Three McDowell County residents are presumed dead after a house fire early Wednesday morning. Multiple McDowell County fire departments responded to the fore on White Pine Drive in the Glenwood area. Fire officials state the home was fully involved upon arrival. McDowell County Sheriff Dudley Greene stated that "The bodies were burned beyond recognition". An autoposy will be performed. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Assisting the Sheriff's Office were members of the State Bureau of Investigation, McDowell County Emergency Management, EMS, the medical examiner's office, McDowell County Rescue Squad, along with Glenwood and other fire departments.

A Taylorsville man is charged with 1st Degree kidnapping, 1st Degree Sexual Offense and Assault Inflicting Serious Injury. The Alexander County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, reported the arrest of Ricky Scott Holloway. He was also wanted in Kansas for felony probation violation. Holloway is being held in the Alexander County Jail on a $1,000,000 secured bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

The Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory has again won first prize in The American Prize professional orchestra division. The Symphony won for its' performance of Mahler's Symphony #2 "Resurrection" with the Hickory Choral Society and Louise Toppin, Soprano and Diane Thornton, Contralto. Under the direction of Maestro John Gordon Ross, the orchestra also took first place in 2013 and third in 2011.