Captain D.Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police on Tuesday. A 19-year-veteran of the Hickory Police Department, Baer began his career with the department in 1997 and has held supervisory roles in Special Investigations, Charles P.A.C.T. and Support Services. In 2010, Deputy Chief Baer was promoted to Division Commander of Support Services and Division Commander of Criminal Investigations in 2012. He is also responsible for the addition of the Code Enforcement Unit to the Police Department. A formal promotional ceremony will be held for Deputy Chief of Police Baer on Friday November 11th at 4pm in the multi-purpose training room at the Hickory Police Department.

A residential search leads to the arrest of a Nebo couple. 25-year-old Nicholas Cody Walker has been charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a search conducted by McDowell deputies and Probation officers. Authorities also charged 52-year-old Karen Ringgold with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both Walker and Ringgold were reportedly on probation and were therefore subject to warrantless searches. Reports say a half gram and other drug use items were discovered in the search.

A Taylorsville mans was sentenced Tuesday in Catawba County Superior Court. 46-year-old James Maurice Wilson was given an active prison term of 77 to 105 months by the Honorable Kevin M. Bridges, Superior Court Judge from Stanley County, following his guilty plea for habitual larceny and his admission to being an habitual felon. Michael Rollins investigated the case for the Hickory Police Department. David Learner and Kyle Smith handled prosecution for the 25th District Attorney's Office.

Hickory City Council met Tuesday night. Two Presentations were heard including a presentation on Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and a Proclamation presented to Hendrick Honda Heroes after workers assisted a driver during high water some time ago. A four-item consent agenda passed 7-0. One departmental report detailed a recent bus tour to Rock Hill, to look at economic development, what works and what doesn't.

1604 people cast ballots Tuesday, at the five Burke County early voting locations. That brings the early voting total in Burke County to 18,402. Early voting continues through 1pm Saturday.