A McDowell Forest Service Officer wins national recognition. From some 550 personnel nationwide, US Forest Service Officer Wade Keener of McDowell County has been named "Officer of the Year." Keener serves as the sole authority of over 192,000 acres in the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest - the area coverning five counties and over 300 miles of trails including those in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. At a recent ceremony in Washington, DC, Keener dedicated his award to former partner Jason Crisp, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014, while searching for a murder suspect. Keener has served in law enforcement for 28 years; 15 of those with the US Forest Service.

A Morganton man will serve 45 to 66 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of sex offender registry violations and admitting his status as an habitual felon, during Burke County Superior Court. The Honorable Daniel A.Kuehnert, Superior Court from Burke County, handed down the sentence for 27-year-old Steven Kyle South. Detective Isaac Propst of the Burke County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. David Swanson handled prosecution for the District Attorney's Office.

A Valdese man was given an active prison sentence for sex-related offenses during Burke County Superior Court last week. On Tuesday, the Honorable Daniel A.Kuehnert, Superior Court Judge from Burke County, sentenced 54-year-old James Edward Stovall to serve 32 to 58 months in custody. The offenses occurred November 19th, and again January 4th. They were investigated by Detective Isaac Propst of the Burke County Sheriff's Office. David Swanson prosecuted the case for the DA's Office.

A new park is coming to downtown Hickory and Friends of Hickory will celebrate its groundbreaking tomorrow at noon. The park, which is located just west of Union Square, on the corner of Third Street and Main Avenue NW is the product of over two years of planning and fundraising by the non-profit group, Hickory and Friends. The first project developed along the City's new Citywalk, the park will offer a cosmopolitan mix of old and new. It will include modernized Danish "unstructured" play equipment, outdoor seating, and a splash pad modeled after the Catawba River Valley. The park will also feature pottery by local artist Kim Ellington and mosaic tile from regional artist, Leslie Scott. A toddler area, music section and bicycle repair stand will also be included. Funding options are still available through mosaic benches and lazer engraved bricks. The park is expected to be complete in August.