An investigation continues into a Tuesday morning explosion at a Long View

company. About 60 surrounding homes sustained mostly minor damage from

the explosion at OneH2. The homes were inspected by Catawba County building

inspectors and City of Hickory fire inspectors. One home has been deemed

uninhabitable and the owner is being assisted. There were no injuries or fatalities.

Visitation at many state forests in North Carolina is two and three times greater

than what is typical for this time of year, which is stretching the resources of the

sites and making it harder for people to practice proper social distancing. Visitors

are asked to strictly follow social distancing guidelines to help keep public lands

safe, available and open to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two area men face child sex charges. The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office has

charged 20-year-old Juan Antonio Rojas of Marion, with statutory rape of a

child 15 or younger and statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger.

In Lincoln County, the Sheriff’s Office charged 48-year-old Bobby Larry Avery

Junior of Iron Station, with statutory sex offense of a child and indecent liberties

with a child.

A 1-year-old child is in intensive care after a shooting Tuesday night in Spindale.

Police responded to a residence on Guffey Street about 7:45. The child was taken

to Rutherford Regional and then transferred to Mission Memorial and placed in

Intensive care unit. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is assisting Spindale

Police with the investigation.