A Catawba County employee, who created a method for widespread teaching of new CPR technique, has been named County Employee of the Year. Melanie Sigmon, the County's EMS Compliance Coordinator, received the honor at the County's Annual Awards Night, Tuesday at CVCC. She has been employed with Catawba County EMS for fifteen years. Sigmon noted disturbing trends in cardiac cases, and addressed those concerns by creating a program to teach new "hands only CPR" techniques to as many citizens as possible.

A Catawba County man escapes the death penalty from a fatal shooting in September. Prosecutors announced Thursday, they will not pursue the case of Daniel Robert Williamson as a capital matter. Williamson, of Conover, was involved in a double shooting September 9th, that left Michael Anthony Beltran dead and hospitalized Lisa Vanhoogen. Williamson remains incarcerated in the Catawba County Detention Center without bond, though a bond hearing is scheduled for November 30th.

A Hickory man faces charges of First Degree Rape, Breaking and or Entering and Interfering with Emergency Communication. The Catawba County Sheriffs Office Thursday, charged 35 year old Jorge Leyva Velaquez. Bond was set $460,000 with a Catawba County court appearance scheduled for today.