More jobs are are coming to the Continental facility in Morganton. The company will add a new product line; resulting in 160 new jobs and a 40-million-dollar investment in equipment and building upgrades. The state supported the project with a job development investment grant; Burke County's part of the incentive grant would cover just over $200,000 for improvements to the facility, starting with the 2017-2018 budget. The new product line and reason for the expansion is Continental's next generation integrated brake system. Continental began operations in Burke County in 1992, where it has two facilities. The expansion will take place at its' main plant which manufactures ant-lock braking systems. Burke Development, Inc, Burke County, City of Morganton, the Economic Development Partnership of NC, the NC Dept of Commerce, WPCOG, WPCC, and VanNoppen Marketing assisted with the project.

Authorities seize 20 pounds of meth and $500,000 and arrest 7 people from 3 counties. 3 people were not located when the raids occurred Tuesday in locations believed to be used for storing and distributing narcotics. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reports the following arrests:
Jamie Leonard Tate and Leah Patience Davis, both of Nebo
Gregory Adonis Rutherford and Aretha Gilly Fullwood, both of Morganton
Randy "Big Country" Scott of Marion
Karita Shanece "China" Bullock of Conover
Aretha Faye Giles of Newton
Three people were not located Tuesday:
66-year-old William Jackie Pearson and 37-year-old "Pepe" Pearson, both of Morganton along with 35-year-old Dwayne Bullock of Newton.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the trio is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 828-652-2235.

Hickory City Council give Special Recognition Tuesday night for a Founders Award to United Beverage as the #1 Miller-Coors beer distributor in the U.S. out of 600 distributors. In other business a request was made to determine if Hickory Community Theatre could be registered as a historic local theatre. Council will speak with the HCT board and Historic Preservation Commission to decide if HCT is named a historic property. A presentation of the Quarterly Financial Report for Hickory was presented which shows growth and increases in revenues.