Local, state, and federal authorities arrest nine in an Eastern Burke County bust. Last week, the Burke County Narcotics Task Force assisted by federal and state agencies responded to 2263 Liberty Church Street Hickory to serve a federal warrant. While attempting to make contact with the subject in question, a news release states officers located several subjects inside the home. Once contact was made with the subject initially sought, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the property. Nine individuals were arrested as a result of the search , including the two residents of the property - 42-year-old Mark Anthony Setzer - held on unspecified federal charges, and 47-year-old Kenneth Wayne Setzer for possession of a firearm by a felon and resisting arrest. The other seven were arrested on various charges including resisting arrest and failure to appear. All were placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility.

A pair from Marion was arrested and charged in connection with a vehicle theft. The 2006 Dodge truck was stolen from the owner's driveway on Christopher Road in Marion. McDowell officers later stopped a truck matching its' description and arrested 32-year-old Adam Lee Harding and 30-year-old Nisha Lucille Hollifield. Both were charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The truck - valued at $2500, was recovered.

A Caldwell County is dead after a tractor trailer struck a car in the Town of Catawba Monday afternoon. The accident occurred at the intersection of US Highway 70 East and Oxford School Road. Reports say 91-year-old Frank Arthur Jr., of Lenoir died at the scene.

COMMA Director Dr.Jim Smith has been selected to serve on the 2018-2019 South Arts Advisory Committee. The selection will allow Smith to aid in furthering the professional development offerings at this year's Performing Arts exchange in Orlando in October. He will be working to shape workshops that meet the needs of the field for presenters, agents, managers, and artists. Founded in 1975, South Arts is located in Atlanta and is a non-profit regional arts organization serving nine states including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Burke County Public School Officials and representatives from local law enforcement and the 25th District Attorney's Office met Friday afternoon at the School's Central Office. Also present were representatives from the Delta Police Company which provides SRO's and gate guards at the schools. The group discussed the threats made from Burke County Public School students last week, which led to their arrest and social media posts that led to concerns about school safety on Friday. The discussion led to ideas for training and preparedness going forward.

Authorities have identified the man who died in a fall from the top of Catawba Falls Saturday. 37-year-old Jimmy Schmidt, Jr. was pronounced dead after rescuers found him at the bottom of the falls. Authorities say he was part of a bachelor party hiking and making photos in the area.

McDowell County authorities are investigating an unknown substance that seems to be seeping into Youngs Fork Creek in Marion. Residents are being advised to avoid fishing or swimming in the creek especially near Rutherford Road and Georgia Avenue. All effected parties are working to identify the petroleum like substance and take corrective action. There has been no advisory issued for residents who have private wells in the area.

One person was killed in a mobile home fire early Thursday morning on Airport Rhodhiss Road. WSOC-TV is identifying the victim as Janet Murphy. She was home alone at the time of the fire that destroyed the mobile home. Firefighters from four different fire departments in Burke and Catawba County fought the blaze. The Burke County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the blaze, but it is not thought to be suspicious. The victim's mother, who lived down the road, sustained some cuts and bruises as she attempted to enter the mobile home to rescue her daughter. She was treated by paramedics on the scene.

Hickory Police are requesting assistance in identifying a suspect in a February 12th breaking and entering to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church located at 547 6th Street NW. Additionally, second breaking and entering was reported to Hickory Police on Tuesday at Corinth Reformed United Church located at 150 16th Avenue NW. It is unknown at this time if both break-ins are related. If anyone has any information on either of these break-ins please call Investigator J.Truesdell at 828-261-2036.

A hunter, mistaken for a coyote, was shot and killed Monday in Alexander County. Officials say the victim, Seth Marsh, was using an electronic coyote caller whenever the shooting occurred in a wooded area just north of Taylorsville. Reports say a neighbor heard the caller and fired two rounds at what he believed was a coyote, striking Marsh twice in the chest. Authorities say the neighbor immediately ran over to assist March and called 911. Marsh died a short time later at a Wilkes County hospital. Investigators continue to search the area for evidence. Findings of their investigation will be submitted to the district attorney later this week. Charges have not been filed.

Two people are charged in the break-in of a Marion residence after being caught on camera. Jamie Lee Russell, 34, of Morganton along with Anna Louise, 42, of Marion, were both charged with breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering. Russell and Gentry were caught on home surveillance at an Angel Wing Drive residence. An insulated bag was the only item reported stolen from the break-in.

Scammers are again targeting McDowell County residents. According to the Sheriff's Office, folks have reported being contacted by workers, stating they are from Publishers Clearing House, telling them they've won cars and even millions of dollars. Other county citizens report receiving calls from people claiming to be from the IRS, telling residents they owe money, giving them instructions on how to pay and threatening if they don't, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Anyone with questions or concerns can call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235.

A Burke High School student is charged with Felony Making a False Report Concerning Mass Violence on Educational Property. On Monday, a Patton student alerted Administration that another student had made threats to "shoot up the school." According to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office and Narcotics Task Force, the principal contacted the School Resource Officer who took the student's witness statement. As a result, Mackenzie Ray Swink, 17, was taken into custody under a $50,000 secured bond with a court appearance scheduled for today.

An Old Fort woman, reported missing last week, was located unharmed over the weekend. Alexandria Marie Miller, 20, left her home on Fox Road last Tuesday and was reported missing by her mother on Wednesday.

A mobile home in Hickory is heavily damaged by fire. Just before 1 Sunday morning, firefighters were dispatched to 512 10th Street SW Lot#13. The single wide mobile home was fully involved with fire, but the occupants were reportedly out of town. No injuries were reported and fire investigators determined the cause of the fire to be electrical.

A Marion man, convicted in the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend, will soon be re-sentenced in McDowell County Superior Court - that decision handed down by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. 26-year-old Darian Mosley was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Amy Renee Parker in May 2016. Mosley was sentenced to a minimum of 20-years in prison. Mosley's defense appealed the decision and in October, the state's court of appeals granted Mosley an appear - stating the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant as a class B-1 offense - against North Carolina General Statutes. Mosley's re-sentencing is scheduled for February 26th at 10am in McDowell County Superior Court.

A Caldwell County man has been cleared of any wrongdoing as the result of a shooting that led to the death of a Hudson man. According to a press release from the 25th District Attorney's Office, DA David Learner determined the actions that led to the death of Daniel Lashawn Wright were justified as a measure of self-defense from a physical assault, an no charges will be filed. Last Thursday, Wright engaged in an assault of a physically handicapped family member at the residence of the assault victim. After being knocked to the floor while being attacked by Wright, the victim fired one shot from a 9-millimeter handgun that struck and killed his assailant.

A former McDowell High assistant principal charged in October with taking money from the school has been sentenced. Nicholas Christopher Shosho, 41, of Nebo, was found guilty of larceny by an employee and was issued a 5 to 15-month suspended; must serve 24 months of supervised probation, and perform 24 hours of community service. He was hired as assistant principal for the 2017-2018 school year, but has since been terminated.

A couple of city and county government meetings next week. Morganton City Council is having a special meeting Friday February 23rd at 8am at the Morganton Community House. Council will consider the approval of a recreation site plan for phase-three of the Catawba River Soccer Complex. Also next Friday at 8:30am, the Burke County Board of Commissioners will hear budget presentations from county officials and department heads for fiscal year 2018-2019. That meeting will take place in the county board room on North Green Street.

Four suspects have been arrested in connection with a residential break-in last week in Marion. Kaitlin Sierra Smith, 22, and Cody Tyler Woodars, 21, both of Marion, have been arrested and charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and injury to real property. Also taken into custody Tuesday, were Gilbert Moore, 39, and Diamond Noles, 18, both of Marion. Reports with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office say the four broke into a residence on Haven Heights Drive during the early morning hours of February 7th, taking items valued at $1,000.

More than 1,000 people were without electricity Tuesday morning after a vehicle struck a power pole in Morganton. The mishap occurred about 7:30, when a truck veered off the right side of West Union Street and hit the pole near Riverside Drive, said Lt. Massey of the Morganton Department of Public Safety. The pole broke, causing a power outage for about 30 minutes, said Brooks Kirby, the city's electric services director. Massey said stop lights were out downtown due to the crash. The driver of the truck was charged in the crash, but nobody was hurt, according to Lt. Massey.

The Hickory Police Department will host a community forum on homelessness, its' effects, and possible community strategies that can be implemented to address some of the issues by establishing a collaborative community effort. The discussion will be held in Grace Chapel on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus Monday March 5th from 2-5pm. Forum goals include getting accurate information to the public on the real facts about homelessness in Hickory, providing information about services that exist, and discussing the homelessness issue in a productive way. The public is invited.

Filing began Monday in Burke County, as voters will go to the polls to choose a Sheriff, two County Commissioners, a Clerk of Court and representatives for the 86th State House and 46th State Senate. Incumbent Democrat Steve Whisnant filed Monday to retain his position as Sheriff of Burke County. Democrat Incumbent Mabel Lowman also filed to remain as Clerk of Court. Republican Incumbent Wayne Abele,Sr., filed for Burke County Commission, as well as newcomer Republican Jennie Cook. Republican Incumbent Hugh Blackwell filed to retain his seat in the State House, and Warren Daniel filed to retain his seat in the State Senate. Filing will continue in Burke County until noon on February 28th.

Catawba County resident Scott Reilly has filed for 25th District Attorney. Reilly, a former assistant district attorney, filed Monday at the State Board of Elections Office in Raleigh. Reilly is currently in private practice in Newton, where he has concentrated his law practice almost exclusively on criminal cases. the 25th judicial encompasses all of Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties.

A card skimmer has been found on an ATM in Newton. A resident found the card reader and remote camera system Sunday night on an ATM at First Citizens Bank on College Avenue and A Streets. The skimmers can get your card numbers and the cameras can capture your PIN numbers as you enter them. Everyone who uses ATM's are reminded to inspect the card slots, before you enter a card, and be suspicious if it is crooked or loose.

The National Park Service has announced the closure of the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway for surface repaving and bridge maintenance from March 1st through May 24th. These projects require a full closure of the Parkway, including closure of the trail below the bridge; with the reopening coinciding with Memorial Day weekend. The Viaduct is located at Milepost 304. A traffic detour will be put in place from Milepost 298.6 (Holloway Mountain Rd) to Milepost 305.1 (US 221). Gates will be located at MP 303.6, Wilson Creek Overlook on the north and MP 305.1, US 221 on the south end of the work zone.

Hickory Police respond Saturday morning to a Hit and Run Fatality. According to a news release, officers responded to the 3100 block of Hwy 70 SE about 8:30. The driver of the vehicle, Charles Thomas Shook Jr., 58, of Newton was pronounced deceased by Catawba County EMS. The suspect vehicle and driver were located nearby. Jeffrey Blain Bumgarner, 55, of Catawba County was arrested and charged with Felony Death by Motor Vehicle, Driving While Impaired, and additional traffic violations. He was detained at the Catawba County Detention Facility and received a secured bond of $30,000.

Names have been released in the continuing investigation of a Caldwell County shooting that occurred Thursday. Daniel Lashone Wright, 31, was discovered deceased following the incident at a Sawmills residence. Daniel Kenneth Calloway, 40, was identified as the shooter and is reportedly cooperating with authorities. The case is currently under review by Sheriff's Office investigators and members of the 25th District Attorney's Office. No criminal charges have been filed.

Authorities are searching for two fugitives from McDowell County wanted in connection with a residential break-in. Gilbert Keith Moore, 39, of Nebo and Diamond Montana Noles, 18, of Marion are believed to be in the Catawba Valley area in a rented silver 2018 Ford F-150 with NC tag TPC-5497. Both are wanted for breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and damage to property. They are suspected in a residential break-in where they stole about $1,000 worth of property. Anyone having information about their whereabouts should call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235 or McDowell Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

A Hickory CVS robbery suspect was taken into custody last night in Morganton. Just before 10pm, Morganton Public Safety officers responded to a suspicious vehicle parked at 206 Willowbrook Drive. Officers made contact with a man at Apartment A, later identified as Marshall Shane Freeman, 29, of that address. According to a news release from Public Safety, Freeman made a voluntary statement that he had robbed CVS in Hickory at 1504 2nd Street NE. Hickory Police Department was contacted and responded to the scene for further investigation. Freeman also had a warrant for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon from Gaston County. He faces numerous charges, including robbery and weapon offenses, possession of stolen property, along with drug and multiple probation violation charges. Freeman was transported to the Burke Catawba Dentention Facility under a secured bond of $115,000 and no bond for the probation and parole violations.

The Town of Valdese has acquired 302 acres along Lake Rhodhiss and McGalliard Creek to become Valdese Lakeside Park, the town's newest and largest public park. Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina secured the purchase agreement with the seller, Caldwell Timber partners, as well as a grant of $673,247 from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to help fund the $1.35 million project. According to a news release from Foothills Conservancy, the property purchase and fundraising were a collaborative effort by the Town of Valdese, the nonprofit Friends of the Valdese Rec, and Foothills Conservancy. Additional funding included a NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant, a donation from Kellex Seating and the Rostan Family Foundation and other public and private contributions.

Catawba County Sheriff's deputies have seized marijuana, cocaine, and over $100,000 in cash after a Wednesday morning drug sting in Newton and Claremont. Officers raided a home and garage in Newton on North Ashe Avenue, where nearly $40,000 in marijuana and cocaine were found. $146,000 in cash was found at a second home in Claremont. No one was at either location when officers arrived. The raids came after a two month long investigation. Authorities had made undercover buys at both homes previously.

One person was injured in a shooting Monday afternoon in Hickory on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard SE. Isaiah Markeese Hunt, 20, was able to drive from the shooting site to 4th Street SE where police located him. Hunt was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Hickory Police at 328-5551 or contact Investigator S.Hudson at SHudson@hickorync.gov.

McDowell Sheriff's deputies are searching for a woman last seen on Friday. Renee Mousseau Austin, 45, of Hall Estates in Marion, was reported missing by her mother on Saturday. She is a white female, 5'4" tall, weighing about 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235.

The victim of three residential breakins in McDowell County is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to those responsible. The breakins, in 2017, occurred at a residence on Mud Cut Loop in Marion. Taken during the crimes was $9,030 worth of items. Anyone with information concerning the crimes or suspects is asked to call Lt.Andy Manis with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME (652-7463).

Rick Beasley was announced as the new Assistant City Manager at Tuesday's Hickory City Council meeting. Beasley has been serving as the interim assistant city manager since November, following the departure of Andrea Surratt. Beasley has numerous years of city management experience, having served in management roles in Conover, Lenoir and Scotland Neck.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton unemployment rate for December was 4.2%, Asheville's was 3.6%. Area county rates include:
Alexander - 3.7%
Avery - 4.3%
Burke - 4.2%
Caldwell - 4.5%
Catawba - 4.1%
Lincoln - 3.9%
McDowell - 4%
Mitchell - 5.1%
Watauga - 3.7%
Hyde County had the highest umemployment rate for December at 10.6%, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.4%, according to figures released last week from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Morganton City Council will hold a public hearing at a called meeting of the City Council in Council Chambers of City Hall at 305 East Union Street at 5pm today. The public hearing is to gather the public's input on an application for grant funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to develop new recreational amenities at the Catawba River Soccer Complex. At the hearing, all interested persons may be heard and voice any support or objections to the proposed grant application.

Burke County's own South Mountains State Park has been named the state's '2017 Park of the Year' by the Division of Parks and recreation. The park was chosen for its exemplary contribution to the state parks mission of stewardship, public service, and education. It was specifically recognized for work that went above and beyond in fighting the Chestnut Knob fire in 2016. Fire-fighting efforts caused 97 park staff members to work over 3700 hours over the course of three weeks. The fire caused the park to be closed for two months. South Mountains State Park was established in 1975 with just over 5500 acres and has since grown to 20,871 acres to become the largest in the system.

A Rutherford County woman has been accused of passing a stolen check at a McDowell County convenience store. 47-year-old Celeste Marie Downing of Forest City was charged with obtaining property by false pretense. Reports with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office say Downing passed the check at Samir's on US 70 East in Nebo. An investigation showed the check had been stolen from Ross Skid Products in December.

Three local suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with a pair of early morning home invasions Wednesday. Morganton Public Safety Officers first responded to Erwin Street where the advised two black males broke into the residence, then left the scene in a black four-door vehicle driven by a white female. Officers then responded to a home invasion on Chestnut Street where the suspect's description matched that of the Erwin Street break-in. After later finding the suspect's vehicle in the area of Vine Arden Road and Center Street, officers conducted a traffic stop and search of the vehicle - locating evidence from the break-in. 26-year-old Dante Lowrance and 22-year-old Terrel Avery, both of Morganton, were charged with armed robbery and burglary and 20-year-old Taylor Penley was charged with aiding and abetting robbery and abetting burglary. The case remains under investigation. Anyone who may have been a victim of these type crimes or who has information may call Investigator Dellinger at 432-2394.

The Town of Rutherford College Facebook Page states that Castle Bridge will close this summer for 15-18 months. Christopher Medlin, Division 13 Manager for NCDOT, will be present at the Council meeting Monday at 7pm. Medlin will answer questions at the meeting and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Board of Commissioners is holding a news conference this morning at 10:30 in regards to the newly filed ligitation by the Board of Commissioners against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The case was filed in US District Court Western District in Asheville. The commissioners and staff will discuss their complaint against the manufacturers and distributors and how the opioid crisis has severely affected the lives of everyone in the County, the State of North Carolina and the entire country.