Mold Remediation in Winston-salem, NC

The bank will use the acquisition to establish its presence in Winston-Salem and further expand within the Charlotte region.

Carter Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CARE) is continuing to expand in the Triad, adding its first Winston-Salem location in a recent deal with First Reliance Bank.

Martinsville, Virginia-based Carter Bank & Trust will acquire a combined $56 million in deposits from two First Reliance Bank branches, one in Winston-Salem and one in Mooresville. It also will purchase the Winston-Salem branch property at 536 S. Stratford Road. First Reliance bought the .38-acre property for $695,000 in 2018 and it is now valued at $705,000, according to Forsyth County tax records.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Both branches will rebrand to Carter Bank.

This move allows First Reliance Bank, based in Florence, to concentrate its efforts on core markets within South Carolina while optimizing its branch network. These branches are the company’s only locations outside of South Carolina.

Carter Bank & Trust will use the acquisition to establish its presence in Winston-Salem and expand within the Charlotte region. Carter is the Triad's fifth largest community bank, according to TBJ research, with $360 million in local deposits and six branches in the region. It has three branches in Greensboro, home to several members of the bank's executive team as well as a a commercial lending office with about 20 employees. Carter Bank, which grew its Triad presence by nearly 58% in 2023, also has single locations in Mount Airy, Reidsville and Eden.

Following the deal’s closure, Carter Bank’s network will encompass 66 branches across Virginia and North Carolina. It opened its first Charlotte location in 2022.

"The region's growth and demographics are very attractive for further business development for a bank like Carter Bank," Litz Van Dyke, Carter Bank CEO, told the Charlotte Business Journal. "We have desirable product and service offerings along with personalized customer service that we believe will allow us to attract additional customers in the region."

Under the agreement, Carter Bank will assume specific deposit liabilities and acquire assets, including cash and fixed property linked to the Winston-Salem branch.

Deposits from First Reliance's Mooresville branch will be integrated into Carter Bank’s existing location in that area at 231 E. Plaza Drive in Charlotte, "creating synergy and scale for this market," Van Dyke said.

"These customers will now have access to banks with a broader footprint in the region and a greater focus on serving the Charlotte area," Van Dyke said. "In our view, the impact will be positive."

Largest Triad Community Banks

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The bank will use the acquisition to strengthen its presence in Winston-Salem and further expand within the Charlotte region.

Carter Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CARE) is continuing to expand in the Charlotte region following a recent deal with First Reliance Bank.

Martinsville, Virginia-based Carter Bank will acquire a combined $56 million in deposits from two First Reliance Bank branches in Mooresville and Winston-Salem. It also will purchase the Winston-Salem branch property. The Mooresville location is at 249 Williamson Road, while the Winston-Salem branch is at 536 S. Stratford Road.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025. The Winston-Salem branch will rebrand to Carter Bank. A spokesperson said plans for the Mooresville location are still in evaluation.

This move allows First Reliance Bank to concentrate its efforts on core markets within South Carolina while optimizing its branch network. These branches are the company’s only locations outside of South Carolina.

Florence, South Carolina-based First Reliance Bank entered the local market in 2020 by opening loan production offices in SouthPark and at the Mooresville branch to be acquired. It added deposit services at the Moorseville location a few months after opening the loan production office.

Carter Bank will use the acquisition to strengthen its presence in Winston-Salem and further expand within the Charlotte region. Following the deal’s closure, Carter Bank’s network will encompass 66 branches across Virginia and North Carolina.

"The region's growth and demographics are very attractive for further business development for a bank like Carter Bank," Litz Van Dyke, Carter Bank CEO, told CBJ. "We have desirable product and service offerings along with personalized customer service that we believe will allow us to attract additional customers in the region."

Under the agreement, Carter Bank will assume specific deposit liabilities and acquire assets, including cash and fixed property linked to the Winston-Salem branch.

Deposits from First Reliance's Mooresville branch will be integrated into Carter Bank’s existing location in that area at 231 E. Plaza Drive, "creating synergy and scale for this market," Van Dyke said. Carter Bank has another local branch at 500 E. Morehead St., which opened in 2022. No loans are included in the acquisition.

"These customers will now have access to banks with a broader footprint in the region and a greater focus on serving the Charlotte area," Van Dyke said. "In our view, the impact will be positive."

Charlotte's largest community banks

June 2024 local deposits

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An investigation is underway after a fight broke out at Glenn High School, according to officials with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier in December, a fight occurred on the campus of Glenn High School in Kernersville.

Last week, Principal Scott Munie sent a letter to parents, saying:

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“Dear Glenn HS families,

"Some of you may have heard about a fight that happened on campus this week. I wanted to assure you that it was an isolated event that was caused by issues happening off school campus. Unfortunately, our community is not immune to violence, and sometimes it spills over into our schools.

"Student safety is of utmost importance at Glenn High School, and we take these situations seriously. As soon as the incident happened, we began working with WS/FCS Security and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department to resolve this issue and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

"We work diligently with Behavior Coaches and a School Resource Officer on issues like this. We ask any student who feels something is not right to reach out to any staff member with information. Additionally, we encourage students to use the Say Something reporting system to notify School Administration about their concerns or issues.

"Thank you for your continued support. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.”

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Officials with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said two students involved were confirmed to be students, while law enforcement is still working to identify the others who were involved.

FCSO officials said its Juvenile Intervention and Investigation Team is actively addressing the matter, and the investigation is active and ongoing. Officials did say that those involved in the fight were minors.

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See Gracie Epperson in the iconic kick line at Radio City Music Hall through Jan. 5!

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —

Many little girls venture to New York City around the holidays and get wide-eyed when they walk up to Radio City Music Hall. Some dream of being in the kick-line alongside the dozens of Rockettes in their sparkling and festive costumes. It only becomes a reality for very few talented, lucky dancers.

Gracie Epperson saw the show as a young girl, having taken dance classes starting at three years old, and felt called to perform in the show someday.

"I just fell in love with it, like I want to do that, I need to do that," Epperson said. "I want the sparkly costumes; I need to kick."

She worked diligently through her teen years, participating in competition dance through In-Motion Dance Studio in Winston-Salem.

"You just wanted to watch her dance," studio owner Michelle Nicholson said. "You knew she was going to be something special."

At the age of 18, Epperson moved to New York City with her sights set on Radio City Music Hall. She at least got to dance on the stage every year, as that's where auditions take place. But it took six years of auditions and workshops before she finally got the call that she was going to be a Rockette.

"It’s crazy to think," she said, "It took me six years, and I’m proud of that because I think you should never give up on your dreams. I’m very thankful for my community in Winston, and I credit so much to them for me getting here today. They were always there. Those are the people that inspire me to keep going."

Landing the role was just the start of more hard work for Epperson. She described their training as six hours a day, six days a week as "very physically demanding." It's all to create that iconic synchronized kick-line.

"It’s really cool to see a group of 36 women make a line," she said. "It was really magical to be on that side of things and watch us all come together as a team. It’s really a sisterhood. Everyone is so nice and encouraging. It’s really one of the best environments I’ve ever been lucky enough to be a part of."

Epperson said one of her favorite numbers is the iconic parade of the wooden soldiers, and she also highlighted new technology being used this year. Her family and some friends have already gone to see her perform.

"It was a lot of tears," she said. "I think we were all kind of just speechless, just happy for me. It was just so magical to know they were getting to see all the hard work finally pay off at that level, at Radio City Music Hall. They were just proud of me."

Nicholson said it's been fun to tell her youngest dancers about Epperson's roots in their Winston-Salem dance studio. Some of them have gone to New York City this year just to see her perform and come back giddy and hopeful to be like her someday.

The last time Nicholson saw the Christmas Spectacular show was with Epperson, when she was still in high school, aspiring to become a Rockette herself. This week, Nicholson will be back in the crowd, watching Epperson on-stage this time.

"I've known many other Rockettes but never have trained one before," Nicholson said. "Getting to sit in the audience and watch that little girl be that beautiful woman is just going to be amazing. I can't wait."

The Radio City Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular runs through Jan. 5. For more information, visit rockettes.com.

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Winston-Salem has been ranked in the top ten of the top 100 cities in America for a winter staycation. Not only is Winston-Salem an excellent location for a cozy staycation this winter, it’s bursting with holiday spirit — the city is the latest installment in the “NC Christmas Towns” series.

Ranked No. 8 out of 100 cities, Winston-Salem scored 67.97 out of 100. The average price for a hotel room in 2024 was $110.42 per night out of a sample of 145 lodging options. Between 2020 and 2023, the city recorded an average of 0.03mm daily snowfall and 329 winter activities.

“Winter staycations are becoming increasingly popular in America,” said Yulia Saf, Founder of Miss Tourist. “As the colder months approach, people are looking for cozy, convenient getaways without venturing too far from home. The top ten destinations cover a large part of the country and are easily accessible to most of the population.”

The data reported in this study was compiled by Tripadvisor, Open-Meteo, and Eventbrite and analyzed by Miss Tourist.

Christmas at Old Salem is a must-do during the holiday season. During “Salem Saturdays at Christmas,” visitors can tour historic buildings, interact with period interpreters, chat with Saint Nick, and experience Moravian traditions for themselves from 10 am to 4 pm every Saturday, leading up to Christmas. You can also experience the living history of the original Moravian settlement during an evening tour or a guided lantern tour. Learn more about Christmas at Old Salem here.

During the holiday season, Tanglewood Park transforms into a winter wonderland during Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights, which boasts over a million lights. This exhibit opened on November 15 and runs through Jan 1 every evening from 6-11 pm. Attendees can view spectacular light displays while listening to holiday tunes on the interactive exhibits, which include original compositions from UNC School of Arts students. Visitors drive through more than 80 light displays on the countryside route.

“All of your favorite displays, plus some brand-new ones, have been rearranged to make sure you still experience the full magic that Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights is famous for,” according to the website. Learn more about the Festival of Lights here.

Christmas at Körner’s Folly is a magical holiday experience in the “strangest house in America,” according to the website. The 22 rooms are decked out in complete holiday décor inspired by the Victorian era; this year’s decorating theme is A Gilded Christmas. Self-guided tours can be made Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 12 to 4 pm. Victorian-inspired Christmas gifts can also be purchased in the gift shop. The home’s Christmas by Candlelight evening tours occur on Dec 7th and 21st. Tickets can be purchased onsite or online.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, stroll through illuminated recycled tulips at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville. This unique twist on holiday lights features illuminated trees, festive lights, and more than 10,000 “flowers.” Learn more here.

Additional Christmas festivities in Winston-Salem can be found here.