Wayne Abele was elected as Chairman for 2016 and the county donated a building tp the History Museum of Burke County in Tuesday night's Board of Commissioners regular meeting. The board began the meeting by organizing positions for 2016. Jeff Brittain was elected Vice-Chairman with J.R.Simpson appointed as County Attorney and Tax Attorney. The county decided to unanimously donate the old county garage building at the corner of West Meeting Street and South Collette Street to the History Museum of Burke County. The board passed the decision unanimously under the stipulation that the building be taken care of and restored.

Hickory City Council met Tuesday night, and recognized Paul Thompson as the 2015 award winner for Transportation Insights, listed on the Ink 500 list of fastest growing industries. Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright read a proclamation recognizing December 15 as Paul Thompson Day. Thompson is the founder of the company.