CARTHAGE — A former county commissioner will be rejoining the board of commissioners following a vote tonight by the executive committee of the Moore County Republican Party. Nick Picerno, who served on the board from 2008 to 2016, was nominated to fill the vacancy created when Louis Gregory resigned earlier this month. Picerno had previously announced his intent to run for the state House but announced his desire to rejoin the board of commissioners following Gregory's retirement announcement. In pivoting to the commissioner's seat, Picerno cited ongoing litigation over the state’s new district lines as one reason he was not…

CARTHAGE — After seeing nearly 450 cases in a single day in late January, positive cases are down dramatically in Moore County. The daily average of cases for the seven days ending Feb 13 was 50, showing a more than 50% drop in cases from the prior week and a 79% drop in cases from one month ago. Forty-five people were hospitalized last week with COVID, which represented a 53% decrease in hospitalizations versus the prior week. Over 95% of the county’s adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine and 90.5% of the citizens over 65…

CARTHAGE — Following a challenge to a controversial book with a transgender story-line, the Moore County Schools has appointed a Community Media and Technology Advisory Committee to review the inclusion of the book “George” in two school libraries. The book remains on the shelves at Union Pines High School and McDeeds Creek Elementary School after building-level committees at both schools recommended the book stay in the libraries. The committee — which will be comprised of teachers, administrators, parents and students — will make a recommendation to the Board of Education. By statute, the local board of education has sole authority…