Western Piedmont Community College Trustees recently honored Judge Claude Sitton by naming him a Trustee Emeritus of WPCC. Judge Sitton served as a trustee from 1977 to 2015 and as chair of the board in 1988, 2010, and 2011. He his public service career has spanned over 60 years where he has served as an attorney and superior court judge. Judge Sitton has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, was named Rotary Club Morganton Man of the Year in 2010, and has worked to preserve local history through the History Museum of Burke County and preservation of the Sam J.Ervin, Jr. Memorial Home. He also was instrumental in developing the Senator Sam J. Ervin Library and Museum on the WPCC main campus.

Hickory firefighters responded to a possible drowning early Tuesday morning. At about 1:50, firefighters and other agencies responded in the area of 4800 North Center Street, the bridge over the Catawba River and Lake Hickory between Catawba and Alexander Counties. Firefighters were told that an employee, who was working on the bridge, fell into the water. Additional employees went into the water to locate the worker, but attempts were unsuccessful. Various agencies from several counties responded, with water equipment rescue assistance with the location of the victim and at approximately 3am, the victim was removed from the water by divers.

A Burke County resident is charged with 2 counts of felony probation violation. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, charged 30-year-old Danielle Renee Hoosier of Morganton. Bond was set at $50,000 with a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.

A Marion man is charged with breaking into a safe. The McDowell County Sheriff;s Office Tuesday, charged 43-year-old Jonathan Wayne Griffin with 3 counts of safecracking. A Nebo man reported on August 16th that money was missing from his safe. An investigation showed that Griffin, who is
acquainted with the victim, broke into the safe on multiple occasions and stole cash.