A Hickory woman turned herself into authorities Tuesday morning in connection with the July shooting death of a Hickory teenager.

20-year-old Cheyenne Alexia Kenniston is now charged with second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Katyln Michelle Wittcop.

The incident occurred this past July 28^th on 13^th Avenue Northeast when officers discovered the victim and numerous persons at the crime scene.

A news release says Kenniston is jailed at the Catawba County Confinement Facility under a 100-thousand-dollar secured bond.

Her first court appearance was held Wednesday.

A Marion woman was transported to an Asheville hospital early Tuesday after being hit by a train.

Just after 7 o’clock, a representative from Norfolk Southern reported a pedestrian had been struck on the railroad tracks near the Clay Street intersection.

An investigation by Marion Police shows 39-year-old Casey Black was hit while lying on the tracks.

She was reportedly taken to Mission Hospital for her injuries.

Marion Police and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Police are working together in the investigation.

Sheriff’s deputies in McDowell County are looking for a man who reportedly chained a woman to a bed for days to prevent her from testifying against him.

48-year-old Spencer O’Connor Elliott of Buck Creek Road in Marion is wanted for first-degree kidnapping, intimidating a state’s witness and assault on a female.

Elliott and the victim- Donna Jean Elliott were scheduled to appear in court September 19^th regarding a domestic violence order Donna had taken out against Spencer.

Reports say Donna had been chained up at Spencer’s house for days, and was able to escape last Saturday to inform officers.

A news release states the male suspect is on the run.

He is described as a white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighs 217 pounds.

He has long wavy brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on both arms.

Anyone having information about Elliott’s whereabouts should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

A tree from Avery County will adorn the Blue Room at the White House this Christmas Season.

Larry Smith of Newland entered the National Christmas tree contest as he had for several years, but was notified in August he had won this year.

Officials from the White House visited Smith’s tree farm Monday and picked out the tree that will be presented to the President and the First Lady in November.

The 25-year-old 19-foot tall Fraiser Fir was marked with a red ribbon and will make the trip to the White House just before Thanksgiving.

A Burke County inmate is found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell.

At 5:25 am Saturday, a detention officer observed 32-year-old Charles Bynum Hughes and another inmate on camera in what appeared to be an argument or disagreement. The detention officer removed Hughes from the multi-unit cell and placed him in a single cell for Hughes'safety, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office.

During normal rounds pursuant to policy, a detention officer observed Hughes at 10:22 am hanging from his bed sheet in the single person cell. Hughes was taken down and provided medical assistance until EMS personnel arrived. Hughes was declared deceased by medical personnel.

The SBI was requested by the Sheriff’s Office to investigate. Any additional information will be provided at the conclusion of the SBI’s investigation.

A Florida man is jailed in Burke County on kidnapping and assault charges.

According to an arrest report filed by Morganton Public Safety, 19-year-old Phillip Elmer Groh the Fourth has been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation, and sexual battery.

He was issued a 500-thousand-dollar secured bond.

The report indicates Valdese Police took out the initial charges on Groh.

His first court appearance is today.

A Marion woman faces child neglect charges, after also being served with outstanding warrants.

30-year-old Michelle Lee Cox was initially served warrants for misdemeanor larceny and driving while license revoked.

McDowell County authorities had received word of possible neglect in the home because her son had reportedly gone untreated for head lice.

Cox was then charged with contributing to the delinquency or neglect of a child.

 The American Red Cross continues to seek blood and platelet donors as the organization administers help to those ravaged by Hurricane Florence.

The storm of course left catastrophic damage behind and it also took a toll on blood and platelet donations.

Nearly 200 blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel because of the weather, resulting in more than 52-hundred uncollected blood and platelet donations.

In NC alone, 57 blood drives were called off, causing a downfall of 21-hundred donations.

Red Cross officials say there’s a critical need for platelets to help cancer patients, and type-o blood donations for on going patient care and emergencies.

Donation appointments can be made by calling 1-800 Red Cross or going online to redcrossblood-dot-org.

Financial donations are also needed and allow red cross workers to provide immediate disaster relief.

You can text the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a 10-dollar donation.

A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash on US 64 West just before 9:30 Tuesday night.

The Highway Patrol reports that 50-year-old Thomas Lee James Mull of Morganton died as he crossed the center line near Propst Road colliding with an on-coming vehicle.

The accident remains under investigation.

A Marion man has numerous charges after authorities say he crashed his motorcycle while fleeing police, with methamphetamine in his possession.

Reports state Marion Police attempted to stop the motorcycle on Yancey Street in Marion last week.

The driver reportedly increased his speed, lost control, and crashed on Doyle Street.

Eric Houck- identified as the driver was found to be in possession of 24-point-87 grams of meth.

He was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle with no insurance, failure to heed lights and sirens, possession of meth, and possession with intent to sell and deliver meth.

A female passenger was treated for injuries from the crash.

Investigators are working to determine if a Rutherford County death is a direct result of Florence.

Reports state 46-year-old Lisa Prayther was killed Tuesday morning on Dills Road when a tree fell on her vehicle.

Prayther was reportedly driving her son to school when the accident occurred.

He received minor injuries.

Witnesses say the vehicle kept moving and crashed into a home after being struck by the tree.

Prayther died at the scene.

Officials say the ground was saturated where the tree fell, and the investigation continues to determine if the incident will be classified as a Florence-related death.

The identities of two people killed in the town of Catawba have been released by authorities.

55-year-old Barbara Jean Parker Raymond and 30-year-old Warren Lee Raymond Junior were discovered dead inside a residence September 13^th.

61-year-old Warren Lee Raymond is charged with two counts of murder; the deceased identified as his wife and his son.

The SBI continues to investigate.

Deputy Chief Steve Moore has been appointed to serve as interim Fire Chief for Hickory Fire effective October 1^st.

The appointment comes with the retirement of Fire Chief Fred Hollar.

Moore will serve as interim chief until the search for someone to fill the position permanently is completed later this year.

Moore began his career with the City of Hickory in 1999.

Since 2009, he has served as Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention, as well as Operations.

Our country continues to struggle with opioid addiction- its’ effect on families, the economy, and the role of pharmaceutical companies; and criticisms of perhaps overly eager health care officials to prescribe them for pain control.

According to recent statistics, four North Carolinians die daily from a medication or drug overdose.

Since 1999, the number of drug poisoning deaths in our state has increased by 440-percent; from 363 to more than 19-hundred in 2016.

Beyond the painful human cost, the economic impact of opioid abuse is staggering.

The President’s Council of Economic Advisors estimate the economic cost of the opioid crisis at more than 500-billion dollars in 2015.

The Catawba County Library is hosting a member of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division to give an update on the epidemic from a law enforcement perspective.

The program will be held at the Maiden Branch library at 11 am Saturday September 22^nd.

The program will cover what law enforcement is doing to combat the problem, and tips on what the community can do to help their efforts.

For more information about the event, you can contact the Catawba County Library at 465-8665.

Governor Roy Cooper delivered a Monday  update regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Florence that wreaked statewide havoc over the weekend.

Cooper called the weather event a monumental disaster for NC; confirming that 17 people have thus far died as a result of the storm.

The Governor remarked that 26-hundred people have been rescued from the flood waters as well as hundreds of pets.

Reports indicate 12-hundred roads throughout the state remain closed; more than 300 being primary roads.

Parts of Interstates 40 and 95 remain closed to traffic.

Parts of Burke County also experienced flood waters and flooded roadways-

Burke County Emergency Management reported flooding in the John’s River area.

Barricades were placed at Bost Road, Corpening Bridge Road, John’s River Road, and Spainhour Road to warn motorists of impassable roadways.

The Burke County Emergency Operations Center was activated by local emergency officials days before Florence struck the NC coast, in order to organize needed resources, and continued to assess local needs throughout the weather event.

Florence is now a major Category 4 hurricane that will likely cause a life-threatening storm surge along the Carolina coast according to forecasters.

In a statement from Monday morning, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper reports the latest predictions indicate NC is in the bullseye of Hurricane Florence.

In western NC, wind and power outages will be the greatest threats from the storm later this week; should Florence continue on its current track.

Emergency officials urge citizens to remove trees or limbs from our property that could be blown around in strong wind situations.

Be ready with generators and an emergency kit in the event of a power outage- including water, non-perishable food, a cellphone, flashlight, and a battery-powered radio.

The latest forecast shows tropical-force winds could hit western NC as early as Thursday morning; with winds intensifying Friday afternoon and into the evening.

Rain and flooding impacts are possible in the mountains late in the week; with the possibility of lingering effects through Saturday.

Download the Ready NC app for weather updates.

With the impending impact of Florence, NC residents must remember the urgent need for blood and platelet donors.

Officials with the Community Blood Center say it’s vitally important that a steady blood supply is maintained; not only for our community, but also for those hardest hit by the storm.

They report it is the blood on the shelves today that will be used when Florence hits, and that supply will definitely need replenishing.

As long as conditions remain safe, mobile blood drive organizers urge people to make and keep donation appointments to ensure local patients have the blood products they need.

Donors must be at least 16 years old with a signed parental consent form, have a weight of at least 120 pounds, and bring an officially issued photo ID.

A local opportunity to donate this week- 10 am till 1 pm Thursday September 13^th at

WPCC on Burkemont Avenue in Morganton.

No charges have been filed yet in a Marion collision that claimed the life of a motorist several days after the mishap.

Reports with Marion Police say Mary Pittman Mace was involved in the accident on North Main Street on September 5^th.

Mace was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville where she remained in the intensive care unit for several days.

Marion Police officials were notified Monday of her death.

Investigation into the crash continues.

Caldwell County authorities have made an arrest following a year-long investigation into a drug overdose death.

31-year-old Dorian Roshad Ferguson was charged Thursday with one count of second degree murder in connection with the overdose death of 48-year-old Michael Todd Hollar.

Hollar reportedly consumed a lethal amount of fentanyl August 3^rd 2017 at 2087 Ransom Place Lenoir.

In a news release from the Caldwell Sheriff’s Office, a investigation into his death revealed Ferguson supplied the drug that was ingested by Hollar.

The release further states Ferguson is currently serving a prison sentence for fentanyl possession that also occurred in August 2017.

Ferguson’s secured bond is set at 500-thousand dollars.

Mountain View Elementary School’s cafeteria will soon ring the bell for three meals a day.

Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells will hold its ‘Eat Well after the Bell’ supper program at Mountain View at 805 Bouchelle Street in Morganton beginning Wednesday September 12^th.

The program is adding a late afternoon/early evening meal to its breakfast and lunch routines.

The supper program is open to anyone in the community and is free to all children ages 3 to 18.

Served on school days from 3 to 6 pm, the price will be 3-dollars for adults.

And beginning Monday September 17^th, the supper program will also be available at Walter Johnson Middle School.

The program is federally funded through the USDA.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services joins Governor Cooper in recognizing September as National Recovery Month – noting that more than 7-hundred-thousand people in our state have a substance use disorder.

The recognition celebrates people in recovery and increases awareness and understanding of substance use disorder.

The state’s Opioid Action Plan released by NC Health officials has prioritized increasing access to treatment and recovery.

NC provided opioid use treatment to more than 57-hundred people last fiscal year through federal funding.

Our state currently has 70 opioid treatment programs that provide medication-assisted therapy to 20-thousand people every day.

A Caldwell County Sheriff’s candidate and his son get arrested on drug charges.

63-year-old democratic candidate Robert Dusty Lewis Crump and son, 30-year-old Will Dixon Crump- who also is his father’s campaign manager- were served a drug search warrant Wednesday evening at their Lenoir residence.

Yesterday’s search followed a month-long investigation after numerous purchases of marijuana were made from Will and Robert according to a news release from the Caldwell Sheriff’s Office.

Caldwell officers, SWAT, and the NC SBI assisted in the search in which agents seized more than 246 grams of marijuana, scales, and numerous other drug paraphernalia items.

The marijuana reportedly has a street value of over 61-hundred dollars.

Agents also found a firearm and marked currency used in undercover purchases.

The money was discovered in the elder Crump’s possession.

Both men were charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver Marijuana, and felony maintaining a dwelling to keep and store a controlled substance.

Each was issued a 15-thousand-dollar secured bond.

A news release indicates both men have previous drug charges.

They were both scheduled to have made their first court appearance Thursday.

Three out of four people arrested in a Hickory meth bust have had their charges dismissed – a Valdese woman is still charged.

34-year-old Anita Yang, 30-year-old Ger Yang, and 33-year-old Chou Lee all three of Hickory had previously each been charged with trafficking meth.

Court records show, according to published reports, all three had charges dropped last month due to lack of probable cause.

48-year-old Nancy Cha is charged with one felony count each of trafficking meth and possession of a controlled substance.

Reports state she was released on a 75-thousand dollar bond.

Hickory Police reports indicate Cha had been the focus of a narcotics investigation for several weeks.

During a traffic stop on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard July 29^th with Cha inside, K9s led officers to 3 ounces of meth.

At that time, she and the other occupants of the vehicle were detained by authorities; however, investigators have since then conducted a more in-depth search on the car.

The results of that search have not been disclosed.

Cha’s court date is set for September 17^th.

The City of Hickory and surrounding community will be remembering nine-eleven at a Patriot Day Sunset Remembrance Ceremony Tuesday September 11^th under the sails on the square in downtown Hickory at 6:30 pm.

The time of remembrance will be led by Hickory Mayor Hank Guess and other dignitaries, with colors presented by the Joint Color Guard of the Hickory Fire Department and Hickory Police.

Area churches are encouraged to participate that morning by tolling their church bells for two minutes beginning at 8:46 am.

The remembrance ceremony is open to the public and will last approximately 30 minutes.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

An armed robber targets a Hickory business and makes off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Tuesday evening just after 9:30, Hickory Police were called to a reported armed robbery at Walgreens on Springs Road Northeast.

Reports say during the robbery, the suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.

After obtaining the money, the suspect fled on foot heading west on 24^th Street Northeast.

The suspect is described as a thin-build black male, approximately 6-feet tall wearing a dark hoodie, dark pants, and dark shoes.

Anyone having information about this incident should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

McDowell County authorities are on the lookout for a gunman wanted in connection with the August 24^th shooting at the McDowell Recreation Center.

18-year-old Manuel Valdez of JS McMann Drive Marion is believed to be responsible for robbing 20-year-old Jake Price at gunpoint at his home on August 21^st, and then shooting him on the 24^th outside the rec department.

Valdez is wanted on numerous offenses including assault, firearm charges, and burglary.

The investigation into the robbery and shooting continue.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Valdez should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237, Marion Police at 652-5205, or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

More than a third of NC’s 2-thousand-537 public schools earned As and Bs for the year 2017-2018 under the state’s annual school performance grade accountability measurement; with nearly three quarters meeting or exceeding expectations for academic progress.

In Burke County, 12 schools received As and Bs; while 11 received Cs.

14 out of 15 Burke elementary schools met or exceeded growth, and all our traditional high schools received a B letter grade.

Among middle schools Walter Johnson had the highest growth in the district.

Burke County’s graduation rate increased by 2-point-2 percentage points to 88-point-5.

Burke Middle College once again had a 100-percent graduation rate; with East Burke High having the highest rate among the four traditional high schools at 93-point-4 percent.

Statewide accountability results were released Wednesday to the State Board of Education.

A Lincolnton couple has been charged with murder following the alleged deadly assault of a man early Tuesday morning.

38-year-old Jason John Carwile and 30-year-old Carolyn Ashley Carwile face murder charges after the beating death of Christopher Alexander Easter.

A Lincolnton Police news release states law enforcement officials and EMS responded to a parking lot on East Main Street just after 6 Tuesday morning to find Easter unresponsive from his injuries.

Witnesses told police the victim had been assaulted.

The release states Easter died after receiving emergency medical assistance for some 20 minutes.

Both suspects are being held without bond.

Local and state authorities joined forces Thursday in a massive warrant round-up.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office and NC Probation officers served 25 warrants, resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals.

Of the 25 warrants, there were 21 misdemeanor charges and six felony charges.

A Buncombe County man is sentenced to life in prison for his daughter's murder.

38-year-old Seth Willis Pickering of Leicester was sentenced Friday in in Western District of North Carolina. The U.S.Attorney's Office reported that on February 9th, Pickering pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and admitted to killing his daughter on September 9th, 2016, within the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pickering further admitted that he killed Lila Pickering, who had not attained the the age of 18 years and was under his care and control, willfully, deliberately, maliciously and with premeditation.

Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. said that "there was no excuse for what happened," and stated that Pickering "killed a child to punish social services and his wife."

McDowell sheriff’s officers have arrested and charged a Nebo man with multiple sex offenses.

41-year-old Shawn Leigh Chandler of 306 Deer Park Road faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child.

A news release states allegations were made that Chandler had inappropriately touched and exchanged lewd pictures with a 14-year-old female acquaintance.

The victim’s parents had reportedly learned of the incidents and proceeded to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

The State Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a woman who was struck on Highway 321 in Northern Gaston County.

According to WSOC-TV, the incident occurred Monday night about 8:45 near Hardin Road.

31-year-old Amanda Johnson was walking in the northbound lanes when she was hit.

The driver of the vehicle stopped at the site and reportedly no charges will be filed.

The road was closed for several hours during the investigation.