A Connelly Springs man is arrested early this morning in connection with a 1st Degree Kidnapping in Lenoir. Just after 5:15pm Wednesday, Lenoir Police was contacted by the victim's mother in reference to a potential kidnapping of her daughter and granddaughter, who had been allegedly taken against their will with the use of a firearm in the roadway of Jason Place Lenoir. Officers learned that the suspects vehicle was located at a gas station near Mocksville. The suspect, Zachary Scott Watson 31, fled the location on foot. Officers found Tiffany Leigh Primm 31 and her 1 year old daughter safe inside the vehicle. About 12:30 this morning, Lenoir Police was notified by Mocksville Police that they had taken Watson into custody. He was transported to the Lenoir Police Department and the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 758-8300 or Lenoir Police at 757-2100.

A Conover man is sentenced to prison on multiple offenses committed in Catawba County. 50-year-old Jonathan leslie Blackburn will spend up to seven years after pleading guilty to numerous offenses earlier this week. Reports say Blackburn pleaded to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, kidnapping, assault by strangulation and communicting threats. The offenses occurred in April 2015 when the Catawba County Sheriff's Office responded to a stabbing incident. When officers arrived they discovered a female lying outside the residence covered in blood. She told deputies Blackburn, who was her boyfiend at the time, attacked her with a knife, cut chunks of hair from her head, beat her and strangled her. The victim was reportedly able to escape her assailant to contact 911 from a neighbor's house.

Governor Cooper announced appointments to the Community College Boards last week.
* Dr. Dan DeHart of Morganton - WPCC Board of Trustees
* Gary Stroud of Marion - MTCC Board of Trustees
* Ronald Beane of Lenoir - CCC & TI Board of Trustees
* Linda Greenwell of Terrell - CVCC Board of Trustees
* Fred Stout of Newland - Mayland CC Board of Trustees

The ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the new Burke County Public Library & Senior Center in Hildebran will be held this morning at 9:30. The new facility is located at 101 Main Avenue West. Citizens are invited to attend.

Officers with Morganton Public Safety began investigating multiple cases of counterfeit bills in the City and in the Burke County area in early August. Investigators identified suspects from store surveillance video and additional leads. Two of the suspects, Joseph Michael Emerson 29 and Jason Eugene Smith 36, have been arrested on charges unrelated to the counterfeit money. Authorities are still looking for the other two suspects, Shawn Kevin Fitzgerald 27, and Sara Pritchard Laws 22, with active warrants for Forgery of Instrument. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Fitzgerald or Laws should contact the Burke County Emergency Communication Center at 437-1911 or Morganton/Burke Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

One of Burke County's Most Wanted has been apprehended. Skyler Allen Jones 24 of Connelly Springs was taken into custody Tuesday, by the Burke County Sheriff's Office. Jones, who had had been on the Most Wanted list for 2 weeks, was charged with F - Breaking or Entering, F - Larceny After Breaking and Entering and F - Possession of Stolen Goods or Property. He was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $10,000 secured bond with a court appearance scheduled for today.

The State Highway Patrol is promoting back-to-school safety. With school starting today in some WNC school systems, the Highway Patrol is focusing on safety in and around school zones. Motorists should be aware of the increase in school traffic and become familiar with local school bus stop locations. Drivers should also look for an increase in pedestrian traffic near school zones. Troopers statewide will monitor school bus routes to ensure motorists comply with stopping for school buses as they pick up and drop off students. According to state law, motorists are required to stop when a school bus is displaying its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights, and the bus is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers. Officials also encourage students to ensure traffic has stopped before entering the roadway when boarding or exiting a school bus.

Five people face charges after authorities conduct a search at a Connelly Springs residence. On Wednesday,  Burke County Adult Probation and Parole Officers requested assistance from the Burke County Sheriff's Office at 2966 Reep Road in Connelly Springs. Officers were conducting a search for parole violations in the residence. Five people in the residence were arrested on various charges: 27-year-old Jesse Joe Potter of Connelly Springs
35-year-old Paul William Kennell of Morganton
34-year-old Thomas Craig Harden of Connelly Springs
36-year-old George Wesley Brittain of Morganton
25-year-old Sarah Marie Worth of Connelly Springs
Since January, the Sheriff's office has responded to calls at 2966 Reep Road at least 22 times regarding suspicious individuals, stolen vehicles, stolen property, narcotics, and warrant services. One of those calls ended in an arrest of a Catawba County man wanted for a homicide in Catawba County.

One of Burke County's Most Wanted has been apprehended. According to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Dennis James Danner, Jr. was taken into custody August 21st by Morganton Public Safety and confined under a $30,000 secured bond. He had been on the Burke County Most Wanted list for 1 week.

The District Attorney's Office rules in Monday's officer-involved shooting. DA David Learner concludes in a news release issued Thursday that the Burke County Sheriff's deputy acted lawfully in shooting 42-year-old Jeffrey Andrew Jacobs. That conclusion based upon applicable law and the facts as reported by eyewitness accounts-corroborated by the photographs and other physical evidence. The SBI conducted witness interviews, photographed the scene, collected evidence while also reviewing dash-cam video from the deputy's patrol car. The DA's press release states the deputy repeatedly attempted to de-escalate the situation and demanded more than thirty times that Jacobs drop the weapon. The release further remarks that the law of NC recognizes the principle of self-defense, which is the inherent right to use deadly force to protect one's self or others from death or great bodily harm - which was exactly what the deputy reasonably believed under circumstances that were tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving.

The Burke County Sheriff's Office has continued to receive and investigate reports of breaking and entering to vehicles, and an attempted first degree burglary associated with the initial arrests of Kevin Blaine Jenkins and Cody Dean Limbo. These additional reported crimes took place in the Rhodhiss Road and Icard Rhodhiss Road areas of Burke County. Jenkins faces additional charges that brings his total bond to $405,000. A new third suspect, Dylan Thomas Deaton faces multiple charges, including felonious attempted first degree burglary. His bond was set at $95,000. These cases are still open and the investigations are continuing with additional charges expected.

A Wilkesboro man will spend at least six years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple criminal acts and admitting his status as a habitual felon during Catawba County Superior Court on Wednesday. 35-year-old Joshua Allen Bentley's prison sentence was enhanced by prior felony convictions for larceny of a firearm in Caldwell County (July 2006), larceny after breakin/entering in Graham County (March 2008) and obtaining property by false pretense in Wilkes County (July 2011).

Burke County will be affected by the State Senate redistricting plan if it is adopted by the State Legislature. Instead of Cleveland County, Burke County will be coupled with Caldwell and Avery to form the 46th State Senate District now represented by Senator Warren Daniel of Morganton. Caldwell and Alexander will make up the 42nd NC Senate District, and McDowell, Rutherford, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison and Polk Counties will make up the 47th NC Senate District, now represented by Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine. In the State House, parts of Burke County will remain in the proposed 86th State House District represented by Hugh Blackwell of Valdese. The rest of Burke remains with Rutherford to make up the 112th State House District. McDowell, Mitchell and Avery Counties will form the 85th State House District and Caldwell will remain in the 87th State House. The last redistricting plan, drawn up in 2011, was deemed unconstitutional by the courts, a decision that was upheld this summer. Legislators have since been redrawing the state plan. The proposed plan has not been adopted yet.

The driver wanted in a fatal Hickory hit and run still has not been located. Hickory Police continue to ask for public assistance in locating the drive reponsible for the hit and run death of Ricky James Yelton that occurred early Monday morning. Police reports state Yelton was struck by the suspect vehicle after wrecking his moped near the intersection of Startown Road and 23rd Street Drive SE. Yelton died at the scene. Authorities are looking for a red 2007 vehicle - either a Daewoo Lacetti, a Suzuki Forenza, or a Chevy Optra with damage to the front driver's side. Investigators say all of these vehicles were made as station wagons, hatchbacks, or sedans. Anyone with information about Monday's incident should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

A Caldwell County faces cocaine charges. On Wednesday, officers from the Lenoir Police Department's Narcotics Unit served a search warrant on the residence of 506 Arlington Circle, Lenoir. According to a news release from Lenoir Police, detectives located 11.9 grams of cocaine. Due to the close proximity of Ferguson's residence to Horizons Elementary School, one of the charges is for possession with intent to manufacture sell or deliver cocaine within 1000 feet of a schools. Bond was seat at $50,000 secured with a court appearance scheduled for today. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

The man who died Monday night after a domestic dispute has been identified. Burke 911 dispatched a Sheriff's deputy to 2353 US Highway 70 Morganton after a caller advised that a male was beating a female in the road and had a revolver and a knife. When the deputy arrived he ordered the man to drop the weapon and after multiple warnings to drop the weapon, the man pointed the gun at the deputy who fired one shot striking the man. 42-year-old Jeffrey Andrews Jacobs was transported to CHS-Morganton, but died prior to arrival at the hospital. The SBI was call to investigate the incident. The gun that Jacobs had, turned out to be a Co2 pistol, which according to the Sheriff's Office, is a perfect replica of a real revolver. The deputy, is on administrative leave until the investigation is concluded and the District Attorney makes a decision regarding the shooting.

The owner of the former Specialized Technological Services in Chesterfield has received a citation. The Burke County Fire Marshal's Office issued a compliance citation for code violations involving hazardous material storage and facility maintenance. The compliance citation states the owner has 30 days to rectify the noted violations to avoid penalty. On Monday, the Fire Marshal's Office, in conjunction with the NC Department of Environmental Quality - Hazardous Waste Section conducted a site visit. and while compliance violations exist, there is no reason to believe that a major environmental hazard exists at the facility.

Wednesday afternoon update:Mr. Grover was found safe, no suspicious activity is suspected.
The Hickory Police Department is attempting to locate 52-year-old Patrick Grover, last seen August 18th, around 7pm at Iron Thunder Saloon and Grill located at 2022 13th Ave Drive SE. He is described as a white male with brown hair and green eyes, 6'1", weighing about 200 pounds. Grover drives a 2009 burgandy Nissan Maxima displaying NC registration plate BFM-3420. The Hickory Police Department is continuing this investigation and asks anyone who may have seen Grover or has any information about Grover's whereabouts to contact Inv. K.Craig at 828-261-2616 or kcraig@hickorync.gov.

A domestic dispute leads to a man being killed Monday night. According to the Morganton News Herald, a Burke County Sheriff's deputy responded to a mobile home park near Dysartsville Road and Highway 70 around 7pm. A man involved in the domestic dispute pointed a gun at the deputy, when the deputy responded with one shot, striking the man in the chest. He was later pronounced dead. The News Herald reports that the deputy gave numerous warnings to the man to drop the gun. The SBI was called in to investigate.

A Hickory man was killed by a hit and run driver on Monday. Hickory Police continue to investigate a hit and run incident that occurred at 5:41am near the intersection of Startown Road and 23rd Street Drive SE. 54-year-old Ricky James Yelton was struck by a vehicle after he had wrecked his moped. The suspect's vehicle is believed to be a red 2007 daewoo Optra with damage to the front driver's side. Yelton was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hickory Police urges anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call investigators at 328-5551 or email dfrye@hickorync.gov.

A Hickory man made his first appearance Monday in Catawba County District Court for a murder charge. 29-year-old Manuel Villarreal,Jr. was given a September 11th probable cause hearing date and Mitch Walker was appointed as provisional counsel. Villarreal was arrested Sunday in Morganton by Hickory Police, with aid from Morganton Public Safety, the Burke County Sheriff's Office and State Highway Patrol. Hickory Police officers responded early Saturday morning to a northeast Hickory residence and found 37-year-old Roberto Beltran dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Hickory Police continues to investigate the fatal shooting.

A new Public Health Director has been named in Caldwell County. Joshua Swift of New Hanover will begin his duties September 5th, Swift, with over nine years of experience in Public Health leadership, comes to Caldwell County after serving as Deputy Public Health Director in New Hanover.

Filing began Monday for 2017 City School Board Elections in Catawba County. Four seats are available in Hickory City Schools with three seats up for election in Newton-Conover City Schools. Filing continues through Noon September 8th. The election is set for November 7th.