Top Story Spotlight Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County Mike Conley Mar 31, 2026 Mar 31, 2026 Updated Apr 1, 2026 0 A firefighter sprays water on the Jumping Branch Fire. Photo by Allyson Pokrzywinski Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mike Conley A Marion woman has been charged with starting a wildfire in northern McDowell County.kAm%96 42FD6 @7 E96 yF>A:?8 qC2?49 7:C6 3FC?:?8 :? |4s@H6== r@F?EJ H2D 56E6C>:?65 E@ 36 E96 C6DF=E @7 :>AC@A6C=J 5:D42C565 D>@<:?8 >2E6C:2=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> E96 }]r] u@C6DE $6CG:46]k^AmkAmw:=2CJ qC@@<6 x?>2?[ bg[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 4:E65 2?5 492C865 H:E9 >:D56>62?@C D6EE:?8 7:C6 E@ 8C2DD=2?5[ 3CFD9=2?5 @C H@@5=2?5 H:E9@FE 7F==J 6IE:?8F:D9:?8 E96 D2>6 7:C6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^Am kAmpD @7 %F6D52J 6G6?:?8[ E96 7:C6 H2D afd 24C6D :? D:K6 2?5 b_T 4@?E2:?65] p E@E2= @7 `fb A6@A=6 H6C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 4@?E2:? E96 7:C6]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer This WNC family lost their home in Hurricane Helene. 19 months later, they're getting a new one. Morganton man charged with raping child; placed under $1 million bond City of Marion issues water shortage advisory due to drought McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes Ingles board fight: Proxy advisors back Sackler-linked firm for board Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley FEMA provides $1.4 million to rebuild from Old Fort’s Hurricane Helene damage kAm“x7 H62E96C 2?5 7F6=D 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 DF:E23=6 E@52J W%F6D52JX[ 7:C67:89E6CD H:== 4@?E:?F6 H@C<:?8 E@ :?4C62D6 4@?E2:?>6?E 3J 4@?5F4E:?8 DEC2E68:4 7:C:?8 @A6C2E:@?D[” C625D E96 ?6HD C6=62D6] Q%96D6 24E:@?D C65F46 F?3FC?65 7@C6DE 7F6=D 7C@> E96 2C62 36EH66? E96 >2:? 7:C6 2?5 4@?EC@= =:?6D 2=@?8 $F82C r@G6 2?5 $2>’D rC66< E@ E96 ?@CE9 2?5 {@4FDE r@G6 E@ E96 D@FE9] rC6HD H:== FD6 5C:A E@C496D[ 2?5 2? &?>2??65 p6C:2= $JDE6> W&p$X E@ 4@?5F4E 26C:2= :8?:E:@?D[ 96=A:?8 E@ <66A 7:C6 :?E6?D:EJ =@H] p:C4C27E H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ DFAA@CE 8C@F?5 4C6HD 3J >@?:E@C:?8 E96:C AC@8C6DD 7C@> 23@G6 2?5 H:E9 H2E6C 2?5^@C DFAAC6DD2?E 5C@AD]”k^Am kAm%96 yF>A:?8 qC2?49 7:C6 :D 3FC?:?8 :? 2? 2C62 962G:=J 27764E65 3J wFCC:42?6 w6=6?6[ H96C6 2? 6IE6?D:G6 ?F>36C @7 5@H?65 EC66D 2C6 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ :?4C62D65 H:=57:C6 :?E6?D:EJ 2?5 C:D<[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^Am kAmsC:G6CD D9@F=5 2G@:5 }]r] g_ :? E96 qF4< rC66< 2C62] u:C67:89E6CD 2C6 H@C<:?8 :? C@25D 2?5 D>@<6 :D :>A24E:?8 G:D:3:=:EJ[ E96 7@C6DE D6CG:46 D2:5]k^AmkAmp E6>A@C2CJ 7=:89E C6DEC:4E:@? H2D :>A=6>6?E65 @G6C E96 yF>A:?8 qC2?49 7:C6 2C62 2D @7 %F6D52J] }@ 5C@?6D @C 2:C4C27E 2C6 A6C>:EE65 :? E96 2C62]k^Am kAm}@CE9 r2C@=:?2 C6>2:?D F?56C 2 DE2E6H:56 3FC?:?8 32?]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. 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 Plane gets water to combat fire in McDowell County Watch Now: Related Video Morganton woman speaks against proposed increase of Duke Energy rates Newton resident, nonprofit cofounder speaks against Duke Energy raise electricity rates Newton resident, nonprofit cofounder speaks against Duke Energy raise electricity rates Rutherfordton woman talks about difficulties of paying bills Rutherfordton woman talks about difficulties of paying bills Morganton professor, environmental justice advocate speaks against allowing Duke Energy to increase prices Morganton professor, environmental justice advocate speaks against allowing Duke Energy to increase prices Recommended for you
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
Morganton professor, environmental justice advocate speaks against allowing Duke Energy to increase prices
Morganton professor, environmental justice advocate speaks against allowing Duke Energy to increase prices
