The proposed budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year was proposed and there was a consideration of removing a vehicle tax during Monday night's regular Morganton City Council meeting. City Manager Sally Sandy presented the proposed budget that would include changes in rates, and increases from the current $72.6 million dollars to $73 million. The budget also calls for a change in rates in sewer, solid waste and COMPAS Cable in the general fund. A public hearing for the proposed budget was called for Monday, June 19 at 6pm. In the last regular City Council meeting, council considered removing the $20 vehicle tax that was adopted last year as a way to provide revenue source to replace the loss of the privilege license tax. The vote to remove the tax during Monday night's meeting did not pass due to a 2-2 vote.

Burke County receives a $300,000 grant from the EPA. The grant will assist with the assessment and cleanup of local contaminated properties - commonly referred to as brownfield sites. The funds will be used to determine the extent of site contamination, remove environmental uncertainities, and clean-up contaminated properties as needed - all in order to revive local industrial sites for future use and employment. According to the EPA, residential values near brownfield sites that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. The funds will focus on areas in Morganton, Glen Alpine, Drexel, Valdese, Rutherford College and Hildebran. Burke Development Inc. and amany of the county's municipalities assisted with the grant application.

Alexander County authorities are looking for a Statesville man in connection with a stabbing. Officers responded Sunday night to a residence on Highway 90 East in Stony Point about 10:15 and found 66-year-old Steven Anderson of Stony Point with multiple stab wounds. The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Shawn Donnell Whren, Jr., who is known to frequent Iredell County. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Whren is asked to contact Alexander County Crimestoppers at 828-632-8555. The suspect may still be armed.