MONROE – Union County commissioners will decide May 6 whether to roll out a 2024 bond referendum for voters to consider financing construction projects requested by the school district and sheriff’s office. 

MONROE – Union County commissioners unanimously voted April 15 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed David Weekley Homes to build a 391-home neighborhood on nearly 179 acres at 4719 Weddington Road.

WAXHAW – Union County is opening the Southwest Regional Library to the public at 9 a.m. April 19 and hosting a grand opening celebration for the community at 10 a.m. April 20.

WESLEY CHAPEL – It's been a year in the making, but Wesley Chapel’s Dogwood Grove has finally blossomed.

MONROE – The Union County Jail is not only running out of beds but it is also falling apart, according to Sheriff Eddie Cathey.

STALLINGS – Sophia Cordova, an 11th-grade student at Porter Ridge High School, has brought her artistic talent to the forefront with a mural adorning the walls of the Stallings Police Department.

MATTHEWS – Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts will partner with Indian Trail Parks and Recreation to present a new dinner theater production of “The Anniversary.”

Main Street Bistro, Mario’s Italian Restaurant, Mary O’Neill’s Irish Pub and The Trail House have reached the Final Fork of Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness. 

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from April 4 to 10.

MONROE – The Monroe City Council will hold public hearings prior to awarding Downtown Pronto Grants to the Presson Art Gallery, Hayne Street Gastrolounge and Smorgansbord during its next meeting at 6 p.m. April 9 at  city hall, 300 W. Crowell St.

WEDDINGTON – Weddington Town Council will provide feedback on a proposal from Christ Lutheran Church regarding the Southland project during the council’s April 8 meeting at 7 p.m. at town hall, 1924 Weddington Road. 

MONROE – The Monroe Police Department promoted Capt. William “Rhett” Bolen to assistant police chief.

CHARLOTTE – Athletes from Mecklenburg and Union counties earned medals during the 2024 Special Olympics of North Carolina Cheerleading Tournament on March 23 at Seaforth High School in Pittsboro. 

Bisonte Pizza, Emmet’s Social Table, Franklin Court Grille, Main Street Bistro, Mario’s Italian Restaurant, Mary O’Neill’s Irish Pub, Mia Famiglia Pizzeria and The Trail House have reached the Edible 8 of Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness. 

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from March 28 to April 3: 

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from March 21 to 27: 

MONROE – Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can gain workforce skills at South Piedmont Community College’s new Pet Care Academy thanks to a partnership with Pressly Animal Hospital.

STALLINGS – Greater Matthews region restaurants Bisonte Pizza, Moochies Tavern, Stallings Rockstore Bar-B-Q and Mario’s Italian Restaurant have reached the Savory 16 in Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness.

INDIAN TRAIL – Mia Famiglia Pizzeria, The Trail House, The Bridge Restaurant and Chokh Di Noodle House are the last Indian Trail region restaurants still in the hunt for Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness bracket championship.

MONROE – Monroe restaurants Hathaway’s Fried Chicken, Pepperoni’s Pizza, Franklin Court Grille and Main Street Bistro are still in the running for Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness. 

WAXHAW – Maxwell’s Tavern, Provisions Waxhaw, Emmet’s Social Table and Mary O’Neill’s Irish Pub are the final four restaurants in the Waxhaw region of Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness bracket challenge. 

Wesley Chapel Mayor Amanda Fuller works to maintain the small-town values within her village amid fast growth in the Charlotte region. South Piedmont Community College President Maria Pharr opens pathways for graduates to four-year universities as well as business and industry opportunities.…

MONROE – The Union County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held a women’s leadership conference in celebration of Women’s History Month.

MONROE – Eight of the 32 first-round matches of Union County Weekly’s 2024 Munch Madness resulted in a lower seed winning. 

MONROE – Mac’s Fish & Chicken and Main Street Bistro were among winners of first-round matchups of Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness. These two restaurants stood out because they were the only lower seeds to advance to the Thirsty 32 round.

STALLINGS – Mama's Italian Restaurant & Bar was the only lower seed to win a first-round match in Union County Weekly’s 2024 Munch Madness restaurant bracket challenge. Readers went with the higher seed in all other instances. 

INDIAN TRAIL – The third, seventh and eighth seeds fell in the first round of Union County Weekly’s 2024 Munch Madness. Readers gravitated toward lower seeds like No. 14 Chokh Di Noodle House, No. 10 Sun Valley Cafe and No. 9 Flav's Coffee & Italian Market in those matches. 

WAXHAW – Six of the eight of first-round matches in Union County Weekly’s 2024 Munch Madness bracket challenge went to the restaurant with the better seed.

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from March 14 to 20: 

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from March 7 to 13: 

Union County is home to more than 300 restaurants. We have taken 64 of the most popular eateries in Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw and the Greater Matthews area and put them into a tournament bracket. 

The Matthews region of Union County Weekly’s Munch Madness consists of all the restaurants you’ll find in the 28104 zip code, which tend to have those pesky Matthews, N.C. mailing addresses. This includes restaurants in Stallings and Wesley Chapel.

INDIAN TRAIL – Indian Trail restaurants fare well in Munch Madness, winning three of the four years of the bracket challenge. 

WAXHAW – Waxhaw is home to several restaurants that fit perfectly with the town’s charm. 

MONROE – Monroe is a destination for great food. The city has a downtown with unique cuisine and a commercial corridor along U.S. 74 with proven restaurant concepts that attract both residents and commuters.

MONROE – Superintendent Andrew Houlihan and other leaders from Union County Public Schools surprised 10 educators March 8 with the news that they were finalists for 2024-25 Teacher of the Year.

STALLINGS – Stallings Town Council has appropriated another $200,000 toward its road resurfacing budget. 

STALLINGS – Stallings Parks and Recreation celebrated the grand opening March 7 of a new playground at Stallings Municipal Park.

WINGATE – An increase in substance abuse during the pandemic has been well documented, coinciding with an upward trend in opioid overdoses in the United States. At the same time, there is a dearth of behavioral health counselors ready to treat patients.

The Union County Health Department inspected these restaurants from Feb. 29 to March 6 

MONROE – Superintendent Andrew Houlihan and other leaders surprised the Principal of the Year finalists March 4 at their respective schools. 

MONROE – Christina Helms and Gary Sides were the top vote-getters in the Republican primary for the Union County Board of Commissioners.

INDIAN TRAIL – Allegacy Federal Credit Union presented Common Heart a check for $2,024 at the recent grand opening of its newest financial center at 307 Unionville-Indian Trail Road. 

INDIAN TRAIL – The Town of Indian Trail is undertaking a multi-year Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan project to improve accessibility in all aspects of its services. 

CHAPEL HILL – Seven basketball teams from Union and southern Mecklenburg counties won second-round games in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. 

Black History Month not only offers an opportunity to look back at the past but it’s also a good point to highlight people who are leading the Union County area into the future. This list highlights 50 Black leaders in business, education, government, nonprofits and other sectors of the community. 

CHAPEL HILL – Seven basketball teams in Union County won their first-round match-ups in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. The other seven teams from Union County lost in the first round.