Fire destroys a Morganton home. Public safety responded about 1am monday to a reported structure fire at 105 Summit Street. A neighbor notified the occupants that their house was on fire. All occupants were able to make it out unharmed. The structure was badly damaged and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The American Red Cross was dispatched to the scene and offered assistance to the victims of the fire.

A convicted Old Fort sex offender faces more sex abuse crimes. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office reported Monday that 44-year-old Christopher Scott McEntire was charged with 6 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. He was previously convicted of 5 counts of 2nd degree sex offense in 2004 in McDowell County. The Sheriff's Office received the case on a referral from McDowell County DSS.

Republican Scott Reilly has announced his candidacy for District Attorney of the 25th Judicial District, comprising Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. The election will be held in 2018. Reilly served as an Assistant District Attorney in the 25th District in the early 1990's and since then has been in private practice in Newton.

A Hickory man will serve 7-10 years in prison following his guilty plea to two counts of larceny from the person and his admission to habitual felon status during Catawba County Superior Court last week. 57-year-old Ronnie Darnell Smith's prison sentence was enhanced by prior felony convictions for larceny after breaking and entering in Mecklenburg County (August 2004), attempted felonious larceny in Nash County (September 2008) and attempted felonious larceny in Durham County (April 2012).