With Mayor Rudy Wright's unexpected passing, Hickory City Council must appoint a mayor who will serve for the remainder of his unexpired term. A new mayor will then be elected through the regularly scheduled mayoral election, which is set for November 7th. Currently, Mayor Pro-Tem Vernon Tarlton has assumed all roles and responsibilities of the Office of Mayor. City Council's decision regarding the mayoral appointment will take place in open session, although a date for the decision has not been confirmed. A celebration of Mayor Wright's life will be held this morning at 11 on Union Square Under the Sails.

Freedom senior Drew McRacken is one of 66 Morehead-Cain Scholars who will enter UNC-Chapel Hill this fall. The Morehead-Cain Foundation, home of the first merit scholarship program in the U.S., announced its class of 2021 last month. McRacken plans to study biomedicine and health science engineering.

A Silver Alert has been issued for a missing endangered man, Rodney Earl Macon, who was last ween at 935 Blowing Rock Boulevard in Lenoir. The Alert was issued about 9pm Sunday. Macon, 41, a black male is listed at 5'9", 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He is believed to be suffering from dementia or some or other cognitive impairment. Anyone with information about Rodney Earl Macon should call Lenoir Police at 828-757-2100.

Falling Creek Bridge in Hickory is currently closed to traffic due to a failure in the middle of the bridge. A detour route is set for 29th Avenue NE. The bridge will likely reopen later this week.

A Catawba County resident faces charges of attempted first degree murder. 3 warrants for arrest were served Friday by the Catawba County Sheriff's Office on 35-year-old Melissa Jo rector of Conover. Rector was also served a WFA for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Bond was set at $375,000 with a court appearance scheduled for today.