Contractors will be working in several areas around the city Tuesday and Wednesday to install i-tracker smart wastewater sensors for Morganton’s wastewater system.

Crews will be working in the areas of Curtis Street, Vinearden Road, Butler Street, Powe Street, Linville Street, and Center Street.

No interruption to water service is expected.

The new sensors will monitor in-flow and infiltration in the wastewater system.

State health officials continue to emphasize the importance of getting a flu vaccination.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services announced earlier this month the season’s first child flu death – the same week that eleven people died statewide after suffering from flu symptoms.

Health experts report this year’s flu season is shaping up to be more severe than last year’s.

They also state this year’s vaccine isn’t any match for the virus, but getting the shot still creates a shield from the many circulating strands.

The CDC reports mostly Influenza B viruses are circulating, that can more commonly cause severe illness in children.

A Marion woman is found to possess drugs during a recent vehicle stop.

23-year-old Savannah Breeze Kevorkian of Gilbert Street was a passenger inside a car stopped by McDowell officers for having an expired tag.

A search turned up 2-point27 grams of meth on Kevorkian.

She was in turn, charged with possession of meth.

A multi-agency training exercise took place at a Catawba County charter bus company last week.

The Hickory Police SWAT team, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s SWAT team, York County, a SC SWAT team, along with officers from the Department of Homeland Security TSA Inspectors took part in the large-scale training at Christian Tours in Newton.

Officers were trained in incidents involving hostage takeover in public and private transportation.

The teams used a number of different scenarios on immobilizing a large 52-passenger charter bus down to a 12-passenger van.