Road sign thieves are costing McDowell County taxpayers thousands. A cash reward is being offered for anyone who has information about the crimes or culprits. McDowell County Emergency Management reported that 59 signs were stolen in July, and 32 more were taken on other occasions. The thefts have been countywide, with the Sugar Hill and Nebo areas taking the biggest hits. Linville Road, Toms Creek Road off Highway 80 and Blackhawk Drive off of Old-Fort-Sugar Hill Road have been victimized on multiple occasions. The 91 signs stolen have cost almsot $10,000 to replace. Anyone with information about the sign thefts or suspects is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office Investigations Branch at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 652-7463.

Hickory City Council authorized the taking of the "sink hole" property on Highway 70 Tuesday night at its' regular meeting. Repairs will cost an estimated $2.2 million dollars. Council decided to appropriate, as an economic development, $550,000 of the $2.2 million to make repairs to the property. This is the former site of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, where in 2002, a brand new Chevrolet Corvette was consumed by the first sink hole, and some time later a second sink hole opened on the property in which the restaurant was closed due to an unstable foundation. According to Mayor Wright, these "repairs' beginning with the start of the process today, should improve driving conditions along Highway 70 in Hickory when completed. Council also voted to designate the former Lyerly Full Fashioned Mill as a Historic Landmark in Hickory. The "mill" was constructed in 1930 and operated until 1957.