A head on collision in Lenoir Wednesday morning sends two people to a Charlotte hospital. The accident occurred just after 9:30 in the 2700 block of Ellerwood Road. According to Lenoir Police. a Chevy Impala being driven by 59 year old Fredick Robert Motley of Lenoir hit head on a Chevy pickup truck operated by 30 year old Emily Danielle Davis of Lenoir. Caldwell County EMS and the Lenoir Fire Department assisted in freeing the occupants. The two drivers were airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment. Two children in the truck were transported by ambulance to Caldwell UNC Health Care with non-life threatening injuries. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Lenoir Police at 757-2100 or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers at 758-8300. The investigation is ongoing.

A second motor vehicle accident in Caldwell County Wednesday, occurred in the afternoon in the Ganewell Community. Traffic was backed up in both directions on Highway 18 after a car crashed into Gamewell United Methodist Church, near Gamewell Elementary School. WSOC-TV reports that 1 person who was trapped in the back seat for 15 minutes was taken to the hospital.

Domestic violence charges are filed on a Hickory man. 28-year-old Rashad Dominic Griggs reportedly assaulted and kidnapped a 27-year old female near Silver Springs Terrace over the July 4th holiday weekend. Hickory Police reports state Griggs also took possession of her cell phone preventing his victim from calling for assistance. Griggs has been charged with two felony counts of assault resulting in serious injury, one felony count of second-degree kidnapping, one misdemeanor count of interfering with emergency communication, one misdemeanor count of assault on a female by a male and one misdemeanor count of communicating threats. He was placed at the Catawba County detention center without bond.

Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. HDDA is a private non-profit organization with a 12 member volunteer board of directors. In 2015-2016, Downtown Hickory witnesses 3 facades redone and the rehabilitation of 3 buildings. 11 new businesses opened with 5 businesses closing for a net gain of 6 new businesses.