Spotlight How many votes has NC Rep. Cecil Brockman missed this session? His time in office drawing scrutiny RICHARD CRAVER Staff Reporter Oct 23, 2025 Oct 23, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As the N.C. General Assembly awaits word about the future of Rep. Cecil Brockman, who faces charges of child sex offenses, his six terms in office are drawing increasing scrutiny.kAm!6C92AD >@DE ?@E23=J[ 9:D 2EE6?52?46 2?5 G@E:?8 C64@C5D]k^AmkAmqC@4<>2?[ s\vF:=7@C5[ 92D 925 `_g 7F== 2?5 bc A2CE:2= 6I4FD65 23D6?46D 7C@> 7=@@C G@E:?8 D6DD:@?D 5FC:?8 9:D D:I E6C>D :? @77:46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =68:D=2EFC6’D H63D:E6]k^Am kAm%92E’D :?4=F5:?8 `_ 7F== 2?5 E9C66 A2CE:2= 6I4FD65 23D6?46D :? E96 bh w@FD6 D6DD:@?D D@ 72C 7@C E96 a_ad D6DD:@?]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer 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 McDowell County park may get updates to trails, disc golf course, fishing access Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." He got a tattoo to commemorate a Fred Durst concert in Morganton. It never actually happened. QB Bryce Young gets honest about Panthers' big change on offense for 2026 Trial against former McDowell High volleyball coach accused of sex crimes began Wednesday McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering Brush fire burns along Interstate 40 near Nebo; traffic down to one lane Freight train travels through Old Fort for first time since Hurricane Helene’s devastation Mission Hospital McDowell’s Emergency Services recognized nationally as Unit of Distinction GOAT Collaborative’s at Resilience Ranch in Marion aims to support farms, environment, community kAm%92E ?F>36C H:== =:<6=J 8C@Hi qC@4<>2?[ H9@ :D 36:?8 96=5 :? E96 vF:=7@C5 r@F?EJ y2:= @? 2 S` >:==:@? 3@?5[ H2D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 23D6?E 7@C E96 EH@\52J 6IEC2 D6DD:@? E9:D H66<]k^AmkAm“x? AC6G:@FD J62CD[ #6A] qC@4<>2? 92D 2EEC24E65 2EE6?E:@? 7@C 36:?8 23D6?E 7C@> G@E6D 3642FD6 E9@D6 23D6?46D @442D:@?2==J >256 :E 62D:6C 7@C #6AF3=:42? =68:D=2E:G6 =6256CD E@ @G6CC:56 8F36C?2E@C:2= G6E@6D :? 9:89\AC@7:=6 :?DE2?46D[” D2:5 y@9? s:?2?[ 2 A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 AC@76DD@C 2E (2<6 u@C6DE &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am kAm“%9@D6 23D6?46D 2C6 A2CE @7 2 =2C86C A2EE6C? :? E92E qC@4<>2?’D 23D6?46D 2C6 86?6C2==J >@C6 7C6BF6?E E92? 7@C >2?J @E96C =68:D=2E@CD]”k^Am kAmqC@4<>2? 92D 2=C625J >:DD65 fg 7=@@C G@E6D E9:D D6DD:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 G@E6D @? D64@?5 2?5 E9:C5 C625:?8D @? 3:==D[ 2>6?5>6?ED 2?5 4@?4FCC6?46 G@E6D @? w@FD6 3:==D 2>6?565 3J E96 $6?2E6]k^AmkAmu@C 4@>A2C:D@? D2<6 H:E9 E96 @E96C `_ >6>36CD @7 E96 u@CDJE9 2?5 vF:=7@C5 w@FD6 56=682E:@?D[ #6A] p>36C q2<6C[ s\u@CDJE9[ H2D ?6IE 9:896DE 2E 7:G6 7F== 23D6?46D]k^Am kAm#6A] p>@D "F:4<[ s\vF:=7@C5[ 925 EH@ 7F== 2?5 7:G6 A2CE:2= 6I4FD65 23D6?46D[ 2?5 #6A] zJ=6 w2==[ #\$E@<6D^u@CDJE9[ 925 EH@ 7F== 2?5 7@FC A2CE:2= 23D6?46D]k^AmkAm}@ @E96C u@CDJE9 2?5 vF:=7@C5 =68:D=2E@C 925 >@C6 E92? 7@FC 4@>3:?65[ H:E9 #6A] y6CCJ qC2?D@?[ #\vF:=7@C5[ H:E9 ?@?6 2?5 #6A] y677 +6?86C[ #\u@CDJE9[ H:E9 ` 7F== 23D6?46]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=?@H]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60d5d6f57b\`5e5\d7gc\32cb\_hb2c7ce``bb]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmqC@4<>2? 92D @7E6? 4:E65 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6Dk^2m H96? C6BF6DE:?8 6I4FD65 23D6?46D 2?5 >:DD:?8 4@?EC@G6CD:2= G@E6D 5FC:?8 9:D a_ab\ac 2?5 4FCC6?E E6C>D]k^Am kAmvF:=7@C5 =68:D=2E:@? 56=682E:@? >6>36CD 4@F=5 ?@E 36 C624965 7@C 4@>>6?E @? qC@4<>2?’D 2EE6?52?46 C64@C5]k^AmkAmqC@4<>2? 92D 366? 492C865 H:E9 EH@ 4@F?ED @7 :?5646?E =:36CE:6D H:E9 2 49:=5[ 2?5 EH@ 4@F?ED @7 DE2EFE@CJ C2A6 @7 >:?@CD 2865 `b E9C@F89 `d[ 244@C5:?8 E@ ;2:= C64@C5D]k^Am kAmqC@4<>2? 2?5 9:D C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 92G6 ?@E 4@>>6?E65 AF3=:4=J D:?46 9:D ~4E] h 2CC6DE]k^Am k9ama_ad 6I4FD65 23D6?46Dk^9am kAmtI4FD65 23D6?46D 7@C 2 7=@@C G@E:?8 D6DD:@? EJA:42==J 2C6 2446AE65 2D 2 4@FCE6DJ 3J E96 =6256CD @7 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6] p A2CE:2= 23D6?46 D:8?:7:6D ?@E 36:?8 @? E96 7=@@C 7@C 46CE2:? G@E6D]k^AmkAmp? pAC:= w@FD6 CF=6D 492?86 C6>@G65 E96 ?646DD:EJ @7 6IA=2:?:?8 E96 6I4FD65 23D6?46[ 3FE DE:== C6BF:C6D =2H>2<6CD DF3>:E 2 HC:EE6? ?@E6 E@ E96 w@FD6 4=6C< E92E :D 6?E6C65 :?E@ E96 52:=J ;@FC?2=]k^AmkAmp? 6I4FD65 23D6?46 42? 36 @3;64E65 E@ 3J 2?@E96C w@FD6 >6>36C[ 3FE E92E C2C6=J 92AA6?D]k^Am kAmp? 6I4FD65 23D6?46 7@C 2 =2H>2<6C 42? 36 C6BF6DE65 3J E96 >6>36C’D DE277[ @C 3J @?6 =2H>2<6C @? 3692=7 @7 2?@E96C]k^Am kAmqC@4<>2?’D 7F== 23D6?46D @44FCC65 @? y2?] ah[ u63] ad[ |2C49 ``[ |2C49 `g\`h[ pAC:= g[ |2J `b[ |2J aa[ yF?6 `_ 2?5 yF?6 ``[ H9:=6 E96 A2CE:2= 23D6?46D H6C6 yF?6 ac\ad 2?5 yF=J ah]k^AmkAmr@FCE @77:4:2=D D2:5 qC@4<>2? >6E E96 `d\J62C\@=5 2==6865 G:4E:> @?=:?6 :? |2J] %96J 3682? =:G:?8 E@86E96C[ 7:CDE :? pE=2?E2 367@C6 >@G:?8 E@ w:89 !@:?E :? pF8FDE] r@FCE 5@4F>6?ED =:DE pF8] `d 2D E96 52E6 @7 E96 @776?D6D]k^Am k9am|:DD65 G@E6Dk^9amkAmqC@4<>2?’D 6I4FD65 7=@@C G@E:?8 23D6?46D D@ 72C 5FC:?8 E96 a_ad D6DD:@? 2C6 >@56C2E6 4@>A2C65 H:E9 9:D AC6G:@FD @55\J62C =@?8 D6DD:@?D 2EE6?52?46]k^Am kAm%96 @55\J62C =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?D — <?@H? 2D E96 “=@?8 D6DD:@?D” — 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ CF? 7C@> =2E6 y2?F2CJ F?E:= 62C=J yF=J]k^AmkAm%96J 2C6 H96? >@DE 3:==D 7@C E96 EH@\J62C =68:D=2E:G6 A6C:@5 2C6 :?EC@5F465 2?5 5632E65]k^Am kAmw@H6G6C[ =@?8 D6DD:@?D 92G6 =:?86C65 H6== :?E@ =2E6 72== :? C646?E J62CD 2D w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD HC6DE=6 H:E9 2 DE2E6 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6]k^AmkAm%96 6G6?\J62C “D9@CE D6DD:@?D” 2C6 >62?E AC:>2C:=J E@ 4@G6C =68:D=2E:@? >62?E E@ 25;FDE E96 EH@\J62C 3F586E 3:==[ 2=E9@F89 :E’D @A6? D62D@? @? @E96C =68:D=2E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ C646?E 4F=EFC2= H2C :DDF6D]k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2? 2?2=JD:D @7 w@FD6 G@E6D[ qC@4<>2? >:DD65 2=>@DE 2 E9:C5 @7 7=@@C G@E6D 5FC:?8 9:D a_ab\ac E6C> E@E2=:?8 ae 7F== 2?5 7:G6 A2CE:2=] %96 3C62<5@H? H2D D6G6? 7F== 2?5 EH@ A2CE:2= 7=@@C :? a_ac 2?5 `h 7F== 2?5 E9C66 A2CE:2= :? a_ab]k^Am kAmqC@4<>2? 2=D@ >:DD65 >F=E:A=6 w@FD6 7=@@C G@E6D :? AC6G:@FD D6DD:@?Dik^Am kAmu@C 9:D 7:CDE E6C>i `d 7F== 2?5 7:G6 A2CE:2= @G6C2== H:E9 2 3C62<5@H? @7 D6G6? 7F== 7=@@C G@E:?8 D6DD:@?D :? a_`d 2?5 6:89E 7F== 2?5 7:G6 A2CE:2= :? a_`e]k^AmkAmu@C 9:D D64@?5 E6C>i `b 7F== 2?5 6:89E A2CE:2= @G6C2== H:E9 2 3C62<5@H? @7 D:I 7F== 2?5 7@FC A2CE:2= :? a_`f 2?5 D6G6? 7F== 2?5 7@FC A2CE:2= :? a_`g]k^Am kAmu@C 9:D E9:C5 E6C>i a` 7F== 2?5 6:89E A2CE:2= @G6C2== H:E9 2 3C62<5@H? @7 `f 7F== 2?5 D:I A2CE:2= 7=@@C G@E:?8 D6DD:@?D :? a_`h 2?5 7@FC 7F== 2?5 EH@ A2CE:2= :? a_a_]k^Am kAmu@C E9:D 7@FCE9 E6C>i ab 7F== 2?5 7:G6 A2CE:2= @G6C2== H:E9 2 3C62<5@H? @7 `d 7F== 2?5 7@FC A2CE:2= 7=@@C G@E:?8 D6DD:@?D :? a_a` 2?5 6:89E 7F== 2?5 @?6 A2CE:2= :? a_aa]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=?@H]4@>^@A:?:@?^65:E@C:2=^2CE:4=60`43h334_\635g\d33`\2`d5\65edfd34hc2`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmqC@4<>2? 5C6H :?E6?D6 4C:E:4:D> :? s646>36C a_ac 7C@> vF:=7@C5 s6>@4C2E:4 4@==628F6D %C24J r=2C< 2?5 !C:46J w2CC:D@? 7@C >:DD65 7=@@C G@E6Dk^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 ?@E D9@H:?8 FA 7@C <6J G6E@ @G6CC:56D 3J w@FD6 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD9:A]k^Am kAmx? C6DA@?D6[ qC@4<>2? 244FD65 9:D vF:=7@C5 s6>@4C2E:4 4@==628F6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=?@H]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60d5d6f57b\`5e5\d7gc\32cb\_hb2c7ce``bb]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@7 3F==J:?8 9:>k^2m]k^Am kAm“#6A] qC@4<>2? 92D 4@?D:DE6?E=J C2?<65 2E @C ?62C E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE @7 >:DD65 D6DD:@?D 2>@?8 E96 >6>36CD @7 9:D w@FD6 56=682E:@?[” D2:5 |:E49 z@<2:[ D6?:@C A@=:4J 2?2=JDE H:E9 4@?D6CG2E:G6 E9:?< E2?< y@9? {@4<6 u@F?52E:@?]k^Am kAm“xE’D @?=J ?@H E92E :?E6C6DE65 @3D6CG6CD 2C6 E2<:?8 2 4=@D6C =@@< 2E 9:D C64@C5 @7 23D6?46D 7C@> 9:D 5FE:6D :? #2=6:89[” z@<2: D2:5]k^AmkAmz@<2: 25565 “:E H:== 36 :?E6C6DE:?8 E@ D66 :7 E96 6I2>A=6 @7 #6A] qC@4<>2? AC@>AED 7FCE96C :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ @E96C =2H>2<6CD H9@ >:DD >F=E:A=6 52JD @7 H@C<]”k^Am Staff reporter Kevin Griffin contributed to the article. rcraver@wsjournal.com336-727-7376@rcraverWSJ 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. 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 McDowell County park may get updates to trails, disc golf course, fishing access The park on county-owned property has a small trail system, two ponds and a disc golf course. McDowell County restoring storm-damaged parks; cost expected to be more than $1 million “These parks are important to our communities, and we want to make sure they continue to serve families for years to come.” Water customers in Old Fort under boil water advisory This advisory will remain in effect until further notice. McDowell County gets $580,000 grant for new recycling equipment Among the most significant gains will come from the cardboard baler, which is expected to reduce cardboard hauling trips from about 156 per ye… McDowell Tech update in Old Fort highlights gains, facility updates McDowell Tech is growing, but aging buildings remain a concern. Leaders shared the latest during Old Fort’s meeting Monday. Watch Now: Related Video The state redistricting fight was one that Trump started AP Top Stories April 24 AP Top Stories April 24 AP Top Stories April 23 AP Top Stories April 23 FBI says SPLC paid informants without donors knowing. Feds pay them too FBI says SPLC paid informants without donors knowing. Feds pay them too Recommended for you
McDowell County park may get updates to trails, disc golf course, fishing access The park on county-owned property has a small trail system, two ponds and a disc golf course.
McDowell County restoring storm-damaged parks; cost expected to be more than $1 million “These parks are important to our communities, and we want to make sure they continue to serve families for years to come.”
Water customers in Old Fort under boil water advisory This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.
McDowell County gets $580,000 grant for new recycling equipment Among the most significant gains will come from the cardboard baler, which is expected to reduce cardboard hauling trips from about 156 per ye…
McDowell Tech update in Old Fort highlights gains, facility updates McDowell Tech is growing, but aging buildings remain a concern. Leaders shared the latest during Old Fort’s meeting Monday.
