A Marion man faces numerous possession charges following an investigation into a domestic dispute. Officers with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office arrived at a residence to find 36-year-old Jayson Michael Gibson standing outside arguing with a female. Reports say Gibson had arrived at the home driving a Kawasaki motorcycle reported stolen from Burke County. Gibson was then taken into custody and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. A subsequent search of the suspect and his belongings turned up two stolen handguns, 15 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 3 ounces of marijuana.

On Wednesday, the Burke County Narcotics Task Force was investigating drug activity on Mill Race Road, Morganton, when they observed a car leave (a suspected drug house) and run a stop sign. Investigators attempted to stop the car, but the driver failed to stop, and a chase ensued into Caldwell County where the driver jumped and ran. According to a news release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, information was obtained that identified the driver as 29-year-old Joshua Allen Jubin of Morganton. The investigation is continuing with multiple charges pending.

The Caldwell County Board of Elections will begin accepting filing in July for the 2017 municipal elections. Filing will begin at noon on Friday, July 7th and end at noon Friday, July 21st. To file, you must be a registered voter in the municipality in which you live. Filing fees are $5. The 2017 Municipal Election will be on Tuesday, November 7th. The Caldwell County Board of Elections is open from 8-5, Monday through Friday. For more information call 828-757-1326, or 757-1342.

A Morganton man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, at federal court in Asheville. According to the US Attorney's Office WNC District, 21-year-old Justin Sullivan will spend the rest of his life in federal prison. Official documents reveal Sullivan intended to carry out a mass casualty attack on behalf of the terrorist group ISIS two years ago. Official documents reportedly say Sullivan was conspiring with an ISIS member as authorities were able to retrieve a text conservation from his phone. Reports say during the sentencing, the Court found Sullivan's activities were an act of terrorism and found Sullivan's offense cold and calculating. The state will now proceed with Sullivan's murder case in the 2014 killing of 74-year-old John Bailey Clark of Morganton. State prosecutors, reports say, will seek the death penalty.

Nearly 150 tires have been removed from the Linville Gorge. Some 85 volunteers worked over 1800 hours to remove the tires which washed down into the Gorge from a business north of the area during a flood in the 1970's. Since that time, the tires have been a common sight along the Linville River. Volunteers have spent over a year carrying tires one by one for miles through the Gorge in relays to the Wilderness boundaries. They were carried over private land to a point accessible by a truck provided by the US Forest Service, where they were taken to a recycling center.

Sex charges are filed on a Burke County man. Deputies with the Burke County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence earlier this month, after receiving a report that a man was secretly video recording an underage minor who was attempting to bathe and was in the state of undress. On Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office reported the arrest of 56-year-old James Ward Moody of Morganton. He was charged with First Degree Exploitation of a Minor, Secret Peeping and Indecent Liberties. Bond was set at $50,000 secured.

Morganton's new skate park might be open for the kids by Christmas. Parks and Recreation Director Rob Winkler said last week that Artisan Sake Parks has to finish up two other projects before coming to Morganton, but he thinks the company will start pouring and forming concrete mid fall, according to a news release from the City of Morganton. The new skate park will be built on the lower baseball field behind the Collett Street Recreation Center. The City already owns the property and decided to re-purpose it for the new park. The site already has parking and restrooms, as well as some lighting, and it's less than a 10-minute walk from the Historic Courthouse Square, less via skateboard.

Two McDowell County residents are charged with breaking-entering and larceny and another suspect was later arrested. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reported Monday that 33-year-old Dustin Anthony Foust of Marion and 38-year-old Jennifer Marie Granroos of Old Fort were charged in connection with loading property into a truck at an Old Fort residence on Sunday. A third suspect, 35-year-old Andrew Mitchell Barchie, Jr. of Mooresboro was also wanted for breaking-entering and larceny and was captured Monday.

Five people face additional drug charges in Lincoln County. The charges stem from a continuation into meth sales in western and southern Lincoln County. On Friday the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit charged 27-year-old Joshua Thomas Carpenter, 46-year-old Teresa Louise Dellinger, and 36-year-old Megan Elizabeth Campos, all of Vale, along with 37-year-old Jonia Travis Cornwell.  A fifth suspect, 28-year-old Rusty Dewayne Johnson of Vale is wanted. Anyone with information on drug related activity is asked to call 704-736-8606, or Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8907.

The SBI is targeting fraudulent disability claims throughout NC. Two SBI agents have saved taxpayers more than 10.1 million dollars since they began investigating fraudulent Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid disability claims eight months ago. The two agents - one from Eastern NC and the other from the WNC area - investigated twenty questionable fraud claims last month and either closed or denied 14 of those cases resulting in a savings of nearly 1.8 million dollars in state and federal funds. Authorities say the agency has zero-tolerance for fraud. The fraud investigation program covers 33 states.

The Appalachian Regional Commission has approved a grant of over 1.3 million dollars to the City of Morganton to construct an I-40 frontage access road. The funds will be used to construct a road, about 3/10's of a mile, connecting South Sterling Street to West Parker Road located in the NW quadrant of Exit 105 of I-40. According to the City of Morganton, the new road will promote economic development in the area by providing access to new local development sites supporting tourism. It is estimated that the project will support the creation of 45 new jobs over the next 3 years and leverage $15 million in private investment in the area. The project is contingent upon securing a developer for the properties around the proposed road, according to a press release from the City of Morganton.

A man has died after a fall from Catawba Falls. News 13 reports that rescue crews extricated 22-year-old Adam Muzic from Upper Catawba Falls about 7:30 Saturday night. Muzic was flown by MAMA to Mission Hospital where he died. A friend of Muzic told News 13 that he had begun attending services at Brookside Baptist Church in Old fort.

Friday News

Headline: Shoplifting crimes spike in Morganton as Public Safety take one after another to jail this week

Morganton Public Safety Officer’s spent yesterday evening taking one shoplifter after another to jail.  According to reports on file, Public Safety responded to the Morganton Heights Shopping Center and the Quaker Meadows Shopping Center taking several people into custody on Shoplifting and other charges.

28 year old Kyle Lee Isaac of Highway 70, Morganton was arrested for Larceny after reports indicate he attempted to steal 3 window air conditioners from Wal-Mart.. Isaac was charged with, Possession of stolen goods and served with a True Bill of Indictment for stealing and being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Isaac was transported to the Magistrate’s Office where the honorable Lynn Webb confined Isaac to jail under a $16,000 secured bond.  Isaac’s court date is scheduled for July 19th.

Around the same time, Public Safety Officer’s took 54 year old Phyllis Smith Solesby of Morganton into custody from the Wal-Mart store for stealing.  Solesby, along with 3 other individuals were trying to leave Wal-Mart after Solesby allegedly concealed and exited the store with two bottles of body spray in her pocketbook.  Solesby was taken into custody and brought before Magistrate Smith where she was released on a written promise to appear in court.  Solesby’s court date is July 25th in Burke County

Public Safety took another person into custody for Stealing over $272.00 worth of merchandise.  60 year old, Rita Gale Hensley of Morganton was arrested by public safety yesterday evening after she reportedly stole various food and clothing items from Wal-Mart.  Hensley was charged with Larceny and given a court date of July 25th.

Also, over the past several days, officers responded to K-mart and Tractor Supply on several occasions where shoplifters were observed leaving the store with items, Public Safety said charges are pending on several individuals identified on camera, leaving the store with unpaid merchandise.

  

Headline: Public Safety make another big arrest overnight

Around 10pm, Officers with Morganton Public Safety located an individual wanted for breaking and entering.

Officers arrested 28 year old Darius Edward Connelly of Morganton, near the Holiday-to-Go Convenience store on Lenoir Road and took him into custody on charges of Breaking and Entering and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Connelly was taken before Magistrate Smith where he was confined to jail under a $5,000.00 secured bond.  Connelly’s court date is scheduled for today.

Headline: Pet Food Drive taking place at a local brewery

Mercy Fund Animal Rescue is holding a pet food donation drive at Catawba Brewing Company now through Saturday.

Marion-based Mercy Fund Animal Rescue also serves Burke and surrounding counties providing shelter and care for rescued or abandoned animals and also supports animal owners who struggle to meet their pets needs, such as veterinary care and food.

Residents are urged to drop off dog and/or cat food donations today through Saturday at the brewery in Morganton

A 27-year-old Morganton man was killed Monday night after being struck by a vehicle. According to the Morganton News Herald, the man died at the scene of the accident on U.S.70 near East Winds Avenue just after 10 o'clock. A State Highway Patrol Trooper told the News Herald that there was no indication that the driver of the vehicle was at fault. Assisting the Highway Patrol at the scene were personnel from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, EMS and REACT, along with Triple Community Fire Department.

A Statesville man has turned himself into authorities following a weekend homicide in Hickory. Around 9am Monday, 41-year-old Bradley Dwayne Davis turned himself in at Hickory Police headquarters, where he was served a warrant charging him with murder. 37-year-old Shamar Rashad Wilson was shot in the parking lot early Saturday morning at a Hickory restaurant and lounge. Wilson reportedly died from his injuries shortly after being taken to Frye Regional Medical Center. On Sunday, a warrant was issued for Davis on a murder charge in connection with the shooting. The investigation continues with Hickory Police urging witnesses to the incident to contact them at 261-2687.

The cause of a Hickory condo fire has been determined. Just before 4pm Sunday, fire crews were dispatched to 1941 20th Drive NE #65. Firefighters reported fire and heavy amounts of smoke coming from the front and rear of the two story condo. After ensuring the residents had evacuated, firefighters worked to contain the fire, which was considered controlled at 4:56pm. One cat died in the fire, but no other injuries were reported. Fire damages were considered heavy to one condo and moderate to the adjoining unit. Two condos were damaged and the Red Cross responded to the scen to assist the occupants. Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction.

Four additional suspects were arrested last week from a drug roundup in McDowell, Burke and Catawba counties April 18th. Eight people are still wanted. Arrested Thursday were:
63-year-old Larry Thomas Dixon, Sr. of Marion
33-year-old Robert Todd Guffey of Marion
34-year-old Diamond Sharell Lipscomb of Morganton
39-year-old Russell Andrew Welch of Nebo
Still wanted by authorities
29-year-old Anthony Jarrett Burgess of Morganton
26-year-old James Qualane Burgess of Morganton
37-year-old Kelsey L. England of Claremont
40-year-old Evan Saunders Lipford of Morganton
35-year-old Oakley Lynn Sparks of Marion
55-year-old Ray Jackson Welch, Jr. of Marion
35-year-old Dwayne Bullock of Newton
66-year-old William Jackie Pearson of Morganton
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these suspects is asked to contact the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 828-652-2235 or McDowell Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

Hickory Police are looking for a Statesville man in connection with the weekend shooting death of a Hickory man. Police responded about 2am Saturday to Frank's Pizza/Alessio's Lounge. Officers found 37-year-old Shamar Rashad Wilson with a gunshow wound. He would be later pronounced deceased at Frye Regional Medical Center. A warrant has been issued for the charge of Murder for 41-year-old Bradley Dwayne Davis. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Davis is urged to contact Hickory Police at 828-328-5551. The investigation is continuing and anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information about the incident should contact Inv.D.Bailey at 828-261-2687 or dbailey@hickorync.gov.

Investigators with the Burke County Narcotics Task Force conducted a search warrant, Wednesday, at a location on Conley Road, Morganton. The Sheriff's Office reports states that inside the residence was 46 grams of methamphetamine, 2 firearms and $500 cash. Taken into custody were 54-year-old Ricky Chris Reep and 54-year-old Carolyn Snyder Leonard. The faced felony charges of Trafficking Meth, Possession with Intent to Maintain, Sell or Deliver Schedule II, and Maintaining a Dwelling, Vehicle, or Place for CS Drugs. Bond on each was set at $100,000 secured with court appearances scheduled for today.

A Morganton teen has been charged with having sexual contact with an 11-year-old girl. McDowell County authorities have charged 18-year-old Taylon Samuel Williams of Wesley Drive with two counts of First-Degree Statutory Rape. Reports indicate Williams is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with the juvenile female acquaintance when he was 15 and 16. The suspect lived in Marion previously where the crimes occurred multiple times in 2015 and 2016. The victim reportedly revealed the incidents to family members, who in turn contacted the McDowell County Sheriff's Office.

A multi-agency car chase ended with the arrest of a Granite Falls woman. The chase reportedly began in Alexander County, when 50-year-old Cathy Michelle Chapman drove through a stop sign and stoplight. An Alexander deputy attempted to stop her; however, Chapman proceeded into Catawba County, where Hickory Police joined the pursuit. Written reports say she eluded authorities by driving over a curb. Chapman was identified by officers though and later arrested at her home. Reports say she was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving with a revoked license, and failure to stop at a stop sign. Chapman was issued a $25,000 secured bond. Caldwell County Sheriff's officers assisted in the arrest.

McDowell investigators recover a $60,000 stolen tractor, but are still looking for the suspect. The Ford Heavy Construction tractor was removed from a building site on Poole Mountain Road and recovered Monday in a wooded area on Wilson Valley Road off Goose Creek Road. The suspect is described as a white male, 30-40 years old with brown or sandy hair. He was seen driving the tractor Saturday evening, when he ran over a fence post in a resident's yard on Goose Creek Road. Anyone with information should call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

Asheville Police have charged a Canton man with firing shots at an officer. A police pursuit about 2:45 Wednesday morning ended with Justyn David Ladet being charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official and Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill along with five other charges. Ladet was placed in the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond. Injuries sustained by Ladet were as a result of the motor vehicle crash and a previous altercation, according to Asheville Police.

The City of Hickory is conducting repairs to the sanitary sewer system today. The repairs are taking place in the 700 block of 2nd Avenue SW, between 7th Street SW and 8th Street SW. Construction is expected to take about four days.

NCDOT will hold a public meeting for proposed widening of N.C.181/North Green Street between St.Mary's Church Road and Clay Street on Tuesday June 20th from 4-7pm at Morganton City Hall, 305 East Union Street (Suite A100). The project's purpose is to improve safety and mobility along 181/North Green, according to NCDOT. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the meeting hours. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments regarding the project. No formal presentation will be made. All comments received will be taken into consideration as the project progresses, according to NCDOT.

Morganton based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is seeking a new executive director. The Board of Directors has formed a search committee and retained a Winston-Salem based fundraising counsel and executive search firm, Capital Development Services to conduct the search for its next executive director. Susie Hamrick Jones, the Founding Executive Director, announced in May that she will retire effective September 1st, after 22 years with Foothills Conservancy. The organization works to preserve and protect significant natural areas and open spaces in eight WNC counties, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, Caldwell, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln and Alexander.

Hickory Downtown Development Association has been designated as an accredited Main Street America program, according to the National Main Street Center. During the past ten years as an accredited Main Street program, HDDA has witnessed a net gain of 81 news businesses creating a net gain of 309 new jobs representing an investment of more than $34,000,000.

Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods will retire July 3rd, after a 37-year career with the National Park Service. The search for an interim superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway has begun and a selection is expected soon, according to a news release from the National Park Service.

Chesterfield Elementary will officially close prior to the 2018 school year and the Superintendent's contract was extended by one year in Monday night's regular Burke County Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam gave an end of year update that reviewed many of the issues with keeping Chesterfield open. To recap, there was overcrowding at Mountain Crest Elementary and the board's goal was to make sure students were in brick and mortar buildings rather than mobile units for safety reasons. The cost of the new Mountain View Elementary School is fully funded with costs taken from the capital outlay budget and will provide enhanced learning. Putnam's recommendation was to close Chesterfield Elementary and reassign students effective for the 2018-2019 school year to the new Mountain View Elementary. The board voted unanimously to approve Putnam's recommendation. The board also voted unanimously on extending Dr. Putnam's contract as Superintendent for another year, extending his contract for four years. Even with an extension in his contract, Putnam will maintain his current salary.

Three names were added Friday to the list of Burke County's Most Wanted. They include:
1. 41-year-old Billy Earl Murphy - Homeless, charged with (F) Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, (F) Larceny of Motor Vehicle & (M) FTA on DWLR
2. 34-year-old Kristopher Keith Childers - Morganton, charged with Parole Violation for Habitual Felon Charges
3. 39-year-old Sandy Kale Champion - Morganton, charged with Probation Violation for (F) Burglary Charges
Anyone with information as their whereabouts is urged to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 828-438-5500 leave an anonymous tip at Morganton-Burke Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

George Hildebrand Elementary recently received a $7,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. The Foundation provides grants of up to $7,000 to the nation's neediest schools so they can extend, update, and diversify the book and print collections in their libraries with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning.

Catawba County has confirmed two cases of rabies, bringing the 2017 total of confirmed cases to three. A resident was bitten by a fox outside his home in Sherill's Ford on June 7th. The fox was captured and tested positive for rabies. Animal Services officers advised the resident to seek medical attention following the bite. The second case involved an altercation between a dog and raccoon on May 22nd near the Town of Catawba. The dog is current on rabies vaccinations. The raccoon was sent to the NC Public Health Lab, where it tested positive for rabies. Animal Services reminds all pet owners that rabies is still present in the local wild animal population and it is a threat to pets and humans, year round. The best way to protect your pets from rabies is to have them properly vaccinated.

The SBI has been a key player in 14 Meth traffickers sentenced last week in federal court in Statesville. Since 2012, the SBI has been coordinating with law enforcement officials from nine northwestern counties along with the FBI in a campaign called 'Operation Dixie Crystal' - in an effort to root out methamphetamine traffickers. 14 of the 16 traffickers sentenced were from cases that stem from Operation Dixie Crystal. SBI agents reportedly joined forces with law enforcement agencies in the Hickory area to gather enough evidence to prosecute. SBI agents along with other local law officers seized more than 20 kiolgrams of crystal meth, $500,000 in cash and dozens of firearms as evidence for last week's convictions. The traffickers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 21 months to 18 years.

The Falling Creek Bridge in Hickory is now closed to traffic due to scheduled replacement of the bridge.The detour route around the construction includes Falling Creek Road, 29th Avenue NE, and NC 127. The replacement may take up to a year for completion.

An Eastern Burke County resident is charged with felony probation. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office Friday reported the charges on 26-year-old Zacahary Gray Jenkins of Icard.  He was also charged with FTA for probation violation, assault on a female and FTA for carrying a concealed weapon. Bond was set at $101,000 with a court appearance scheduled for today.

The SBI is investigating an officer-involved shhoting that occurred just before 10pm Wednesday. Caldwell Communications received a 911 call from 75-year-old Donald Marcus, Sr. of Hudson. Smith made suicidal statements to dispatchers and said he had a handgun. Caldwell deputies responded and spoke to Smith trying to de-escalate the situation. However, Smith raised his right hand and fired a single gunshot. One deputy, seeing Smith raise his gun, fired two rounds from his patrol rifle. Smith, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had an apparent self-inflected gunshot wound to the head and two wounds to the torso. A small caliber handgun was retrieved from Smith's right hand. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office called the SBI to investigate.

A Granite Falls man is sentenced to prison following a guilty plea to multiple drug offenses. 35-year-old Patrick David Hollar plead guilty to manufacturing meth, attempted trafficking in meth by possession, and possession of heroin. Reports say a concerned citizen in Caldwell County told authorities in November 2015 that the defendant was manufacturing meth at his residence. During a search of his home, Caldwell County Sheriff's officers and SBI agents located the meth lab; finding items consistent with the manufacture of meth and also doscovering heroin. Hollar reportedly admitted to investigators that he made the meth for his personal use, and traded some in order to obtain supplies to make more. Hollar is sentenced to serve up to six years.

A Hickory man was given an active prison term of six to eight years following his guilty plea, Wednesday, to trafficking opium by possession during Catawba County Superior Court. 49-year-old James Arthur Kendrick was also imposed a mandatory fine of $50,000.

The City of Morganton Parks and Recreation Department is holding a public input meeting for the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan at 6 o'clock, tonight, at Mountain View Recreation Center, 645 First Street. The Public Input Meeting is an opportunity for residents to share their ideas and let the consultants and staff know what kinds of programs and amenities they want to see in Morganton now, and in the next 15 to 20 years.

A McDowell County man was killed Wednesday morning in a tractor accident. 76-year-old Jack Merill Davis of Old Fort was pushing a downed tree in area off Pine Cove Road
when the accident occurred. A spokesperson with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office states the tree came loose from the front of the tractor, fell back into the cab and pinned Davis. He was pronounced dead at the scene. McDowell EMS and Rescue, Crooked Creek Fire Department, and the McDowell County Sheriff's Office responded to the accident scene.

Methamphetamine Traffickers were sentenced this week in Statesville. 16 defendants were handed sentences according to the U.S.Attorney's Office Western District of NC. Among the 16 sentenced:
James Edward Russell III of Hudson
Teddy Dwane McGee of Hickory
Larry Chad Roberts of Taylorsville
Davey Yang of Conover
Troy Lynn Bell of Taylorsville
Wendy Michelle Pennington of Hickory
Ritchie Allen Shook of Granite Falls
Shana Elyse Teague of Taylorsville
The defendants were reportedly involved in drug trafficking organizations that have trafficked meth worth millions of dollars.

A Marion man is taken into custody after leading authorities on a chase. Just before 8:30am Tuesday, two McDowell County Sheriff's Office detectives began a chase of a pickup truck on Joe Branch. After the chase, an arrest was made of 40-year-old Ben Lee Capps. He was charged with fleeing to elude arrest, no operators license and damage to real property, with a forthcoming charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Hickory City Council heard a special presentation Tuesday night detailing the University Mill District. It passed, followed by a unanimous vote to approve an 11-item consent agenda. A public hearing outlined the proposed 2017-2018 fiscal budget. Highlights include a budget of $95,696,964 keeping the current tax rate of .5665 cents per $100 valuation, but increasing the property tax revenue within the rate about $1 million dollars. Solid waste fees will increase in this budget, and changes to health care for city employees will allow a choice in insurance benefits. The complete budget is available on the City of Hickory website.

There will be a public presentation tonight of the Downtown Morganton Master Plan Draft. A reception at COMMA will start at 5:30, with the presentation at 6:15. The event will present artist renderings of some future projects along with demographic information. The seven key goals are to restore two way operations to the streets, maximize the Courthouse Square as a more flexible public space, focus activity into the core, diversify and expand housing, connect to the community, embed art into everything, and have fun and experiment.

Sex charges are filed on two Burke County men in separate arrests after an undercover operation by the Burke County Criminal Investigations Division. The Burke County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, reported the arrests of 33-year-old Ricky Lee Lackey, Jr. of Morganton and 30-year-old Joshua Leon Barnes of Connelly Springs. Lackey was charged with Solicitation of Minor by Electronic Device while Barnes was charged with Sex Offender Use of Social Media. They were placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under secured bonds of $25,000 each. Valdese Police assisted the Sheriff's Office in the Lackey case.

The proposed budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year was proposed and there was a consideration of removing a vehicle tax during Monday night's regular Morganton City Council meeting. City Manager Sally Sandy presented the proposed budget that would include changes in rates, and increases from the current $72.6 million dollars to $73 million. The budget also calls for a change in rates in sewer, solid waste and COMPAS Cable in the general fund. A public hearing for the proposed budget was called for Monday, June 19 at 6pm. In the last regular City Council meeting, council considered removing the $20 vehicle tax that was adopted last year as a way to provide revenue source to replace the loss of the privilege license tax. The vote to remove the tax during Monday night's meeting did not pass due to a 2-2 vote.

Burke County receives a $300,000 grant from the EPA. The grant will assist with the assessment and cleanup of local contaminated properties - commonly referred to as brownfield sites. The funds will be used to determine the extent of site contamination, remove environmental uncertainities, and clean-up contaminated properties as needed - all in order to revive local industrial sites for future use and employment. According to the EPA, residential values near brownfield sites that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. The funds will focus on areas in Morganton, Glen Alpine, Drexel, Valdese, Rutherford College and Hildebran. Burke Development Inc. and amany of the county's municipalities assisted with the grant application.

Alexander County authorities are looking for a Statesville man in connection with a stabbing. Officers responded Sunday night to a residence on Highway 90 East in Stony Point about 10:15 and found 66-year-old Steven Anderson of Stony Point with multiple stab wounds. The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Shawn Donnell Whren, Jr., who is known to frequent Iredell County. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Whren is asked to contact Alexander County Crimestoppers at 828-632-8555. The suspect may still be armed.

The City of Morganton 2017-2018 budget is expected to be presented tonight at the City Council Meeting at City Hall. The proposed budget of $73,062,657 is a half of a percent increase over the actual fiscal year 2016/17 budget. The proposed budget does not call for an increase in the tax rate for property owners, or for the special downtown business district. The budget includes increases for residents in solid waste fees and sewer fees, while holding the same rates on electric service and water. The proposed also decreases the bundling discount of COMPAS TV, telephone and internet by 50% with a total elimination of the discount by next year. It does not change residential internet rates or telephone rates, but does raise commercial telephone rates. Effective January 1st COMPAS Cable will raise broadcast basic cable service to $30.40 per month, with basic cable service going from $76.63 to $82.63. City Council is expected to call a public hearing on the budget at 6pm June 19th.

A Catawba County jury found a Hickory man guilty of indecent exposure following a three-day trial. 46-year-old Neil Wayne Hoyle faces up to 21 months in prison following last week's verdict. Hoyle reportedly stopped at a Hickory residence in March 2016 as a female was unloading groceries from her vehicle. The defendant told her the home looked like it needed remodeling and inquired if he could give her his business card. Reports say as she approached him, she saw that Hoyle had exposed himself. She then went inside and called law enforcement. Hoyle had previously served a prison term in Kansas for a rape conviction; and was further convicted in 2014 in Catawba County for failure to register as a sex offender.

Another name added Friday to Burke County's Most Wanted. 39-year-old Ryan Patrick Denning of Newton is wanted on Felony charges of Breaking & Entering, Larceny After Breaking & Entering alon with Possession of Stolen Goods. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 828-438-5500 or you can leave an anonymous tip with Morganton-Burke Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

Authorities are investigating a theft that occurred at a McDowell County campground. Ralph Godbee of Girard, Georgia told deputies he took his gold dredge to the Lucky Strike Campground and Goldmine to look for gold in the campground's creek. Godbee told officers he took the dredge to the bridge near Rhom Town Road; where he placed it in the water and secured it to a tree. Whenever he returned several days later, the dredge was missing. The dredge is described as a silver 4-inch Keene mini; with a Honda engine valued at $5,000. Anyone with information about the theft or possible suspects is urged to call McDowell Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

A Morganton man is charged with felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods. The Burke County Sheriff's Office Thursday reported the charges on 71-year-old Joseph Oswald Civitello, in reference to a larceny at a residence on Narrow Way in Morganton. Civitello's next court date is June 14th and the investigation is ongoing with additional charges pending.

Hickory Fire Battalion Chief Todd Frizsell has retired. He began his employment with the City in 1989 and has served in various positions, including sinci 2013, as Captain and Battalion Chief over the training division. In his retirement Frizsell plans to continue serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Grace Chapel Fire Department.

Shelby Yang of Claremont has won Congressman Patrick McHenry's 10th District Art Competition. Yang's work, "Luminous Soul" was selected by a panel of judges from across the 10th District. Yang is a junior at Bunker High where she studies art under teacher Jana Farris. Congressman McHenry hosted a reception for her Tuesday at his Hickory office, where Yang's parents, Lee and Charlie Yang joined her. Yang's work will be displayed in the U.S.Capitol in Washington D.C. along with pieces from each of the Congressional Districts from across the country.

The April unemployment rate in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area was 3.9%. Area county rates include Alexander at 3.4%, Avery 4.4, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties at 4%, Lincoln 3.7, McDowell 3.9 and Watauga 3.8%. According to the NC Department of Commerce, unemployment rates in April decreased in 97 of the the state's 100 counties. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.2 %, while Hyde County had the highest at 8.8%.

McDowell Sheriff's Investigators are looking for a stolen four-wheeler. The Green Yamaha ATV was taken last week at a residence on Smith Hill Road in Marion. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Billie Brown at 652-2237 or McDowell Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

Jury selection began this week for a Spindale church minister accused of assaulting a former church member. Brooke Covington - longtime minister at Word of Faith Fellowship is one of five church members to face trial in the case. She is accused of beating a man at a 2013 prayer service to expel him of homosexual demons. Covington has pleaded not gulty to the charges; but faces up to two years in prison if convicted. An investigation revealed that congregants were ordered by church members to lie to authorities looking into reports of abuse - the investigation further stating two assistant district attorneys and a veteran social worker were among thos who coached congregants and their children on what to say to officials. Former Assistant Attorneys Frank Webster and Chris Back of Burke County are no longer employed by 25th District Attorney David Learner's office.