Tanker Spill Shuts Down I-40 West Near McDowell-Burke Line | WNC Times Burke County -- April 2, 2026: Travelers on Interstate 40 faced major delays Thursday morning after a tractor-trailer hauling milk overturned near th...

Tanker Spill Shuts Down I40 Near McDowell-Burke Line wnctimes.com/article/tank... #McDowellCounty #BurkeCounty #WNC #WNCnews #NCnews #TravelNews #NCNEWS #I40

Woman charged with allegedly sparking McDowell County wildfire MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Officials have charged a woman with allegedly causing the large Jumping Branch wildfire in McDowell County. According to the N.C. The Forest Service, the caus...

“MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Officials have charged a woman with allegedly causing the large Jumping Branch wildfire in McDowell County.” www.yahoo.com/news/article... - @yahoonews.com

#JumpingBranchFire #McDowellCounty #NCFire #Wildfires

WNC Update on Area Wildfires | WNC Times Red Flag Warning issued for WNC! High winds & low humidity create extreme wildfire danger. Stay safe, avoid outdoor burning.

WNC Update on Area Wildfires wnctimes.com/article/wnc-... #WNC #WNCnews #WNCmountains #Asheville #AVL #HaywoodCounty #McDowellCounty #WildFires #BurnBan #LocalNews #Local

“MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – Firefighters were called Sunday to the scene of another wildfire in the North Carolina mountains.” www.wspa.com/news/local-n... - WSPA

#McDowellCounty #NCFire #NorthCarolina #Wildfires

McDowell Man Charged After Assaulting Female & Injuring Officer | WNC Times Marion man charged with assault after allegedly attacking a woman and injuring a law enforcement officer in Old Fort. Details here.

McDowell Man Charged After Assaulting Female & Injuring Officer wnctimes.com/article/mcdo... #LocalNews #Asheville #McDowellCounty #WNC #WNCnews #NC #NorthCarolina #NCNEWs

McDowell County sheriff highlights "Operation Winter Freeze," recognizes Community Impact Team Sheriff Buchanan told commissioners that Operation Winter Freeze disrupted illegal drug activity across McDowell County, reporting seizures, recoveries and arrests and publicly recognized the Community Impact Team and its leaders.

Sheriff Buchanan reveals the impressive results of Operation Winter Freeze, which led to 32 arrests and a significant crackdown on drug activity in McDowell County.

Click to read more!

#McDowellCounty #NC #CommunityImpact #DrugEnforcement #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

McDowell County warns HR1 changes could cut food-nutrition reimbursements and increase workloads Human Services Director Sarah Brewer told commissioners HR1-related policy changes could halve food-nutrition reimbursement rates in October 2026 and create heavier recertification and verification workloads that county staff estimate could cost about $249,000 in 2027.

Major changes from HR1 could slash food-nutrition reimbursements in McDowell County and burden staff with new eligibility requirements, costing the county nearly $249,000 in 2027.

Click to read more!

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #FoodNutrition #EconomicServices #WorkforceDevelopment

County to coordinate support for workers after reports of Baxter Healthcare layoffs County staff reported news coverage of layoffs at Baxter Healthcare and said the company initially confirmed nine affected employees; county partners are ready to assist and staff noted an alternate figure equating the impact to about 90 people pending more information from the company.

Baxter Healthcare's recent layoffs could ripple through 90 local households, sparking community efforts to provide vital support.

Get the details!

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #McDowellCountyWorkers #EmployeeSupport #WorkforceDevelopment

McDowell County to study van expansion and expands express transit zone after surge in denied rides Transit director Jason Holofield reported 275,000 miles driven and more than 30,000 passenger trips; the board approved beginning a two‑year fleet‑expansion procurement process and voted to expand express service into Old Fort after officials cited 6,105 cancellations and 2,192 denied rides last year.

McDowell County's transit system is struggling under the weight of 6,105 cancellations and 2,192 denied rides, prompting a push for fleet expansion and new express routes to meet rising demand.

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#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #PublicTransit #TransportationAccess

McDowell County water projects advance; historic‑preservation review may slow bidding County staff updated commissioners on East End/NEBO water projects, relocation of a master meter on Highway 70, and a recommended grant for Marlow Road and Zion Hill Road; the State Historic Preservation Office flagged part of a federal project for survey work that could add roughly two months to environmental review.

McDowell County's ambitious water projects are hitting some bumps in the road, with historic preservation reviews potentially delaying crucial bids.

Get the details!

#McDowellCounty #NC #EnvironmentalReview #CitizenPortal #McDowellCountyWaterProjects #InfrastructureDevelopment

McDowell County warns of possible $500K–$600K hit if state does not cover SNAP and Medicaid cost shifts County staff told commissioners congressional changes to SNAP and Medicaid could shift substantial administrative costs to counties; the county association estimated possible McDowell exposure in the range of $500,000–$600,000 without state relief.

McDowell County could face a staggering $600,000 bill if the state doesn't step in to cover rising SNAP and Medicaid costs!

Get the details

#McDowellCounty #NC #BudgetPlanning #CitizenPortal #SocialServices #HealthCareReform

Valentine’s Day hike, Polar Plunge happening this Saturday in McDowell County Looking for an outdoor activity for Valentine's Day?

“Special Olympics of #McDowellCounty will host the first 2026 Polar Plunge on Saturday. It will happen at the Paddy’s Creek section of Lake James State Park in Nebo. Registration at 10:30am & opening ceremony at 11am.”

mcdowellnews.com/life-enterta...

#McDowellCountyNC #MarionNC #WNC

The "Factory" for America: Why Baxter’s Marion Layoffs Signal a New Era in Medicine | WNC Times Marion -- February 6, 2026: Baxter Healthcare Corp. confirmed yesterday that it has laid off approximately 90 employees at its North Cove manufacturing facility. While the reduction represents 3% of t...

The "Factory" for America: Why Baxter’s Marion Layoffs Signal a New Era in Medicine wnctimes.com/article/the-... #WNCnews #McDowellCounty #MarionNC #WesternNC #AshevilleNews #WNCtimes #BaxterHealthcare #Manufacturing #MedicalSupplyChain #HealthcareNews #Businessnews #PharmaIndustry #WNCBusiness

Two Old Fort Men Facing Multiple Drug Felonies Following Traffic Stop wnctimes.com/article/two-... #OldFortNC #McDowellCounty #WNCNews
#WesternNorthCarolina #OldFort

Morganton Pair Charged in Assisted Living Facility Break-in | WNC Times Two Morganton residents, Gage and Karen Marcus, face felony charges after allegedly breaking into a damaged assisted living facility. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from the ...

Morganton Pair Charged in Assisted Living Facility Break-in wnctimes.com/article/morg... #McDowellCounty #WNC #WNCnews #Local #LocalNews

Winter Weather Advisory: Black Ice Threatens WNC Morning Commute wnctimes.com/article/wint... #winterweatheradvisory #wnc #wncmountains #buncombecounty #avlnews #asheville #yanceycounty #burkemountains #mcdowellcounty #Swannanoa #Fairview, #Edneyville #localnews #weather #WNCnews

County updates water‑system projects and authorizes feasibility work for 9‑1‑1 center and animal shelter site County staff briefed the board on multiple water projects — East End, NEBO phases and asset mapping — noted customer growth from about 400 toward 550–600, and the board authorized staff to study Spalding Road as a potential site for a combined 9‑1‑1 center and animal shelter using CDBG disaster‑recovery funding.

Big changes are coming to McDowell County with new water projects underway and plans for a combined 9-1-1 center and animal shelter on the horizon!

Learn more here

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #DisasterRecovery #CommunityDevelopment #McDowellCountyInfrastructure

County outlines opioid‑settlement spending, schedules public funding meeting McDowell County staff detailed allocations from opioid‑settlement proceeds — including grants to peer‑support and recovery organizations — and announced a public settlement‑funding meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Emergency Services Headquarters.

McDowell County is taking significant steps to combat the opioid crisis, unveiling new funding for recovery programs and inviting the community to shape future initiatives.

Join the conversation at the public meeting next Tuesday!

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport

Where the sky keeps bursting A Washington Post investigation shows why much of the eastern U.S. is increasingly vulnerable to extreme rain and floods.

While we're on WVA: #McDowellCounty, West Virginia, is where my mother was born, & where she and her family lived until they all moved away to Delaware, when she was 20. #coalminersdaughter #giftarticle #flooding #poor McDowell County was named the poorest place in US more than once
wapo.st/3XxuFb2

🎉 Marion's Gary McNeely won $100,000 on a $30 scratch-off and said he was "excited as a banjo!" 🎸

wataugaonline.com/mcdowell-cou...
#NCLottery #McDowellCounty

Back in the classroom today!

I had a great time speaking to the small business students at McDowell Tech this morning.

#McDowellTech #McDowellCounty #MarionNC #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinessCenter

McDowell updates on water projects: NEBO/Devo phases under construction, 86 pending service applications and ARPA-funded deadlines County staff reported construction timelines and pending service applications across multiple water-system projects, noted an ARPA spending deadline and described next steps for environmental reviews and grant notifications.

Exciting water system projects are underway in McDowell County, with demand soaring and 86 new service applications in the pipeline!

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#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #DisasterReadiness #McDowellCountyWater #CommunityGrowth #InfrastructureDevelopment

These Trump voters are losing the health care Democrats gave them McDowell County, North Carolina, loves Donald Trump, and showed it by voting for him 74-25 % in 2024. As The News and Observer noted , “The county of about 45,000 in the mountains of western North ...

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025... IF t/ignorant ppl who voted for #DonaldTrump still support him, they should know they R responsible for their loss!! #NorthCarolina #Obamacare #McDowellCounty #AffordableCareAct #Recommended

What is a “Death Café”? Death doula-trained host/facilitator Becky Knight explains!

Join us Thursday, October 30th at 7pm for our next #DeathCafe in downtown #MarionNC #McDowellCounty for a special #DiaDeLosMuertos #DiaDeMuertos themed discussion!

Learn more: www.bigfootbooksnc.com/events/dia-d...

Did you know that one of the most important events of the U.S. Labor Movement happened right here in Marion, North Carolina?

Join us on Thursday, October 2nd for “Ghosts of a Revolution: Honoring the Marion Mill Massacre Anniversary”: www.bigfootbooksnc.com/events/ghost... #MarionNC #McDowellCounty

TONIGHT at 7PM right here in downtown Marion, NC! Don't miss it!!

#MarionNC #McDowellCounty #WNC #JohnPavlovitz #BookSigning #AuthorEvent

Episode 31 - Alyssa Hughes, Barefoot Baby — Growth by Insight Alyssa is the founder of Barefoot Baby and the Barefoot Baby Foundation, two organizations dedicated to bringing nature and family back to childhood, one memory at a time. In this episode, Alyssa shar...

Check out the latest episode of the Growth by Insight podcast to learn about Barefoot Baby—the Marion Business Association “Business of the Year” 2025!

www.growthbyinsight.com/episodes/epi...

#MarionNC #McDowellCounty #McDowellCountyNC #GrowthByInsight #BarefootBaby

Join us THIS SATURDAY 8/30 at 7pm for author @johnpavlovitz.bsky.social reading & signing his book “Worth Fighting For: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty is Trending”!

#WNC #AVL #JohnPavlovitz #WorthFightingFor #MarionNC #McDowellCounty

Tourism Update Presented by Chan Odom Highlights Recovery Efforts Chan Odom presents mixed tourism results and thanks the board for recovery support.

McDowell County is embracing a brighter future with new educational leadership and a tourism sector on the mend—find out how the community is recovering and thriving!

Click to read more!

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #TourismRecovery #McDowellCountyEducation #EducationalLeader

TDA Advances Wayfinding Project with 11 New Signs Across McDowell County TDA confirms installation of 11 wayfinding signs in McDowell County this fall.

McDowell County is gearing up for a transformation with new wayfinding signs, park developments, and enhanced recreational spaces that promise to elevate community life!

Learn more here

#McDowellCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #RecreationDevelopment #CommunityInfrastructure #PublicSpaces