Changes coming to Compas TV—

Officials report the system is moving to an all digital network that will give customers the capacity for a better television picture, faster internet, and an improved voice experience.

The announced upgrade is expected to begin January 7^th and will continue throughout 2019.

Officials say it will affect different customers at different times.

Compas customers will be notified of their specific upgrade date by letter, and when they will need to acquire a digital receiver for each of their televisions.

Customers can contact Compas at 438-5353 to schedule a time to pick up a new digital cable box.

There will also be a cable commission meeting December 11^th at Morganton City Hall to discus the upgrade.

The SBI has been called in to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Rutherford County.

Reports say two deputies shot a man who was armed, displayed another weapon, and was not complying with their commands.

Officers responded to a domestic situation where a caller stated she needed assistance because her son was breaking out doors and windows.

Deputies arrived to find 37-year-old Mark Reid Parker outside near the intersection of Pebble Stone Lane and Maple Creek Road.

A press release states Parker was holding a gun in one hand and a 2-by-4 piece of lumber in the other.

Parker was given repeated commands to put the weapons down; however, he failed to comply totally with officers.

Reports say he did drop the piece of lumber, but then charged toward officers brandishing the gun.

Two deputies reportedly fired upon Parker until he fell to the ground.

Parker again grabbed his gun and pointed it at deputies, when officers fired upon him again.

Parker was airlifted to Mission Hospital where he is reported to be stable.

Assisting the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office were Rutherfordton Police, Spindale Police, and the NC Highway Patrol.

A Lincoln County registered sex offender has been charged with child sexual assault.

47-year-old Kevin Dale Gray of Lincolnton is charged with felony indecent liberties with a child and misdemeanor probation violation.

Gray allegedly picked up a 13-year-old female in his vehicle under the pretense of taking her and two other adults and another juvenile out to eat.

Reports say Gray picked up the young girl before he was supposedly to pick up the others.

Gray proceeded reports say to travel back to his residence to pick up his wallet and charge his cell phone.

Inside the residence, Gray reportedly touched the young female inappropriately, and she then demanded he take her home.

He dropped her off at the end of her driveway according to reports.

Deputies then learned Gray was wearing an electronic monitor as they could not locate him at his home.

However, he was located by probation and parole officers traveling NC Highway 16 and stopped without incident.

He was issued a 50-thousand dollar secured bond and also served a probation violation warrant without bond.

Gray was convicted of second degree rape in January 2003 and served 14 years before being released in February of this year.

Multiple drug charges are issued against a Nebo man following a vehicle stop in McDowell County.

34-year-old Matthew Dwight Branch of 45 Ned McGimsey Road was charged with possession of meth, possession with intent to sell and deliver meth, possession of up to one-half ounce marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license revoked.

Officers stopped Branch after receiving reports he had possibly been involved in a break-in.

Reports say a subsequent search of his vehicle turned up 9 grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana.

Local law enforcement officials urge citizens to follow some common sense practices to keep Halloween events safe and fun.

Officials warn motorists to watch for children darting out from between parked cars, and for those walking along roadways.

Parents are likewise urged to make sure an adult or responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under 12 and to check the sex offender registry at ncdoj-dot-gov when planning your child’s trick or treat route.

And insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.

Finally, officials suggest that all children need to know their home phone number and how to call 911 in case of emergency.

Make it a safe and happy Halloween!

As the fall time change approaches on November 4^th, local firefighters remind you to make another change that could save your life – change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Officials say a working smoke alarm provides an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape.

Changing smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries.

Statistics show a working smoke alarm nearly cuts in half the risk of dying in a home fire.

An alarm with a dead battery is just as bad as not having one because it gives a false sense of security.

Firefighters report the most commonly-cited cause of non-working smoke alarms is worn or missing batteries.

If a resident does not have an alarm and can’t afford one, contact your local fire department for assistance.

As a furniture company in Caldwell County closes its doors Friday, today’s Lenoir job fair saw hundreds of job seekers looking for work opportunities.

The Heritage Home Group announced during the summer it had filed for bankruptcy, placing more than 7-hundred jobs at risk at two plants in Lenoir.

Friday’s plant closing will affect more than 220 workers.

Reports say though the job losses come during a time when the county’s economy is strong with the unemployment rate below 4-percent.

Some 50 companies with hundreds of job openings were represented at today’s fair.

Two people face charges in connection with break-ins in Marion.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office charged 19-year-old Donald Walter Holliday III of Arrowood Drive, Marion and 24-year-old Kyle Lee  Riddle of Cedar Pine Avenue, Morganton each with two counts of breaking and entering,  two counts of larceny after breaking and entering and one count of larceny.

On September 5th,  Nikia Meadows of Jacktown Road, reported that someone stole $525 worth of property from an outbuilding, then on September 10th, Jerry Smith of East Payne Road, reported that a small motorcycle and chainsaw had been taken from his property.

An investigation led to Holliday and Riddle and some of the property has been recovered. 

A Cleveland County man is accused of molesting a child and sharing nude images of her.

28-year-old Timothy Robbins of Shelby is reportedly charged with statutory sex offense with a child, statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and felony disseminating obscenity.

Reports with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office indicate Robbins began having sex with the girl in August till his arrest.

He reportedly took several photos of the child that he intended to give to other people.

Robbins was just released from jail in July after violating his probation from felony breaking and entering charges and drug charges.

He remains in the Cleveland County jail under a 100-thousand dollar bond.

A traffic stop in Lincoln County leads to the arrest of a Burke County couple on various charges.

26-year-old Nicole Danielle Hester and 29-year-old Steven Daniel Harrison both of Connelly Springs were initially stopped for a driver’s license violation.

Hester was the driver and was placed in custody for driving on a revoked license.

Harrison was a passenger and ordered out of the vehicle by Lincoln officers.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia was located from Harrison’s body search and a search of the car.

Currency amounting to nearly 53-hundred dollars was also discovered by deputies; along with two handguns – one reported stolen from Lenoir.

Harrison now faces multiple drug charges, and felony firearm possession violations.

He was jailed under a 50-thousand dollar secured bond.

Hester was charged with one misdemeanor count of driving while license revoked.

She was released on a 1-thousand dollar secured bond.

A Hickory man is jailed- charged with 18 sex crimes according to reports from the Alexander Sheriff’s Office.

30-year-old Tony Wayne Smith is reportedly charged with nine counts of statutory sex offense with a child, eight counts of indecent liberties and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Smith is confined under a 1-million dollar bond.

His first court appearance is October 29^th in Taylorsville.

Phony cash turns up at a McDowell County convenience store.

37-year-old Billy Wade Hollifield Junior of Nebo has been charged with possession of counterfeit money and obtaining property by false pretense.

An employee of Samir’s Quick Stop on US 70 East in Nebo reported a man had passed the bogus 100-dollar bill at the store in August.

After reviewing surveillance video, officers located the suspect nearly a month later and took Hollifield into custody.

The 12^th case of rabies in Catawba County this year has been reported in Claremont.

Catawba County Animal Services was alerted to a case last week in which several dogs may have come into contact with a raccoon.

The raccoon tested positive for rabies.

The dogs were vaccinated with follow-up booster vaccines recommended.

Authorities arrest a Hickory resident this weekend wanted for the robbery of a Speedway gas station in Hickory October 12^th.

34-year-old Nohsher Chiah was charged with conspiring, and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Chiah is being held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under a 150-thousand dollar secured bond.

A Morganton man is charged with child sex offenses by McDowell County officers.

19-year-old Jonathan Ray Register of 312 White Street is charged with statutory sex offense with a child under 15 and taking indecent liberties with a child.

Register is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with an 11-year-old male acquaintance earlier this year.

The victim’s relatives learned of the circumstances and notified authorities.

Last year’s flu season was one of the worst in more than a decade, resulting in a ‘high severity’ classification that saw 172 reported child deaths and 19 consecutive weeks of record-breaking flu hospitalizations nationwide.

In NC alone, the number of flu-related deaths jumped dramatically over the last three years.

A total of 389 people died from the flu during the 2017-2018 flu season; according to the State Department of Health and Human Services.

That was nearly double the number of deaths from the previous year, and six times the number of deaths two years ago.

According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that only 41 percent of African American adults received the flu shot compared to 47 percent of white adults.

A separate CDC reports shows the rate of Hispanic adults is even lower – just 39 percent.

Flu season generally starts in October and can run through May.

Flu activity most commonly peaks in the US between December and February.

According to the CDC, influenza kills between 12-thousand and 49-thousand people every year, and can send more than 700-thousand to the hospital.

A sex offender wanted by McDowell County authorities has been apprehended.

33-year-old Rachel Alison Smith of Jacktown Road Marion was located and detained Wednesday evening.

Smith was wanted for failing to report a new address as required by sex offenders, and three probation violations.

Deputies and probation officers searched her residence and found 2 grams of meth and drug paraphernalia belonging to the suspect.

Additional drug charges were filed.

Lenoir Police are looking for a person of interest connected to a larceny from a local fast-food restaurant.

Police reports say a white male took a laptop bag from the dining room at Hardee’s on Morganton Boulevard September 28^th.

The man reportedly entered the business, made a purchase, and left within a few minutes.

Should you have information regarding the theft, contact Lenoir Police at 759-1682 or Caldwell Crimestoppers at 758-8300.

A Marion man already on probation now faces weapon and drug charges.

Officers with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office searched the home of 33-year-old Danny Ray Pinkerton of 265 Carraway Drive where they located a handgun belonging to the suspect and drug paraphernalia.

As a convicted felon, Pinkerton is subject to warrantless searches.

He was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A Gaston County woman is charged in the attempted robbery of a Lincoln County convenience store.

35-year-old Crystal Faith Lincoln is charged with two felony counts of attempted common law robbery.

Reports say the suspect entered Lynn’s Stop and Shop on NC 27 Highway Thursday afternoon and handed the clerk a note demanding money.

The clerk reportedly told the suspect she was unable to open the register, and proceeded to pick up the phone to call 911.

The suspect then fled the store in a dark-colored minivan.

Detectives reviewed video surveillance from the store obtaining photos of the suspect vehicle.

Gaston County Police spotted the vehicle near the Lincoln County line and identified the driver as the attempted robbery suspect.

Reports say she had attempted a similar incident at another local convenience store.

Lincoln is being held under a 20-thousand-dollar secured bond.

As flu season becomes more active, the American Red Cross urges healthy donors of all blood types to make a donation to ensure a strong blood supply for patients in need.

Health officials report blood and platelets can only be given by donors who are feeling well; and one way to maintain health is to get a flu vaccine each fall.

There is no waiting period to give blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot as long as the donor is symptom-free and fever-free.

Upcoming donation opportunities –

November 1^st at Viewmont Baptist Church in Hickory 2:30 pm till 7 pm

November 3^rd at South Caldwell High School in Hudson 10 am till 2:30 pm and

November 5^th at the First Baptist Church in Morganton 2:30 pm till 7 pm

Donors of all blood types especially type o are needed following the cancellation of about 200 blood drives due to the hurricanes.

W. A. Young Elementary School Principal Christie McMahon has been named 2018 Burke County Public School’s Principal of the Year.

McMahon is in her second year as principal at W. A. Young and has served previously as assistant principal at Salem, Forest Hill, and Drexel Elementary Schools and Liberty Middle School.

McMahon is now eligible for Region 7 District Principal of the Year.

A Valdese man is charged after allegedly holding a female at gunpoint last month.

A news release from the Burke Sheriff’s Office states 47-year-old Ronald Ray Stroup of 4099 Kings Mill Road had been using methamphetamines for a few days according to his victim.

She further told deputies Stroup wanted to go to Valdese Hospital for an unknown reason when the incident occurred as she was being held against her will.

The release says while on the way to the hospital, Stroup stopped his vehicle near a church on Main Street in Valdese allowing her to exit the car.

On September 25^th, Stroup was arrested for violation of a domestic violence protection order and given a 25-thousand dollar secured bond.

Burke’s Criminal Investigation Division later issued a warrant on Stroup for felonious restraint.

The warrant was served Monday October 15^th while he remained in custody on the initial charges.

Stroup was issued an additional 25-thousand dollar secured bond.

A McDowell High School student has been charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds.

Deputies with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office used a K-9 to conduct a drug sniff of random vehicles in the school’s parking lot.

The K-9 alerted to a vehicle that was being driven by the 17-year-old student who was charged.

Officers reportedly found more than 11 grams of marijuana inside the vehicle’s trunk.

No injuries were reported from an early Wednesday morning townhouse fire in Hickory.

Just after 4:30, Hickory firefighters responded to 2705 North Center Street at the Westminster Park Townhomes.

Authorities evacuated the complex in order to safely locate the origin of the fire.

Fire investigators determined the blaze started in the upstairs bathroom and was caused by a lamp which had been placed too close to a curtain.

Catawba EMS and Hickory Police assisted on the scene.

A Lenoir man has been arrested on felony drug and firearm violations.

25-year-old Zachery George Stephenson of 1917 Norwood Street was charged with trafficking in meth and possession of a stolen firearm.

A release from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office states a search was conducted at 3450 Evanbrook Court in Lenoir where Stephenson was found to be hiding 90 grams of methamphetamine inside a dresser drawer.

The stolen 9 millimeter pistol was also discovered.

Stephenson was jailed under a 75-thousand-dollar secured bond.

According to state drug guidelines, the meth that was located has a street value of more than 13-thousand dollars.



State lawmakers on Monday allocated $793 million in additional Hurricane Florence relief funding.

The legislature's total committment to disaster recovery since the storm is $850 million.

For comparison, after Hurricane Matthew, the legislature appropriated $200 million two months after the storm.

With this latest action, the General Assembly has allocated over $1.2 billion for hurricane recovery since 2016.

Meanwhile, reports show the effects of Hurricane Michael have negatively impacted apple and pumpkin crops in western NC.

A farmer in Henderson County reports the weather was already too wet and hot, then Michael made matters worse for the area.

Growers are battling late summer apple-disease due to the rain and unseasonably warm days.

And with Halloween only weeks away, let’s not forget about the pumpkins.

After harvest, farmers are seeing rotting problems due to continued wet conditions.

One pumpkin grower reports losing about 25-percent of her pumpkin crop due to weather conditions; although the cooler temps are causing people to flock to the pumpkin fields prompting a boost in business in the last few days.

Two Old Fort residents are dead after crashing into a fallen tree on a McDowell County roadway Thursday night.

Just before 7:30, the state highway patrol reports a passenger car was traveling west on Tom’s Creek Road whenever it struck a tree lying in the road.

The impact caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, striking another tree before coming to a stop.

The trooper reportedly stated it was very unlikely the driver saw the tree, and that speed and impairing substances were not factors in the accident.

The car’s passenger, 64-year-old Sharon Tipton Lewis, was pronounced dead on the scene, while the driver, 70-year-old Billy Dean Lawing, was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville but later died from injuries sustained in the wreck.

A Marion man allegedly steals a car and authorities later find him passed out behind the wheel.

27-year-old John Mark Jenkins of 40 Madac Drive was charged with two counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, one count of larceny, possession of drug paraphernalia and larceny of a motor vehicle.

A 2014 Hyundai had been reported stolen from Clayton Thomas of Old Highway 10 West Marion.

While responding to a report of an unresponsive subject in a vehicle, McDowell deputies located Jenkins in the stolen car along with drug paraphernalia items.

An investigation showed Jenkins had been to Thomas’ residence, broke into a separate car and stole the keys to the Hyundai.

Two Conover women are charged in connection with a Hickory break-in on Sunday.

46-year-od Patricia Lemus was charged with felony first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and several misdemeanor charges.

She was not allowed bond according to reports.

27-year-old Gladis Cardenas Lemus was also charged with felony first degree burglary.

She was issued an 11-thousand dollar secured bond.

Police reports indicate the pair along with a third unknown suspect broke into a residence on 18^th Avenue Southeast.

The assault reportedly took place after the break-in; however, no further details about the victim are available.

A Marion woman is being sought by officials for failing to report her new address as a registered sex offender.

33-year-old Rachel Alison Smith has been charged by McDowell deputies with a felony sex offender registry violation.

Smith is in fact wanted on three felony probation violations.

An investigation shows that Smith left her most recently recorded address of 24 Currier Court in mid August and failed to register a new address with the Sheriff’s Office.

The law requires a sex offender file their new address with local law enforcement within three business days.

Smith was convicted of three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child in McDowell County in 2015.

She was sentenced to 60 months probation.

Should you have information about Smith’s whereabouts, contact the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

The eleventh case of rabies has been confirmed in Catawba County for the year.

Officials with Catawba County Animal Services responded to a call from a Catawba resident whose dog had come into contact with a skunk.

The animal was sent to the state lab, and tested positive for rabies.

Per state guidelines, the dog received a rabies booster and is being kept under home observation for a 45-day period.

Authorities with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office continue to search for a suspect believed to have stolen a flatbed trailer last month.

An employee of Appalachian Rentals on Garden Creek Road in Marion noticed that a trailer used for hauling heavy equipment was missing from the business on September 12^th.

The employee proceeded to check security cameras and discovered a white truck had backed up to the trailer, hooked it up, and left with it.

The theft took place September 12^th sometime between 6 and 8:45 pm.

Reports say the truck and suspect were later caught on video surveillance at a local gas station.

Anyone having information about the theft or suspect should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

An investigation into inappropriate conduct by members of the Burke County Swift Water Rescue team while on deployment in eastern NC has been completed.

A news release states none of the allegations made in the anonymous complaint were substantiated with one exception.

The release goes on to say some members of the team, including some Burke County employees consumed beer at a restaurant ‘with or soon after their meal on one or more occasions’ between September 19^th and 21^st.

Consuming alcohol after their operational assignments had ended, team members reportedly believed they were no longer on duty or on the clock once the command center had closed for the day.

However, upon the team’s return to Burke it was determined that team members were deemed active for the duration of their deployment thereby placing them in violation of the county’s alcohol and drug free workplace policy.

Reports say appropriate disciplinary action has already been taken without further action for county employees necessary.

The Burke County team was deployed to assist in relief efforts for Craven County after Hurricane Florence.

Two Morganton men have been arrested with numerous charges following an anonymous tip to local law enforcement.

Just before 4 am Sunday, Morganton Public Safety Officers discovered two males behind Big Lots at the Fiddlers Run Shopping Center.

A news release states officers then located a broken lock on a cargo trailer that was being used for storage.

26-year-old Zachary Ross and 27-year-old Cameron Webb both of Manley Clark Road were both found in possession of some items taken from the trailer.

Reports say many items were recovered that the two had apparently hidden to be picked up later.

Both were charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and entering, felony possession of stolen goods, and safe cracking.

Ross was also found to be in possession of narcotics, and therefore charged with felony possession of a schedule two substance and possession of a schedule four controlled substance.

Meanwhile Sunday evening officers responded back to the I-40 access area near Fiddler’s Run to reports of vehicles owned by construction crew members that had been broken into.

Interviews with Ross and Webb concerning the vehicle break-ins resulted in additional charges for each.

Ross was charged with two counts of felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle; while Webb was charged with two counts of felony aiding and abetting breaking and entering a motor vehicle.

Ross’ bond is set at 40-thousand-dollars, Webb’s at 33-thousand-500.

Broughton Police assisted with the investigation and arrests.

A seven-hour standoff where shots fired at officers Saturday leads to the arrest of an Alexander County man.

Alexander County deputies and Hickory Police were attempting to serve an involuntary commitment order on 67-year-old Ralph Walter Aldridge in the Bethlehem community.

Reports say the order was issued because Aldridge had threatened to shoot at Frye Regional Medical Center.

Aldridge had allegedly threatened to shoot officers before they arrived on scene.

Officers were trying to communicate with the suspect via a loudspeaker whenever he told them to approach his residence.

Aldridge then, reports say, began firing at lawmen, striking a patrol car.

Hours later, officers fired tear gas into the home, and were able to enter the residence.

Aldridge then surrendered to officers.

He is charged with seven counts each of assault on a government official with a deadly weapon, communicating threats, and attempted murder on law enforcement officers.

Aldridge is being held under a 6-million dollar secured bond.

An apparent case of road rage led to a reported shooting on Main Street in Valdese.

Published news reports say 20-year-old Joshua Max Barnes sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was airlifted to CMC Charlotte around 2 Thursday afternoon.

Barnes was driving and reportedly confronted the driver of another vehicle; and witnesses say the two became involved in a verbal exchange leading to the shooting.

Valdese Police closed Main Street between Laurel and Eldred Streets to investigate.

Two people have been arrested on drug charges after being stopped at an Iredell County license checkpoint.

27-year-old Kimbra Lee Hicks of Conover and 32-year-old Terry Drew Warden the Second of Lincolnton both face numerous drug charges including trafficking meth, and trafficking opium or heroin by possession.

Officers stopped Hicks who was driving, while Warden was a passenger.

Authorities detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, and discovered meth, marijuana, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and adderall upon a search.

Deputies also located drug paraphernalia, a concealed handgun, and nearly a thousand-dollars in cash.

Hicks and Warden were taken into custody for felony drug trafficking; each under a 150-thousand-dollar secured bond.

McDowell County authorities are looking for a person of interest wanted for the theft of property from a Nebo residence.

44-year-old Royce Jeffrey Ollis of 269 Greenlee Road Marion is being sought by officers for the September larceny of a pickup truck and other items valued at 52-hundred dollars.

Ollis is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighs around 285 pounds.

He has red hair, blue eyes, and tattoos on both arms.

The stolen truck is a green 2002 Chevrolet extended cab with NC tag AKP-1268.

The McDowell Sheriff’s Office has received tips saying Ollis had been spotted driving the stolen vehicle.

Anyone having information on the whereabouts of Ollis should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

Kentucky State Police say DNA testing has confirmed the identity of a body found in a refrigerator at a dumpsite 33 years ago.

A police statement says Espy Regina Back-Pilgrim from Spindale in Rutherford County was the woman discovered deceased in Kentucky in 1985.

Detectives determined her identity recently after one of her relatives saw a social media post about the unsolved case and called authorities.

Officers came to Spindale to take DNA samples from Black-Pilgrim’s children and the comparison was a match.

Police suspect the woman was attempting to get a ride to NC while at a truck stop the day before she was killed.

Detectives report the investigation into her death is ongoing.

Leading luxury-leather manufacturer Bradington Young has announced a 75-thousand-square foot expansion to the company’s Hickory facility on 10^th Avenue Drive.

The expansion will increase plant size to over 160-thousand square feet and will enable the company to add production capacity for its luxury motion and reclining chair business.

The project will add approximately 50-percent to its annual production capacity over the next five years- creating new jobs in Hickory and at the Cherryville facility.

The company expects to add 35 employees between the two sites over the next five years.

The expanded facility is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter in 2019.

Bradington Young marks its 40^th year of operation this year – specializing in upscale motion and stationary upholstered furniture.

A Morganton native will receive the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian honor.

Bill Leslie, a Morganton High graduate, will be one of six people to have the award presented November 16th at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Leslie, who recently retired as a long time reporter and anchor at WRAL-TV, will be recognized in Fine Arts. Leslie has released eight albums, celebrating North Carolina's people, natural beauty and Scots-Irish heritage. His "Grace of the Wind" CD was voted "World Radio Album of the Year" in 2013 by Zone Music Reporter. Leslie is also the recipient of more than 70 major news awards, including two Peabody Awards and seven Emmy Awards.

A man linked to at least a dozen local business break-ins in Morganton has been taken into custody.

Mark Hodsden was arrested Thursday for one count of breaking and entering.

Last week, reports say Friday Friends restaurant was broken into and the suspect was caught on surveillance and later identified as Hodsden.

A press release states Hodsden has been linked to at least 12 local business break ins from June to September of this year.

Over the past two months, Morganton Public Safety investigators have been looking into numerous reports of business break ins – several of those had the front door smashed and cash registers taken.

Officials are investigating 16 similar break-ins to see if there is a connection to Hodsden.

He is currently in the Burke Catawba Detention Facility under a 5-thousand-dollar secured bond.

A Hickory man wanted in connection with a shooting last week is now in custody.

30-year-old Adrian Jamar Wells is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury after turning himself in Friday at Hickory Police headquarters.

Wells’ charges stem from the shooting of 28-year-old Donnie Arnell Morgan when officers discovered him on Eighth Avenue Drive Southeast with a gunshot wound to the back.

Morgan was transferred from Frye Regional to Baptist Hospital for treatment.

Wells is being held in the Catawba County confinement facility under a 100-thousand dollar bond.

A Stanley man still facing charges in Catawba County was found guilty in Lincoln County on two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

67-year-old Gilbert Donald List Junior pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charges in connection with incidents that occurred between January and December 2016.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reports the female victim was nine years old at the time of the assault and is related to the suspect.

List was sentenced to a prison term of 15 to 27 months.

Upon release, List must also register on the state’s sex offender registry as a sex offender for 30 years.

The charges in Catawba are related to the incidents in Lincoln County.

Following last year’s flu season – called the deadliest in modern day NC history; federal and local infectious disease officials are predicting a milder climate for 2018-2019.

Flu season typically begins October 1^st and lasts through March 31^st, although in seasons past the flu and flu-related deaths have lingered for several additional weeks.

Officials at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center say they have no indications that this flu season will be more severe than normal; further stating that everyone over the age of six months should get the vaccine before the end of October if possible.

Flu vaccines are typically available in doctor’s offices, health care clinics, county health departments, and pharmacies as well as by many employers.

Shots are typically free for those with private insurance and Medicare/Medicaid recipients.

NC had 386 flu-related deaths during the 2017-18 season.

Besides the elderly, vulnerable groups include children younger than 5, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions.

Added this year is the category of nursing home and long term facility residents.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that if vaccinated individuals did become ill with the flu last year, they were much less likely to be hospitalized or face serious complications compared to those who had not been vaccinated.

A body discovered in a McDowell County creek has been confirmed to be that of a camper missing since August 10^th.

A news release states an autopsy was performed on the remains Friday morning, and pathologists have positively identified him as 38-year-old Jason Smith Lewis of Hankins Road Marion.

Reports say he was last seen by his mother when she dropped him off on Northfork River Road to go camping.

She reported Lewis missing on the evening of August 18^th.

Prior to the discovery near Garden Creek, authorities had conducted multiple air, water, and land searches for Lewis, but no clues surfaced during the six-week period.

Lewis had reportedly been staying in the Garden Creek area before he disappeared.

The autopsy did not show a cause of death, but no foul play is suspected.

Law enforcement officials are investigating the shooting of a Hickory man that occurred Thursday evening.

Hickory Police were called to 8^th Avenue Drive Southeast to a reported shooting incident.

Upon their arrival, officers located the victim 28-year-old Donnie Arell Morgan suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the back.

He was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Baptist Hospital.

Police have now obtained a warrant for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury on 30-year-old Adrian Jamar Wells of Hickory in connection with the shooting.

Anyone with information about the incident or Well’s whereabouts should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

 A Nebo man flees from McDowell County authorities.

27-year-old Marvin Donald Branch the Second of 5334 US 70 East was charged with fleeing to elude arrest, driving a vehicle with no registration, and operating a vehicle with no insurance.

Officers spotted Branch operating a motorcycle without a tag on Fairview Road.

Deputies tried to stop Branch; however, he increased his speed and led them on a chase onto Toney Road, Randolph Road, and then onto Stacy Hill Road where he hit a culvert and overturned.

Branch was then taken into custody.