A body found near Lake James has led to a death investigation. The Burke County Sheriff's Office responded Sunday, regarding a possible body found off Highway 126. Deputies arrived at the scene about 9pm and confirmed the death. Sheriff's Office Detectives initiated a death investigation and the victim was identified as 27-year-old Demetrius Marcellis Chisolm of Charlotte. The SBI was called for assistance and the investigation is continuing. According to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, more information will be released after the autopsy and investigation are complete. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 764-9505 or Burke County Communications Center 911.

A Conover man was sentenced Monday, after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offenses involving a minor female child. 27-year-old Joshua lee Lipford was given an active prison term of 24 to 39 years by the Honorable Robert C.Ervin, Superior Court Judge from Burke County, following his guilty plea in Catawba County Superior Court. Lipford pleaded guilty to 4 counts of statutory sex offense with a victim 13, 14 or 15 years old by a defendant 6 years older and 3 counts of statutory rape of a victim 13,14 or 15 years old by a defendant at least years older. Russ Boger investigated the case for the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. Lance Sigmon and Michael Van Buren handled prosecution for the District Attorney's Office.

Multiple felony charges are filed on a Burke County man. The arrest made Friday by the Burke County Sheriff's Office of 51 year old David Ray Parker. He was charged with Breaking and Entering, Larceny After Breaking and Entering and Possession of Stolen Goods. Parker was placed in the Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $10,000 secured bond.

Improvements at the Mountain View Recreation Center are almost complete. Visitors now have many more places to park; new landscaping is sprucing up the property, and the new tennis courts should be completed by the end of July. City Council approved funding in the 2015-2016 budget for improvements at the center, with roughly $675,000 spent thus far.