Inmates Allegedly Set Fires Inside Prison (Asheville, NC)
Inmates at an Asheville prison are being investigated for a series of fires that broke out at the facility. The Department of Public Safety told WLOS-TV that Craggy Correctional Center had to be evacuated Saturday afternoon when fires were set in trash cans in three housing areas. Inmates were also accused of stopping up the toilets and sinks, which flooded the housing area. The fires were quickly put out.
Agencies Searching For Missing Boy In Gastonia (Gastonia, NC)
The FBI and other agencies are in Gastonia searching for a six-year-old boy with special needs who disappeared on Saturday afternoon. Gastonia Police say Maddox Ritch is non-verbal and has autism. He went missing while with his father and another adult at a park. Chief Robert Helton urged residents to look in their sheds, barns, or wooded areas where Ritch might be susceptible to hide.
Plea Deal Expected Soon In Greene Case (Asheville, NC)
Former Buncombe County manager Wanda Greene may be close to a plea deal. The Citizen-Times reports her attorneys have reached an agreement in principle with the U.S. Attorney's Office. She's been accused of embezzling county funds, purchasing life insurance illegally, and taking kickbacks on county-funded trips. Buncombe County has filed a civil suit against Greene seeking payback for damages.
Swannanoa Woman Survives Bear Attack (Swannanoa, NC)
A Swannanoa woman is the survivor of a bear attack near her home. The state wildlife commission says the woman's dog started barking after seeing three bear cubs going through a neighbor's trash on Eastwood Avenue. The previously unseen adult bear reportedly bit and scratched her as she tried to make her way home. One biologist said the bear was acting in a defensive behavior after the dog barked. The woman was treated at the hospital and released.
Sewage Leak In French Broad River Reported (Buncombe County, NC)
Health officials are testing water samples from the site of a sewage leak in the French Broad River outside downtown Asheville. Crews repaired the leak shortly after a municipal sewage line broke on Madison Street Friday afternoon. Residents have been urged to stay out of the river down to the Madison County line until results come back and the water is deemed safe.
Manufacturer Adding 160 Jobs In Buncombe (Enka, NC)
A Canadian-based HVAC manufacturer plans to add 160 jobs in Buncombe County. Haakon Industries will invest almost 20-million-dollars to build a new plant next to A-B Tech's western campus in Enka. The jobs are expected to be added over the span of the next five years.
CMPD Investigates Three Homicides In One Weekend (Charlotte, NC)
The CMPD is investigating three weekend homicides. The latest happened Sunday night on Saratoga Drive, where a teen was found shot to death inside a home. An arrest was made in a West Charlotte stabbing death on Saturday morning. Officers are still looking for a suspect in a shooting death in the parking lot of the Blue Olive Lounge that same morning.
Six-Year-Old Boy Missing In Gastonia (Gastonia, NC)
The FBI and other agencies are in Gastonia searching for a six-year-old boy with special needs who disappeared on Saturday afternoon. Gastonia Police say Maddox Ritch is non-verbal and has autism. He went missing while with his father and another adult at a park off Highway 321. Chief Robert Helton urged residents to look in their sheds, barns, or wooded areas where Ritch might be susceptible to hide.
Panthers Defeat Bengals (Charlotte, NC)
The Panthers are heading into the bye week on the heels of a 31-to-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Christian McCaffrey rushed for a career high 184 yards on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. Head coach Ron Rivera said he appreciated the way the team focused amid all the tough things going on in the Carolinas. Next up is another home game on October 7th against the New York Giants.