Authorities in McDowell County are looking for suspects who broke into an Old Fort home earlier this month and made off with various guns and coins.

James Evans of Paradise Lane reported someone broke into his residence sometime between 9 am and 4 pm on May 10^th.

Items stolen included a black Smith and Wesson AE-15, a brown wooden-lever action Winchester 30-30 with a black scope and a black strap, a purple and black Taurus 9 millimeter, and 10 Morgan silver dollars dating back to the pre-1900’s.

Anyone having information about the incident or the whereabouts of the stolen goods can call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

Hickory Fire Department was presented an award during graduation ceremonies at Catawba Valley Community College.

The ‘Community Partnership’ award shows the collaboration between the fire department and CVCC in the development and teaching of fire, rescue, and emergency medical programs.

CVCC Fire and Rescue Director Wes Lail states their particular partnership allows the college to expand its fire and rescue course offerings and enhances student opportunity.

Most recently, Hickory Fire donated fire fighting equipment and reserve apparatus to the school’s new fire academy.

Hickory fire officials say they are very appreciative of the award, but more thankful for their partnership with CVCC in providing life-saving training.

With the Memorial Day weekend upon us, the American Red Cross announces a critical shortage of type-O blood.

Eligible donors are being urged to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations.

Currently, the Red Cross reports they have less than a two-day supply of Type-O blood available for emergency rooms where the need is most critical.

That means just six units of type-O blood are on hand for every 100-thousand people, but at least 14 are needed every day.

While just 7-percet of the US population has type-O negative blood, it can still be transfused to patients with and blood type, and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type.

Donors of all types especially type-O are urged to make an appointment to give.

Use the blood donor app at Red Cross Blood dot Org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Small breweries in NC may soon see a new law that would allow growing beer-makers in the state more time to sell their products on their own without third-party distributors becoming involved.

By a 38 to 3 vote, the Senate gave final legislative approval Monday to a measure drawing a compromise that alcohol wholesalers and craft brewers had already worked out after years of negotiation.

The bill has cleared the House and now goes to Governor Cooper for his signature.

The bill, if approved, would allow breweries to sell up to 50-thousand barrels of beer annually on their own.

The current limit is 25-thousand barrels.

Craft breweries in NC have grown in the last decade from 45 to over 200.