Two men – one from Caldwell County, the other from Catawba County were caught up in a Lincoln County drug sting Thursday.

Acting on a tip, narcotics officers set up a drug surveillance operation near the intersection of Car Farm Road and Highway 321.

Investigators witnessed a drug transaction and stopped the suspect vehicle.

A search of the car led to the seizure of 2-and a-half ounces of cocaine.

25-year-old Tevan Ikard of Hudson faces several drug trafficking charges and was given a 200-thousand dollar secured bond.

He appeared in court earlier today.

32-year-old Johnny Trevor Rippy of Newton was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Caldwell County for felony possession of cocaine.

He was issued a 5-thousand dollar secured bond, and jailed in Caldwell County.

Additional charges are pending.

One of Burke County's Most Wanted has been arrested after a standoff.

According to the Burke County Sheriff's Office, the hour long standoff occurred Friday at a residence near Lake James at 4558 Cobb Avenue.

28-year-old Tyler Dewayne South of Rainhill Church Road, Morganton, was taken into custody without incident. He faces new felony and  misdemeanor charges in addition to Burke and McDowell warrants already issued.

Another person in the residence, Krystal Renee Johnson was arrested after detectives found methamphetamine and marijuana on her.

Both South and Johnson are scheduled to appear in District Court on Tuesday. Further investigations are ongoing.

High winds and low humidity were major contributors to the rapid spread of a fire at a residence in Morganton Friday afternoon.

Public Safety was dispatched just before 4 o'clock to the corner of Vinearden Road and Jessie Drive to the single family home. The fire had engulfed the rear of the home and was being pushed by the wind out the front and into the surrounding yard and wood line. A brush fire that was burning toward a neighboring house was quickly extinguished.

The four occupants of the home were out of town and accounted for.

No injuries were reported and the investigation is continuing with no indication of wrong-doing discovered or reported. 

A South Carolina man faces death by vehicle charges related to an incident that occurred in Caldwell County six years ago.

35-year-old Neal Audet has been arrested by authorities who believe he is responsible for a crash on Zacks Fork Road in Lenoir that killed a man in January 2013.

He is charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving while impaired and driving while license revoked, in addition to the felony count of aggravated death by a vehicle.

Audet was jailed under a 200-thousand dollar bond.

His court date is set for April 29^th.