A Caldwell County resident is charged with a felony marijuana offense, in a case of receiving marijuana from California for distribution in North Carolina. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office Ice Unit with a Federal Postal Inspector began the investigation when they learned of a suspicious package that had arrived at a Caldwell Post Office from California. A K-9 conducted a sniff of the package and alerted for illegal narcotics. Agents reportedly found 7 pounds and 10 ounces of high grade marijuana with an estimated street value of over $87,000. 22-year-old Andrea Estela Alfaro was charged Tuesday, with Felonious Possession with Intent to Sell?Deliver Marijuana. She has a first court appearance in Lenoir scheduled for tomorrow.

Western Piedmont Community College invites the public to a screening of award winning films produced by WPCC students and graduates tonight, from 6:30 till 8:30 in Leviton Auditorium on the WPCC campus. These films showcase 10 years of the College's participation in the annual 48 Hour Film Project competiton in Asheville. Admission to the screening is free.

The SBA Disaster Loan Deadline in North Carolina is May 23rd for Economic Injury Disaster Loans as a result of the drought that began July 28,2015. The loans are available in the following counties: Buncombe, Burke, Cleveland, Gaston, Henderson, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk and Rutherford. Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the drought. Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

UPDATE-9:00AM Shawn Ballard has been found safe and in good condition.
The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office is seeking 17-year-old Shawn Wayne Ballard of School Road Asheville, who was reported missing Monday. He is described as a white male, 5'8", 135 pounds, brown hair and eyes, and is known to frequent the Biltmore Park area. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office at 250-6670.