One of Burke County's Most Wanted was apprehended early Monday morning. Samuel Zane Billings of Morganton was located by the Burke County Sheriff's Office, after receiving a tip that he was at a house in the Salem area. Billings had been on the Burke County Most Wanted list for 10 weeks. When officers arrived on the scene, Billings was attempting to escape through a rear window of the house. Officers gave Billings commands at which he stopped attempting to flee, but refused to exit the home. After officers explained to the homeowner that there was an outstanding felony warrant on Billings, the homeowner was able to convince him to surrender. Billings was taken into custody and placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility.

A traffic stop yields Methamphetamine. The stop occurred about 3AM Sunday on West Concord Street. According to Morganton Department of Public Safety, Sargent Edwards, along with Officer Huffman and her K-9 Partner Shrek, found Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia. An investigator from the Burke County Narcotics Task Force was contacted for further investigation. Charged were 31 year old Joseph Michael Hallyburton of Drexel and 33 year old Steven Wayne Strickland of Morganton. They were placed in the Burke Catawba Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond each.

McDowell County investigators need your help in tracking the suspects who stole seven firearms and 700 rounds of ammunition from a Marion home last month. The Sheriff's Office report indicates that sometime between 6:15am and 7:30pm on December 22nd, someone broke into the residence of Michael Wyatt on U.S.221 North. Anyone with information concerning the crime or suspects is asked to call Detective Paul Alkire of the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME (652-7463). With Crimestoppers, your identity remains anonymous and in this case a cash reward is offered.

Caldwell Commissioners Monday celebrated the 175th anniversary of the County's founding with a proclamation presented by special guest, Congressman George Robinson, who read the proclamation on behalf of Governor McCrory, who was unable to attend the meeting. Also Monday, Caldwell County Commissioners approved a $110,000 local jobs incentive for Bakers Waste Equipment of Lenoir. The incentive should help Bakers Waste Equipment create 55 new full-time jobs over the next two years and may also give the company a competitive edge on obtaining a building renovation grant through the N.C.Department of Commerce.