An escaped inmate from North Carolina has been captured in West Virginia. State prison officials report that inmate Jason Strickland is now in law enforcement custody in West Virginia. Strickland escaped by leaving a highway work crew in Wilkes County July 27th. That day he was picked up by a female driving an SUV. Several days later, Strickland was spotted in Galax, Virginia, but there had been no leads since then. Strickland was located after checking into a homeless shelter in Beckley. Preparations are underway for his extradition to North Carolina.

A dedication event will be held this morning at the Whippoorwill Farm at 6793 High 126 Nebo. It will be a celebration of Foothills Conservancy of NC's donation of 41 acres of the Whippoorwill Farm property to Lake James State Park beginning at 10 o'clock.  A short hike will follow brief remarks.

An Eastern Burke County man faces methamphetamine and other charges after an arrest early this morning. Hickory Police charged 28-year-old Joshua James Hampton of Icard will possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen goods/property. Bond was set at $25,000 with a court appearance scheduled for today.