Morganton Drugs

A lengthy drug investigation by local and federal authorities ends with the arrest of a Morganton woman.

Officers with Morganton Public Safety, Burke County narcotics, and the US Marshals fugitive task force served a search warrant at 715 Carbon City Road last Friday.

Investigators discovered 11 grams of meth, a small amount of Fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

52-year-old Sherri Yvonne King who resides at the home was arrested.

She was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture and deliver, and maintain a dwelling, vehicle, or place for drugs/controlled substances.

A new release says additional state and federal charges may be forthcoming.

King was placed in the Burke County jail under a 25-thousand dollar secured bond.

Morganton Public Safety was assisted by Burke County EMS in the incident.

Felon Arrest

A Caldwell County man faces numerous drug offenses from a recent arrest; in addition to already having some 113 criminal cases in the state’s court information system.

According to a news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, narcotics officers began a drug investigation of 39-year-old Jessie Alan Clark of Hudson.

Investigators determined Clark was distributing trafficking amounts of methamphetamine inside Burke County.

On November 10^th, while conducting surveillance on Clark officers surrounded the suspect at the Country Market gas station on Dysartsville Road.

He was taken into custody without incident. Authorities reportedly located one pound of meth, and one pound of marijuana inside the vehicle Clark was driving.

Clark was charged with meth trafficking and various other felony drug offenses.

He received a 201-thousand dollar secured bond with a court date set for December 2^nd.

Clark’s host of previous cases date back to 2003.

The Burke Sheriff’s Office report they will be working closely with the DA’s office to prosecute the cases.

Morganton Public Safety assisted in the investigation.

Caldwell Construction

Construction continues on several new businesses and residential buildings in Lenoir.

A Facebook posting says a company rep for ‘Highway 55’ says they hope to open in December, and a spokesman for Jersey Mike’s Subs say their location at Lenoir Crossings will be open in December as well.

Mavis Discount Tires on US 321 and Kattz Corner apartments on Wilkesboro Boulevard are also coming along on schedule according to the posting.

Meanwhile, the city of Lenoir will soon be undergoing the resurfacing of 13 sections of roadway.

The project is part of the city’s annual resurfacing plan to maintain Lenoir’s streets.

City officials hope that contractors can complete 75-percent of the roads due for paving before winter, because of possible increases in prices next year.

Statesville Stalker

A college grounds-supervisor in Statesville is accused of stalking along with other offenses in a situation involving a young woman.

Reports say a student at Mitchell Community College told Statesville Police on November 15^th she was being stalked by 59-year-old john Phillip Barkley the college’s grounds supervisor.

College officials placed Barkley on administrative leave after learning of the incident.

The student, reports say, told officers the stalking began around the end of October with the suspect allegedly following the student to and from her classes.

Barkley reportedly followed the student also to her vehicle and proceeded to yell at her and beat her car window.

Barkley has been charged with indecent liberties with a student, sexual battery, three counts of misdemeanor stalking, and one count of assault on a female.

He is being held in the Alexander County jail.

Officials say Barkley has been employed as a grounds maintenance supervisor at Mitchell Community College for 10 years.