An armed robber targets a Hickory business and makes off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Tuesday evening just after 9:30, Hickory Police were called to a reported armed robbery at Walgreens on Springs Road Northeast.

Reports say during the robbery, the suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.

After obtaining the money, the suspect fled on foot heading west on 24^th Street Northeast.

The suspect is described as a thin-build black male, approximately 6-feet tall wearing a dark hoodie, dark pants, and dark shoes.

Anyone having information about this incident should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

McDowell County authorities are on the lookout for a gunman wanted in connection with the August 24^th shooting at the McDowell Recreation Center.

18-year-old Manuel Valdez of JS McMann Drive Marion is believed to be responsible for robbing 20-year-old Jake Price at gunpoint at his home on August 21^st, and then shooting him on the 24^th outside the rec department.

Valdez is wanted on numerous offenses including assault, firearm charges, and burglary.

The investigation into the robbery and shooting continue.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Valdez should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237, Marion Police at 652-5205, or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

More than a third of NC’s 2-thousand-537 public schools earned As and Bs for the year 2017-2018 under the state’s annual school performance grade accountability measurement; with nearly three quarters meeting or exceeding expectations for academic progress.

In Burke County, 12 schools received As and Bs; while 11 received Cs.

14 out of 15 Burke elementary schools met or exceeded growth, and all our traditional high schools received a B letter grade.

Among middle schools Walter Johnson had the highest growth in the district.

Burke County’s graduation rate increased by 2-point-2 percentage points to 88-point-5.

Burke Middle College once again had a 100-percent graduation rate; with East Burke High having the highest rate among the four traditional high schools at 93-point-4 percent.

Statewide accountability results were released Wednesday to the State Board of Education.

A Lincolnton couple has been charged with murder following the alleged deadly assault of a man early Tuesday morning.

38-year-old Jason John Carwile and 30-year-old Carolyn Ashley Carwile face murder charges after the beating death of Christopher Alexander Easter.

A Lincolnton Police news release states law enforcement officials and EMS responded to a parking lot on East Main Street just after 6 Tuesday morning to find Easter unresponsive from his injuries.

Witnesses told police the victim had been assaulted.

The release states Easter died after receiving emergency medical assistance for some 20 minutes.

Both suspects are being held without bond.