Top Story Spotlight THE BRIGHT SIDE Tow truck driver, rescuers unite to save NC donkey that was belly deep in mud SUSIE C. SPEAR RockinghamNow May 5, 2026 May 5, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Rescue workers hoist 30-year-old Miss Kitty, a Thomasville donkey, from 4 feet of mud on Friday night, April 24. Courtesy of Cindy E. Collins kAmxE E@@< 2 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 2 56E6C>:?65 E@H ECF4< 5C:G6C E@ 86E |:DD z:EEJ E96 5@?<6J 324< @? 96C 9@@G6D]k^AmkAm%96 b_\J62C\@=5 5@?<6J[ H:E9 2 8:C=:D9 7:8FC6 @7 23@FE e__\f__ A@F?5D[ 76== E9C@F89 E96 5C@F89E\5C:65 7=@@C @7 2 a\24C6 A@?5 2E %96 r #2?49[ 96C %9@>2DG:==6 9@>6[ @? pAC:= ac]k^AmkAm|:DD z:EEJ =:<6=J 3642>6 DEF4< :? =2E6 27E6C?@@? 2?5 H@F=5 C6>2:? E92E H2J 7@C 23@FE D:I 9@FCD[ 96C @H?6C 6DE:>2E65]k^AmkAm$96 D2?< ?62C=J c 766E :?E@ 2 E:89E G24FF> @7 >F5 — 2 DF3DE2?46 =:<6 49@4@=2E6 AF55:?8 E92E =2J ;FDE 36=@H 2 4CFDE @7 5CJ D@:=[ D2:5 96C @H?6C[ r:?5J tG6C92CE r@==:?D[ H9@ 25@AE65 E96 86?E=6 5@?<6J 23@FE EH@ J62CD 28@ 7C@> 2? 28:?8 w:==D3@C@F89 72C>6C]k^Am People are also reading… Marion man injured in shooting in Newton; police say 1 gunman charged Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified Got a McDowell County paranormal experience? Now is the time to speak up Marion house catches fire Monday morning, cause under investigation Meet the Morganton woman who says hard work has kept her going ... for 105 years What's going on at West McDowell Middle? $4 million grant moving fields out of floodplain 5 antique guns stolen from Historic Carson House in McDowell County Marion, McDowell moving to Stage 2 water shortage advisory, starting mandatory water restrictions Nebo McDowell County water customers under boil water advisory State lawmaker from Guilford calls on Foxx to resign after her response to fourth grader NC high school baseball coach collapses and dies before team’s playoff game. What we know McDowell County state transportation employees win backhoe, motorgrader competitions State museum in Old Fort getting new standard hours. Here's when it'll be open. NFL analyst says Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young 'needs to prove' he's worth an extension McDowell County Sheriff Ricky Buchanan will retire Aug. 1, before term ends k9am$EF4< :? E96 >F5k^9amkAmr:?5J C62=:K65 D@>6E9:?8 H2D HC@?8 @? uC:52J 27E6C D96 5:5 2 C@FE:?6 9625 4@F?E 2E E96 5FA=6I DE2==D H96C6 |:DD z:EEJ 5H6==D 36D:56 96C =@?8E:>6 DH66E962CE[ 8C2J 5@?<6J y@9? (6==3@C?]k^AmkAmpE 23@FE c A]>][ r:?5J D2:5 D96 D2H E9C@F89 96C 9@FD6 H:?5@H E92E y@9? (6==3@C? H2D D6EE=65 :? 9:D DE2==] r:?5J 4@F=5?VE D66 z:EEJ 2?5 564:565 E96 5@?<6J H2D =:<6=J :? E96 DE2== 4@C?6C[ 9:556? 7C@> G:6H] k^AmkAmpE 2C@F?5 e A]>][ 96C 9FD32?5[ q6?[ 42>6 9@>6 7C@> 2? ``\9@FC H@C<52J] %96 A2:C 564:565 E@ 8@ @FE 7@C 5:??6C]k^Am kAmQ%92EVD H96? >J :?DE:?4E <:4<65 :?[Q r:?5J D2:5] Qx E@=5 q6?[ Vx H2?E E@ =2J 6J6D @? |:DD z:EEJ 367@C6 H6 8@]VQk^AmkAmz:EEJ H2D ?@E :? 96C DE2==]k^AmkAm%96 4@FA=6 ;F>A65 :? 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Collins/Garrett Scarlette kAm#6D4F6CD 7C@> %9@>2DG:==6 u:C6 U2>Aj #6D4F6 2?5 E96 %9@>2DG:==6 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E 42>6 E@ E96 C2?49[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 425C6 @7 DA64:2=:DED 7C@> E96 !:65>@?E t>6C86?4J p?:>2= #6DA@?D6 %62>] %9:D u@CDJE9 r@F?EJ\32D65 ?@?AC@7:E DA64:2=:K6D :? =2C86\2?:>2= C6D4F6[ r:?5J D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 8C@FA EC:65 D6G6C2= DEC2E68:6D 7@C 6IEC24E:?8 |:DD z:EEJ] !@=:46 @77:46CD :? 4C:DA F?:7@C>D H2565 H2:DE\566A :? >F5 E@ 96=A E96 7:C6 2?5 C6D4F6 H@C<6CD] uC:6?5D 7C@> 6G6CJ 5:C64E:@? 6>6C865 E@ @776C 96=A 2?5 AC2J6C[ r:?5J D2:5]k^Am Garrett Scarlette offers a gentle lift to a recuperating Miss Kitty as the donkey regains her strength. Courtesy of Garrett Scarlette/Cindy E. Collins Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmQx =@@<65 2C@F?5[ 2?5 E96C6 >FDE 92G6 366? ad A6@A=6 E96C6[Q D96 D2:5] Q%96 <:?5?6DD 2?5 E96 8C24:@FD?6DD 2?5 E96 A2E:6?46 E9:D 8C@FA 925 ]]] 2?5 9@H E96J H6C6 2=H2JD 6G2=F2E:?8 2?5 A=2??:?8 H92E E@ 5@ ?6IE]VVk^Am kAmr:?5J 25565[ Q%96J H6C6 6I4:E65 E@ 96=A] %96C6 H2D 2? 6?E9FD:2D>[ 2 E62> 677@CE 36EH66? EH@ @C E9C66 5:776C6?E 56A2CE>6?ED E92E H@C<65 E@86E96C 2?5 4@>>F?:42E65 362FE:7F==J[ 3C2:?DE@C>65 2?5 FD65 4C:E:42= E9:?<:?8 2?5 4@@C5:?2E:@? E@ D2G6 |:DD z:EEJ[Q r:?5J D2:5[ 8C@H:?8 6>@E:@?2=] QxEVD E96 >@DE 962CEH2C>:?8 E9:?8 E92EVD 6G6C 92AA6?65 E@ >6 :? >J =:76]Qk^Am k9am%@H ECF4< E@ E96 C6D4F6k^9amkAm#62=:K:?8 7:C6 2?5 C6D4F6 H@C<6CD 5:5?VE 92G6 E96 C:89E 6BF:A>6?E E@ 9@:DE |:DD z:EEJ[ 2 7:C67:89E6C 5:2=65 FA v2CC6EE $42C=6EE6[ b`[ E96 @A6C2E:@?D >2?286C @7 v2CC6EEVD %@H:?8 U2>Aj #64@G6CJ :? %9@>2DG:==6]k^Am kAm$42C=6EE6 2CC:G65 2E 23@FE hib_ A]>]k^AmkAmQ(6 324<65 E96 E@H ECF4< :? 2?5 =:7E65 96C FA FD:?8 DEC2AD E96 7:C67:89E6CD 925 2=C625J AFE F?56C?62E9 96C[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 5@?<6J H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^D92C6^C^`g&d(Fpy8u^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm7C665 ;FDE 27E6C >:5?:89Ek^2m[ r:?5J D2:5]k^Am kAmQ$96 D66>65 ~z[ 3FE xV> DFC6 D96 H2D D42C65 2?5 2?I:@FD] *@F 4@F=5 E6== D96 925 D@>6 5:776C6?E 6>@E:@?D 8@:?8 @?] xV5 36 E92E H2J[ E@@[ H:E9 a_ DEC2?86CD DE2?5:?8 2C@F?5[Q D2:5 $42C=6EE6[ H9@ D2:5 96 92D 96=A65 H:E9 =2C86 2?:>2= C6D4F6D 367@C6 :? 9:D C@=6 2D 2 G@=F?E66C 7:C67:89E6C]k^Am kAmQxE H2D DF49 2 8@@5 766=:?8 @?46 H6 D66? z:EEJ FA 2?5 H2=<:?8[Q D2:5 $42C=6EE6[ H9@ C6EFC?65 E@ E96 C2?49 $F?52J E9C@F89 %F6D52J E@ 96=A =:7E 2? 6I92FDE65 |:DD z:EEJ E@ 96C 766E 7@C 52:=J 6I6C4:D6]k^AmkAmQ(6 H6C6 G6CJ 9@?@C65 36:?8 2 A2CE @7 E92E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96 724E E92E H6 H6C6 E96 @?6D E92E C646:G65 E96 42== AFED E92E 2?:>2= :? 2 DA64:2= A=246 :? J@FC 962CE] xEVD 2 =:G6 2?:>2=[ H:E9 766=:?8D 2?5 2 962CE 2?5 2 962CE362E] (6VG6 ECF=J >256 2 ?6H 7@FC\=68865 7C:6?5 @G6C E96 H66<6?5]Qk^Am k9amtIEC24E:@?k^9am kAm!F==:?8 |:DD z:EEJ 7C@> E96 >F5 H2D 2 E65:@FD AC@46DD[ $42C=6EE6 6IA=2:?65] p?5 @?46 D96 H2D FAC:89E[ 96 <6AE E96 92C?6DD6D :? A=246 36?62E9 96C =68D :? 42D6 E96J 3F4<=65] k^Am Rescue workers hoist 30-year-old Miss Kitty, a Thomasville donkey, from 4 feet of mud on Friday night, April 24. Courtesy of Cindy E. Collins kAmQ%96 G6E 4964<65 96C G:E2=D[ 2?5 H6 H6C6 2== >2DD28:?8 z:EEJVD =68D E@ 86E E96 3=@@5 7=@H:?8[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm~? $2EFC52J ?:89E[ G6E6C:?2C:2? t=:DD2 r@=6 7C@> {6I:?8E@? AF>A65 2 82==@? @7 6=64EC@=JE6D :?E@ E96 5@?<6JVD DE@>249 E9C@F89 2 ?2D@82DEC:4 EF36 2D E96 5@?<6J =2J :? D@7E 8C2DD]k^Am kAmr:?5J 2?5 q6? D6E 2=2C>D 2?5[ H:E9 E96 96=A @7 q2C?6D[ C@==65 |:DD z:EEJ 6G6CJ 7@FC 9@FCD 7C@> @?6 D:56 E@ E96 @E96C E@ AC6G6?E 9:A :?;FCJ 2?5 <66A 96C 3@H6=D 24E:G6]k^Am kAm~? $F?52J[ $42C=6EE6 H2D 324< E@ 2DD:DE H:E9 =:7E:?8 |:DD z:EEJ] Qx 96=5 96C FA 7@C 2? 9@FC[ 36:?8 E96C6 H:E9 DFAA@CE H:E9 E96 DEC2AD C62= =@@D6 F?E:= 3=@@5 8@E :?E@ 96C =68D C62= 8@@5 2?5 F?E:= E96 @H?6CD 76=E =:<6 96C =68D H6C6 H6==\A=2?E65]Q k^Amk9ams6G@E65 5@?<6JDk^9amkAmw6=A:?8 9F>2?D 92G6 4@>6 2?5 8@?6 E9C@F89 DE2== 5@@CD E9:D H66<[ 3FE @?6 DE2=H2CE 86?E — z:EEJVD 4@>A2?:@?[ 5@?<6J y@9? (6==3@C?— H@?VE =62G6 |:DD z:EEJVD D:56[ r:?5J D2:5]k^Am Donkeys Miss Kitty and John. Courtesy of Cindy E. Collins kAmQw6VD DE2?5:?8 C:89E 96C6 36D:56 96C @FED:56 @7 96C =:EE=6 DE2==] %96J 2C6 DF49 2 A2:C[Q r:?5J D2:5[ E:4<=65 3J E96 724E E92E y@9? :D :? 9:D 62C=J a_D] Q$@ x 8F6DD z:EEJ >FDE 36 2 4@F82CPQ k^Am kAm|:DD z:EEJVD AC@8?@D:D :D 8@@5[ 2?5 E96 r@==:?D 72>:=J :D 8C2E67F=]k^AmkAmQ(6 4@F=5?VE 92G6 5@?6 E9:D H:E9@FE @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[Q r:?5J D2:5] QxE H2D ;FDE 2? :?4C65:3=6 6IA6C:6?46]Qk^Am sspear@rockinghamnow.com336-349-4331, ext. 6140@SpearSusie_RCN 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 NC high school baseball coach collapses and dies before team’s playoff game. What we know He passed out during pregame warmups before Stuart Cramer’s state quarterfinal game at Burns on Friday, and he was unable to be revived. 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NC high school baseball coach collapses and dies before team’s playoff game. What we know He passed out during pregame warmups before Stuart Cramer’s state quarterfinal game at Burns on Friday, and he was unable to be revived.
NFL analyst says Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young 'needs to prove' he's worth an extension Most NFL fans still haven't had a chance to see Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young playing on his good days, of which there have admitt…
$317,000 missing? Former North Carolina town manager indicted for misuse of credit card State Auditor Dave Boliek described the charge against the former Pilot Mountain manager as "plain and simple fraud."
14-year-old robs store at gunpoint, takes ‘stolen’ goods to school, NC police say A 14-year-old armed robbery suspect incriminated himself when he brought the “stolen” goods with him to school the next day, according to inve…
Full list of Carolina Panthers' opponents for the 2026 NFL season released The Carolina Panthers have not completely arrived just yet, but they're getting closer.
