The Chestnut Knob fire at South Mountains State Park is currently estimated at 6,435 acres with 65% containment. Anyone in need of a shelter due to the effects of the Burke County wildfires can call 828-764-7146.
The Clear Creek fire in McDowell County is estimated at 2,006 acres with 10% containment. Hwy 80 from Toms Creek Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed. The Clear Creek Road, at the junction with Old Clear Creek Road, is closed to residential traffic only. The growth on this fire is expected to increase. A shelter is open at Nebo Crossing Church for residents affected by the smoke from the Clear Creek Fire. Transportation is available by calling 828-652-3241 or 652-3982.
The Party Rock fire at Lake Lure remains at 7,171 acres with 45% containment.

A McDowell teacher has been selected as the 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year for the Northwest Region. Carrie Franklin was named Teacher of the Year for McDowell County in May and was announced as a finalist for the NW Region earlier this month. Franklin will now compete against the Regional Teachers of the Year from 7 other regions for the state title. The announcement was made Monday at Glenwood Elementary, where she teaches, with the current NC Teacher of the Year, Mr.Bobbie Cavnar of Gaston County helping to make the announcement. The last Regional Teacher of the Year for McDowell County Schools was Sarah Pratt in 1993. Pratt was later named the 1993  NC Teacher of the Year. The 2017 NC Burroughs Welcome Fund Teacher of the Year will be announced in May.

The City of Hickory and NCDOT have agreed to share an additional $1 million sinkhole repair cost. At a special called meeting Tuesday, the agreement was reached for the repair of the sinkhole at the intersection of US 70 and 7th Street SE. The original cost was estimated at $3.2 million of DOT contributing $1 million and the City $2.2 million, but after bids for construction were received by DOT, the City was informed that the lowest bid came in at $4.2 million. The parties agreed to pay $500,00 each, with the anticipated project completion date set for early summer.