A 150-acre fire is burning in McDowell County. The fire began about 1pm Saturday, along the Haines Eyebrow Ridge between Singecat Branch and Burgins Fork. Highway 80 is temporarily closed to all but local traffic between Buck Creek Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Little Buck Road near Lake Tahoma. The public is encouraged to use extreme caution with outdoor fires. Western North Carolina continues to be abnormally dry despite recent rain and snow. Don't burn on windy days.

A Cleveland County man will spend the next 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges and admitting his status as a habitual felon during Catawba County Superior Court on Thursday. 48-year-old Warren Darnell Tipps of Lawndale, was sentenced to serve 6 to 8 years by the Honorable W. Todd Pomeroy, Superior Court Judge from Lincoln County. Tipps'sentence was enhance by his habitual felon status, which includes prior felony convictions in Catawba County for assault causing physical injury to emergency personnel (January 2013), possession of cocaine (January 2003) and possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (October 2000).

Impaired driving charges are filed on a Morganton man after a traffic accident. Morganton Public Safety Officers responded Saturday afternoon, to the area of West Fleming Drive at Burkemont Avenue. Burke EMS responded to the scen and evaluated both driver. Neither driver was injured. One driver, 41-year-old David Adam Stamey was charged with Driving While Impaired, Careless and Reckless Driving to Endanger, and Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in the Passenger Area of a Vehicle after driver had Consumer (Alcohol).

A McDowell County man is charged with sexually abusing a 10-year-old. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office Friday, charged 59-year-old Douglas Honeycutt of Marion with 2 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. The girls' parents contacted authorities.

A Lincoln County resident faces methamphetamine and felony probation violation charges. Hickory Police Saturday charged 35-year-old Autumn Dawn Buckland of Iron Station. Bond was set at $285,000 with a court appearance today.