A Catawba County man has been arrested a second time in less than a week for stalking. Everette Lucius Durham III, was initially arrested January 24th for stalking the victim at her residence, floowing the victim out of town, and being at her residence after warnings to stay away. Reports say the harassment and stalking had been going on-going since late December. Morganton Public Safety officers checked the victim's vehicle for possible signs of tampering, and they discovered a GPS tracking unit concealed inside the vehicle. The tracking unit and other surveillance items found outside the residence were seized as evidence. On Sunday, while the victim was shopping locally, another customer informed her that a man was lying underneath her vehicle tampering with something. Officers located another GPS tracker placed under her vehicle. Witnesses described the suspect and vehicle to officials which matched Durham's description. He was later stopped by officers and transported to the magistrates office. Bond was set at $400,000.

Area hospitals continue visitor restrictions based on increases in reported flu-like illnesses throughout the state.Carolinas Healthcare Blue Ridge facilities in Morganton and Valdese maintain restrictions of no visitors age 12 and under. Mission Health, which includes McDowell Hospital, has elevated its' restrictions to accept only partners and immediate family members over the age of 12 into patient care areas. Visitor restrictions will remain in place until reported flu-like activity decreases. Health officials urge those who have not yet received the flu vaccine to do so immediately.

A Marion man has been charged with disseminating obscene material to a minor. The guardian of a 13-year-old male reported to the McDowell Sheriff's Office that someone had sent a picture of a partially nude girl on the teen's Facebook messenger. An investigation determined that 31-year-old Timothy Allen Davidson had sent the photo.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office has taken several reports in the past 2 weeks regarding the larceny of catalytic converters from church vans. The vans were in the parking lots of the churches. You are asked to be on the lookout and report suspicious persons or vehicles. Anyone with information about who is responsible is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 828-758-8300.

Caldwell County Sheriff's Investigators responded to what is believed to be a murder/suicide Wednesday afternoon. Officers responded to a Granite Falls residence where a man and woman were found dead from gunshot wounds. Names are not being released pending notification of family members. Investigators say the man shot his wife then turned the gun on himself. There is no suspicion of foul play. Officers had responded to a previous call at the residence in late fall.

An additional arrest has been made in the arrest of a Valdese man. Burke County detectives arrested LeighKathrine Mina, 30, of Boone for the felonious first-degree kidnapping of Carlton Lamar Edmondson. Reports say Mina was brought before a Burke magistrate and placed in the Burke-Catawba Confinement Center under a $200,000 bond. Mina reported that she recently married Robert Leroy Littleton - the first suspect arrested in Edmondson's disappearance. Edmondson has not been located; the investigation continues with additional charges pending. Previous reports state Edmondon's had received anonymous phone calls stating their son had been kidnapped; with a demand for money.

McDowell County deputies need the public's help in locating a sex offender who has violated registry rules. Robert Evans Cunningham Jr., 57, has vacated his Clear Creek Road Marion address in October. Reports say Cunningham has not registered a new address with which the law requires within three business days of the move. Anyone with information about Cunningham's whereabouts should call the McDowell Sheriff's office at 652-2235.

Some Morganton city residents will have an interruption to their water services Wednesday. Water Resources plans to shut off water at 10pm Wednesday to repair a faulty valve. One lane of North Green and NC 181 will be closed beginning at 1pm Wednesday in preparation. The shut-off will affect North Green from Independence Boulevard to the upper St.Mary's Church Road intersection at 181. Businesses and residences in these areas should expect to be without water for an estimated six hours. For more information contact the city's water resources department at 438-5276.

Eastern Burke County will be welcoming a new industry and creating more than 150 jobs. Zrodelta, maker and distributor of ammunition and firearms will open a company headquarters in Rutherford College. The new business will create 151 jobs and invest $34 million dollars over the next five years. The company will locate in the former BSN building adjacent to I-40 at Exit 113, and will begin establishing operations in February. A news release from Burke Development states an announcement was made last month that the company will receive a $500,000 building re-use grant to renovate and up-fit the building to meet their specific needs. The project is also supported by local grants from Burke County and the Town of Rutherford College - providing additional assistance for building and grounds renovations.

A Fleetwood NC man has been charged in connection with the kidnapping of a Valdese man. Robert Leroy Littleton, 31, has been charged with being a fugitive from justice, and first-degree kidnapping. Last Friday, the Burke Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division was contacted by Valdese police regarding the abduction of Carlton Lamar Edmondson, 30, whose parents told officers they had received anonymous phone calls stating their son had been kidnapped - further demanding money for his return. Burke detectives and SBI began following leads in the case that took them to Boone and Johnson City. Investigations led them to Littleton as a suspect - he was located in Mountain City and was arrested for Edmondson's kidnapping. Officials learned that Edmondson was taken to a remote location in Tennessee, assaulted and abandoned. Edmondson has not been located. The Johnson County Sheriff's Department continues to work the case as a missing person incident. Edmondson is a black male, 5'9", weighing about 250 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to contact the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 438-5500. Additional arrests and charges are pending. 

The Burke County Board of Education will hold its' regular meeting tonight at Patton High. Among the agenda items, board members will recognize students, employees and districts for excellence in spelling, reading, and math performance. Board members will also discuss a school reassignment draft proposal and hold a first reading of various school policies. The school meeting tonight begins at 6 o'clock at the Patton auditorium.

A Marion man, reported missing last week, has been located by authorities and charged with child sex crimes. John Wesley Conner, 50, was reported missing by family members and was believed to have threatened to harm himself. McDowell County Sheriff's deputies and detectives then began a search for Conner. Reports say that during their investigation, allegations surfaced that Conner had committed inappropriate sexual contact with an 11-year-old female acquaintance on numerous occasions. Conner was taken into custody Friday, and charged with three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, and one count of statutory rape.

Burke County Commissioners are expected to decide upon an ordinance allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages before Noon Sundays, at licensed premises - this on the agenda for today's meeting. Also, County manager Bryan Steen will make a presentation before the board concerning the new jail construction. Board members will also likely decide on a financing resolution regarding the jail.

Hickory Fire Department is requesting approval to donate surplus equipment to four high schools for their firefighter programs - including Patton and Draughn. The department goes before Hickory City Council today to seek approval for the donation. The equipment to be donated have met their life expectancy within the department. Each school will receive six air packs with face masks to assist in training and firefighter certification for high school students seeking a career in emergency services. Council members will also entertain three public hearings; including possible amendments to city ordinances, and a look at road improvements along Eighth Street NW. The meeting takes place in council chambers at 76 North Center Street, Hickory.

Three people were arrested Friday after a meth lab was discovered in Morganton. Public Safety was dispatched just after 8am, after a 911 hang-up call at 130 Shuffler Road. During the investigation, officers were informed of a working meth lab inside the residence. A Morganton Task Force agent interviewed three suspects, William Carswell, Robert Yancey and Jennifer White. They were charged with manufactured meth. Carswell and Yancey were involved in a physical altercation Thursday and were taken to CHS Morganton for injuries. After being released from the hospital they were taken to the magistrates office. Bond on the three people charged was set at $25,000 secured. The SBI assisted with the investigation and removed the lab from the home.

Two Lenoir residents face marijuana charges. Lenoir Police Narcotics investigators, after a month long investigation, served a search warrant Thursday morning at 105 Tripplett Drive Lot 1. Arrested were Danny and Seth Critcher. Seized at the residence were over 2 pounds of marijuana, $6,444 in cash and 9 weapons with ammunition. Anyone with information relating to this incident or any other drug related incidents is asked to contact Lenoir Police at 828-757-2100 or CrimeStoppers at 758-8300.

Hickory has been ranked among the safest cities in NC. According to SafeHome, a professional review site dedicated to making communities safer - the city of Hickory ranks 20th; with a safety score of 64.6. Safety scores are based on a number of factors including the city's crime trends, the FBI crime report and types of crimes committed within a single year, and number of law enforcement officers compared to the population. The study shows Hickory is noted to have exceptionally low violent crime and property crime rates as well as the best citizen-to-officer ratio among the state's top 25 safest crimes.

Effective this morning, Carolinas Healthcare System Blue Ridge is restricting visitors, age 12 and under, from visiting patients due to the growing prevalence of flu cases. If you have the flu or flu-like symptons, Blue Ridge is asking you to not visit patients in the hospital. If you need to see a healthcare provider, you can check wait times for the emergency room and urgent care at blueridgehealth.org.
Flu-like symptons include:
* fever
* headaches
* body aches/pain
* cough or sore throat
* stuffy or runny nose
* chills
* fatigue
* nausea
* vomiting and/or diarrhea
If you have the flu, you should rest, drink fluids and take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce minor pain or fever.

About 150 Caldwell County water customers are under a boil water advisory after a water line break near the town of Granite Falls. County water line customers that are affected live on Dudley Road at Moorelane Park Drive up to Grace Chapel Road and all on Wike Road. These customers are advised to boil water for consumption or use bottled water until testing can be done to determine if the water is clear. Updates will be sent as they occur, according to Caldwell County Public information.

North Carolina's congressional district map must be withdrawn quickly. The Associated Press reports that federal judges ruled Tuesday that the map drawn by legislative Republicans is illegally gerrymandered because of excessive partianship that gave the GOP a rock-solid advantage on most seats. The ruling marks the second time since 2010 that the GOP's congressional boundaries in the state have been thrown out by a three judge panel. The judges ordered that the General Assembly approve another set of districts by January 24th. Candidate filing for the November congressional elections is February 12th.

McDowell authorities are looking for Sydney Claire Harper, 17. She was last seen just before midnight Saturday, at her residence on Riverview Acres in Marion. Harper is described as a white female, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on Harper's whereabouts should call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235 or the McDowell County 911 communications center at 652-4000.

Caldwell County Sheriff's deputies responded Sunday to a reported shooting at 4233 Peachtree Place in Granite Falls. Deputies located Talmadge Gaston Coffey, 54, with a gunshot wound. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center where he later died, from injuries sustained in a physical altercation with Douglas Alfred Coffey, 56.  Investigators arrested Douglas Alfred Coffey and charged him with Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. The case is currently being reviewed by the 25th District Attorney's Office for further charges, according to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.

A Morganton man is sentenced to prison following a 2015 assault at a Burke County residence. Randall Kyle Ballard, 31, reportedly assaulted someone in September 2015 resulting in the victim's hospitalization, due to a severe beating. An investigation into the attack further revealed that Ballard was using the incident to initiate a co-defendant into a gang. Ballard's sentenced followed his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and soliciting gang activity. His custody, ranging from seven to nine years, was lengthened by his habitual felon status stemming from prior convictions in Burke and McDowell Counties.

Felony charges of Larceny of Motor Vehicle Parts and Possession of Stolen Goods are filed on a Burke County man. The Burke County Sheriff's Office on December 31st was contacted by Smart Electric Company about a front grill and headlights taken off a 2014 Ford work van. An investigation led to the arrest on January 3rd of Stewart Brandon Mullins at his Connelly Springs residence. Bond was set at $5,000 secured with additional charges expected.

A Newton man was sentenced to six to nine years in prison Thursday, during Catawba County Superior Court. Jimmie Rodgers Fambrough, 60, had his sentence enhanced by his habitual felon status , which includes prior convictions in Catawba County for possession of firearm by a felon (January 1988), possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine (June 2002) and possession of cocaine (February 2007). Fambrough's prison sentence was given following his plea to four counts of selling cocaine.

A 59 year old man, camping in Linville Gorge, was rescued early Saturday morning, According to NC Department of Public Safety, the man began experiencing chest pains while camping with a party along the Pinch-In Trail, at the bottom of the Gorge. Campers called 911 and a NC National Guard UH_60 aircrew and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department responded and were able to hoist the man to safety, where he was taken by EMS to a local hospital. Responders from Burke and McDowell Rescue, Parkway Fire and Rescue, along with Parkway Fire and Linville Central Mountain Rescue teams assisted at the scene.

The November unemployment rate in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area was 4.2%. The Asheville metro rate was 3.6%, which was the lowest rate in the state. Are county rates include:
* Alexander - 3.7%
* Avery - 4.3%
* Burke - 4.3%
* Caldwell - 4.5%
* Catawba - 4.2%
* Lincoln - 4%
* McDowell - 4%
* Mitchell - 4.8%
* Watauga - 3.8%
Buncombe County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.4% while Tyrrell County had the highest unemployment rate for November at 8.1%.

After being sought for nearly a month, a suspect wanted for the murder of a Granite Falls man turns himself into authorities. Thomas Alexander Seabrooks,32, of Stanfield was arrested Tuesday for the murder of Michael Bryan Gardner, 27, by Catawba County officials. Police reports say the murder took place on Main Avenue SW in Hickory November 6th, after an altercation between the two men. Seabrook's indictment was handed down December 4th. He is being held without bond in the Catawba County Detention Facility. The investigation continues - those with information about the incident should call Hickory Police at 828-328-5551.

A Valdese man, on the Most Wanted List in Iredell County for about a year, has been taken into custody. On Tuesday, the Burke County Sheriff's Office conducted a sting operation with the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, resulting in the arrest of Joseph Hal Shew, 32, after a traffic stop in Iredell County. Shew was wanted for Sex Offender Registration Violation. He was placed under a $50,000 secured bond. Burke Sheriff's investigators will be issuing warrants on Shew for being an unregistered sex offender within Burke County, where he had been living under an assumed name. The U.S.Marshals Office assisted in the case.

A Hickory man is charged with 33 felony counts of Animal Cruelty. Hickory Police Wednesday arrested Daniel Dawarren Pride, 37, on charges steming from an incident at 535 7th Avenue Place SW. He faces additional charges of Possession of Firearm by Felon; Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana; Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling /Place for Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $103,000 and the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information in reference to this investigation is asked to contact Hickory Police at 828-328-5551 or Sgt. L.Miller directly at 828-261-2605 or lmiller@hickorync.gov.

A Morganton traffic stop yields a kilo of methamphetaime. According to Morganton Public Safety, a PSO stopped a car for a traffic violation about 4pm December 22nd. The officer call for K9 assistance from the Burke County Sheriff's Office. K9 Macho indicated the presence of narcotic inside the vehicle. The driver, Matthew Gardner, 31, of Old Fort was arrested after a probable cause search of the car located 1,000 grams of meth. Gardner's bond was set at $100,000 secured with a Burke County District Court appearance scheduled for January 17th.

Hickory Police continue to investigate an armed robbery that occurred December 28th at a convenience store. Officers responded just after 9pm to Top Express at 1151 16th Street NE where the suspect took money from the store and left. The suspect is reported as being a white male, 5'5" to 5'7", with a skinny build and has a tatoo on his right hand. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Hickory Police at 828-328-5551 or contact Inv. C. De Los Santos directly at 828-261-2621 or cdelossantos@hickorync.gov.

Hickory Police make a couple of early morning drug arrests involving a Morganton resident and Conover man. Ya Par Vu, 37, of Morganton was charged with felony marijuana possession and felony probation violation out of county. Bond was set at $100,500 with a court appearance scheduled for today. In a separate arrest, Frank Rosenbaum, 47, was charged with possession of firearm by felon and trafficking opium or heroin. Bond was set at $60,600 with a court appearance set for today.