The Cannon Foundation, based in Concord, awarded a $50,000 grant December 18th, to Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. The grant will help the land transfer a 208-acre property adjoining the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Bear Den Overlook(milepost 323) into public ownership. The Bear Den property borders 1.7 Miles of the Parkway anD is part of the scenic vista from the popular Bear Den Overlook. Foothills Conservancy purchased the property is September 2016 and has until September to pay off the loan used to purchase the property. Once the loan is paid off, Foothills Conservancy will donate the property to the National Park Service for addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway system, according to a news release from Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina.

The SBA Disaster Loan Application is January 22nd for those counties that sustained damage from flooding and heavy winds on October 23rd. Low-interest disaster loans are available in Watauga County and the contiguous counties of Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Wilkes. Applicants may apply online unsing the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the Small Business Administration's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

An early morning shooting Thursday, leaves a Morganton man dead. Vernon Eugene Dale, 46, was found by Burke County Sheriff's deputies deceased from an apparent gunshot wound at his home inside Shady Acres Mobile Home Park on U.S.64. A press release states two other adults and two small children were at the home when the shooting occurred. The subject who admitted shooting Dale claimed the act was in self-defense. No arrests have been made; however, the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division and the SBI have conducted a search of the crime scene. Results of their investigation will be turned over to the DA's office to further determine appropriate charges. Burke County EMS, Brendletown first responders, and the Medical Examiner also provided assistance at the scene.

Sunrise Global Marketing, LLC, manufacturers of Greenworks Tools, will locate a distribution facility and bring 187 new jobs to Burke County. The company will locate in the former HHG building on Causby Road with a $10 million investment in equipment and the 510,000-sq.ft.facility. The company, which relocated their North American headquarters to Mooresville in 2016, is growing as the market share for battery powered outdoor power equipment grows. The project was supported by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Burke County, and the City of Morganton.

The Appalachian Regional Commission announced the award of a grant in the amount of $277,450 to the City of Morganton for a project to improve infrastructure to the western gateway of downtown. the grant requires a dollar for dollar match from the city. The total project is estimated to exceed $555,000 and will result in improved services to 9 businesses and 64 households. The City of Morganton will use the funding to install upgraded waterline and sewer, new sidewalk and lighting fixtures along North Green Street and adjacent roads bordering the north side of the city's central business district.

The City of Morganton has been awarded a $230,000 building reuse grant to support the renovation of One North Square. According to a press release from Burke Development Inc, A Caring Alternative, a comprehensive care agency providing behavioral health and substance use disorder services, will expand in the 24,170-sq.ft.building and add 23 jobs. The company currently has 29 part-time and 132 full-time employees. The North Carolina Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Western Piedmont Council of Governments assisted with the project.

A determination has been made to the cause of a residential fire on Tuesday in Caldwell County. Lenoir Fire and Police responded to the fire on Sunset Street. The fire was quickly contained, but Kenneth Ray Owens was found deceased inside. The ongoing investigation determined that the cause of the fire was accidental in nature. An overloaded surge protector inside the residence was the cause of the fire, according to a news release from Lenoir Police.

Rain aided firefighters on the Coxes Creek No.7 fire in McDowell County, which was contained on Wednesday. The U.S.Forest Service news alert stated that the fire had increased to about 200 acres Tuesday before the rain. The fire was reported Monday afternoon and is burning on Forest Service land and private property in the Turkey Cove Community of 226A north of Marion. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. If you see suspicious activity in the area, please report it to the McDowell County Sheriff's Office detective line at 652-2237

Four children from Alabama are found safe in Morganton, parents surrender to Public Safety. The FBI contacted Morganton Public Safety early Tuesday morning regarding the missing children. An agent stated that the FBI had been contact with the noncustodial parents, Marcus Eugene Simmons and Karissa Renee Cummings, both of Alabama. Simmons and Cummings surrendered to Public Safety and cooperated in disclosing the location of the children. Officers contacted the Burke County Sheriff's Office and provided the address to responding deputies. The children were located at a residence on Lake Drive. Burke County DSS responded to the Lake Drive residence and took custody of the children. Cummings and Simmons were transported to a magistrate and received a $200,000 secured bond. A Burke County District Court appearance is scheduled for today. Alabama officials will be proceeding with extradition.

A suspect wanted in connection with breaking and enterings to homes, churches and a business has been taken into custody without incident. On December 12th, reports were filed with the Burke County Sheriff's Office concerning the B & E's. Detectives gathered evidence and conducted interviews which led to 22-year-old Kenneth Tyler Lane Childers being identified as a suspect and warrants were issued. On Saturday, the Catawba County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip regarding the location of Childers, who was located at a Vale area residence. Bond was set at $7,500 with a court appearance scheduled for today.

Lenoir Fire and Police responded to a structure fire early Tuesday afternoon, at the residence of 213 Sunset Street. First responders found the home about 25% involved in fire. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. Kenneth Ray Owens was found deceased inside. There is an ongoing joint investigation between Lenoir Police and Fire, along with the SBI.

A Nebo school principal is the recipient of a regional honor. Nebo Elementary principal and current McDowell County 'Principal of the Year' - Desarae Kirkpatrick has been named 2018 Northwest Region Principal of the Year. Kirkpatrick has had several education assignments in McDowell County schools before being assigned to her present post at Nebo Elementary this past summer. In a press release, her associates commend her work - in that her students have demonstrated academic growth in each of her various work assignments. Kirkpatrick will compete against principals from each of the eight regions for the honor of 'State Principal of the Year' in the spring.

NC Department of Public Safety Officers initiated a Burke County roundup on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals on 24 warrants. 9 of the 13 were from Burke County including:
 * Andrew Lee Cole, 35, Connelly Springs, 9 (F) & 1 (M) - Bond $175,000
 * Jerry Lee Duckworth, 27, Morganton, 2(M) - Bond $1000
 * Terri Marie Duckworth, 41, Morganton, 1(F) & 1(M) - Bond $3500
 * Dominique Jarria Johnson, 24, Morganton, 1(M) - Bond $10,000
 * Joshua Allen Jubin, 29, Morganton, 1(M) - Written Promise
 * Rebekah Ann Meise, 22, Morganton, 1(M) - Bond $5000
 * Tonya Lynn Rector, 47, Morganton, 1(F) & 1(M) - $6000
 * Teri Ann Thomas, 34, Morganton, 1(M) - $5000
 * Pachea Charlene Tomlinson, 40, Connelly Springs, 1(M) - $3000
Others arrested were from Concord, Greenville NC and two homeless.

Morganton Public Safety officers responded just 2am Friday, to Carswell's Landscaping on Hopewell Road in reference to a breaking and entering in progress. Officers were able to apprehend the suspect, Eric Thomas Riddle, 32, in a creek bed near the business. Public Safety investigators had been investigating previous incidents at the business, in November and 2015 and Riddle was reportedly identified as the suspect in those cases as well. Public Safety was able to recover some property belonging to Carswell and is continuing the investigation. Riddle was placed in the Burke Catawba Detention Facility under a $26,000 secured bond. 

Additional information has been released by Morganton Public Safety in connection with last Thursday's fatal traffic accident. The crash that claimed the life of a 4-year-old child, involved an SUV and passenger sedan at the intersection of Collett and North College Streets. Public Safety reports say the SUV was being driven by Bryant Dennis, 26, of Rutherford College, with passengers Alessia Dennis, 26, and 4 juveniles ranging in ages from 2 months to 14. The driver of the sedan was identified as Peggy Belcher,40, of Granite Falls. Belcher's vehicle carried a 17-year-old passenger of the same address. Initial reports say one child in the SUV died in the crash while a second child was transported to CHS Morganton with injuries. The case remains under investigation - once all facts are gathered and the accident reconstruction is complete, the investigating officer will present the case to the Attorney's Office.

The City of Morganton and the Town of Valdese have separately given notice to Burke County that each municipality will withdraw from the 2011 Interlocal Agreement concerning the establishment and operation of the Consolidated 911 Service. Valdese and Morganton are withdrawing from the Agreement effective June 30th,2018. The consolidated countywide 911 service is the responsibility of Burke County on behalf of Burke County residents. Valdese and Morganton are withdrawing from the Agreement which imposes on them a burden not shared by any other towns, according to a press release from the City of Morganton. Valdese and Morganton officials agree that this withdrawal will not result in any reduction or limitation of 911 services as Burke County currently oversees the operations and services provided by the consolidated 911 center.

Morganton Public Safety and rescue crews responded to a traffic crash with injuries, late Thursday afternoon, at the intersection of Collette and College Streets. Officers discovered a "crossover"SUV had flipped on its' side and a passenger sedan had extensive, front end damage. Two adults and four children occupied the SUV, and of the children, a 4-year old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The others, as well as the driver of the sedan were transported to CHS Morganton with non-life threatening injuries. The child's name and other occupants names are being withheld pending notification of family members. No charges have been filed pending completion of the crash investigation and consultation with the District Attorney's Office.

Two Caldwell County residents face multiple felony counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle. The Burke County Sheriff's Office had reported Monday the arrests of Christopher Gene Crawford, 34, of Granite Falls and Dennis Lee Crawford, 28, of Hudson. They were charged with felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle and felony motor vehicle theft. On Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office reported that Dennis Crawford was served with four additional warrants and confined in the Burke County Jail under a $50,000 secured bond with a court appearance scheduled for January 2nd. Also Tuesday, Christopher Crawford was served with four additional warrants and was confined in the Caldwell County Jail under a $50,000 secured bond with a court appearance set for today.

In a recent article, 'Realtor-dot.com' named Hickory as the Number-one best city in America for holiday lovers. Researchers looking for the most festive Christmas towns considered 150 of the largest metros across the country - sized them down to one per state with Hickory gaining top honors for the Tar Heel state. A variety of holiday aspects were considered in making the selection - the percentage of flights coming into town for the holidays, Christmas parades and events, and the number of Christmas trees cut down per state. The parade and annual tree lighting were listed as seasonal highlights. The full article can be viewed on realtor-dot-com as 'Best Cities if you love Holidays.'

Burke County native Chris Powell has been named head football coach at Draughn. Powell played fullback at Freedom and walked on at WCU. He spent 5 years coaching at Boiling Springs High in Spartanburg County and the past 4 seasons at Chester Senior High. He also coached baseball at Chester and also has experience coaching track and field.

Lisa Wall has been named the Northwest Region/District 7 Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made Monday at Wall's school, Burke Middle College, on the campus of WPCC. North Carolina's current Teacher of the Tear, Lisa Godwin, made the announcement during a student assembly. Wall is the English Language Arts teacher at Burke Middle and has 22.5 years of experience teaching. Godwin told the students at the assembly that Wall is now in the running for the next North Carolina Teacher of the Year. At Burke Middle College, high school juniors and seniors work to complete their high school diploma as well as a two-year associate's degree.

Rutherford College Elementary School will close after this school year. According to the Morganton News Herald, the unanimous vote by the Burke County Board of Education, came Monday night at a special called meeting in Morganton at the West Concord Resource Center. Rutherford College Elementary students will attend Valdese Elementary starting in August 2018.

A Burke County woman pleaded guilty, Monday in Burke County Superior Court, to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her 3-year-old son. Jamie Lyn Basinger, 24, was given a suspended sentence of 19 to 32 months with 36 months of supervised probation for the March death of Landyn, who died of hypothermia from frigid weather conditions on the front porch of the defendant's residence. Landyn was found on the front porch just before 8am on March 15th. An investigation by Burke County Sheriff's detectives showed that the child celebrated his third birthday the night before, but managed to get out of the house during the night and could not get back inside.

Discovered 'passed out' behind the wheel, a driver now faces drug possession charges. Cameron Allen Johnson, 19, of Marion was charged with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana - McDowell officers initially responding to the report of a suspicious vehicle. Johnson's vehicle had reportedly left an Old Fort fast food restaurant, crossed the road, and became stuck on a curb. The suspect was discovered passed out behind the driver's wheel. A search of Johnson's vehicle turned up 12.9 grams of meth and 3.1 grams of marijuana.

Charges of felony breaking and entering to a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny are filed on a Granite Falls man. On Wednesday December 6th, Elite Auto in Hildebran, contacted Burke 911 to report vehicles broken into and several items of property stolen. Burke County Sheriff's detectives responded and the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division. Detectives interviewed Edlyn Richard Johnson, Jr, 39, who confessed to the crimes, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office. He was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $10,000 secured bond. Further arrests are expected.

The Burke County Board of Education has called a special meeting tonight for action regarding the use or closure of Rutherford College Elementary Schools. There will be a review of public comments from an earlier public hearing as well as a presentation of a final study. An adoption of the final study by the Board of Education will follow with action to take place for use or closure of Rutherford College Elementary. The meeting at the Olive Hill Resource Center at 509 West Concord Street in Morganton will begin at 6 o'clock.

A Hickory man was convicted last week in federal court, for his role in defrauding victims of more than $25 million dollars. Robert M.Boston, 54, was found guilty last Monday, in Charlotte in the Western District. Boston and co-defendant Robert LaBarge, in court documents and evidence presented, were accused of defrauding franchisees, investors and lenders of their start-up company, Zloop, before the company went bankrupt.

A Lenoir man was indicted last week by a Caldwell County Grand Jury and charged with Involuntarily Manslaughter. The charges stem from an investigation by Caldwell detectives that began September 10th, 2016. According to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, Matthew Steven Phillips, 29, along with Jaron Odell Soots, 26, were cleaning their handguns when Phillips allegedly shot Soots accidentally, at the residence of Phillips. Soots was transported by helicopter to Johnson City Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. Phillips turned himself into officers last Thursday and was placed under $10,000 secured bond.

A German company will bring 102 new jobs to Burke County. A leader in vinyl window production, Veka Inc. will locate a new facility in Burke, and invest $18 million dollars over the next 4 years. Vela is one of North Carolina's most respected suppliers of vinyl window and door profiles. They will receive a $500,000 performance-based grant from the 'One North Carolina Fund' which provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Burke County and the City of Morganton have approved local incentives matching 50% of the new taxable investment for 7 years. Vela will occupy the former Caterpillar plant on Ceramic Tile Drive with operations slated to begin early next week. Burke's facility will mark Veka's fourth American location.

Fifteen schools in the Burke County Public Schools district will receive funding to add or update outdoor activity spaces for student as well as community use. A grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust for $555,169 will fund the projects. On November 27th, Burke County Public Schools provided a $61,686 match for a grant award. The following schools will benefit with the funds going for athletic equipment, tracks, courts, playground equipment, a football field restroom and a kids fitness course.
Elementary Schools:
Forest Hill, Oak Hill, Ray Childers, Drexel, George Hildebrand, Glen Alpine, Hildebran, Icard, Mull, Valdese, WA Young, Hillcrest as well as North Liberty.

The Fonta Flora State Trail grand opening scheduled for tomorrow, has been changed to a soft opening due to construction constraints and adverse weather conditions. County staff will be onsite, 5311 NC 126 in Morganton (intersection of Fish Hatchery Road & NC 126), from 9:30-10:30am tomorrow with hot chocolate to answer questions about the trail and future projects. Grand opening festivities will be held in the spring.

A Granite Falls man will serve five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by felon on Monday, during Caldwell County Superior Court. Jerry Edward Killian, Jr., 45, admitted his habitual felon status, which increased his sentence by prior felony convictions for obtaining property by false pretense (May 2014), possession of stolen goods (February 2012) and breaking/entering a motor vehicle (September 2005), all in Burke County.
In Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, a Connelly Springs man will sentenced to a prison term of 13 to 17 years. Jimmy Daniel Raybon, 31, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Raybon was previously convicted of common law robbery in Alexander County in June 2008. leading to the charge of possession of a firearm by felon.

A Connelly Springs man is charged with Felony Breaking and Entering and Felony Attempted Larceny. On November 29th, a resident contacted Burke 911 to report they had arrived home and found someone inside their residence. That person left the home prior to deputies arriving. The Burke County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division identified a suspect, Chad Anderson Newton, 36. He surrended to deputies and was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $5,000 secured bond with a court appearance scheduled for today.

A Lenoir man is charged with Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child. Lenoir Police began an investigation on November 9th for physical assault by a teacher at William Lenoir Middle School. The case was heard Monday by a Caldwell County Grand Jury and indictments were returned for Three Counts of Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child. On Tuesday, Justin Biggs was arrested and placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond.

Governor Roy Cooper has declared this week as Winter Weather Preparedness Week and is urging residents to planm prepare and be ready for potentially dangerous winter weather in the months ahead. To get ready for for winter weather, North Carolina Emergency Management officials urge you to:
 * Always keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food in your home.
 * Keep fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights.
 * Dress warmly for the cold. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.
 * Properly vent kerosene heaters and keep electric generators outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisonong. Do not burn charcoal indoors.
 * Use a NOAA Weather Radio to monitor for changing weather conditions.
 * Keep alternative heating sources and fire extinguishers on hand. Be sure your family knows how to use them.
 * Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first aid kit and road map.
For more information on how to prepare for winter storms, download the free ReadyNC app, or visit online readync.org.

October unemployment rates released Thursday, show an increase in 93 of North Carolina's 100 counties. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area rate was 4%, with Asheville's rate at 3.3%.
Area county rates include:
Alexander - 3.4%
Avery - 3.8%
Burke - 3.9%
Caldwell - 4.6%
Catawba - 3.9%
Lincoln - 3.6%
McDowell - 3.7%
Mitchell - 4.4%
Watauga - 3.4%
Scotland County had the state's unemployment rate in October at 7.2%, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.1, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.