Top Story Spotlight Wildfire in northern McDowell County burns 420 acres, now 50% contained Mike Conley Apr 1, 2026 Apr 1, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As of Wednesday morning, the Jumping Branch Fire in northern McDowell County has burned 420 acres and is 50% contained.kAm~? (65?6D52J[ E96 }]r] u@C6DE $6CG:46 :DDF65 2? FA52E6 @? E96 7:C6 3FC?:?8 :? E96 vC2?572E96C #2?86C s:DEC:4E @7 E96 !:D829 }2E:@?2= u@C6DE] xE :D =@42E65 6:89E >:=6D ?@CE9H6DE @7 |2C:@?] p E@E2= @7 `fb A6CD@??6= 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 4@?E2:? E96 7:C6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> E96 7@C6DE D6CG:46]k^Am A K-Max helicopter is carrying a large bucket of water to the Jumping Branch Fire burning in northern McDowell County. PHOTO BY MATT SWITZER kAm%F6D52J’D DEC2E68:4 7:C:?8 @A6C2E:@?D :?4C62D65 4@?E2:?>6?E @? E96 H:=57:C6 E@ d_T] %96 24E:@?D C65F465 F?3FC?65 7@C6DE 7F6=D 7C@> E96 2C62 36EH66? E96 >2:? 7:C6 2?5 E96 4@?EC@= =:?6D] u:C67:89E6CD 96=5 2?5 >2:?E2:?65 E96 4@?EC@= =:?6D @G6C?:89E]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm~? (65?6D52J[ 7:C67:89E6CD H6C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 6IE:?8F:D9 9@E DA@ED ?62C E96 7:C6’D 6586 2?5 D64FC6 E96 A6C:>6E6C] p 5C@?6 H:E9 :?7C2C65 :>286CJ :D 96=A:?8 7:C67:89E6CD :56?E:7J 2C62D @7 962E ?62C E96 6586D @7 E96 7:C6] %96C6 2C6 DECF4EFC6D 2E C:D<[ D@ 4C6HD 2?5 6?8:?6D C6>2:? 24E:G6=J 6?82865[ E96 C6=62D6 D:25]k^Am People are also reading… Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering QB Bryce Young gets honest about Panthers' big change on offense for 2026 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley City of Marion issues water shortage advisory due to drought GOAT Collaborative’s at Resilience Ranch in Marion aims to support farms, environment, community Mission Hospital McDowell’s Emergency Services recognized nationally as Unit of Distinction Morganton man charged with raping child; placed under $1 million bond Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Ingles board fight: Proxy advisors back Sackler-linked firm for board Water customers in Old Fort under boil water advisory Old Fort man charged with threatening clerk of court in McDowell County Former McDowell High volleyball coach, counselor pleads guilty to child sex crimes mid-trial kAmp:C4C27E H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ DFAA@CE 8C@F?5 4C6HD 3J >@?:E@C:?8 AC@8C6DD 7C@> 23@G6 2?5 H:E9 H2E6C 2?5^@C DFAAC6DD2?E 5C@AD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^AmkAm#2:? :D 7@C642DE 7@C E96 86?6C2= 2C62[ 3FE :E :D F?=:<6=J E@ 36 6?@F89 E@ D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 E96 7:C6 C:D<] pD 5@H?65 3C2?496D 2?5 @E96C 962GJ 7@C6DE 7F6=D 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3FC? 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H@>2? 492C865 H:E9 DE2CE:?8 H:=57:C6 :? ?@CE96C? |4s@H6== r@F?EJQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>45@H6==?6HD]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^c`a2g57f\b_cc\c45f\hb`_\5ha62hfha2db^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmw:=2CJ qC@@<6 x?>2?[ bg[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 4:E65 2?5 492C865k^2m H:E9 DE2CE:?8 2 7:C6 FA@? 8C2DD=2?5[ 3CFD9=2?5 @C H@@5=2?5 H:E9@FE 7F==J 6IE:?8F:D9:?8 E96 D2>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 AC6G:@FD DE@CJ 3J %96 |4s@H6== }6HD]k^Am kAmp E6>A@C2CJ 7=:89E C6DEC:4E:@? 92D 366? :>A=6>6?E65 @G6C E96 yF>A:?8 qC2?49 u:C6 2C62] u@C E96 D276EJ @7 7:C67:89E6CD 2?5 2G:2E:@? C6D@FC46D[ ?@ 5C@?6D @C 2:C4C27E 2C6 A6C>:EE65 :? E96 2C62] k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." “A dedicated and passionate supporter of Marion’s downtown, Walt embodies the spirit of community service through his tireless contributions a… This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer “We are a market that is focused on showcasing local goods and vegetables and in the process of getting a brewery up and running." McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes “A predator was lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim,” the victim's sister said. McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering Today, Morgan works at Moderna, a biotechnology company known for developing mRNA-based medicines. 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley The case went to trial last week. Testimony began April 15. After the victim testified in court on Thursday, Jessica Patrick Finley pleaded gu… Watch Now: Related Video Closed circuit TV captures armed man sprinting through security during White House Correspondents' Dinner Rep. Lawler recounts 'chaos and confusion' during White House Correspondents' Dinner Rep. 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Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." “A dedicated and passionate supporter of Marion’s downtown, Walt embodies the spirit of community service through his tireless contributions a…
This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer “We are a market that is focused on showcasing local goods and vegetables and in the process of getting a brewery up and running."
McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes “A predator was lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim,” the victim's sister said.
McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering Today, Morgan works at Moderna, a biotechnology company known for developing mRNA-based medicines.
5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley The case went to trial last week. Testimony began April 15. After the victim testified in court on Thursday, Jessica Patrick Finley pleaded gu…
Closed circuit TV captures armed man sprinting through security during White House Correspondents' Dinner
