A Catawba County pair has been arrested for heroin and meth possession following a traffic stop.

A news release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office says 27-year-old Kenny Tran of Conover and 31-year-old Amy Lee Edwards of Hickory were both detained after officers discovered heroin and meth inside their vehicle.

Reports say Tran and Edwards were each charged with several felony drug offenses.

Both were each issued 25-thousand dollar secured bonds.

Cleveland County investigators report a Shelby man has made two attempts to have his father killed.

Published reports say 25-year-old Daniel Dean Maness was arrested Sunday after he allegedly tried to hire two different people to carry out the crime.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office first learned of the plot after Maness reportedly tried to hire the first person on September 10^th.

Reports say investigators informed Maness’ father of the potential threat.

Maness was arrested over the weekend after officers say he contacted a second person to assist him in the plot.

Previous reports indicate the situation began between father and son last April when Maness allegedly stabbed his father with a screwdriver.

He was charged then with misdemeanor assault and jailed for 60 days according to court records.

Maness is currently charged with two counts of solicitation of first-degree murder.

He is being held under a 500-thousand dollar bond.

The case remains under investigation.

The Marion Fire Department will soon experience an increase in the number of paid firefighters – thanks to grant monies from FEMA SAFER.

SAFER is an acronym for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response and is funding created to provide assistance directly to fire departments to help them increase or maintain trained front line firefighters for their particular communities.

The SAFER grant will provide more than 504-thousand dollars in federal funding to Marion Fire that will go toward hiring five additional paid firefighters to add to the department’s current roster of seven paid firefighters.

Marion fire officials say the funding will allow three firefighters per shift for 24 hour coverage once they’re hired.

The fire department reports it will accept applications over the next few months for the new positions.

Visit Marion – NC – dot org for additional information.

The Buncombe and Henderson County Health Departments along with the state department of Health and Human Services are investigating multiple cases of Legionnaires Disease reported in individuals who attended the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher  September 6^th through the 15^th.

Health officials suggest that anyone who attended the fair and has symptoms of pneumonia, like cough, fever, or shortness of breath should see a doctor right away.

Legionnaires disease is a serious illness but can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

A person can develop the illness when they breathe in mist or accidentally swallow water into the lungs that contains Legionella bacteria.

People at highest risk include those 50 years or older, current or former smokers, and those with a chronic lung disease or a weakened immune system.

For additional information or to report possible cases of Legionnaires, contact your local health department.