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.