Hikers found the body of a man Wednesday in Northern Burke County. The Burke County Sheriff's Office responded off Highway 181 near Steele Creek Falls. Officers had to hike about 2 miles to where the body was found at the base of the falls, according to WSOC-TV.  Investigators are checking to see if the identity is that of a missing Burke County man.

A woman was struck and killed this morning in Lenoir. WSOC-TV reports that two cars hit the woman on Highway 321 near Smith Cross Road about 7:30. The woman's name has not been released.

A Marion man was severely beaten Monday morning at his residence on Ann Street. 36-year-old Andrew Arrowood sustained fractures in multiple spots on his face and had severe cuts on his face, head and body, according to News 13. Arrowood had been asleep on the couch when the attack occurred. There have been no arrests the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Marion Police.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office Ice Unit has made an arrest involving a methamphetamine distributor. 32-year-old Garrett Scott Dellinger of Lenoir, was arrested Tuesday night in Hudson as the result of a sting operation. Dellinger is a repeat offender and has pending drug charges, including one charge with the Ice Unit. He was placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond, with a Lenoir District Court scheduled for today.

McDowell County is announcing a new partnership with Skyrunner Internet to drive broadband availability expansion in McDowell County. This new development comes as a result of the strategic planning by the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, the McDowell Economic Development Association, McDowell County, and the N.C.Broadband Infrastructure Office, within the NC Department of Information Technology. Skyrunner Internet currently provides service to several parts of the county. The additional deployment will take place over the next several months and will cover about 90 percent of McDowell County.

The City of Hickory recently announced grant winners for several Catawba County organizations. Out of 12 applicants, 7 Catawba organizations were chosen to receive a combined $7300 in funding during the spring grant cycle. The Women's Resource Center, Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, the Council on Adolescents, Hickory Community Theatre, the Catawba Valley Quilters Guild, Lenoir Rhyne's Multicultural Affairs and Hickory Public Schools - all received funding toward projects designed to positively impact human relations. Hickory's Community Relations Council recommended the grant recipients, and they were approved by City Council. Meanwhile, Hickory's Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kaminske has been elected as Vice President of the NC City and County Communicators Organization. The state organization was formed in 2007 by professional communicators from across NC; representing cities, counties, schools, utilities and other state entities.

The Silver Mine Fire near Hot Springs is about 60% contained, with around 5000 acres burned. According to the Forest Service, the public may continue to see and smell smoke from the fire between Hot Springs and Asheville.