A kayaking accident led to a drowning over the weekend in the Linville Gorge.  Burke County Search and Rescue responded to the call around 7:30 p.m Saturday and spent some six hours traveling though tough terrain in the area of the Cambridge branch.  A male victim, who is thought to be from out of state, was found.  About fifty people took part in the search and rescue efforts. 

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A 25 year old Hildebran man is behind bars in Caldwell County today after the kidnapping of 3 people from a Hickory business, and the shooting of one of them shortly after 9 p.m. Friday nite.  Brendan Marshall Withers is charged with 3 counts of 1st degree kidnapping, 1 count of attempted murder, and one count of felony discharging a firearm to incite fear.  Withers allegedly took his victims to the 52 hundred block of Cannon Drive in the Sawmills community where one was shot.,  The victim was airlifted to an area trauma center with multiple gunshot wounds.  The other two kidnap victims were not injured.  Withers was able to evade officers, until  Saturday when they received a tip he was seeking medical treatment at Grace Hospital in Morganton  He as arrested there by Burke County Sheriff Deputies and turned over to Caldwell County authorities.

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A Lenoir man, who was reported missing Thursday nite was found dead Friday.  The body of Cecil Hayes was found in the Yadkin River, about 150 yards from where his car was parked in the Yadkin Shore Public Fishing Area off Highway 601..  Authorities say the cause of death was probably accidental drowning.  

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Some 1,352 ballots have already been cast in Burke County for the May 8th primary.  Of the total, 911 ballots have been cast for Republican candidates and 441 for Democrat candidates.  Early voting will continue this week from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. thru Friday and on Saturday from 8a.m. till one p.m. Voters can vote at the Board of Elections Office, the Morganton/Burke Senior Center, The Glen Alpine Town Hall, the Rutherford College Town Hall and the Hildebran Senior Center/Library.

Two of Burke County's Most Wanted have been arrested.

 According to the Burke County Sheriff's Office, on April 19th, Emily Katherine Garrison was taken into custody and faces three felony charges,including breaking/entering and larceny and one misdemeanor offense. Her bond was set at $30,000 secured.

On April 21st, Caldwell County Sheriff's deputies arrested Kendrick Schwarting and charged him with three felony offenses,including breaking/entering and larceny and one misdemeanor charge. He is being held in the Burke Catawba Detention Facility under a $50,000 secured bond.

The Fonta Flora State Trail has been expanded in Old Fort. On February 27th, Morganton-based Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina purchased 90 acres and conveyed the property to NC State Parks on April 17th. The acquisition was a conservation partnership among Foothills Conservancy, Camp Grier, and Dan and Denisa Allison, all of whom purchased portions of the property to help expand the Fonta Flora State Trail between Old Fort and Black Mountain.

Funds for the state's purchase came from the Connect NC bond, which passed in 2016, allows the state to borrow funds for projects associated with State Park land acquisition and construction of facilities.

Governor Cooper Tuesday announced a state public assistance disaster declaration for the Village of Cedar Rock in Caldwell County to help recover costs cleaning up from the remnants of Tropical Storm Nate in October.

The Village of Cedar Rock spent more than $16,000 clearing debris. The Governor's declaration means state funds will help pay for 75 percent of the cost of the debris removal with the Village of Cedar Rock responsible for 25 percent.

Cedar Rock will receive $12.288.

Patton and Liberty students were among the regional award winners recognized by the Asheville Museum of Art.

Winners from Patton include:

* Chloe Graf, a sophomore, won the Silver Key for drawing.

* Marissa Totty, junior, won Honorable Mention for drawing.

* Joel Vasquez, senior, won Honorable Mention for his ceramic teapot.

* Dillion Zander, senior, won Honorable Mention for his ceramic blowfish.

Winners from Liberty are:

* Katelyn Thao, an eighth grader, won the Gold Key for a drawing titled "Fox and Feather." which will be on display at the Biltmore Estate through May. Katelyn also won an Honorable Mention for her piece titled "Mothers Skirt."

* Annabel Macias, a seventh grader, won a Silver Key, for a self portrait.

* Hannah Shores, a seventh grader, won an Honorable Mention for an acryloc painting titled "Desert Wasteland."

An update to a story we ran Thursday morning –

A shooting Wednesday night in Asheville leads to the death of a woman, two of her children, and the assailant.

Asheville Police officials say 35-year-old Maurice Garner had previously been in an argument with his girlfriend 32-year-old Erica Smith at her workplace.

Later, Garner reportedly fatally wounded Smith, her 15-year-old son, and her 13-year-old daughter at their home.

Three other juveniles received non-life threatening injuries.

Garner’s body was located in a car near the crime scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Asheville Police at 828-252-1110 or Buncombe Crimestoppers at 828-255-5050.

Former Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Captain and current sheriff candidate Jason Reid is under investigation for stalking – that confirmed by the NC SBI.

A spokesman with the state bureau of investigation says the agency received a request last August from the Lincoln County district attorney’s office to investgate an allegation of stalking; that reportedly occurred in early 2017 in Lincolnton.

Published reports indicate Reid’s former girlfriend initiated the allegations after she discovered a GPS tracking device on her vehicle.

A Burke County man is sentenced to five to seven years Tuesday during Catawba County Superior Court.

34-year-old Jonathan Ray Bennett of Connelly Springs pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, breaking and entering a motor vehicle and obtaining property by false pretense.

Bennetts' sentence length was enhanced by prior felony convictions for larceny in Yancey County (2010), possession of stolen goods and obtaining property by false pretense in Mitchell County (2004 and 2008).

Four Burke students have been accepted to the Duke TIP 7th grade talent search. Two of the four students were from Liberty, Karsen Hallyburton and Ella Styles, with Sarah Mull from Heritage and East Middle's Riley Stilwell also invited.

Only those students who score at or above the 95th percentile on grade-level standardized test scores qualify. The students can take the ACT or SAT, which are designed for college-bound 11th and 12th graders.

Participants receive a variety of support services and gain access to research and other information.

Two people were killed and others injured after a shooting Wednesday night in Asheville.

Police responded about 10:30 to Hansel Avenue and found 32-year-old Erica Nichelle Smith     of Asheville deceased. Six other people were taken to Mission and one of those,a juvenile succumbed to injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Asheville Police at 252-1110 or Buncombe CrimeStoppers at 255-5050.

McDowell deputies need the public's help in locating a 16-year-old Marion runaway. According to the McDowell County Sheriff's Office, Devon Cole Harwood left his residence on Paradise Circle about 2:45pm Sunday.

Harwood is described as a white male, 5'9" tall, weighing about 207 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Harwood is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 652-2235 or the McDowell County 911 communications center at 652-4000.

Three Hickory firefighters were recently promoted.

The Hickory Fire Department has promoted Stephen Romano to the rank of Captain. Romano has numerous certifications and is a graduate of the Office of the State Fire Marshal's High Angle Rescue School as well as the North Carolina Breathing Equipment School.

Bradley Hill has been promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator. Hill was hired as a firefighter for the department in 1999, and has completed training in many areas. He is also certified as an EMT through the North Carolina Office of Emergency Services.

Also being promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator is Michael Sherrill. He has completed many certifications and is currently attending Cleveland Community College and working toward a degree in Fire Protection technology.

A Burke County couple has been arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses.

Late last week, officers with the Burke Sheriff’s Narcotics Division assisted federal and other local law enforcement agencies during a traffic stop and a subsequent search of two Connelly Springs’ residences.

The searches conducted on Maple Grove Avenue and Deerfield Lane netted several ounces of meth, several pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, US currency, and firearms.

24-year-old Sebastian Bronson-Lee LeFevers of Connelly Springs was detained and charged with maintaining a vehicle and dwelling place for a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, and trafficking meth.

He was also charged with an outstanding warrant for assault on a female.

22-year-old Skyla Ann Rockett was also arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle and dwelling place for a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Rockett and LeFevers were both transported to the Burke-Catawba Confinement Facility.

Rockett’s bond set at 50-thousand-dollars secured and LeFevers at 26-thousand secured.

The Drug Enforcement Agency, the bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and Morganton Public Safety worked with the Burke Sheriff’s office in the case.

A shooting in Catawba County over the weekend injures one Hickory man while another man faces numerous felony charges

42-year-old Joe Lewis White of Hickory was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and communicating threats.

48-year-old Derrick Allen Shade was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center with reported non-life threatening injuries.

The shooting occurred at a grocery store on South Center Street.

White surrendered to Hickory Police.

The case remains under investigation.

A sinkhole has closed a section of road in Lenoir indefinitely.

Lenoir Public Works has closed a section of Westview Street until workers can repair the 14-plus-foot sinkhole on the side of the road.

Westview will be closed between Grove Avenue SW and Wright Street SW.

The sinkhole was discovered Monday.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division have netted at least three arrests so far this week.

Assisting state probation officers on Airport Rhodhiss Road, investigators discovered firearms, methamphetamine, and controlled substance paraphernalia.

43-year-old Charles Ray Hildebran was arrested and charged with weapon possession by a felon, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, and parole violation.

He was jailed under a 64-thousand-dollar bond.

Also arrested at the scene – 18-year-old Marcus Bowman of Newton.

Bowman was charged with possession of a schedule two substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His unsecured bond was set at 4-thousand dollars.

Meanwhile an anonymous tip led officers to a Connelly Springs residence to investigate alleged drug activity.

37-year-olds Bryan Douglas Rhoney was arrested on multiple drug possession charges and jailed under a 10-thousand-dollar bond.

A couple has been charged by Caldwell County authorities regarding the disposal of dead domesticated animals.

33-year-old Mary Beth Rogers of Smithville Tennessee and 33-year-old Solomon Deprince Norwood have each been charged with 8 misdemeanors in the case.

Both Rogers and Norwood turned themselves into officers Wednesday.

The charges were issued by officials with Caldwell County Animal Control.

Rogers was released with a written promise to appear in court May 7^th; while Norwood was given the same court date and placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a 750-dollar secured bond.

The joint investigation between Lenoir Police and Caldwell animal control is ongoing; with no further details regarding the case issued at this time.

A Catawba County jury sentences a Hickory man to a prison term of up to 12 years.

56-year-old Gary Lynn Johnson had been found guilty of habitual larceny, possession of drug paraphernalia, and habitual felon status during a two-day trial in Catawba County Superior Court.

Reports show Johnson went into a Hickory business in December 2015 where he concealed multiple items and left the business without paying for them.

Hickory Police later discovered the items Johnson removed from the store along with drug paraphernalia.

Johnson’s sentence was lengthened by his status as a habitual felon for prior convictions including breaking and entering and breaking and entering a motor vehicle.

A Hickory woman claims her home was vandalized as retaliation for a deadly shooting that occurred over the weekend.

WSOC-TV reports Maudie Hewitt states she was targeted following the incident at the Vault Bar in downtown Hickory; while more than a dozen bullets struck her home.

Reports say friends had gathered at the night spot to celebrate her grandson’s recent release from prison.

As the bar was closing, four people were shot nearby; including Tony Watts of Claremont who later died from his wounds, and a Morganton man Joe Clifford Tipps who was treated and released from CHS Blue Ridge Valdese.

Shooters also targeted another home with gunfire who reportedly is a witness to the nightclub incident.

At newstime, there have been no arrests.

The Catawba County Republican Party will hold primary debates for the offices of 25th District Attorney, Catawba County Sheriff and Clerk of Court of Catawba County on Tuesday, April 17th.  The event will be held, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Piedmont Center, 1375 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard in Hickory.  The Catawba County Republican Party says those three offices were chosen because the primary winner of each race will be the winner of the office, as there will be no Democrat opponent on the November ballot.  The event is free and the public is invited to attend, although seating is limited..  The debates will be live streamed on the Catawba County GOP Facebook page at 6:25 p.m.  

Deputies in Catawba County arrested 100 people Wednesday in a roundup that began before dawn.  The Operation 100 Proof brought in individuals with collective felony charges that numbered 350.  Narcotics officers had been traveling throughout the county making drug buys of products like pain pills, heroin and methamphetamine.  Wednesday morning they rounded up the suspects and even confiscated more drugs from some suspects in the roundup.

The names of the three people killed in North Cove/Marion are 39 year old Kacey Case Haney of 182 Lonon Lane, 49 year old Christopher Scott Childres of 43E Oakwood Dr. Nebo, and 48 year old Jeffrey Dale Haney of 182 Lonon Lane.  Kacey Haney and Chris Childres were found dead inside the home.  Jeffrey Haney was found dead outside the home.  Police surmise Haney killed his estranged wife and Childres and then went outside, called 911 and killed himself.  He used a shotgun.  At one time, Mrs. Haney had had a restraining order against Jeffrey Haney, but it had expired.  Mrs. Haney had a son from a previous marriage, but he was not at home at the time of the shooting.

Catawba Valley Medical Center and Frye Regional Medical Center have been made aware and want to advise residents about a phone scam in the area.

According to the Alexander County Sheriff's Office, callers are posing as reps from the hospital. This is a case of Caller ID "spoofing," a high-tech manipulation of the Caller ID feature that allows the scammer to disguise their true identity by making the phone number appear to be that of the hospital. This scam has been targeting hospital patients nationwide.

The hospitals offer tips about this recent phone scam:

* If you have not been a patient at either hospital, or are not currently scheduled for a medical procedure, it is unlikely that you would be receiving a call from either hospital.

* If you are a CVMC or FRMC patient (or a patient at one of their physician practices) and uou are unsure as to why you would receive a call from them, ask for the caller’s name, hospital department and a direct number to call them back. You may call the Business Services Departments directly:

  * Catawba Valley Medical Center – 828-326-2477

  * Frye Regional Medical Center – 828-315-5540

A Caldwell County Deputy has been injured after an accident on Playmore Beach Road late Monday evening.  The Caldwell County Public Information Office identifies the deputy as Mark Noble, He is listed in stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center.  While searching for an individual,  Noble lost control of his 2014 Ford Explorer, going down an embankment and hitting a tree.  The patrol vehicle was a total loss.  The accident happened around 11:30 p.m.

A Marion man faces multiple child sex charges.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reported the charges Tuesday morning on 28-year-old Copper Erion Eckenrod of Holly Street.

He was charged with two counts each of first-degree sex offense of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child. It is alleged that Eckenrod had inappropriate sexual contact with an acquaintance for years and the incidents began when the girl was 5.

Eckenrod also faces similar charges from the Marion Police Department.

A Valdese man has been arrested for entering a local business while openly armed with a pistol in his hand.

Reports from the Burke Sheriff’s Office say deputies responded to O’Mara Incorporated on Fashion Avenue in Rutherford College last Friday to reports of an armed subject.

Former employee 40-year-old Pheng Lee had reportedly entered the business through an employee door and was walking through the building while holding a pistol.

As officers approached the business, they were further advised the subject had left the property in a silver Lexus.

Lee was stopped by authorities and complied with their commands; while officers seized a loaded handgun from the front seat of his vehicle.

Witnesses at the business reported Lee had been looking for relatives.

Lee was charged with going armed to the terror of the public, second degree trespassing, and felonious breaking and entering.

He was placed in the Burke Catawba Confinement facility under a 251-thousand-dollar secured bond.

An inmate convicted of first-degree murder in Cumberland County was discovered dead at Marion Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide reports say.

30-year-old Jermaine Lamar Johnson was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday evening just before 9 at the McDowell County facility.

Reports state prison medical staff and paramedics attempted to revive him but were unsuccessful.

State Department of Public safety records show Johnson was serving one of two consecutive life prison terms after being charged with murder in Fayetteville in 2011 for the shooting deaths of Benita McMillan and Tierra Underwood.

Johnson’s death remains under investigation by the NC Department of Public Safety.

A Sherills Ford man was taken into custody after officers seized drugs and a firearm at his residence.

43-year-old David Lewis Bradshaw was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver meth, possession of meth, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.

After receiving a tip that Bradshaw was allegedly involved in meth distribution, investigators obtained a warrant to search his home.

Officers discovered over three ounces of meth, 3-point-75 ounces of marijuana, assorted prescription pills, and a handgun.

Bradshaw was jailed under a 75-thousand-dollar secured bond.

A Catawba County man died early Sunday morning after shots were fired outside a Hickory business. Officers responded to The Vault Bar and Lounge at 247 1st Avenue NW, just before 2 and found numerous shell casings on 1st Ave NW, in close proximity to the Bar and Lounge.

A man, suffering from a gunshot wound, arrived at Frye Regional Medical Center and was later pronounced deceased. He was identified as 20-year-old Antonio Watts of Claremont.

Three other people were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds:

 * 25-year-old Garan Colby Wilburn of Hickory was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment for his injuries.

* 23-year-old Keeuntae Kee of Gastonia was treated and released from Catawba Valley Medical Center.

* 28-year-old Joe Clifford Tipps of Morganton was treated at CHS-Blue Ridge Valdese and released.

The four had been patrons of The Vault Bar and Lounge just prior to the shooting incident outside.

Hickory Police is continuing this investigation and asks anyone with information to contact Investigator C. De Los Santos at 828-261-2621

Two people are wanted in connection with break-ins in Burke County. On March 25th, reports were filed with the Burke County Sheriff's Office in reference to breaking and enterings that had occurred to homes, vehicles, and businesses, including a church.

The investigation led the Sheriff's Office to two suspects, 27-year-old Kendrick Schwarting of Evans Street Morganton and 27-year-old Emily Katherine Garrison of Anchor Drive Granite Falls.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Garrison and Schwarting is asked to call the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 438-5500 or Crimestoppers at 437-3333.

Four people were arrested Thursday afternoon from a drug bust at a Morganton motel.

About 2:30, a Morganton Public Safety Narcotics Investigator received a complaint about the odor of marijuana coming from a room at The Comfort Inn on Burkemont Avenue.The officer with assistance from additional Public Safety officers and the Burke Narcotics Task Force conducted a search inside the room.

Officers found:

 - 5 loaded pistols

 - Over $18,000 in cash

 - 2 kilo's of meth (4.4 pounds)

 - a bullet proof vest

 - numerous items of drug paraphernalia

Through the investigation, it was determined that the hotel room had been used for sale and use of illegal narcotics.

Arrested in the case were four people:

Russell Monroe Dunn Jr. 34,

Erica Lindsay Walker, 29

Dunn and Walker's bond was set at $400,000 secured bond each.

Joseph Tray Benfield, 20 and a 16 year old female had bond set at $200,000 secured each with all four scheduled to appear in Burke District Court today.

The Caldwell County Fire Marshal's Office and Sheriff's Investigators are seeking information about a suspicious fire.

Just before 10:30 Wednesday night, North Catawba Fire and Rescue responded to a mobile home fire in the 2700 block of Clarks Chapel Road Lenoir. The fire appears to have been intentionally set.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Caldwell County Fire Marshal's Office at 757-1277 or Crime Stoppers at 758-8300.

Former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene and her son Michael Greene, are facing federal charges related to the misuse of public funds. U.S.Attorney R.Andrew Murray made the announcement Thursday.

According to allegations made in the indictment, between 2007 and August 12th 2017, Wanda Greene and Michael Greene carried out a conspiracy to embezzle public finds, by misusing their government credit cards, also known as PCards issued to them by Buncombe County, and by using the PCards of other County employees, to make inappropriate purchases.

A Morganton man faces charges after a motorcyle chase which ended in McDowell County.

Valdese Police on Tuesday reported the theft of a motorcycle. The suspect was spotted on the bike subsequent to the theft, but ran from officers and was not apprehended.

About 5:30pm, a Burke Sheriff's deputy spotted the subject and gave chase on I-40 west where speeds reached 110 mph, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office.

The chase led into McDowell County and ended on Burma Road where the man suddenly jumped off the motorcycle and was taken into custody without incident.

30-year-old Kyle Edward Poteat was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $27,500 secured bond.

The Burke County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the McDowell County Sheriff's Office and the Highway Patrol.

February unemployment figures were released Wednesday by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton rate was 4.1% with Asheville's rate at 3.7%.

Area county rates include:

Alexander 3.6%

Avery 4.7%

Burke 4.1%

Caldwell 4.4%

Catawba 4%

Lincoln 3.9%

McDowell 4.1

Watauga 4.2%

Buncombe County had the state's lowest unemployment in February at 3.5%, while Hyde County had the highest at 14.9%.

An investigation is continuing by Marion Police in connection with a Breaking, Entering and Larceny that occurred Sunday March 25th at Boondocks Sports and Grill on U.S.221 South in Marion.

According to Marion Police, two unidentified individuals went into the establishment and took an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone with information on the identity of these two individuals ia asked to call the Marion Police Department at 652-5205 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME.

Morganton Public Safety Officers responded early Monday, to a reported breaking and entering at K-Mart on Bost Store.

The store manager arrived about 6:45 and discovered the front door window broken. After officers arrived, they found that the glass had been smashed with a rock.

Several items of jewelry from two display cases were taken, with a value that is expected to exceed $1,000. The thief was inside the store for about two minutes before exiting. Morganton Public Safety obtained surveillance video from the store and will be releasing images and suspect description.

Two Burke Meth Traffickers were sentenced Monday in Statesville.

U.S.District Judge Richard L.Vorhees handed down lengthy prison terms to 41-year-old Chuck Allen Church Jr., of Morganton and in a separate case, 54-year-old Jeffrey Brent Church of Connelly Springs.

Chuck Allen Church, Jr. was sentenced to 240 months, followed by five years of supervised release, with Jeffrey Brent Church receiving a sentence of 169 months in prison five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison terms.

An investigation is continuing by Marion Police in connection with a Breaking, Entering and Larceny that occurred Sunday March 25th at Boondocks Sports and Grill on U.S.221 South in Marion.

According to Marion Police, two unidentified individuals went into the establishment and took an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone with information on the identity of these two individuals ia asked to call the Marion Police Department at 652-5205 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME.

A missing Taylorsville couple were taken into custody Monday in Virginia.

Wytheville Police arrested 48-year-old Carl Lee Dotson and 32-year-old Brandi Michelle Risden who were found in be in possession of a firearm and controlled substance. Charges are pending for Dotson and Risden in the state of Virginia and are also awaiting extradition back to North Carolina.

Last week, Dotson was issued a warrant for failing to appear on charges of Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury and Assault by Strangulation in Alexander County Superior Court. It was discovered that Risden, Dotson's girlfriend was missing with their four-month-old daughter. The child was later found safe with a family member in West Virginia.