A man was killed Wednesday night in a motor vehicle accident near the Burke/Caldwell County line. According to WSOC-TV, the wreck occurred on Hartland Road, just before 11. Troopers told WSOC that the driver of the pickup, Leon Creasy of Morganton, lost control and hit a tree. He sustained serious injuries. A passenger, Richard Church was killed. Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. Troopers also said that Creasy did not have a license due to a previous DWI.

The first case of rabies in 2016 has been confirmed in Catawba County after a fox attacked a child during a family picnic near Maiden. Shortly before 5:30pm Friday, Catawba County Animal Services received a call from a residence east of Maiden. The owner of the residence told Animal Services that he and his wife were having a picnic with his grandchildren when a fox ran up and began biting one of the children on both legs. The family broke off the attack by screaming at the fox, but the he began circling back toward the family. The owner then shot and killed the fox. Animal Services collected the remains and sent them to the State Public Health Lab in Raleigh. Catawba County was notified Wednesday that the fox tested positive for rabies. The best way to have your pets protected from rabies is to have them properly vaccinated.

A Hickory woman is charged with having sex with an inmate. The Alexander County Sheriff's Office reports that 60 year old Christine Lawton Grayson was charged with three felony counts of a sexual act by a custodian at a correctional facility. Grayson allegedly had an improper sexual relationship with an inmate while working as a traveling nurse at Alexander Correctional Facility. Grayson was released Tuesday under a $150,000 secured bond.

A Claremont man accused of murder will not face the death penalty for the January shooting death of Jefferson Lee Heavner. Prosecutors for the State announced Wednesday, they will not pursue capital punishment in the murder case against 28 year old Marvin Jacob Lee. He still faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. Victoria Jayne represents Lee, who also faces charges for attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill as well as discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case.