Poppy plants used in producing opium found Tuesday in Catawba County, have an estimated value of $500 million. The AP reports that Sheriff Coy Reid stated the plants were discovered behind a home by a narcotics officer working on a tip for something else. Arrested was 37-year-old Cody Xiong. Bond was set at $45,000 with a court appearance scheduled for today.

Brittany Ledford was found safe overnight.
An Old Fort teen has been missing since Monday. McDowell County Sheriff's deputies need the
public's help in locating the missing teenager, last seen Monday afternoon. 17-year-old Brittany Ledford was reported missing by her mother who told authorities she last saw her daughter when she left the residence to go eat with a friend. Ledford was then reportedly dropped off at another friend's house and then began walking to the home of an acquaintance on Jacktown Road. Deputies and Marion Police have searched for the teen without success. Ledford is a white female, 4'9", weighs about 120 pounds with brown shoulder length hair. Anyone with information about Ledford's whereabouts is urged to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 828-652-2235.

Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina's Executive Director is set to retire. Susie Hamrick Jones, who has led the organization since 1997, will step down September 1st. Foothills Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust that has protected more than 51,000 acres across the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains and their foothills, including the counties of Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, Caldwell, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln and Alexander.

A supplier of plastic materials to the automotive industry will locate a new production facility in Alexander County. Governor Cooper announced Tuesday that Borealis Compounds, Inc. plans to initially invest $15 million for the new plant and create 37 jobs in Taylorsville. The company applications in the automotive industry include bumpers, body panels, trims, dashboards and other key components. Average annual salaries for the new jobs is $40,125.

A Lincoln County woman is charged with opening fradulent credit Bank Cards in her parent's name. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday reported that Heather Michelle Nalley Setzer was arrested on 4 Felony Counts of Financial Card Fraud, 3 Felony Counts of Unlawful Obtaining a Credit Card and 1 Felony Count of Obtain Property by False Pretense. Bond was set at $30,000 secured.