NCDOT will hold a public meeting for proposed widening of N.C.181/North Green Street between St.Mary's Church Road and Clay Street on Tuesday June 20th from 4-7pm at Morganton City Hall, 305 East Union Street (Suite A100). The project's purpose is to improve safety and mobility along 181/North Green, according to NCDOT. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the meeting hours. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments regarding the project. No formal presentation will be made. All comments received will be taken into consideration as the project progresses, according to NCDOT.

Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is seeking a new executive director. The Board of Directors has formed a search committee and retained a Winston-Salem based fundraising counsel and executive search firm, Capital Development Services to conduct the search for its next executive director. Susie Hamrick Jones, the Founding Executive Director, announced in May that she will retire effective September 1st, after 22 years with Foothills Conservancy. The organization works to preserve and protect significant natural areas and open spaces in eight WNC counties, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, Caldwell, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln and Alexander.

Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited Main Street America program, according to the National Main Street Center. During the past ten years as an accredited Main Street program, HDDA has witnessed a net gain of 81 news businesses creating a net gain of 309 new jobs representing an investment of more than $34,000,000.

Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods will retire July 3rd, after a 37-year career with the National Park Service. The search for an interim superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway has begun and a selection is expected soon, according to a news release from the National Park Service.