A traffic stop in McDowell County results in apprehension of a fugitive and the seizure of various drugs.

Shortly after 7 in the evening on April 29^th, officers pulled over a vehicle displaying a fictitious license plate.

36-year-old Paul Burton Smith of Maple Avenue Marion was driving the vehicle and discovered to have outstanding warrants.

A search of Smith’s vehicle turned up 6-point-85 grams of heroin, 7-point-11 grams of meth, and 1-point-75 grams of marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia.

Smith faces separate charges of the drugs located in the seizure along with outstanding charges of meth possession, possession with intent to sell and deliver meth, and carrying a concealed weapon.

An early Monday morning boating accident along the Catawba River in Gaston County caused the rescue of three and the body recovery of the fourth boater.

Officials report they received a report of a boat capsizing near the Kevin Loftin boat launch around 4:30.

Initial reports said following the accident, there were three people in the water, however investigators stated four people were aboard the boat.

Reports further state a group was camping on an island north of the Catawba River bridge and the boat was ferrying the four to the boat launch when the boat started taking on water.

No names have yet been released.

As a side note, this has been designated as water safety week; when rescue crews remind people to be vigilant and alert in the water.

The State Wildlife resource commission reports a sizable increase in the number of boating fatalities in 2018.

The commission says the death toll due to boating accidents last year was the highest number since 1990.

According to statistics from the YMCA, NC ranked six in the number of drownings across the US.

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 5, and reportedly accounts for over 35-hundred unintentional deaths annually.

A road closure reminder for those traveling in Hickory Tuesday –

Beginning around 7 a.m., a portion of Second Avenue Southwest near Second Street Southwest will be closed for Duke Energy to replace utility poles.

Detour routes will be in place and clearly marked.

The closure is expected to last throughout the day.

Should you have questions, contact the City of Hickory traffic division at 323-7500.