Top Story Editor's Pick McDowell County native, now Army one-star general, headed to Saudi Arabia for assignment ALAN MAINER Commander, American Legion Post 56 Mar 20, 2025 Mar 20, 2025 Updated Mar 23, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jerry Baird Jr. is currently assigned within the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.kAmp |4s@H6== r@F?EJ ?2E:G6 H9@ 8C6H FA :? }63@[ 96 92D DA6?E E96 36EE6C A2CE @7 bg J62CD D6CG:?8 :? F?:7@C>]k^AmkAmw6 DA6?E >@C6 E92? aa J62CD D6A2C2E65 7C@> 9:D 72>:=J 2D 96 D6CG65 :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 C@=6D H:E9:? E96 pC>J 2?5 E96 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5 2D 2? 24E:G6\5FEJ @77:46C] q2:C5’D =2E6DE 2DD:8?>6?E :D ?@ 5:776C6?E[ D6?5:?8 9:> E@ E96 z:?85@> @7 $2F5: pC23:2 2D E96 ?6H 5:C64E@C @7 @A6C2E:@?D Wu@CH2C5X 7@C &]$] r6?EC2= r@>>2?5]k^Am kAmq2:C5[ 92G:?8 C646?E=J C6EFC?65 9@>6 27E6C 2 ?:?6\>@?E9 56A=@J>6?E E@ !@=2?5 2D E96 56AFEJ 4@>>2?5:?8 86?6C2= WtFC@A6X 7@C E96 ga?5 p:C3@C?6 s:G:D:@? 2?5 5F2= 2DD:8?65 2D E96 56AFEJ 4@>>2?5:?8 86?6C2= Wu@CH2C5X $64FC:EJ pDD:DE2?46 vC@FA\&<C2:?6[ H:== ?@H D6CG6 `a >@?E9D :? $2F5: pC23:2]k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts McDowell County man charged with abuse of child, adults with special needs No Kings protests will happen in area for a 3rd time this Saturday. See when and where Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County McDowell County alumni Dwayne Ledford went from high school football player to NFL coach McDowell High NJROTC raising money for 3 families affected by cancer Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Destination McDowell: McDowell County is having a moment in 2026 NC House committee supportive of bill to cap local property tax levies Baird Jr. PHOTO SUBMITTED kAm“xE 92D 366? 2? 9@?@C E@ D6CG6 E9:D 8C62E ?2E:@?[” q2:C5 D2:5] “}@ >:=:E2CJ @77:46C D9@F=5 6G6C A:? @? E96 DE2C @7 2 86?6C2= E@ D2J ?@] (96? @FC ?2E:@?’D =6256CD 2D< FD E@ 8@[ H6 8@] |J =@8:4 92D 2=H2JD 366?[ >J D@=5:6CD 5@ ?@E 92G6 E96 =FIFCJ E@ BF:E H96? :E 86ED 92C5[ 2?5 E96 pC>J :D 92C5] $@ 2D 2 =6256C[ 9@H 42? x BF:E H96? E9:?8D 86E 2 =:EE=6 F?4@>7@CE23=6 7@C >6nk^Am kAm“x 92G6 EH@ D@?D D6CG:?8 :? E96 pC>J] w@H H@F=5 :E =@@< :7 x @?=J E2<6 E96 62DJ ;@3Dn x 42?’E 5@ E92E] %96 36DE A2CE :D x 92G6 2? 2>2K:?8 H:76[ {6D=:6[ H9@ 7C2?<=J :D H9J x 2> DE:== :? F?:7@C>] xE :D D96 H9@ AFD96D >6 E@ 249:6G6 >@C6] w6C 72G@C:E6 =:?6 E@ >6 :D[ “*@F DE:== 92G6 >@C6 :? E96 E2?<[ H6 42? 5@ E9:D]”k^Am kAmq2:C5 2=D@ D2:5[ “x7 ?@E 7@C 96C DFAA@CE 2?5 AC2J6CD[ x’5 567:?:E6=J 36 <?66 566A :? 2 4C66<[ D@C6 =:AA:?8 7:D9 2== 52J]”k^Am kAmq2:C5 H:== =62G6 E9:D DAC:?8 7@C 9:D 2DD:8?>6?E]k^Am kAmw6 D2:5[ “x 766= E6CC:3=6 x H2D?’E 9@>6 =@?8 6?@F89 E@ C6A2:C 2 76H E9:?8D 52>2865 3J E96 DE@C> WwFCC:42?6 w6=6?6X[ 3FE {6D=:6 D2JD D96 2?5 :E H:== 36 96C6 H96? x C6EFC?] $96 :D 8C62E]”k^AmkAmq2:C5 D2:5 r6?EC2= r@>>2?5 92D 2? 2>2K:?8 >:DD:@?[ :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96 DE23:=:EJ @7 @FC 4@F?ECJ] %96 &]$] rt}%r~| 2C62 @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ DA2?D >@C6 E92? c >:==:@? DBF2C6 >:=6D] xE :D A@AF=2E65 3J >@C6 E92? de_ >:==:@? A6@A=6 7C@> ad 6E9?:4 8C@FAD] %96J DA62< a_ =2?8F286D H:E9 9F?5C65D @7 5:2=64ED 2?5 >F=E:A=6 C6=:8:@?D H9:49 EC2?D64E ?2E:@?2= 3@C56CD]k^Am kAm%96 &]$] r6?EC2= r@>>2?5 >:DD:@? :D E@ 5:C64E 2?5 6?23=6 >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 24E:G:E:6D H:E9 2==:6D 2?5 A2CE?6CD 7C@> a` ?2E:@?D] %9:D :D E@ :?4C62D6 C68:@?2= D64FC:EJ 2?5 DE23:=:EJ :? DFAA@CE @7 6?5FC:?8 &]$] :?E6C6DED H:E9:? :ED 2C62 @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ %96D6 :?4=F56 E96 |:55=6 t2DE[ r6?EC2= 2?5 $@FE9 pD:2 2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 DEC2E68:4 H2E6CH2JD] r@F?EC:6D H:E9:? E96 C68:@? E92E H:== 72== H:E9:? E96 86?6C2=’D 2C62 @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2C6 xDC26=[ p7892?:DE2?[ q29C2:?[ t8JAE[ xC2?[ xC2B[ y@C52?[ z2K2<9DE2?[ zFH2:E[ zJC8JKDE2?[ {632?@?[ ~>2?[ !2<:DE2?[ "2E2C[ $2F5: pC23:2[ $JC:2[ %2;:<:DE2?[ %FC<>6?:DE2?[ E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D[ &K36<:DE2? 2?5 *6>6?]k^Am kAm“(6 =:G6 :? 2? 2>2K:?8 ?2E:@?[ D64FC6 2?5 AC@DA6C@FD >@C6 E92? >@DE 42? :>28:?6[ 3FE H:E9 25G2?46D :? E649?@=@8J[ @FC >@2ED WE96 pE=2?E:4 2?5 !24:7:4 @462?DX 92G6 ?6G6C 366? D>2==6C[” q2:C5 D2:5] “%96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 C68:@?2= DE23:=:EJ 92D ?6G6C 366? >@C6 :>A@CE2?E :? 7@C6:8? =2?5D] x D66 E9:D >:DD:@? 2D 2 D>2== A2CE @7 2 G6CJ :>A@CE2?E C@=6 E92E @FC >:=:E2CJ 92D :? 96=A:?8 E@ >2:?E2:? E92E DE23:=:EJ] %@ 36 9@?6DE[ >J 9@A6 :D E92E >J EH@ D@?D[ r92D6 2?5 $6E9[ H9@ 2C6 2=D@ pC>J @77:46CD[ H:== ?6G6C 92G6 E@ G:D:E 2?J @7 E96D6 4@F?EC:6D H62C:?8 2? pC>J F?:7@C> 2?5 42CCJ:?8 E96:C H62A@?D] x’== 5@ E9:D ?@H[ D@ E96J >2J ?6G6C 92G6 E@]”k^Am kAmw6 D2:5[ “uC@> H92E x C6>6>36C[ >J =2DE E:>6 :? E96 56D6CE :E H2D >F49 H2C>6C E92? :E H2D :? !@=2?5[ D@ x 2> A24<:?8 244@C5:?8=J]”k^Am kAmq2:C5 H:== 92G6 D6CG:46 >6>36CD 7C@> 2== 7:G6 D6CG:46D[ E96 p:C u@C46[ |2C:?6D[ }2GJ[ $A246 u@C46 2?5 E96 pC>J]k^Am 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 Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor “I enjoyed my time being the mayor but now look forward to new opportunities. I love Old Fort and am excited to see the town continuing to grow." McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire “Will’s leadership has left a lasting impact on our organization and our community in ways that will continue for generations." Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Since this bridge floods, replacing it is a priority to avoid potential flood damage and add resilience against future natural disasters. Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County “I encourage anyone who believes they may qualify for one of the exemptions to contact the Tax Assessing staff soon." NC House committee supportive of bill to cap local property tax levies “The constitutional amendment will pass because North Carolinians are ready for this. Property tax bill growth has exceeded inflation in eight… Watch Now: Related Video What could Houthi involvement in the Iran war mean? US–Israel offensive on Iran: Millions displaced and region on the brink US–Israel offensive on Iran: Millions displaced and region on the brink USS Massachusetts joins the Navy fleet amid ongoing war with Iran USS Massachusetts joins the Navy fleet amid ongoing war with Iran Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport Recommended for you
Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor “I enjoyed my time being the mayor but now look forward to new opportunities. I love Old Fort and am excited to see the town continuing to grow."
McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire “Will’s leadership has left a lasting impact on our organization and our community in ways that will continue for generations."
Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Since this bridge floods, replacing it is a priority to avoid potential flood damage and add resilience against future natural disasters.
Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County “I encourage anyone who believes they may qualify for one of the exemptions to contact the Tax Assessing staff soon."
NC House committee supportive of bill to cap local property tax levies “The constitutional amendment will pass because North Carolinians are ready for this. Property tax bill growth has exceeded inflation in eight…
Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport
Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport
