A Burke County Public School employee has been charged with assault. Crawford Lionel Ellis, 49, of Hickory, was charged by a school resource officer for striking a non-year-old in the face with his fist. Ellis was working as an after-school daycare worker at Icard Elementary when the incident occurred. A Burke County Public Schools news release states Ellis, who had been employed since 2005, was terminated immediately. Upon being charged with assault on a child under 12 , Ellis was transported to the magistrate's office where he was released on a written promise to appear in court November 1.

Burke Deputies responded to a shooting about 6pm Wednesday on Denton's Chapel Church Road in Morganton. The victim was airlifted to Charlotte. A warrant for Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury with Intent to Kill has been issued on David Arrex Burleson, 38. Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Burleson should be considered armed and dangerous.

Former McDowell Sheriff Jackie Turner,Sr. died at his residence on Wednesday. A native and lifelong resident of McDowell County, Turner began his law enforcement with the Marion Police Department. In 1994 he was elected Sheriff and served until his retirement in 2008. According to Beam Funeral Service & Crematory in Marion, a celebration of Sheriff Turner's life will be held on Saturday at 3pm at Redeemed Free Will Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 1:30 till 3, prior to the service. Honors along with pallbearers will be provided by law enforcement agencies.

Continental has given three local high school students full-time positions as part of the company's student apprenticeship program. The three students from McDowell and East Burke, were chosen from an interview screening and testing process called an Apprenticeship Orientation. The selected students were William Ward of McDowell as well as Bryson Lockee and James Helton of East Burke. These students will receive a full-time job, on-the-job training, a debt-free Associate's Degree and a North Carolina Department of Commerce Journeyman's Certificate.