The City of Morganton’s Community Appearance Advisory Commission announces there is a new tree at the corner of Collett Street and North King Street just in time for Arbor Day.

The commission requested that the sugar maple be planted in early spring.

The tree is dedicated to Bill Allman – a longtime member of the Community Appearance Advisory Commission.

Allman has served on countless other boards and commissions.

The City of Lenoir has received a 300-thousand dollar grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help clean up a blighted property in town.

The property sits at the corner of Virginia Street and College Avenue in Lenoir and contains remnants of an old furniture plant.

City Council has accepted the grant and has authorized the city’s matching funds of 250-thousand dollars in a meeting held today.

The 15-acre site was home to a furniture plant for more than 100 years.

City officials say the property is in a good location, but developers aren’t very interested given the uncertainty of its condition.

The funds will assist in site clean-up to prime it for re-development.

A motorcyclist in Marion is found with a gun and methamphetamine.

39-year-old Roy Holmes Hendley the third of Beaman Road was charged by McDowell officers with meth possession and carrying a concealed weapon.

Hendley was pulled over, reports say, for not having a tag.

A search of Hendley and his belongings turned up a handgun and a small amount of meth.

After firing in the direction of police officers, a Taylorsville man has been arrested.

49-year-old Robert Anthony Watts is charged with two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official and four counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Officers responded to the Watts residence after receiving reports of a dispute between neighbors.

Reports say authorities knocked on the door whenever a shot was fired in their direction.

Watts reportedly came outside the home, armed with a rifle, and ordered lawmen to leave his property.

A news release states he also made threats to kill the officers.

According to reports, Watts eventually put his weapon down after initially refusing to; but grabbed the gun again as officers entered the house to apprehend him.

No injuries were reported.

He was transported to the Alexander County Detention Center and placed under a 500-thousand dollar secured bond.

The investigation continues and more charges are pending.