Three people have been charged in the theft of a Marion woman's wallet. 23-year-old Martha May Laughter of Marion has been charged by the McDowell County Sheriff's Office with felony obtaining property by false pretense. 25-year-old James Dale Sheehan Jr. and 34-year-old Wesley Allen Thorpe, both of Marion, have also been charged with felony conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense. According to the Sheriff's Office, the trio stole a wallet from a vehicle while parked at a Mudcut Road residence; then used a stolen debit card to make purchases at area businesses, Additional charges are pending.

Progress is being made toward upgrading power to the elevator in Chimney Rock State Park. The Park is closed through Friday, to run new power lines through the Park to the elevator on top of the mountain. Inconsistent power has played havoc with the dependable operation of the Park's elevator since it was modernized and reopened in 2012, according to a news release from Chimney Rock State Park. There is no timeframe for when elevator service will be restored, but will updates will be provided as they receive them.