A man suffers only minor injuries in a small helicopter crash in Lincoln County Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred in the Iron Station community when the aircraft clipped a tree and crashed.

Reports say the man was still learning to fly the aircraft described as a gyrocopter.

The  incident was only his second flight.

A motion has been filed by local and area news outlets to unseal SBI search warrants in the investigation of a Catawba County candidate.

The search warrants name sheriff’s candidate Jason Reid as subject of an SBI investigation for allegations of stalking.

The state bureau of investigation search warrants executed on the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office remains sealed.

Superior Court Judge Dan Kuehnert reportedly sealed the documents and placed a gag order on all parties related to the case.

In that the warrants were sealed in a closed session and a gag order was allegedly implemented without following established procedure, several news agencies were prompted to file the motion yesterday to unseal the warrants and lift the gag order.

The motion filed by the Hickory Daily Record, WBTV, WSOC, the Charlotte Observer, the Associated Press, and the Carolina Public Press cites numerous examples of state and federal case law that contends infringement on First Amendment rights, as well as the public’s rights to have access to the warrants.

Local law enforcement officers will be participating in the annual Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” torch run this Friday.

The run begins at the old Burke County Court House around 9:00 am with officers to proceed along US 70 until they arrive at Hickory Police Department for the passing of the torch.

The Flame of Hope will be carried by law enforcement agencies all the way to Raleigh for the summer games opening ceremony at the N.C. State University.

Torch runners are asking motorists to be cautious and patient for those who may use US 70 during that time Friday.

Officials say the runners will be covering a mile every 10 or so minutes.

Those agencies participating include the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Morganton Public Safety, Foothills Correctional, the NC Department of Public Safety, Athletic Performance Lab and Pfeiffer Wellness Center.