A Nebo school principal is the recipient of a regional honor. Nebo Elementary principal and current McDowell County 'Principal of the Year' - Desarae Kirkpatrick has been named 2018 Northwest Region Principal of the Year. Kirkpatrick has had several education assignments in McDowell County schools before being assigned to her present post at Nebo Elementary this past summer. In a press release, her associates commend her work - in that her students have demonstrated academic growth in each of her various work assignments. Kirkpatrick will compete against principals from each of the eight regions for the honor of 'State Principal of the Year' in the spring.

NC Department of Public Safety Officers initiated a Burke County roundup on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals on 24 warrants. 9 of the 13 were from Burke County including:
 * Andrew Lee Cole, 35, Connelly Springs, 9 (F) & 1 (M) - Bond $175,000
 * Jerry Lee Duckworth, 27, Morganton, 2(M) - Bond $1000
 * Terri Marie Duckworth, 41, Morganton, 1(F) & 1(M) - Bond $3500
 * Dominique Jarria Johnson, 24, Morganton, 1(M) - Bond $10,000
 * Joshua Allen Jubin, 29, Morganton, 1(M) - Written Promise
 * Rebekah Ann Meise, 22, Morganton, 1(M) - Bond $5000
 * Tonya Lynn Rector, 47, Morganton, 1(F) & 1(M) - $6000
 * Teri Ann Thomas, 34, Morganton, 1(M) - $5000
 * Pachea Charlene Tomlinson, 40, Connelly Springs, 1(M) - $3000
Others arrested were from Concord, Greenville NC and two homeless.

Morganton Public Safety officers responded just 2am Friday, to Carswell's Landscaping on Hopewell Road in reference to a breaking and entering in progress. Officers were able to apprehend the suspect, Eric Thomas Riddle, 32, in a creek bed near the business. Public Safety investigators had been investigating previous incidents at the business, in November and 2015 and Riddle was reportedly identified as the suspect in those cases as well. Public Safety was able to recover some property belonging to Carswell and is continuing the investigation. Riddle was placed in the Burke Catawba Detention Facility under a $26,000 secured bond.