - Election issues discussed at forum