An Alexander County man and his girlfriend charged in connection with the murder of a mother and her two children were formally indicted by the grand jury Tuesday.

Reports say Areli Avilez and Heidi Wolfe of Wilkesboro were each indicted on three counts of first-degree murder.

Avilez is additionally charged with one count of statutory rape of a child 15 years old or younger, one count of violating a domestic violence order with a deadly weapon, and first-degree arson.

Investigators report the rape charge is not connected to those Avilez is accused of murdering.

Wolfe reportedly also faces an additional charge of first-degree arson.

Authorities responding to a mobile home fire late on the evening of June 15^th discovered the bodies of 11-year-old Angel Pacheco and 12-year-old America Pacheco inside the home.

Reports indicate the brother and sister had been shot before the fire.

Their mother, Maria Calderon was struck by a vehicle and killed before suspects allegedly threw her body into the Catawba River according to officials.

Her body has not yet been located.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is on the lookout for a Mooresville teen who reportedly ran away from a group home and may be in Morganton.

16-year-old Nathan Lee Holtsclaw was reported missing on June 10^th when he was last seen on foot; possibly have gotten a ride from someone.

He is described as white, 6-feet-tall, weighs 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

A news release states Holtsclaw has tattoos on the backs of both hands.

Reports say he is in the care of Burke Child Protective Services and has a history of running away from placement.

Holtsclaw has family in Morganton and officials suspect he is possibly residing with them.

The news release states he is safe, but is avoiding being located by law enforcement of child protective services.

Anyone having information about Holtsclaw’s whereabouts can call local law enforcement, the Iredell Sheriff’s Office at 704-878-3100 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

Red Cross officials urge donors of all blood types to give now to help prevent a summer blood shortage resulting in medical care delays.

More donors are needed to help ensure patients don’t have to wait for blood products.

During the summer, especially around holidays like Independence Day, donations often can’t keep pace with patient needs.

A couple of upcoming local opportunities to give –

Wednesday June 26^th Noon until 5 pm at Autumn Care of Drexel at 307 Oakland Avenue and next month July 15^th in Connelly Springs at the Carolina Rehab Center on Miller Bridge Road from 2 till 6pm.

All blood types are needed.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of ID are required at check-in.

You can make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross blood donor app by visiting Red Cross Blood dot org or by calling 1-800-red-cross.

In a special called Hickory City Council meeting Tuesday, the final component of the City Walk construction bid was awarded.

The one-point 7 mile contract has been awarded to Neill Grading and Construction contingent upon approval by the state DOT.

The 18-month contract with Neil Grading at just over 14-thousand-275 dollars is set to be completed before December 2020.

Officials say the City Walk project that began in December 2018 with relocating utilities and waterlines is on schedule.

Renovations to Union Square and the downtown block in preparation for the project began in April.

A phone call just before Noon Monday from a concerned citizen leads to the arrest of a fugitive – wanted by Morganton authorities since mid-May.

23-year-old Ezra Harold Patton was positively identified and taken into custody by public safety officers, following a call to emergency communications that he had been spotted at Healthy Petz on Enola Road.

Reports say Patton has been on the run since May 18^th for his involvement in an armed robbery at 118 Lenoir Road.

During the robbery, three subjects were injured.

Patton has been served with a true bill of indictment for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and assault by pointing a gun.

He was placed in the Burke Catawba Detention Facility under a 500-thousand dollar secured bond with a court date set for July 29^th.

A Lenoir man racks up numerous felony drug charges and a firearm offense after a search was carried out at a residence.

Last Thursday afternoon following a month-long investigation, Lenoir narcotic’s officers and the department’s special response team served a search warrant at 103 Carolina Drive in Lenoir.

Investigators discovered a variety of drugs; including meth, cocaine, and fentanyl.

They also reportedly seized a 9 mm AK-47 pistol and 210-dollars in US currency.

The seized drugs were valued at more than 14-hundred dollars.

37-year-old Joshua Norman Chandler was arrested at the scene on multiple charges, and received an 85-thousand dollar secured bond.

Reports say additional charges will be forthcoming.

An attack described as ‘savage’ by the Lincoln County Sheriff leaves four detention officers injured, and three inmates charged.

A news release states that around 9:30 Saturday evening, an inmate 43-year-old Larry Wade Stanley Junior of Lincolnton was acting unruly refusing to return to his cell.

As detention officers were physically moving Stanley to his cell, two other inmates 24-year-old Thomas McDonald of Denver and 29-year-old Dustin Ensley of Lincolnton came up behind the officers and began to assault them.

The officers sustained injuries to their face, head, and arms, while one officer sustained a concussion.

They were transported to Atrium Health Lincoln for treatment.

The Lincoln Sheriff’s Office and Lincolnton Police were dispatched to assist; however, the inmates had been placed back in their cell upon their arrival.

Stanley was charged with felony attempted first degree murder, assault by strangulation, four felony counts of assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement officer and conspiracy.

He was placed under a no bond hold.

McDonald and Ensley also face assault and conspiracy charges.

They were placed under a 100-thousand dollar secured bond each.

A news release from the district attorney’s office says the state will not seek the death penalty in the murder case against a Vale man.

47-year-old Joseph Wayne Barker is charged in the April shooting death of his wife 43-year-old Crystal Johnson Barker.

He fled the crime scene and was located two days later in Transylvania County.

During a hearing in Catawba County Superior Court today, prosecutors announced their intent to proceed with the case against Barker as a non-capital murder.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case.

A Connelly Springs woman claims she was not driving the vehicle when it crashed Thursday afternoon killing her passenger.

That according to local published reports.

The Highway Patrol reports 60-year-old Howard Lail was killed in the accident that occurred on Miller Bridge Road yesterday afternoon around 4.

Reports say 32-year-old April Arriola of Old 70 Loop was driving the car at the time of the mishap.

Lail was ejected from the car as it reportedly rolled numerous times.

The investigating highway patrol officer stated two witnesses confirmed Arriola was driving.

She was charged with careless and reckless driving, driving while impaired, and driving while license revoked.

Reports further state she was traveling between 60 and 65 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Arriola was wearing a seat belt, Lail was not.

Further charges are pending.

The pair charged in a triple-homicide in Alexander County last weekend made court appearances Friday.

30-year-old Avilez was not granted bond; while reports say his 16-year-old girlfriend Wolfe’s bond is 1-dollar short of one-million dollars.

Both are charged with murder in the death of his ex-wife and her two children.

Investigators say the two children were shot before their mobile home burned Saturday June 15^th.

Their mother is presumed dead by authorities; however, efforts to locate her body in the Catawba River have thus far been unsuccessful.

Burke County Emergency Medical Services has received an award recognizing the agency’s treatment of patients who have had severe heart attacks.

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award acknowledges Burke EMS for implementing quality improvement measures for those suffering from heart attack.

A news release states more than 250-thousand people yearly suffer an ST elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI – the deadliest form of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment.

Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes EMS personnel for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical facility, and trigger an early response from awaiting hospital staff.

A month-long investigation in Caldwell County results in the arrest of three Lenoir residents on numerous drug charges.

On Wednesday, the Lenoir Police narcotic’s unit served a search warrant at 118 Carolina Drive Lenoir.

35-year-old Mario Lee Garcia, 32-year-old Alysia Annette Taylor, and 54-year-old Carl Gabriel Coffey, Junior - all three of the same Carolina Drive residence, were arrested at the scene.

While conducting a search of the home, reports say officers found and seized 2-point-7 grams of meth, 0-point-1 grams of heroin, and various articles of drug paraphernalia.

A news release states the discovered drugs were valued at 430-thousand dollars according to state guidelines.

Garcia, Taylor, and Coffey each face multiple felony drug offenses.

Each received a 100-thousand dollar secured bond with an initial court date set for Thursday.

Officials say more charges may be forthcoming.

Flash flooding and heavy rains Tuesday evening caused another sewer spill in the City of Morganton.

The spill started  just before 11:30 at a sewer junction box on Vine Arden Road near the wastewater treatment plant.

The overflow stopped just before 3 Wednesday morning, after 10-thousand-350 gallons spilled into Hunting Creek.

Water resources officials say the overflow was mostly rainwater that infiltrated the sewer system during the storm.

For concerns you may call the city’s water resources department at 438-5276.

Alexander County crews continue to search an area of the Catawba River for the body of a woman whose children were found dead in a burned mobile home last weekend.

Authorities have identified the missing woman as 38-year-old Maria Calderon, the mother of 11-year-old Angel Pacheco and 12-year-old America Pacheco.

The two children were located late Saturday night in a mobile home fire that investigators say was set on purpose.

Reports from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office say Calderon is presumed dead, and they further suspect she and the children died before the fire was set.

According to earlier reports, Calderon’s ex-husband 30-year-old Areli Avilez along with a 16-year-old girl has been arrested.

Each is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office news release states two Hickory men are charged with larceny from a pair of Denver businesses; while one of the men faces drug charges.

42-year-old Larry Van Clark and 42-year-old Bill Casey Hinson were spotted by an off-duty officer loading a generator into the back of a pickup at Lowes Hardware before driving across the street to WalMart Tuesday evening.

Reports say Clark was the driver of the vehicle and deputies observed him making suspicious movements.

Officers located drug paraphernalia in the pickup and a loaded 22-caliber handgun.

Clark was charged with numerous charges including larceny, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a controlled substance.

He was jailed under a 43-thousand dollar secured bond.

In the meantime, Hinson and a female companion had went inside WalMart and were greeted by security and officers upon exiting the store.

A search of his person turned up two knives taken from the store.

He was charged with misdemeanor larceny, possession of stolen goods, and conspiracy.

Hinson was reportedly issued a 10-thousand dollar secured bond.

The female was not charged.

A second suspect wanted in a robbery at a Morganton convenience store early Thursday has been arrested.

20-year-old Derik Montre Williams of Shelby has been charged with felonious breaking, entering, and larceny.

A news release states a Burke County deputy responded to a possible break in at a residence on Mineral Springs Mountain Avenue where Williams was arrested without incident.

He was then turned over to Morganton Public Safety in regard to their robbery investigation.

Burke County authorities remind citizens in the Mineral Springs Mountain area to remain vigilant in keeping their homes, buildings, and vehicles locked as a third suspect remains at large.

One of the suspects was taken into custody late yesterday afternoon.

Contact the Burke Sheriff’s Department with any sighting of the third suspect at 438-5500.

A 19-year-old man is dead after a shooting Thursday in Shelby.

Police discovered Torrence Artist at a residence on Melrose Drive suffering from a gunshot wound.

Reports say he was transported to Atrium Health Cleveland where he was pronounced deceased.

Neighbors told officers they had heard the gunshots from a distance; however, no arrests have been made.

Anyone having information about the shooting should call the Shelby Police at 704-484-6845.

A tragic accident in Lincoln County due to weather conditions Saturday night left three men dead.

The Highway Patrol reports their vehicle was traveling along Highway 27 near Rock Dam Road when the car slid off the road, hit a tree, and overturned into the rising waters of Rockdam Creek following heavy rain in the area.

Troopers say all three were entrapped in the vehicle that was submerged in six feet of water.

Reports say those killed were 46-year-old Andrew Jacob Abernathy, 22-year-old Sebastian Lee Fredell, and the car’s driver 52-year-old Lloyd Neal.

The state highway patrol continues to investigate.

A Marion outdoor lawn equipment business was recently hit by thieves, as McDowell County investigators need the public’s help in locating the stolen item and information on the suspect who took it.

A yellow Hustler Raptor 60-inch deck mower was reported taken from Outdoor Speciality Equipment on Montgford Cove Road sometime on May 31^st or June 1^st.

Anyone having information about the theft, suspect, or whereabouts of the mower should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report America’s measles outbreak continues to grow.

One thousand-22 cases have been reported through June 6^th; up 41 from the center’s last update.

Experts say the outbreak appears to be linked to travelers bringing measles back from other countries such as Israel, the Ukraine, and the Philippines where large measles outbreaks are occurring.

The latest numbers indicate the greatest number of cases in the country since 1992 when there were 22-hundred cases reported.

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000.

Cases have been reported in 28 states; none reported yet in NC but some in bordering states of Tennessee and Virginia.

Preliminary autopsy reports show that a missing Marion woman found deceased Wednesday did not sustain any traumatic injuries.

The body of 24-year-old Brooke Mashay Tollie of Riverview Acres Drive was found at a construction site in the Golden Valley community of Bostic in Rutherford County Wednesday morning.

A news release states information received during the investigation led authorities to that site.

Tollie was last seen May 13^th and her family reported her missing May 23^rd.

The exact cause of death is still unknown and is pending the outcome of toxicology testing.

The McDowell Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by Rutherford County officials and by the SBI.

A Conover man was killed Thursday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Hickory.

Hickory Police reports say 89-year-old Roy Lee Icenhour was traveling east on 12^th Avenue Northeast in the right lane.

Reports say Icenhour turned into the path of a vehicle driving in the left lane of 12^th Avenue when he was struck by 32-year-old Leonora Kaitlin Mahoney of Hickory.

Icenhour was transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

A news release did not indicate Mahoney suffered injury.

Speed was reportedly not a factor in the accident, and no charges have been filed.

An Alexander County man has died, while his caregiver has been charged with neglect.

Officers discovered 78-year-old Timothy Harvey of the Wittenburg Community dead in his home’s bathtub after reportedly being there for 4 or 5 hours.

57-year-old Catarina Hosler of California was a relative and was reportedly looking after Harvey.

The investigation began when Hosler called 911 and reported an alleged overdose – that’s when officers located Harvey’s body.

Officials say an investigation led to Hosler being charged with felony neglect of a disabled or elderly person in connection with Harvey’s death.

Reports say he had a lengthy medical history; however, his cause of death has not been released.

Hosler was issued a 100-thousand dollar secured bond.

Rainy conditions and speed on Interstate-40 Friday morning reportedly led to a roll-over accident near the westbound 85 mile marker in McDowell County.

Just before 10 am, the Highway Patrol reports Rachel Bretz of Asheville was traveling at an excessive speed given the rainy conditions, when her vehicle veered off the shoulder, hit the bank, struck an interstate sign and overturned.

Reports say Bretz was transported to Mission Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Troopers charged her with exceeding a safe speed per weather conditions.

A state bill tagged as ‘crucial’ in developing a state park in Catawba County is now law.

Governor Cooper signed the bill into law on Monday, which will add new trails to the state trail system and allow the Division of Parks and Recreation to find ways to connect Catawba County into the trail system.

Reports say NC Senator Andy Wells last year proposed the creation of a state park along the Henry Fork and Jacob Fork Rivers; that won support from Catawba, the cities of Hickory and Newton, along with the Long View township.

Other public and private landowners have expressed interest in contributing to the park project.

The Foothills Conservancy of NC – a non-profit based in Morganton- recently purchased 188 acres of land along the Jacob Fork River for the project according to their executive director.

The project will require state funding as well, which Senate representatives have went on record to say the Senate is committed to the project by placing 2 million dollars for state parks in the region in its’ budget draft.

A Catawba County news release states a Newton man has been arrested on drug charges.

21-year-old Dejuan Nybrece Robinson was charged with felony possession of a schedule-one controlled substance and marijuana possession.

Robinson was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers for having an expired license plate.

The release reports the vehicle was searched along with its occupants turning up 28 grams of marijuana and about eight doses of ecstasy.

A Hickory man has reportedly been arrested on statutory rape charges.

Reports say 39-year-old Roberto Martinez Del Pilar faces town felony counts of statutory rape or sex offense.

Del Pilar received a 200-thousand dollar secured bond.

The investigation continues.

A roll-over accident in McDowell County Tuesday afternoon sent an individual to the hospital.

Highway Patrol reports say Daniel Lawson of Bakersville was traveling south on NC 226 North when his pickup truck lost its brakes, causing him to cross the center line, and roll over into a ditch.

A passenger inside the truck was transported to Mission Hospital McDowell with non-life threatening injuries.

The investigating trooper reports charges are pending in the accident.

A Claremont man was arrested Sunday for cocaine possession – that according to a news release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies along with the Special Enforcement Group from the Sheriff’s Office were investigating reported drug activity at the Village East Apartments of Yount Street in Claremont.

Upon their arrival, authorities reportedly met with 29-year-old Tevin Donzell Wilfong.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers found a gram of cocaine, 3-point-09 grams of marijuana, more than 3-thousand dollars in cash, and a semi-automatic firearm.

The release states the items were located inside Wilfong’s residence and his car.

He was charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a felon, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wilfong was issued a 5-thousand dollar secured bond.

A reported trespassing call in McDowell County leads to drug and firearm charges.

Deputies were summoned to Mountain Crest Drive in Marion where they discovered 28-year-old Steven Wayne Rausch of Joes Drive Marion.

Reports say authorities were aware there had been reports of drug activity in the area of the trespassing call.

Officers searched Rausch’s vehicle, finding 8-point-6 grams of meth and a handgun.

He was then charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, an possession of a firearm by a felon.

June marks the official beginning to hurricane season; however, forecasters are not predicting a severe season this year, but a few major storms could still threaten the Atlantic coast.

The nation’s top hurricane forecasters predict a near-normal season, with nine to 15 named storms.

Experts say four to eight hurricanes could form in the Atlantic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says this year’s season won’t likely be as violent as last year’s above-average season when hurricanes Florence and Michael slammed the US, killing nearly 100 people and causing billions of dollars in damage.

But they are warning that two to four hurricanes could still grow to Category 3 or stronger.

El Nino the periodic weather event characterized by warming ocean temperatures tends to weaken hurricanes, but that could change if the weather is warmer.

Weather officials say El Nino has a 55 to 60-percent chance of continuing through the fall.

A pair from Lenoir has been sentenced to prison terms following their involvement in separate drug overdose deaths.

23-year-old Kelvis Blake Dula will serve up to 13 years following a conviction for second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Madison Leigh Workman on July 28^th 2017.

An investigation by the Caldwell Sheriff’s Office and Lenoir Police revealed Dula had supplied Workman with an altered form of fentanyl.

A press release from the District Attorney’s office states Dula further disclosed information to authorities linking 24-year-old Erica Sierra Haas as a source of drug distribution.

Haas was reportedly arrested by Lenoir Police July 9^th 2018 in connection with the overdose death of Hannah Marie Kincaid on May 1^st 2018.

Kincaid was also discovered dead after ingesting a lethal amount of the altered fentanyl.

Haas pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to traffick heroin.

She will spend up to eight years in prison.

The latest reports show synthetic opioids including fentanyl are the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in the US.

A 2016 report showed the opiate abuse rates in Hickory and Wilmington were ranked among the top five cities in the nation.

McDowell County authorities have announced a one-thousand-dollar reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of a missing woman.

Reports say 24-year-old Brooke Mashay Tollie left a residence on Riverview Acres Drive in Marion on the evening of May 13^th.

Family members reported her missing May 23^rd when the search for her began.

Thus far efforts to locate Tollie have been unsuccessful.

She was last seen wearing a light brown night shirt, denim shorts, and tan wedge shoes.

Anyone having information about Tollie should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235 or McDowell Communications at 652-4000.

The State Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services is holding a town hall meeting Wednesday June 5^th in Hickory to seek public input on improving child welfare in NC.

During the town hall, leaders will share their efforts to improve children, youth, and family services across the state.

Questions and comments will be accepted on any area relevant to child welfare.

Officials are especially interested in hearing ideas for keeping children and youth safe, having safe consistent and nurturing families for children and youth, and improving the well-being for children and youth.

The town hall will be held from 1:30 until 3:30 at the Catawba Valley Community College in the West Wing Commons Area 2550 US Highway 70 Southeast.

A suspect was arrested just before midnight Thursday wanted in connection with the murder of a Newton man.

32-year-old Justin Drew Dalton was apprehended whenever a Catawba County deputy spotted the suspect’s vehicle in a parking lot along Springs Road Northeast in Hickory, according to a news release.

Dalton was taken into custody following a brief foot chase by Catawba County officers and Hickory Police.

He is now charged with the murder of 47-year-old Emden Lee Syres Junior at his home on Sigmon Dairy Road May 29^th.

The sheriff’s office began the homicide investigation after discovered Syres had sustained trauma prior to his death.

Reports say there were no signs of forced entry; and the back door was found ajar.

Dalton also reportedly faces charges from 2017 including misdemeanor child abuse and driving while his license was revoked.

He is jailed at the Catawba County detention center without bond.

An Upstate man faces sex charges in McDowell County.

29-year-old Brandon James Presnell of Blacksburg allegedly supplied alcohol at a party attended by a 14-year-old female in March.

McDowell Sheriff’s reports indicate Presnell had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim on the evening of the party.

He is charged with statutory rape of a child less than 15, statutory sex offense with a child less than 15, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

A Nebo felon charged in 2017 on numerous counts of larceny, drug trafficking, and aiding and abetting armed robbery has been sentenced to a prison term of at least 33 years.

35-year-old John Wesley Harding of JR Circle reportedly entered an occupied home on South Creek Road armed with a gun.

Reports say the occupants were able to flee from the residence, and when officers arrived at the scene, Harding was found to be driving a stolen van.

The van along with a utility trailer and handgun was reported stolen from a Nebo resident earlier in the day.

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s office indicate Harding had also broken into a pair of vehicles at the South Creek Road residence, but did not remove anything from them.

Marion Police had also charged Harding for his involvement in an armed motor vehicle theft.

At the time of his arrest, Harding reportedly had 70 grams of meth and 16 grams of marijuana on his person.

Harding has a criminal record dating back to 2002; and is well-known by authorities in Burke, Buncombe, McDowell and Yancey counties.

A detour will take place on North Green Street beginning tomorrow, as crews complete water and sewer line improvements in the area.

North Green will be closed between two intersections – one at Collett Street and the other at College Street.

Traffic in both directions will be diverted away from these areas; traffic lanes and sidewalks are both affected.

People who live in the area though will be allowed access to their homes while the work is conducted.

The detour will be in place for approximately two weeks.