McDowell County Sheriff's deputies are looking for a drug suspect that failed to show up to

court on Monday. 38-year-old Samantha Marie Marston faces drug charges from a traffic stop

November 3^rd. Authorities search the car of Marston and came away with more than 87 grams

of marijuana. The vehicle also had a fictitious tag and Marston’s license was suspended.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Marston should call Robert Watson at

652-2237.

Deputies also need help in finding a van reported stolen on December 17^th, The 2005 Chrysler

Town and County, gold in color, was taken from a Gloria Waym, Nebo, residence. Anyone

with information is asked to call Detective Burlin Ballew at 652-2237.

A deputy finds drugs after a traffic stop. The stop September 20^th, occurred on 226 South for

traffic violations. A search of the car turned up 1.3 grams of methamphetamine.

The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged the driver, 36-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Joyner

of Marion, and a passenger, 29-year-old Chanda Marie McFalls of Marion, with possession

of meth.

A 16-year-old runaway Morganton girl, last seen on December 16^th, is back in Morganton.

Jaylynn Wallace returned Friday and is home safely with her mother.

The Hickory Police Department’s January traffic enforcement –Pay Attention in City Traffic

will be located on 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues NW from North Center Street to 9^th Street NW.

Enforcement, both day and night, will focus on red light violations, following too closely,

distracted driving and speeding.

A Hickory man faces multiple charges from a burglary investigation. The Iredell

County Sheriff's Office received an assault call early Thursday morning. The victim

had driven to Sheetz on Wilkesboro Highway, and had serious injuries to his head

and face. He was later taken to Baptist Hospital due to the head injuries.

Investigators obtained warrants on 22-year-old Lucas Bryan Colbourn of 153 18^th Street.

and arrested him at his home. He was charged with First Degree Burglary, First Degree

Kidnapping, Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and Two

Counts of Felony Safe Cracking. Colbourn was transported to the Iredell County Detention

Center on a no bond hold.

Three Catawba County residents are charged in connection with a Christmas Eve breaking

And entering in the 5000 block of Springs Road. Deputies responded just before 1 a.m.

after a neighboring resident called 911 to report two males and a female were removing items

from the residence in question, and also gave a description of the suspect vehicle. The

occupants were unaware of the burglary, and identified items taken. Just after 1 o’clock,

a deputy attempting to located the suspects stopped a truck matching the description. Stolen

items were in the truck and as well as meth and marijuana. 39-year-old Christopher Eugene

McCrary of of Conover faces multiple charges and had an outstanding indictment for

Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. Also facing charges were 56-year-old Kenneth Scott Herman

of Conover and 33-year-old Alicia Renee Stewart of Catawba.

Starting today, the section of Main Avenue NW between Ninth Street NW and Fifth Street NW

will be closed to traffic as City Walk construction continues in Hickory. Access will remain

available to properties along the street. The closure will remain in place for about a month.

A Morganton man with an outstanding warrant is arrested after being spotted at a local convenience store.

A news release states on December 18^th, a Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputy witnessed a car at the Citco station on US 70 near the Drexel intersection.

Reports say 41-year-old Billy Lamour Jones of 200 Linville Road was a passenger inside the vehicle.

The officer reportedly was aware of the warrants against Jones; he then summoned detectives to the scene who took Jones into custody.

A search of Jones turned up suboxone, heroin, and drug paraphernalia.

He was charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver heroin, simple possession of a schedule three controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jones received a 25-thousand dollar secured bond and was held at the Burke Catawba District Confinement facility.

His court date is scheduled for January 8^th.

The new Ingles in Marion has opened for business.

Officials from the company of Ingles, the city of Marion, and the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening this week to celebrate the opening of the new and much bigger supermarket.

The new store houses a Starbucks and an Asian food express eatery along with an expanded bakery and deli.

The McDowell News reports there is still work to be done at the new facility.

This week’s opening is only the first phase of a three phrase store upgrade.

A wall to the left of the store is scheduled to be removed to make room for a pharmacy and a walk-in beer cooler area.

The old Ingles store is slated to be demolished to provide space for the new additions and other retail spaces.

If you’re traveling on this day after Christmas, experts say you should expect some roadway nightmares.

Triple-A is reporting more than 104 million people are expected to be on the roads this holiday, with drive times doubling or even tripling in some areas.

Officials say holiday cheer is at an all-time high, with unemployment at historically low levels.

They say travelers should be used to crowded highways and airports as this marks the eighth straight year of record-high travel during Christmas and New Year’s.

Triple-A expects to rescue more than 850-thousand motorists from the roadside – with dead batteries, flat tires, and lock-outs creating the biggest troubles for drivers.

A $1.5 million dollar grant for access road improvements has been approved near the

Hickory Regional Airport. The Appalachian Regional Commission's grant will be used

to widen and improve about a mile of roadway on 9th Avenue Drive NW to Goat Farm

Road, adjacent to the Airport. The grant is a joint award for Burke County and the

City of Hickory. Burke Development Incorporated and the City of Hickory are

working to attract other industrial users into the proposed industrial park located in

the City of Hickory, where the road improvements will lead.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area ranks 11^th nationally in a Best Places to Work in

Manufacturing report. smartaccess.com’s 4^th annual study finds that the South and

Midwest rank well. The study considered the percent of the workforce in manufacturing,

one-year job growth, one-year income growth and housing costs as a percent of income.

Spartanburg placed fourth while the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin area ranked seventh. The

manufacturing industry accounts for 8% of the U.S.workforce, according to the report

which was released last week.

Lincoln Sheriff’s detectives have charged a Belmont woman with felony identity theft..

35-year-old Elizabeth Brown Barnette was arrested last week and faces eight charges of identity

theft. A Lincolnton woman filed a report on September 30^th, of unauthorized transactions of

more than $1,400 on her Pay Pal account. Barnette was released after posting a $50,000 secured

bond.

The State Highway Patrol is putting safe driving at the top of its Christmas wish list.

Troopers are focusing this holiday season on driver behavior in an attempt to ensure

everyone arrives safely to their intended destination. This year, troopers hope to

decrease the number of collisons during the December 24th through January 2nd

time period, by focusing on violations such as excessive speeding, reckless driving,

following too close and impaired driving.

Construction work that would require lane closures along major highways will be

suspended today through January 2nd to accommodate travelers for Christmas and

New Year's Day. The weekends before Charistmas and New Year's Day, as well as

Tuesday December 24th, will see the heaviest traffic congestion periods for most of the

State especially on interstates such as I-95, I-77, I-85, I-40 and I-26. Drivers should

anticipate needing extra time to reach their destination and consider using an

alternative router if possible.

Two people face drug charges after an investigation at 2613 US 64 in Morganton.  Burke

Sheriff’s Office detectives and NC Probation and Parole officers made contact with

29-year-old Travis Shawn Baker and a search of the residence located suspected meth,

according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. A second person, 26-year-old

Treysa Withers of Hickory, was in possession of cocaine. Baker and Withers were

arrested and received a $5,000 secured bond each, with court appearances scheduled for

January 6^th.

Hickory firefighters responded Thursday afternoon to an apartment fire. The fire just before

3 o’clock at 250 5^th Avenue NE, was at a two story complex. No injuries were reported and

damages were considered moderate. The Red Cross responded to assist the occupants. Fire

investigators determined the fire started as a result of an electrical issue.

A Hickory man pleads guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to

distribute narcotics on the Dark Web. U.S.Attorney Andrew Murray announced Monday,

that law enforcement began investigating 35-year-old Travis Justin Stout in 2016 for

trafficking narcotics in the greater Hickory area. The drug trafficking conspiracy charge

carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, while the possession with intent to distribute

charge also carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. A sentencing for Stout has not

been set.

Caldwell County has received a $320,000 grant to support the renovation of two buildings

in Lenoir that are occupied by Fairchild Chair Company, Inc. The company, which

manufactures a wide range of furniture for residential homes, contract-hospitality markets

and senior living facilities, plans to add 40 jobs while investing more than $815,000 in this

project. The grant was among those approved by the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure

Authority.   

A Hickory man is sentenced following his involvement in a 2018 car crash that claimed the life of a man.

During Catawba County Superior Court Monday, 57-year-old Jeffrey Blain Bumgarner was sentenced 44 to 65 months following his conviction for felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired, and felony hit and run death.

Reports state Bumgarner pleaded guilty to the offenses that claimed the life of 58-year-old Charles Shook Junior on February 10^th 2018.

A news release states Bumgarner left the scene before calling authorities.

He first indicated that he had been the victim of a hit and run, but later told investigators that he caused the fatal crash.

Also in Catawba County Superior Court Monday, a Newton man is sentenced to a term in prison following his conviction for multiple sexual offenses involving a child in 2014.

37-year-old Randy Eugene Dula will be imprisoned 12 to 19 years after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree sexual offense, attempted first-degree rape and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.

A release indicates the offenses occurred between March 1^st and July 31^st 2014 when the then-6-year-old female victim revealed to a family member what had happened to her on multiple occasions.

Dula will be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years upon his prison release.

A Burke County teenager that was last seen Monday morning just before 8 is believed to be a runaway.

A press release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office says 16-year-old Jalynn Wallace of Hillock Drive Morganton was dropped off at school around 7:45.

The release says she is believed to be in the company of two companions in the Wilkes County area.

Wallace is described as a black female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 190 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone having information about Wallace’s whereabouts should call the Burke Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or Morganton Burke Crimestoppers at 437-3333.

All Crimestoppers tips are anonymous and anyone with information leading to an arrest may receive a cash reward.

A man is arrested and charged in connection with a Hickory church break-in just prior to their Sunday School services beginning.

Reports say 42-year-old Joseph Ray Durance of Hickory is charged with felony breaking and entering a place of worship, two counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering, and injury to personal property.

Hickory Police reports say Durance allegedly pried a brick out of a concrete cross monument outside the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church and used it to break a window to gain entry.

Reports say Durance initially made off with multiple gold cross necklaces, silver necklace chains, and other items.

According to reports, police quickly located Durance though and all stolen items were recovered.

He was given a 36-thousand dollar bond.

A string of thefts in Old Fort lead McDowell County investigators to the arrest of a suspect.

37-year-old Brandon Lee Wilson of Silvers Welch Road Old Fort is charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and possession of stolen goods.

Reports say Wilson was arrested October 8^th along with two others at the scene of a residential break-in and theft on Bull Walker Road.

Further investigation led to Wilson being charged in connection with separate thefts on Mount Hebron Road in which more than 5-thousand dollars worth of goods were taken.

Officers say some of the stolen property was recovered.

A Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy died Sunday in an off-duty motorcycle crash in Lincolnton.

Just before 3 yesterday afternoon, 41-year-old Jamie Lavar Jackson was riding his motorcycle when he lost control and skidded into a stationary vehicle.

He was transported to Atrium Health Lincoln where he was pronounced dead.

A news release states Jackson was hired as a patrol deputy in May 2013.

He also worked as a narcotics officer.

Good news to report from McDowell County-

A man previously reported missing has been located.

Authorities report Christopher Morris was found unharmed.

Officials thank the public for their assistance.

Lincoln County detectives are investigating a string of recent vehicle break-ins in the Startown area.

Reports say thieves have made off with wallets and purses containing money, credit cards, and personal items from cars at church parking lots and in residential areas since Sunday.

Most of the vehicles targeted were unlocked according to officials.

Authorities say thieves have a tendency to break into unlocked vehicles because they want to get in and out of the area as quick as possible.

At one of the break-in locations, a suspicious vehicle described as a dark-colored SUV with New York license plates was seen.

In break-ins reported today in Lincoln County, thieves made off with firearms and laptop computers while the vehicles were parked at separate residences.

Officers remind you to ‘lock it or lose it’- always lock your vehicle.

Most of the time, this will deter a thief.

Don’t leave valuables in plain view, and do not leave personal identification in your car that could be used later to commit identity theft.

Anyone having information about the Lincoln break ins should call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-735-8202.

McDowell County authorities continue their search for a missing Old Fort man.

40-year-old Joseph Mark Loftis of Lavender Road was reported missing by family members on Thanksgiving Day.

Since that time, reports say investigators have exhausted multiple leads and now need the public’s help in locating him.

Loftis is a white male, is 6 feet 5 inches tall, and has brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone having information about his whereabouts should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235.

Two Connelly Springs men were arrested in Lincoln County last Friday following a reported argument involving a shot being fired into an occupied vehicle.

30-year-old Christopher Lee Saylor of Kinglet Road was charged with discharging a weapon into an occupied moving vehicle; while 20-year-old Christian Thomas Carpenter of Rocky Ridge Road was charged with assault causing serious bodily injury.

Reports say Lincoln officers located a male subject, Rhyan Keith Arnett of Lawndale with head and facial injuries in a parking lot along NC Highway 18.

Deputies determined that individuals inside two separate vehicles had arrived at the parking lot where the altercation took place.

One of the vehicles reportedly fled the scene and was located at a Burke County residence by Lincoln and Burke deputies.

Saylor and Carpenter were both jailed, and placed under a 10-thousand dollar secured bond each.

Citizens are invited to celebrate the opening of the new Burke County Jail & Magistrates Office Thursday morning at 10:30. Event parking will be at the Fiddler's Run Shopping Center, 118 Fiddler's Run Boulevard, Morganton. Greenway Transportation will provide shuttle service to and from the event.

Railroad crossing maintenance will take place today through Saturday for Robinson Street SE, Rodoret Street, Praley Street, Main Street in Drexel, Burke Drive and Hogan Street. The Road will only be closed at the Railroad Crossing. The Road will be open up to the crossing in both directions so that motorists will have access. Norfolk Southern Railway will be performing maintenance on the crossing.

A second person charged in the November 12^th break-in at a Lincoln County business has been arrested. 51-year-old Londie Allan Woods of Rollins Drive, Catawba, was arrested Thursday in connection with the break-in at Alternative Health on North Highway 16 Business where about $8,400 worth of CBD Hemp was stolen. Woods and Roy Lee Blue, Jr. are charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.

A Hickory man is charged with indecent liberties with a minor.

34-year-old John Kevin Pace of 412 Dogwood Drive was issued a 25-thousand-dollar secured bond and confined at the Burke Catawba Detention facility.

A news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office states the arrest follows an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division into the alleged crime.

According to the release, Pace admitted to inappropriate contact with a minor during an interview by authorities.

His first court appearance is today.

A couple who went missing from Lincoln County earlier this week has been located.

Reports say Lenoir Police found 81-year-old Charles William Whitener and his wife 80-year-old Maxine Whitener at the Comfort Inn in Lenoir around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities report both are in good condition, and a family member went to Lenoir to pick them up.

A Silver Alert had been issued Monday after they were reported missing from the son’s residence on Beth Haven Church Road in Denver.

A Nebo man with outstanding warrants also faces a meth charge. Just after 1:20 a.m. on October 25^th, a McDowell deputy was on Wildlife Road in Nebo when he passed a truck off the side of the road with a man lying near it. The man, identified as 27-year-old Benjamin Franklin Cody Perkins of Ramsey Drive, had three outstanding warrants for his arrest. A search of Perkins turned up .8 gram of methamphetamine.

City of Lenoir Fire Chief recognizes an Officer and Deputy for lifesaving efforts. Tuesday night, Hair presented plaques of appreciation to Lenoir Police Department Corporal Joe Hamrick and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Exon. The lifesaving efforts involved an early morning house fire on November 16^th on Bradford Mountain Road.

Scammers identifying themselves as Lieutenant Westbrook are calling residents advising that the resident has missed jury duty and to purchase a VISA debit card, provide the scammer with the debit card number and mail to 175 Government Drive, Morganton which is not a legitimate address. After submitting a sum of money, they are directed to meet with Judge Erwin. According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, this is a SCAM. Do not send any money in this situation. You would never be directed to send money in this manner for missing jury duty.

Two area men face prison time after sentencing earlier this week. 48-year-old Renous Alan Hughes of Hickory was given an active prison sentence of six to nine years Monday, during Catawba County Superior Court. He pleaded guilty to flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, felony larceny and admitted his status as an habitual felon. 38-year-old Michael Scott Henderson of Hiddenite, will spend five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty attempted breaking and entering, attempted larceny after breaking and entering, and admitting his habitual status during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Two Morganton men now face numerous drug-related charges following a traffic stop in Iredell County last week.

Reports say deputies with the Interstate Criminal Enforcement team stopped the pair in a BMW on Interstate 40 west near mile marker 154 last Tuesday.

23-year-old Cedric James Brown and 24-year-old Chad Michael Sampson were each arrested on felony charges of trafficking cocaine by possession, trafficking cocaine by transport, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana, according to reports.

The two also face several misdemeanor drug charges.

During the traffic stop, reports say the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana prompting a search of the vehicle.

Officers located 28-point-5 grams of cocaine, 72-point-5 grams of marijuana, and six Xanax pills.

Brown is being held on a 300-thousand dollar secured bond, while Sampson received a 304-thousand dollar bond.

Both men are scheduled for a court appearance in Iredell County December 18^th.

A police pursuit in McDowell County Sunday leads to the arrest of a Nebo man on a string of charges.

The man identified as 39-year-old Joshua Lee Mosteller was stopped by an officer on Old Highway 70 East for traffic violations.

Reports state Mosteller refused to comply with authorities and sped from the scene, attempting to ram his vehicle into the McDowell patrol car.

Deputies gave pursuit while Mosteller stopped on Ramsey Road and fled from the car on foot onto a wooded area.

After a short chase, Mosteller was apprehended by authorities.

Officers found meth and marijuana in his possession.

Aside from drug charges, Mosteller was charged with fleeing to elude arrest, speeding, reckless driving to endanger, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting a public officer.

Reports say he was treated at a hospital for lacerations and released.

Catawba County officers nab a man wanted in a Lincoln County break-in and robbery last month.

Reports say 31-year-old Roy Lee Blue of 1781 Rollins Drive Catawba is charged in the break-in at Alternative Health in eastern Lincoln County where 84-hundred dollars worth of CBD product was stolen.

Blue is reportedly out of jail now on a 6-thousand dollar secured bond while officers are still looking for the second suspect; already identified and charged.

Blue and the second suspect are both charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.

Police are looking for 51-year-old Londie Allan Woods also of Catawba in connection with the theft.

  

Anyone with information about Woods whereabouts should call the Lincoln Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.

Officials in Iredell County are looking for a suspect involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident in Statesville on Thanksgiving.

30-year-old Matthew Franklin Redden was riding a bicycle east on US 64 near Barry Oak Road, when reports say he was struck behind by a pickup truck, knocked into on-coming traffic and was then struck by an SUV.

Reports say Redden was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Highway Patrol is searching for the pickup, described as a dark-colored 1994 to 2002 Dodge Ram with a loud exhaust and a lift.

The truck may have damage to the front side and headlight area.

Anyone with information regarding the accident is urged to call 911 or the Highway Patrol at 466-5500.

The Governor has declared this as Winter Weather Preparedness Week and is encouraging North Carolinians to plan and prepare now.

Cooper urges residents to monitor changing weather conditions by listening to local media and paying close attention to winter weather advisories.

To help ensure you are ready for winter weather, state emergency management officials urge you to always keep at least a three day supply of non perishable food on hand, keep fresh batteries for radios and flashlights, and dress warmly in layers.

Remember to properly vent kerosene heaters and keep electric generators outside.

And bring your pets inside when temperatures drop below freezing.

For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, visit ready-nc-dot org online.

McDowell County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a missing Old Fort man. 40-year-old Joseph Mark Loftis, most recently of Lavender Road, was reported missing on Thanksgiving Day. He is a white male, 6 feet 5 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Loftis is asked to call Detective Robert Watson  at 652-2237.

The October unemployment rate for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area was 3.5 %, with Asheville’s rate at 2.8%, which was the lowest metro rate in the state. Area county rates include Alexander 3.2%, Avery 3.3%, Burke 3.5%, Caldwell 3.8%, Catawba 3.4%, and McDowell 4.3%. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate for October in the state at 2.7% while Hyde County had the highest at 8.8%, according to figures released last week by the N.C.Department of Commerce.

Maintenance will take place this week at a railroad crossing for Texas Fish Camp Road, Berea Church Road, Connelly Church Street and Coldwater Street. According to a news release, the road will only be closed at the Railroad Crossing. Despite the closure, the Road will be open up to the crossing in both directions so that motorists will have access. Norfolk Southern Railway will be performing maintenance on the crossing and the work is scheduled through Sunday