7:30AM Update - Monday -Independence Boulevard is  now open.                                         According to Burke County 911, a water main break has closed Independence Boulevard between North Green Street and Highway 126. City of Morganton crews are on the scene. You can access Freedom High from Carbon City Road.

A man accused of shooting a police officer and two others at a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Colorado Springs, has Western North Carolina ties. WLOS News 13 reports Robert Lewis Dear lived in Swannanoa and had a cabin in Black Mountain. Before moving to WNC, he lived in Walterboro, about 50 miles west of Charleston.

The Burke County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division is currently looking into several breaking, entering, and larcenies to churches, which occurred this month. The first incident occurred at a church parsonage the second week of November in the nortwestern part of Burke County. The remaining B & E's occurred during the early morning hours Monday, in the area of US Highway West. Also Monday, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office began an investigation of a B & E to a church in the Golden Valley area just off Highway 64, in which an undisclosed amount of cash was taken. The suspects are targeting cash boxes and safes. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 438-5500 or 764-9505 or Crimestoppers at 437-3333. The Sheriff's office wants the public to be aware of these recent crimes and advise churches and places of worship not to leave valuables/currency in the church.

A reward is being offered for information that directly leads to the arrest of the individual that robbed Members Credit Union 2142 12th Avenue NE Hickory October 28th. A male subject entered the bank and proceeded to the counter where he displayed a handgun and demanded money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, he exited the business and fled on foot. The subject is described as being 5' 7" to 6' tall, weighing about 200 pounds. Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to contact Investigator Pruett with Hickory Police at 328-5551 or 267-2617 or jpruett@hickorync.gov.

Morganton City Hall will be closed tomorrow and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. All City recreational facilities will be closed tomorrow, but open on Friday. Garbage will not be picked up tomorrow, but Thursday's garbage route will be collected today.
The City of Hickory will close its offices tomorrow and Friday, but garbage and recycling, as well as leaf collection will continue.
All Caldwell County offices will be closed tomorrow and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The Burke County Public School's academically intellectually gifted program was recognized as one of the top 5 programs in the state at the Monday night Burke County Board of Education meeting. The North Carolina School Board Association awarded the county's academically intellectually gifted program, in conjuction with the STEAM Academy, as one of the leading programs in the state. Also awarded by the NC School Board Association was Vice Chair Randy Burns, as one of the eight members to serve on the All State Board. Athletic trainers at East Burke and Draughn were recognized for "making a difference" at the Western Regional Cross Country meet in October. Rosalyn Hart and Sara Woods used their training to save a spectator in distress.


The Burke County Landfill and the Convenience Centers will be closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. They will reopen at the normal schedule on Friday. The Burke County Convenience Centers will also be closed tomorrow, as usual.

Felony child abuse charges are filed on a Morganton couple. The Burke County Sheriff's Office, Wednesday, asked the SBI to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the couple's 2 month old daughter. On Tuesday, medical staff at Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte. discovered the child had multiple broken ribs and a broken right arm. The SBI Thursday, charged 22 year old Benjamin David Houk and 27 year old Krystal Kaye Houk with two felony counts each of child abuse. Bond on each was set at $100,000 secured. They were placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility.

The State Highway Patrol is seeking information on a vehicle they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run Thursday night in Burke County. The incident on Old Highway 18 killed 55 year old Ronnie Frost. The Highway Patrol is looking for a late 1980's Ford Ranger or F-150, possibly white in color with black trim. Anyone with information is asked to call Newton Highway Patrol at 466-5500 and ask for Trooper Hallyburton. You call dial *HP on your mobile phone.

Two Marion men are charged in connection with a mini-crime spree in Nebo. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office Friday, charged 34 year old Michael Bradley Dalton and 59 year old Randy Leonard Presnell, with 3 counts of felony breaking and entering, 3 counts of felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle, along with numerous misdemeanor counts. Detective Billie Brown said the two went on a mini-crime spree October 5th & 6th, breaking into vehicles, stealing items and vandalizing property on Old Highway 10 in Nebo. Anyone with information is asked to call 652-2237 or McDowell County Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

A man, riding his bicycle, was struck and killed as the result of a hit-and-run, Thursday night in Burke County. WBTV reports that the person who hit the man on Old Highway 18 left the scene. The victim's name has not been released, but reports indicate he was in his 50's. The Morganton News Herald Reports that about 15 minutes after the hit-and-run, another accident occurred in the same area when two vehicles collided, sending 1 person to an area hospital.

Hickory Police have made an arrest from a shooting Thursday afternoon. Just after 1 o'clock officers responded to a shots fired call in the 600 block of 17th Street Drive NW. Officers found 45 year old Phillip Eugene McLean dead at the scene. Police have charged 20 year old Lakeith Marchaun Lawrence with Felony Murder. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

A 41 year old Lenoir man was convicted of multiple drug charges in Burke County Superior Court on Wednesday. The jury found Jerry Lamont Lindsay guilty of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine after a two day trial. Superior Court Judge Jeffrey P.Hunt sentenced Lindsey to serve 7-9 years. Lindsey's status as a habitual felon added to his active prison sentence with prior felony convictions in Caldwell County in 2010, 1993 and 1992.

Burke County Public Schools received two recognitions at the NC School Board Association Annual Conference on Tuesday. Board Chair Randy Burns was named to the 2014-15 Att State Board, and the BCPS Academically and Intellectually Gifted Department's learning expeditions to the STEAM Academy received an honorable mention in the Award for Excellence in Educational Program category. Burns has served on the school board since 2011 and was re-elected earlier this month. Learning expeditions to STEAM Academy expose third-through eighth graders to advanced lessons that are inquiry based and provoke critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills while incorporating technology.

Burke County Commissioners decided Tuesday night, to move forward with plans to construct a solitary jail facility on Government Drive in Morganton. It is estimated that the facility could cost Burke County taxpayers nearly 1.2 million dollars, over a 20 year period. Also at the meeting Tuesday night, Commissioners passed a zoning ordinance to allow a parcel of land, located between DAV Avenue and Highway 18 South to be rezoned from a R-3 residential designation, to a General Business Use District. It is anticipated that this rezoning will allow for a Dollar General Store to be built there sometime in the near future.

Trail projects in Burke County have received grants. State officials announced this week that federal Recreational Trails Program grants have been awarded to South Mountains State Park, Visitor Center Connector of $100,000 and the Fonta Flora Loop Connector of $70,000. The Program is administered by the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Caldwell County Commissioners held a formal recognition at Monday night's meeting, to acknowledge retired Caldwell County Emergency Service Director Robbie Wilkie for his years of service. Along with an award plaque, Wilkie was honored with a message from the office of Congressman Mark Meadows. Also Monday, Caldwell Commissioners revived an update regarding the County's current financial situation, as well as an audit report. According to Caldwell County Finance Officer Tony Helton, Caldwell County's financial status is in "good shape" and the audit report for fiscal year 2014-2015 came back with a clean opinion, meeting all generally accepted accounting procedures.

As the Affordable Care Act is being implemented in NC, state lawmakers have blocked expansion of the Medicaid program - meaning that some 500,000 working adults will remain uninsured. The state's Justice Center's Health Access Coalition is hosting a conversation event at the Marion Community House, 191 North Main Street, Thursday at 6PM. Benefits of the Affordable Care Act, community benefits of a Medicaid expansion and insurance purchasing information will be highlighted during the Marion discussion. For more information call Nicole Dozier at 919-856-2146.

A Nebo man is injured from a motorcycle accident Monday afternoon in McDowell County. The State Highway Patrol told News 13 that Traviss Kendall Waldrop was traveling north on Highway 226, when he ran off the side of the road, overturned, and hit a tree. Waldrop was flown to Mission Hospital with a head injury.

Burke County Commissioners held a special meeting Friday, in order to consider construction options and cost estimates surrounding the proposed Burke County Justice Center project. Lead architect and consultant for the project, Jack Hemphill, presented the Board with three variants for the proposed Justice Center, including an option to build only a jail facility on Government Drive in Morganton. Burke County Commissioners agreed to explore an option which would best suit the needs of both County tax payers and the local bureaucracy. Commissioner Jeffrey Brittain made a motion to look at the "single jail facility" construction plan close, at the next Board meeting tomorrow night. The motion passed 4 to 1.

A high-tech manufacturer will expand in Catawba County. GKN Sinter Metals,LLC announced Friday, that it plans to create 55 new manufacturing jobs in the next five years and invest $19.8 million in the city of Conover to expand its' state-of-the art aluminum manufacturing facility. Salaries for the new jobs vary by position, but the average annual salary of the new jobs will be $46,078. The average wage in Catawba County is $36,770. The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $109,500. In addition, the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Awarded the City of Conover a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $600,000 to support the building of an industrial access road and extension of public water and sewerlines to support this project.

There was grand opening Saturday, for a $5 million high speed, detachable, six passenger chairlift from the base to the summit of Sugar Mountain. The Resort Summit Express is nearly a mile long. it will take just five minutes to reach Sugar Mountain's 5,300 foot peak. The chairlift will carry just over 2,500 people per hour.

A Catawba County employee, who created a method for widespread teaching of new CPR technique, has been named County Employee of the Year. Melanie Sigmon, the County's EMS Compliance Coordinator, received the honor at the County's Annual Awards Night, Tuesday at CVCC. She has been employed with Catawba County EMS for fifteen years. Sigmon noted disturbing trends in cardiac cases, and addressed those concerns by creating a program to teach new "hands only CPR" techniques to as many citizens as possible.

A Catawba County man escapes the death penalty from a fatal shooting in September. Prosecutors announced Thursday, they will not pursue the case of Daniel Robert Williamson as a capital matter. Williamson, of Conover, was involved in a double shooting September 9th, that left Michael Anthony Beltran dead and hospitalized Lisa Vanhoogen. Williamson remains incarcerated in the Catawba County Detention Center without bond, though a bond hearing is scheduled for November 30th.

A Hickory man faces charges of First Degree Rape, Breaking and or Entering and Interfering with Emergency Communication. The Catawba County Sheriffs Office Thursday, charged 35 year old Jorge Leyva Velaquez. Bond was set $460,000 with a Catawba County court appearance scheduled for today.

An emotional gathering of more than 300 at the Foothills Higher Education Center in Morganton Wednesday, paid tribute to former and present military personnel. The event was a commemoration of Veterans Day, coordinated by the Burke County Veterans Service Office. Speaker for the event was US Navy retired Master Chief Petty Officer Champ Ray, who served 30 years in the Hospital Corps and retired in 1985. Ray pointed to military service personnel in all branches who served, bled and died for our country. Also recognized was Korean ex-prisoner of war Sgt. First Class Bailey Gillespie, who recounted the horrors of a North Korean prison camp, with inadequate clothing and being exposed to sub zero temperatures. 30 to 40 POWs died each day and more than 1600 perished in the camp where he was held. A brief program of remembrance honored MIAs and POWs and the laying of the wreath memorialized all fallen heroes.

A Hickory Youth Council Member is appointed to serve on the State Youth Advisory Council. Aislynn Hosey is a tenth grade student who wanted to get involved in the community almost two years ago. She was appointed by Governor McCrory to serve on the State Youth Advisory Council, which is comprised of teenagers from local youth councils from across the state. SYC provides opportunities for young people to be involved in local projects, participate in government, develop leadership skills, and represent youth in civic activities, according to the State Youth Council website.

Veterans Day 2015
Burke County Veterans Services will sponsor a Veterans Day program this morning at 11, inside the Foothills Higher Education Conference Center, 2128 South Sterling Street in Morganton. VFW Post 5362 will provide a free meal immediately following the program.

Carolinas HealthCare System-Blue Ridge was awarded an 'A' grade in patient safety from hospital watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group. The Group praised the hospital for its'overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. The 'A' grade follows recognition by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Dafety Culture Survey in July showing a 6.5% increas in positive ranking. In October, more than 2500 general hospitals were assigned scores by The Leapfrog Group with 773 hospitals receiving an 'A' grade. Carolinas Health Care System has received an 'A' grade for the past 3 years.

The Grandfather Ranger District station in Nebo has been renamed the Jason Crisp Forest Service Building during a ceremony Tuesday. U.S.Forest Service Office Jason Crisp and his K-9 partner Marcos were killed on a manhunt in pursuit of a homicide suspect in Burke County in March 2014. The ceremony in Nebo included more than 80 State, County, Forest Service, Federal law enforcement officers, regional Forest Service officials, Congressional members and the widow and two sons of Jason Crisp.

Marion Police are seeking a suspect wanted for robbery at Wal-Mart. According to News13, the suspect entered the store Monday morning and bought an item, then went behind the counter and demanded money. When the employee refused, police say the suspect assaulted the worker and fled. He could be driving a white Volvo SUV. Anyone with information should call Marion Police at 652-3231 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

Speaker Tim Moore of the N.C.House of Representatives appointed Dr.Ellen Collett of Morganton to the Board of Trustees of the N.C.School of Science and Mathematics. The school is currently located on a single campus in Durham. If voters approve the currently pending bond proposal to be voted on in March, a WNC campus for the school will be built in Morganton. The Board of Trustees is expected to be involved in planning for the construction and operation of the new campus in Morganton along with its continued responsibilities for the Durham campus.

An investigation into the theft of property from a Nebo home led to the arrest of the owner's son-in-law. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office Monday, reported the arrest of 27 year old Robert Shane Hughes. He was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor larceny stemming from the theft of $700 worth of property from the home of Roger Dale Ledford. Further examination led authorities to investigate Hughes for setting fire to his in-laws house on four separate occasions. McDowell fire officials state each time, small fires had been set in the attic. Hughes has also been charged with four felony counts of first degree arson. Fire damage to the house was estimated at $60,000. Hughes has a prior conviction of four counts of setting fire to woods, lands, or fields in Mitchell County.