US CELEBRATES 250TH BIRTHDAY Extreme heat impacts celebrations across much of country ANDY SULLIVAN AND MIKE SNIDER Reuters/USA Today Jul 5, 2026 6 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ANDY SULLIVAN AND MIKE SNIDER Reuters/USA Today FOURTH OF JULYkAm(p$wx}v%~} — &]$] !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A H2D 5F6 E@ >2C< E96 4@F?ECJVD ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @? $2EFC52J H:E9 2 A@=:E:42= C2==J @? 2 76?465\@77 }2E:@?2= |2== :? (2D9:?8E@?[ E9@F89 DF>>6C E9F?56CDE@C>D E9C62E6?65 E@ 5:DCFAE E96 6G6?E 2E =62DE E6>A@C2C:=J]k^AmkAmpD 2 =:?6 @7 DE@C>D C@==65 :?E@ E96 C68:@? @? $2EFC52J ?:89E[ 2FE9@C:E:6D @C56C65 2 4C@H5 E92E 925 2DD6>3=65 @? E96 |2== E@ 6G24F2E6 E96 6IA@D65 2C62 2?5 D96=E6C ?62C3J] %96 &]$] $64C6E $6CG:46 D2:5 :E H2D ?@E =6EE:?8 2?J >@C6 A6@A=6 E9C@F89 D64FC:EJ 4964<A@:?ED]k^Am kAmxE H2D ?@E :>>65:2E6=J 4=62C H96E96C E92E H@F=5 27764E %CF>AVD D4965F=65 `_ A]>] t2DE6C? E:>6 2AA62C2?46[ H9:49 96 92D 3:==65 2D QE96 >@DE DA64E24F=2C %#&|! #p{{* @7 E96> 2==]Q uC665@> ad_[ E96 8C@FA @C82?:K:?8 E96 6G6?E[ D2:5 AF3=:4 D276EJ @77:4:2=D H6C6 >@?:E@C:?8 H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am People are also reading… Man pleads guilty of distributing 156 pounds of meth in Burke, McDowell counties McDowell County commissioners OK budget: 3% raise for employees, no increase in school funding About 3,500 lose power in McDowell County; cooling station open Thursday evening Here's the schedule for Old Fort's Independence Day celebrations this week United States has already lost World Cup with its greed and hostility | Opinion N.C. Highway 226 North closed Monday afternoon due to overturned tractor-trailer The Madness holds soft opening of the new Marion restaurant Marion to hold Fourth of July parade, downtown celebration City of Marion reminds water customers: Drought restrictions remain in effect Marion, Old Fort elections moving to even-numbered years after passage of state bill See McDowell County area government offices, trash collection schedule for July 4 What was happening in McDowell County in July 250 years ago? Historian tells us Carolina Panthers get absolutely shafted in NFL uniform rankings Poster series highlights McDowell America 250 commemoration. Here's where you can see it. Four sleepers to watch for the Carolina Panthers offense in the 2026 NFL season kAm':D:E@CD 925 H2:E65 9@FCD E@ 86E :?E@ E96 6G6?E[ 4@?E6?5:?8 H:E9 DE6AA65\FA D64FC:EJ 2?5 E6>A6C2EFC6D E92E C624965 `_a 568C66D u29C6?96:E] %96 C64@C5\3C62<:?8 962E H2G6 7@C465 E96 42?46==2E:@? @7 D6G6C2= A2C256D 2?5 @E96C 6G6?ED :? E96 2C62]k^AmkAmQxEVD ;FDE A2CE @7 E96 562= x D:8?65 FA 7@C[Q D2:5 v=6? $@=2?56C[ e_[ 2 D@7EH2C6 6?8:?66C G:D:E:?8 7C@> $:@FI u2==D[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 2D 96 H2:E65 2E 2 D64FC:EJ 4964<A@:?E @? $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@?]k^Am kAm~E96C G:D:E@CD :?4=F565 E96 H9:E6 ?2E:@?2=:DE @C82?:K2E:@? !2EC:@E uC@?E] %96 8C@FA A@DE65 @? D@4:2= >65:2 E92E :E 2CC:G65 :? E96 42A:E2=[ 2?5 9F?5C65D @7 A6@A=6 H62C:?8 E96 8C@FAVD @FE7:ED EC2G6=65 E@ E96 4:EJ @? s]r] |6EC@ EC2:?D] {@42= A@=:46 D2:5 62C=J $2EFC52J 6G6?:?8 E96J 925?VE C646:G65 C6A@CED @7 G:@=6?46]k^Am kAm!2EC:@E uC@?E[ <?@H? 7@C :ED F?:7@C>D[ 7246 >2D<D 2?5 7=2D9\>@3\DEJ=6 56>@?DEC2E:@?D[ 7@C>65 :? a_`f 27E6C E96 5625=J Q&?:E6 E96 #:89EQ C2==J :? r92C=@EE6DG:==6[ ':C8:?:2[ 3C62<:?8 @77 7C@> E96 '2?8F2C5 p>6C:42 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE 8C@FA E92E H2D 2E E96 46?E6C @7 E92E AC@E6DE[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 $@FE96C? !@G6CEJ {2H r6?E6C]k^Am kAmp >2?:76DE@ @? !2EC:@E uC@?EVD H63D:E6 D2JD[ Qs6>@4C24J 92D 72:=65 E9:D @?46 8C62E ?2E:@?[Q 2?5 2 Q92C5 C6D6EQ :D ?66565 E@ QC6EFC? E@ E96 EC25:E:@?D 2?5 G:CEF6D @7 @FC 7@C672E96CD[Q :56?E:7J:?8 E96> 2D tFC@A62? D6EE=6CD]k^AmkAmx? E96 ?2E:@?VD 42A:E2=[ %CF>A H2D A@:D65 E@ A=246 9:>D6=7 2E E96 46?E6C @7 E96 46=63C2E:@?]k^Am kAm%96 AC6D:56?E 3:==65 9:D 6G6?:?8 2AA62C2?46 2>@?8 E96 4:EJVD :4@?:4 >@?F>6?ED 2D QE96 >@DE DA64E24F=2C %#&|! #p{{* @7 E96> 2==[Q 244@>A2?:65 3J >:=:E2CJ 7=J@G6CD 2?5 2 DFA6CD:K65 7:C6H@C<D 5:DA=2J]k^Am kAm!2DE &]$] AC6D:56?ED DE66C65 4=62C @7 E96 46=63C2E:@?[ 3FE %CF>A 3=FCC65 E96 =:?6 36EH66? @77:4:2= 4@>>6>@C2E:@? 2?5 42>A2:8?\DEJ=6 A@=:E:4D]k^Am kAmp ?@?A2CE:D2? 3@5J D6E FA :? a_`e E@ 92?5=6 E96 ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ H2D =2C86=J D:56=:?65 3J E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD uC665@> ad_ 8C@FA[ H9:49 76?465 @77 >F49 @7 E96 `]d\>:=6 }2E:@?2= |2== 7@C 2 QvC62E p>6C:42? $E2E6 u2:CQ 762EFC:?8 2EEC24E:@?D DF49 2D 2 u6CC:D H966= 2=@?8D:56 5:DA=2JD 3J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 8C@FAD 2?5 5676?D6 4@?EC24E@CD]k^Am kAm$6G6C2= s6>@4C2E:4\=65 DE2E6D 564=:?65 E@ D6?5 56=682E:@?D[ 2?5 >2?J A6C7@C>6CD H9@ H6C6 D4965F=65 E@ 2AA62C 5C@AA65 @FE[ 4:E:?8 4@?46C?D 23@FE A2CE:D2?D9:A] %9@FD2?5D H6C6 @? 92?5 7@C %CF>AVD <:4<@77 C2==J @? yF?6 ac 3FE D:?46 E96? 4C@H5 D:K6D 2E E96 6G6?E 92G6 D@>6E:>6D 366? >@56DE]k^Am kAm~E96C 24E:G:E:6D H:E9 uC665@> ad_ 3C2?5:?8 :?4=F56 2 72:E9 C2==J 762EFC:?8 >@DE=J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 r9C:DE:2? DA62<6CD[ 2?5 >F=E:A=6 DA@CED 6G6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 2 42C5 @7 >:I65 >2CE:2= 2CED 3@FED @? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 8C@F?5D 7@C %CF>AVD g_E9 3:CE952J] p? x?5Jr2C C246 :? (2D9:?8E@? :D D4965F=65 7@C pF8FDE]k^AmkAm%96 uC665@> ad_ @C82?:K2E:@? 2=D@ DA@?D@C65 QuC665@> %CF4<DQ E92E 4C:E:4D D2J A2:?E 2? @G6C=J C6=:8:@FD G6CD:@? @7 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ 2?5 8=@DD @G6C :DDF6D DF49 2D D=2G6CJ 2?5 C24:2= :?;FDE:46]k^Am kAmp #6FE6CD^xAD@D A@== 7@F?5 E92E 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 p>6C:42?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 92=7 @7 #6AF3=:42?D[ E9:?< E96 6G6?ED 46=63C2E:?8 E96 4@F?ECJVD ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ 92G6 8C@H? E@@ A@=:E:42=]k^Am kAm%CF>A D@F89E E@ C6>2<6 H:56 DH2E9D @7 E96 42A:E2= 4:EJ 29625 @7 E96 ad_E9 46=63C2E:@?[ H:E9 >:I65 C6DF=ED] |2?J 7@F?E2:?D 2?5 DE2EF6D H6C6 C6?@G2E65[ 3FE AC@3=6>D 36D6E 2 >F49\E@FE65 S`d >:==:@? C6?@G2E:@? @7 E96 {:?4@=? |6>@C:2=VD #67=64E:?8 !@@= 2?5 D64FC:EJ 42>6C2D 2?5 D@=5:6CD ?@H DE2?5 H2E49 @G6C :ED A66=:?8 A2:?E 2?5 2=826\7@F=65 H2E6CD]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm(62E96C H@CC:6Dk^DA2?mk^AmkAm$6G6C2= 8@G6C?@CD H6?E @?=:?6 E@ H2C? C6D:56?ED 29625 @7 E6>A6C2EFC6D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 `_ E@ a_ 568C66D 23@G6 2G6C286 24C@DD E96 62DE6C? A2CE @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am kAmQ!=62D6 36 42FE:@FD @7 E96 6IEC6>6 962E[Q }6H y6CD6J v@G] |:<:6 $96CC:== A@DE65 @? D@4:2= >65:2] Q{:>:E J@FC E:>6 @FE5@@CD — 6DA64:2==J 5FC:?8 E96 9@EE6DE E:>6D @7 E96 52J — 2?5 5C:?< A=6?EJ @7 H2E6C]Qk^AmkAms2?86C@FD=J 9@E 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 962E :?56I G2=F6D @7 ``_ E@ ``d H6C6 7@C642DE 7@C A2CED @7 |2CJ=2?5[ ':C8:?:2 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?]k^AmkAmQ%96 6IEC6>6 962E H6 2C6 766=:?8 :? ':C8:?:2 :D ?@E =6EE:?8 FA E9:D H66<6?5[Q ':C8:?:2 v@G] p3:82:= $A2?36C86C A@DE65 @? D@4:2= >65:2] Q!=62D6 5@ J@FC A2CE E@ =6E @FC 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD 2?5 962=E9 42C6 AC@76DD:@?2=D 6?;@J E96 cE9 @7 yF=J[ E@@] %2<6 AC642FE:@?D ?@H D@ J@F 5@?VE 92G6 E@ >2<6 2 EC:A E@ FC86?E 42C6] $E2J D276[ DE2J 9J5C2E65[ 2?5 DE2J 4@@=[ ':C8:?:2PQk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Man pleads guilty of distributing 156 pounds of meth in Burke, McDowell counties The man supplied large batches of methamphetamine to local dealers. McDowell County commissioners OK budget: 3% raise for employees, no increase in school funding The commissioners also voted to put a sales tax increase on the ballot this fall. About 3,500 lose power in McDowell County; cooling station open Thursday evening Due to the extreme heat, a cooling station is open at the McDowell Senior Center, located at 100 Spaulding Road, Marion. Here's the schedule for Old Fort's Independence Day celebrations this week Events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. United States has already lost World Cup with its greed and hostility | Opinion This opportunity to showcase the best of the United States and embrace the joy that soccer brings the rest of the world and, instead, we chose…
Man pleads guilty of distributing 156 pounds of meth in Burke, McDowell counties The man supplied large batches of methamphetamine to local dealers.Â
McDowell County commissioners OK budget: 3% raise for employees, no increase in school funding The commissioners also voted to put a sales tax increase on the ballot this fall.
About 3,500 lose power in McDowell County; cooling station open Thursday evening Due to the extreme heat, a cooling station is open at the McDowell Senior Center, located at 100 Spaulding Road, Marion.Â
Here's the schedule for Old Fort's Independence Day celebrations this week Events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
United States has already lost World Cup with its greed and hostility | Opinion This opportunity to showcase the best of the United States and embrace the joy that soccer brings the rest of the world and, instead, we chose…
