The Unifour Senior Games, an athletic and artistic event for seniors 55 years of age and better in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties, is currently seeking volunteers to assist with the 2013 Unifour Senior Games.

The 29th Annual games began on April 19, and run through through May 17, at locations throughout the Greater Hickory Metro.

Over 800 area seniors are participating in this year’s Games. Senior Games events include track and field, tennis, bowling, table tennis, swimming, billiards, and many more.

Volunteers are especially needed on Monday, May 6 at the Highland Recreation Center in Hickory for opening ceremonies, spincasting, softball throw, football throw, and basketball shooting events.

Volunteers are also needed on Monday, May 13, at Lenoir-Rhyne University for track and field events.

Gardening for awareness is exactly what the Green Thumb Garden Club is doing.

Green Thumb Garden Club in partnership with the City of Hickory is installing a “Plant it Pink” Garden at the S.A.L.T. Block.  The looped pink ribbon design honors breast cancer survivors and offers support to those currently suffering from this disease.

Each year over 220,000 United States women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 die.  One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

The Newton Elks Lodge honored Newton Police Department Lt. Travis Cline with the 2012 Officer of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding service to the community.

Cline’s peers nominated and selected him as the recipient. His fellow officers noted his dedication and service to the department and the citizens of Newton.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with an entire department of exceptional officers who work very hard every day to serve our community,” Cline said. “To be selected as Officer of the Year truly is an honor coming from such an outstanding group of officers. I appreciate the gesture, and our entire police department deserves the recognition and a very big thank you for all their hard work.”

Cline began working for the City of Newton in April 2006 as a patrolman.  He was promoted to sergeant in Sept. 2009, then to lieutenant in Dec. 2010.