A Morganton man is sentenced to prison following a 2015 assault at a Burke County residence. Randall Kyle Ballard, 31, reportedly assaulted someone in September 2015 resulting in the victim's hospitalization, due to a severe beating. An investigation into the attack further revealed that Ballard was using the incident to initiate a co-defendant into a gang. Ballard's sentenced followed his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and soliciting gang activity. His custody, ranging from seven to nine years, was lengthened by his habitual felon status stemming from prior convictions in Burke and McDowell Counties.

Felony charges of Larceny of Motor Vehicle Parts and Possession of Stolen Goods are filed on a Burke County man. The Burke County Sheriff's Office on December 31st was contacted by Smart Electric Company about a front grill and headlights taken off a 2014 Ford work van. An investigation led to the arrest on January 3rd of Stewart Brandon Mullins at his Connelly Springs residence. Bond was set at $5,000 secured with additional charges expected.

A Newton man was sentenced to six to nine years in prison Thursday, during Catawba County Superior Court. Jimmie Rodgers Fambrough, 60, had his sentence enhanced by his habitual felon status , which includes prior convictions in Catawba County for possession of firearm by a felon (January 1988), possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine (June 2002) and possession of cocaine (February 2007). Fambrough's prison sentence was given following his plea to four counts of selling cocaine.

A 59 year old man, camping in Linville Gorge, was rescued early Saturday morning, According to NC Department of Public Safety, the man began experiencing chest pains while camping with a party along the Pinch-In Trail, at the bottom of the Gorge. Campers called 911 and a NC National Guard UH_60 aircrew and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department responded and were able to hoist the man to safety, where he was taken by EMS to a local hospital. Responders from Burke and McDowell Rescue, Parkway Fire and Rescue, along with Parkway Fire and Linville Central Mountain Rescue teams assisted at the scene.