A fifty year old Lenoir man has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of possession of gun on educational property.  The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said that Blaine Frances Pennington, III of Post Place Lenoir was placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center yesterday under 25 thousand dollars secured bond, after school personnel at both Happy Valley School and Collettsville School got his name and license plate number and requested he leave the  property.  Pennington complied with their requests and school personnel reported the incidents to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.  Deputies then stopped Pennington in his vehicle on Abington Road near the intersection of Bucher Anderson Road where they say he had a Taurus 380 semi-automatic piston in a holster by his side.  After questioning, officers said he had no legitimate reason to be on school property.  Pennington will make his first appearance in District Court on Thursday.

159 people cast ballots yesterday as early voting continues at the five voting sites in Burke County.  Of that number 100 Republican ballots were cast and 59 Democrat.  Early voting for the May 8th primary ends in Burke County this Saturday.  Voters can still cast ballots through Friday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.  Saturday's voting hours will be from 8 to 1.

A Marion woman is charged with larceny.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office, this morning, reported the charge on 24-year-old Miranda Lea Gatewood of 143 Mountain Street.

According to the Sheriff's Office, someone reported on March 18th that $300 worth of coins had been stolen from the Wilson Valley Drive home of Raymond Tumbo. An investigation led to Gatewood, who was an in-home care worker for the victim.

Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited Main Street America progam.

HDDA has administered the Main Street Program for the City of Hickory since 2007. The purpose of the Main Street program is to stimulate economic development within the context of historic preservation.

Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years.