A McDowell County couple has been charged with stealing checks from a family member. 34-year-old Joshua Charles Barrier of Old Fort has been charged with one count each of felony obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor larceny. His accomplice - 29-year-old Ashley Renee Johnson of Marion faces two felony counts of obtaining property by false property and one misdemeanor count of larceny. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reports that the pair stole checks belonging to Barrier's mother; and used them to purchase merchandise at various businessess in the area. The suspects were reportedly on the run for several days before being apprehended by authorities.

A former Newton-Conover High student is charged with making a false report concerning mass violence. According to WSOC-TV, Newton Police received a report about 2:40pm Wednesday of 16-year-old James Driver threatening the use of a deadly weapon or firearm at Newton-Conover High. Newton Police responded and found the school on lockdown. No gun was found and the lockdown was lifted around 3:40pm, according to WSOC.

Dr.A.Dale King, Professor of Business at Lenoir-Rhyne, has received a Teaching Excellence from the 2016 Accreditation Council Schools and Business Schools. King was chosen from Region 3, which encompasses eight southeastern states. This is the second regional Teaching Excellence Award recipient from L-R's Charles M.Snipes School of Business. Dr.J.Wayne King, husband of Dr.A.Dale King received the Region 3 Teaching Excellence Award in 2002. Dr.J.Wayne King retired from Lenoir-Rhyne in 2007.

Asheville Police investigating the death of a West Asheville man. Police responded about 1:30pm Tuesday to 55 Nancy Street, and found 58-year-old Jerry Darrell Langford dead. An autopsy is scheduled for today. Anyone with information concerning the death of Langford is asked to contact Asheville Police at 252-1110 or Buncombe Crimestoppers at 255-5050.