Latest Updates

Another Madison County Homicide Investigation

Law enforcement in Madison County is working their second homicide investigation in a week. Madison County Sheriff Buddy Harwood has confirmed that a homicide investigation in the Burton Cove area is underway. The sheriff says his officers are currently working to obtain felony murder warrants and more information should be available soon about the investigation. This is the second homicide ...(more)

Magnitude 2.5 Earthquake Saturday Morning

A magnitude 2.5 earthquake was detected Saturday morning in Asheville, Marshall and two other states surrounding North Carolina just before 4:30 a.m. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake’s epicenter occurred approximately 19.3 miles west northwest of Asheville and 10.6 miles west southwest of Marshall, North Carolina. USGS reported the depth of the earthquake as 5km. It ...(more)

Madison Man Charged with Murder in Bow & Arrow Shooting

Richard Eugene Towe Sr, age 51, of Madison County has been charged with murder after a fatal bow and arrow shooting Wednesday in Madison County. Towe was arrested and charged with felony murder for the death of Cody Jonathan Garrett. Madison County Sheriff Buddy Harwood said the incident happened the afternoon of Wednesday, September 22, on Upper Brush Creek Road near Madison Middle School. The ...(more)

Yancey Schools Remain with Optional Masks

The Yancey County Board of Education voted Monday night to keep masks optional. Board Chair Edwin Fortner said that it wasn’t an easy decision board but they felt like it was the right decision to allow people to have a choice. School health officials told board members a mask mandate was the easiest way to reduce quarantines. According to Yancey County Schools, 182 people — staff and ...(more)

WNC Bigfoot Festival Dates Changed

Bigfoot 911, the organizers of the WNC Bigfoot Festival, have announced that the 2022 WNC Bigfoot Festival will be held on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, in Downtown Marion. This date change was made due to a conflict with Memorial Day. ...(more)

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Carolina Mountain Truckers Show Raises $10,000 for St. Jude’s

The Carolina Mountain Truckers “Shining for St Jude” Truck Show raised over $10,000 for St Jude’s Children’s Hospital on Saturday, September 18th in Green Mountain. This is only the second year of the event. The first year they raised $2500. This year’s show featured 51 trucks, music, bar-be-cue and other activities. The event was held in honor of Megan Denise ...(more)

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Grandfather Mtn Expecting More Hikers–Here Are Some Tips

The call of the wild has been loud and clear during the pandemic with many people looking for a way to escape, get outdoors and connect more with their loved ones and nature. That trend is evident with Grandfather Mountain experiencing record attendance the last two years. With more people visiting, the park has also observed a substantial increase in hikers. In 2019, the Linville, N.C., nature ...(more)

Donald Leroy Beam

Donald Leroy “Booger” Beam, age 80, of Jonas Ridge, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 16th, 2021 at Grace Hospital in Morganton.  A native of Avery County, he was a son of the late France and Velma Franklin Beam and the husband of Cynthia Mixon Beam, who passed away in 2016.  He was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Allen Beam, who passed away on ...(more)

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Burnsville’s First EV Charging Station Installed

French Broad Electric has partnered with the Town of Burnsville on installation of Burnsville’s first ever charging station for electric vehicles. The Charge Point is located at 215 W. Main St in the Town of Burnsville Municipal Parking Lot and is capable of charging two vehicles at once. ...(more)

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Foothills Conservancy Acquires 130 Acres in McDowell County

On Sept. 9, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina purchased 130 acres along N.C. Highway 80 and Buck Creek in McDowell County, between Marion and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The project, Sunnyvale Slopes, is named after the area’s once-thriving logging community, which, itself, is a Registered Natural Area through the N.C. Natural Heritage Program. The forested tract adjoins extensive Pisgah ...(more)