A Morganton man receives a prison sentence from his involvement in a December assault and robbery. Following a guilty plea in Burke Superior Court, 44-year-old Stacy Heatley will serve up to 31 years in prison in connection with an assault and robbery at a residence on Pete Brittain Road. Heatley ple guilty to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Investigators say Heatley admitted to hitting his victim with a hammer and striking him in the head with a glass object after he had been bound. Heatley was allegedly assisted by a female co-defendant. Reports state the victim was robbed of $6,500 in cash and his pickup truck. The two were later arrested at a Winston-Salem hotel after numerous reports of their whereabouts. The victim was hospitalized with life threatening injuries for more than two weeks. The co-defendant has a July court date.

Burnout operations continued Wednesday on the White Creek Fire near Shortoff Mountain at the south end of the Linville Gorge. The fire is estimated at 2,750 acres with 50% containment. Atmospheric conditions Wednesday afternoon caused smoke to lift upward before dispersing which made the smoke much more visible. Passing storms Tuesday evening provided no measurable rainfall on the fire.

Hickory City Council met Tuesday night in a regular meeting and heard a presentation of a Main Street Rehabilitation Award for the renovation of the former Lyerly Mill, now being used for different purposes and providing jobs. Council saw a short video detailing the 10 million dollar investment. City Council saw proposals for a "Leaf" display at the entrance to Hickory, with displayed designed to draw attention to motorists as they enter Hickory. A proposal to add "Hickory,NC" to the leaf display was voted on and passed by a 6-1 vote of city council.