Two task force teams have completed their walk through and assessment of the Cedar Rock and Mt. Herman Road areas of Caldwell County from the storm damage Sunday. The teams determined that 93 homes were damaged, with 6 homes destroyed and 11 with major damage and on Mt. Herman Road just about every home sustained some level of damage. No injuries were reported. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is advising residents in the area to be careful about businesses and/or individuals coming to their homes and offering to do repairs. Per Sheriff Alan Jones,"Always make sure that any of the repairmen has proof of being bonded and insured. And never pay anyone up front. Always get the repairs completed before you pay."

Morganton Public Safety Officers spent hours last night searching a wooded area near Valdese Avenue for a man who reportedly made threats to officers and family members with a firearm. Public Safety notified residents of a possible gunman on the loose in a wooded area and to "shelter in place." Just after 2:30 this morning, 19-year-old Samuel Keller was taken into custody on various charges. Public Safety, in conjunction with their SWAT Team were on the scene for over 5 hours searching the Broad Oaks property and residential areas located on Valdese Avenue. No one was injured.

A third man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting last week in Nebo. 38-year-old Daniel McCoy Bradley turned himself in at the McDowell County Sheriff's Office on Friday. Bradley and three others reportedly went to a Nebo garage early last week. During an exchange of gunfire, one of the men with Bradley - 33-year-old Joshua Eric Kelley was shot multiple times and later died from his injuries. Investigators say after the shooting, Bradley hid two semi-automatic rifles from authorities. One of them has since been recovered - multiple guns were used during the shootout, according to the Sheriff's Office. Michael Allen Spencer and Greggory Cole Lowery have also been arrested and charged. Bradley was charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and altering, stealing, or destroying criminal evidence. His bond was set at $30,000.

A procession of Honor will accompany the body of Firefighter Jason Keith Hensley from Winston-Salem to Heritage Funeral Home in Valdese today. The Procession will depart from Christ United Methodist Church on Starnes Street at 10am to Winston-Salem and depart Winston-Salem at about 1pm returning to Valdese.

City of Morganton Human Relations Commision selected Suzanne Belada as Morganton's Citizen of the Year. Belada has taught for 33 years in Burke County Public Schools at North Liberty & Liberty Middle. She has been a Boy Scout & Girl Scout leader, served on a committee for Special Olympics, and volunteers with many agencies.

A Triple Community Firefighter was struck by a vehicle about midnight. About 11:53pm Sunday, Triple Community Fire Department was dispatched to a call for service for a tree blocking the East bound and part of the West bound side of  Hwy 70 East near the Drexel intersection. Firedfighters were in the process of clearing debris from the roadway when a vehicle traveling East bound on Hwy 70, struck one of the Firefighters. About 12:01 this morning, Jason Keith Hensley, 40, was killed instantly upon impact. An investigation into the accident is being conducted by the State Highway Patrol, according to a press release from Triple Community Fire Department.

A Morganton man is charged with murder. On Friday, the Burke County Sheriff's Office, along with Burke County EMS and First Responders from Brendletown and West End Fire Departments,  responded to 4459 Bill Epley Avenue. They found the victim, Jimmy Ray Causby, deceased at the residence. Arrested and charged with murder was Gerald Dean Buff, 61, of 4441 Bill Epley Avenue. Buff is being held without bond and has a court appearance scheduled for today.

A tornado that starter just after 5pm Sunday, roared north into Burke and Caldwell Counties, with Caldwell reporting the most damage. Caldwell County Public Information reports that 30 homes were damaged on Mt.Herman Road in the Hudson area, with homes also damaged on Hillhaven Drive and Hefner Place. Numerous homes were damaged in the Cedar Rock Community off Hwy 18. The Caldwell County Sheriff's office requests that unless they are a resident, all members of the public should stay out of the storm damaged areas due to the danger of power lines down and other hazards. In Burke County, there were reports of downed trees on Cub Creek Drive in Connelly Springs.

Hickory Police are looking for a bank robbery suspect. Carter Band and Trust at 821 4th Street Drive SW was robbed about 1:30pm Friday. Warrants have been obtained for the suspect, Ronald Maurice Jones, 46, a black male, about 5'10'' with a thin build. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jones is asked to contact Hickory Police at 828-328-5551.

A Nebo man sought for questioning in a fatal McDowell County shooting earlier this week has turned himself into authorities. Reports say charges Greggory Cole Lowery, 29, of Nebo, are forthcoming in connection with the shooting death of 33-year-old Joshua Eric Kelley. Kelley, along with Lowery and Michael Spencer, 43, of Nebo, and another man wanted for questioning, reportedly went to a garage on Rolling Meadow Drive when the shooting occurred. During the exchange of gunfire, Kelley was shot multiple times and died Tuesday night at Mission Hospital from his injuries. Spencer has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and with robbery with a dangerous weapon and is held under a $100,000 bond. Investigators are still looking for 38-year-old Daniel McCoy Bradley to question him. Anyone with information about Bradley's whereabouts should call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235.

A Nebo man has died from an early Monday morning shooting. Joshua Eric Kelley, 33, passed away Tuesday night at Mission Hospital from injuries sustained during a shootout on Rolling Way Drive in Nebo. A man that was with Kelley Monday moring has now been charged, Michael Allen Spencer, 43, was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Investigators are still looking for Greggory Cole Lowery, 29, and Daniel McCoy Bradley, 38, both of Nebo, for questioning. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lowery of Bradley is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 828-652-2235, the McDowell 911 Communications Center at 652-4000 or McDowell Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

A second man is arrested in last week's fatal shooting of a Newton man. Dustin Allen Shook, 23, has been charged with accessory after the fact, in the death of Justin Tyler Smith, 19. Catawba County investigators report Smith was found dead in his home last Friday while sitting in a recliner - a bullet hole discovered in the window. Published reports say a subject went to the home to mow the grass and noticed something was wrong. Jeffrey Douglas Brittain, 23, was reportedly arrested in Maiden two days later in connection with the murder that possibly stemmed from a dispute over a female. Reports further state Shook gave Brittain a ride from the crime scene in attempts to elude authorities. Shook is jailed under a $500,000 bond.

A Valdese man is charged with 6 counts of Feloniously Obtaining Property by False Pretenses. The Burke County Sheriff's Office was notified by staff of East Burke High School that a sum of money was missing or stolen. The investigation revealed that Hampton Marshall Boggs, 30, had presented fictitious receipts to the school for which he received payment. Boggs was arrested at his residence Tuesday, without incident. He was placed in custody at the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $40,000 secured bond. The investigation is continuing with additional charges expected, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Asheville Police responded to a motor vehicle crash about 2:44am Monday, on I-40 W at the 50.5 mile marker. A Chevy pickup truck was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of I-40 when it collided with a Ford Focus carrying a driver and a passenger. The passenger, Madison Ainsley Carswell of Nebo, died at the scene. Both drivers were transported to Mission Hospital with critical injuries. The investigation continues and anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Traffic Safety unit at 828-251-4089.

McDowell investigators are searching for a Nebo man who might have information about a Monday morning shooting. Greggory Cole Lowery, 29, is wanted for questioning about the shooting of Joshua Eric Kelley, 33, of Nebo, who was shot multiple times and is in critical condition at Mission Hospital. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Lowery is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2235 or Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners will host a public forum for citizens to give their feedback on plans to widen Highway 321 from Lenoir to Hickory. The forum will be held at 6pm, Monday, October 16, in the auditorium at the J.E.Broyhill Civic Center at 1913 Hickory Blvd.SE, in Lenoir. The public is invited to give their comments on the proposed plans from NCDOT for the widening of Highway 321 from Highway 321-A in Caldwell County to Highway 70 in Catawba County.

An early Monday morning shooting is being investigated in McDowell County. Sheriff's detectives are looking into the shooting that injured a Nebo man. Deputies arrived at the scene on Rolling Meadows Drive to find Joshua Eric Kelley, 33, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Kelley was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville. No charges have been filed and the case remains under investigation.

McDowell County deputies are looking for mailbox vandals. In the early morning hours of Tuesday September 26th, at least 11 mailboxes were damaged on Thousand Oaks Drive and Old Greenlee, Toms Creek, Henry McCall and Hankins Roads. Another report occurred Saturday on Wildlife Road in Nebo. The suspect vehicle is described as a light colored single cab truck. Anyone with information is asked to call the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or Crime Stoppers at 652-7463.

AM 1430 will host its' first of 3 candidate forums this morning from 10:06 till 11:00. District 3 candidates for Morganton City Council have been invited to the studio to answer questions. Their will be a taped replay Sunday at 6pm, on The Big Dawg 92.1 FM and streamed on the website at www.bigdawg92fm.com. Other forums will air live on AM 1430, Tuesday October 10th for District 4 Morganton City Council and Tuesday October 17th for Burke County School Board Western District. The next two forums will also be rebroadcast on The Big Dawg 92.1 and on the website.

A teenager is killed in Catawba County and a Maiden man is charged in the case. According to WSOC, Justin Smith,19, was shot sitting in a recliner in his home. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office charged Jeffrey Douglas Brittain, 23, with the murder. Deputies stated that they believe a dispute may have started over a girl. Brittain is scheduled to appear in court today.

A Morganton man is charged with a sex offense. Morganton Department of Public Safety served a warrant Friday on Obed Morales Gabriel, 25. He was charged with felony statutory rape of a 13, 14 or 15 year old. Gabriel was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $100,000 secured bond with a District Court appearance in Morganton scheduled for today.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton August unemployment rate was 4.2%, it was 3.7% in Asheville. Area county rates include Alexander at 3.7%, Avery 4%, Burke 4.3, Caldwell 4.5, Catawba 4.2, Lincoln 3.9 and McDowell at 4%. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state for August at 3.4%, with Scotland County having the highest unemployment rate at 7.7%.