Fire Marshall Mike Long was recognized for his retirement and tourism saw success in 2015, according to the 2016 tourism report given at the Burke County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night regular meeting. Tourism Director Ed Phillips presented the update. He described tourism as an economic engine in Burke County, as 2015 saw a 2.9% increase in visitor spending, which now tops 94 million dollars a year. Objectives of the Tourism Authority are to increase the number of visitors in Burke County, increase the occupancy rate in Burke County, which is a direct result of more tourists, create more jobs related to tourism and share more information. The Tourism Authority recently learned that July was the first month where over $50,000 was collected in occupancy tax, a record in the history of Burke County tourism. Phillips reminded the board that the double-stacked tourism billboard on I-40 was updated last week to the fall color reports, updated daily on the website. Media outlets from all over the southeast have picked up this color report. Fire Marshall Mike Long was recognized for his 30 years of service with the County as well as working as Emergency Services Director. Long's last day will be at the end of the month. He plans on teaching in the Burke County Public School System after retiring as Fire Marshall. Long was also awarded with the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine plaque signed by Governor McCrory. The award is given to people who have served their community well and for a long time.

The investigation into the discovery of human remains found in a burnt vehicle Sunday morning has now been classified as a homicide. Just after 8 o'clock, deputies with the Burke County Sheriff's Office discovered the burnt Cadillac Deville on Canoe Creek Way. One of the human remains has been identified as 35-year-old Albert Alexander Austin of Forest City. There is now a Burke County Crime Stoppers Reward in the amount of $1000. Persons with information are encouraged to contact Burke County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 828-438-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 828-437-3333 anytime day or night.

A the Lenoir City Council meeting on Tuesday, City Council members agreed to move forward with the Hospital Avenue Sidewalk Project, an arrangement made last year between the City of Lenoir and DOT in which $800,000 of federal grant money plus a $200,000 match from the City will go towards the construction of a new sidewalk system alongside Hospital Avenue. City Council also announced a proclamation declaring the week of September 26th through October 2nd as "Loving Lenoir Week", throughout the City and Caldwell County.