The doors to a Hildebran motel were padlocked by Burke deputies Friday. Acting on a civil complaint filed by the District Attorney's office deputies with the Burke County Sheriff's Office served a temporary restraining order on Lowman's Motor Court at 109 Highway 70 East. The order closes the business until a Superior Court hearing regarding a preliminary injunction takes place March 6th. The DA's office is seeking to have the motel declared a public nuisance because of a "breach of peace" - a repeated and continued disturbance of the public. Local law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies have responded to more than 700 calls at Lowman's Motel in the last 11 years for various reasons including controlled substance sales, assaults, and firearm discharges.

A Sherills Ford man will spend a minimum of 50 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses with a child in Catawba County. 32-year-old Zachary Allen Blackenship was sentenced to serve 50-70 years. A 12-member jury found Blackenship guilty of rape of a child by an adult offender, three counts of sexual offense with a child by an adult offender and four counts of indecent liberties with a child. Blackenship raped and sexually assaulted a 2-year-old female in November 2013 on sexual occasions. He will also have to register as a sex offender and be subject to satellite-based monitoring for the remainder of his life.

Hickory Police continue to look for a suspect wanted in connection with two business breakins early Thursday morning. The breakins occurred at A Cleaner World and Village Inn Pizza, both located on 2nd Street NE. The suspect is described as a white male, slim build, 5'8" - 5'10" tall. Anyone with information in reference to these cases or other breaking and enterings in the city during this period should contact Investigator Hudson at 828-261-2020 or shudson@hickorync.gov.