30-year-old Christopher Michael Martin of Dry Dock Loop in Mooresville was arrested by Hickory Police early Saturday morning (February 14) on one felony count each of larceny, obtaining property by false pretense and possession of stolen property. The charges are based on warrants issued from Burke County on February 12. He was also charged with a felony probation violation on a warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Martin was arrested after Officers on foot patrol at the Deluxe Inn on Highway 70 S.W. detected the odor of marijuana coming from a room at the hotel. Officers entered the room and found 0.7 grams of marijuana and some paraphernalia. Martin was cited for those offenses and taken into custody without incident on the outstanding warrants.

Following his arrest, Martin was jailed in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $25,500 secured bond on the charges from Burke County; however, he was put on hold without bond by the Marshals Service. A first appearance in District Court was scheduled for today (February 16) in Morganton.

26-year-old Jabaris Rashawn Francis was arrested Sunday (February 15) by authorities in Burke County. He’s charged with kidnapping and communicating threats. Following the arrest, Francis was placed in jail where he is being held under $74,000 secured bond. A court appearance was scheduled for today (Monday, February 16).

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will meet at 7:00 tonight, in the 1924 Courthouse at 30 North College Avenue in Newton. The Board will hold a public hearing on a request to rezone 37.63 acres located at 2951 Highway 16 South from R-40 Residential to R-80-CD Conditional District for the purpose of a solar farm. The Board will also receive a report from Catawba County Health Director Doug Urland on the “State of the Community” from a Public Health perspective.

The Board will consider a request for a Right of Way Agreement with Duke Energy in order for Duke to provide electricity at the site of a firing range that will be built for use by the Sheriff’s Office. The range will be on property at the Blackburn Landfill that will not be needed for landfill operations for at least 40 years.

The Board will also receive a report on delinquent 2014 real estate property taxes and they’ll consider authorizing the Tax Collector to advertise the delinquent tax liens as prescribed by North Carolina General Statute. Finally, the Board will consider two updates to sections of the County Code and approval of a proposed Contractor Pre-qualification Policy, all of which would reflect changes in North Carolina law approved by the General Assembly.

Newton-Conover City Schools, Catawba County Schools and Hickory Public Schools have announced that they will dismiss two hours early today due to impending winter weather. It is expected that the area will receive some frozen precipitation today, possibly starting by the mid-to-late afternoon hours. A winter storm warning is in effect from noon today until 7 a.m. Tuesday. The forecast says snow likely today, mainly after 5 p.m. with daytime accumulations of 1-3 inches possible. Tonight the forecast is for snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 3 a.m. with the chance for another 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet plus the chance for ice accumulation overnight.