Fire captain dies after suffering life-threatening burns in house fire, officials say

Lexington Firefighter Captain Ronnie Metcalf has died after suffering serious burns during a house fire. (Lexington Fire Department)

Lexington, N.C.

A fire captain has died after sustaining injuries during a house fire earlier this week.

According to the Lexington Fire Department, Firefighter Captain Ronnie Metcalf was pronounced dead at the Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Center in Winston-Salem on Friday.

City officials said Metcalf’s death comes days after sustaining life-threatening burn wounds on 60 percent of his body while responding to a house fire call on early Tuesday morning.

Fire crews responded to a home just after midnight on Tuesday. When they arrived, firefighters said flames and smoke were seen coming from the back of the house.

Crews went inside to extinguish the fire, but a short time later they were ordered to evacuate the building due to structure issues.

Fire officials said crews evacuated but reported a firefighter missing.

Search teams reentered the building and located Metcalf.

The captain was pulled from the home and treated by emergency crews at the scene for burn injuries before being transported by helicopter to the medical center.

Metcalf was a father, husband, and a 19-year veteran with the Lexington Fire Department. He was also a member of the Hillside Park Baptist Church.

The community has rallied around Metcalf, initiating a fundraiser to assist his family with medical expenses.

The cause of the house fire currently remains under investigation.

Deputies find 15-pound bag of marijuana while responding to littering call

Oregon sheriff’s deputies found a 15.2-pound bag of pot while performing a roadside cleanup near an intersection. (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)

Washington County, Ore.

Oregon authorities came across a unique find when responding to a littering call this week.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found a 15.2-pound bag of marijuana while performing a roadside cleanup near an intersection in the city of Cornelius.

Deputies said they received a tip from a resident about littering in the area after debris was spotted scattered in a ditch near Long and Susbauer roads.

The sheriff’s department said that deputies collected the massive bag of pot and turned it in for destruction.

Deputies thanked the person for notifying them about the trash and urged others to continue to contact them if they spot any suspicious activity in the community.

Former NFL cheerleader dies after childbirth complications, family says

Family members say Krystal Anderson died earlier this month at 40 years old. (GoFundMe)

Phoenix

A former NFL cheerleader has died after giving birth to her daughter, according to her family.

Krystal Anderson died unexpectedly on March 20 at the age of 40.

Anderson’s loved ones said she was 21 weeks pregnant when her journey took an unexpected turn.

She gave birth to her daughter Charlotte after doctors reportedly couldn’t detect Charlotte’s heartbeat.

Unfortunately, Charlotte died during childbirth, according to the family.

Anderson fought on after the loss of her child, but she then had to battle sepsis before her organs ultimately failed.

“Krissy underwent three surgeries, but the source of infection remained elusive. In the early hours of March 20, surrounded by her devoted family, sweet Krissy passed away,” the family shared through a GoFundMe.

According to the Anderson family, she was a Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader and touched the lives of many in the community along with her husband, Clayton.

“Krissy brought her energy and passion to every performance for 10 seasons – she was a dynamic athlete. Both she and Clayton dedicated nearly two decades of service to Oracle Health, believing that healthcare is too important to stay the same,” the family shared.

Funeral services for Anderson are scheduled for this week.

Her loved ones said instead of flowers, they are suggesting that those who want to help can contribute to Krystal’s Legacy Fund.

“This fund will support causes and initiatives that were close to Krissy’s heart. Let’s ensure that her name lives on, not only in our memories but also in the positive actions we take in her honor,” the family said.

Veterinary team performs emergency surgery on Tiger-Lily, a rare two-headed snake

Tiger-Lily, a unique two-headed western rat snake, was found to have an emerging health condition. (Missouri Department of Conservation)

St. Louis

A veterinary team had to perform surgery on a rare two-headed snake earlier this month.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the unique snake named Tiger-Lily sneezed up traces of blood while feeding about a week before it was scheduled to leave their care.

“This immediately raised a red flag with our staff, and we quickly got her an appointment with the Animal Health Team at the Saint Louis Zoo,” MDC Naturalist Lauren Baker said.

Upon evaluation, Saint Louis Zoo veterinarians discovered that the female snake’s ovaries were in pre-ovulatory stasis.

“Under normal circumstances, the ovary would grow follicles, then ovulate them as eggs to eventually be laid. In Tiger-Lily’s case, she began the reproductive cycle, but the follicles did not ovulate and instead continued to grow and remain static in her ovary. Over time this led to inflammation and the risk of infection,” Dr. Michael Warshaw, staff veterinarian at the Saint Louis Zoo, said.

The veterinary team determined the best treatment was to remove the female snake’s abnormal ovaries.

The animal care team said the surgery was successful, and the snake has been doing well while recovering.

“We appreciate the Saint Louis Zoo’s quick response and expert treatment. I am so happy that our two-headed gal is getting the care she needs, and we’re all wishing her a safe and speedy recovery,” Baker said.

The rare two-headed snake was discovered in Stone County in 2017 and named Tiger-Lily by the family who found her.

Reptile experts said Tiger-Lily is actually a pair of conjoined identical snake twins that were never completely separated. Such snakes are rarely seen in the wild, partly because snakes born this way have a low survival rate.

Western rat snakes are non-venomous and a common native species in Missouri.

‘He was just such a good person’: Man dies with his beloved horse in crash

Jose Hernandez reportedly died earlier this month in a collision while riding his horse. (GoFundMe)

Bakersfield, Calif.

A family in California is remembering a man and his horse after the two reportedly died in a collision.

Delma “Raquel” Salazar shared with KGET that her family is suffering after learning that her boyfriend, Jose Hernandez, died in a crash while riding his horse in Kern County earlier this month.

Hernandez’s stepdaughter Stephanie Salazar told KGET they are still trying to come to terms with the loss.

“It doesn’t feel real, it hurts a lot,” Stephanie Salazar said in an interview.

Raquel Salazar added, “He was just such a good person, with a big heart, he never talked badly about anybody; he always tried his best to help anybody.”

The family shared that Hernandez was known for his love of horses and riding them in the area where he died.

“He had that horse for a little over a year he trained it himself, he loved that horse, it was his pride and joy,” Raquel Salazar shared.

She has also started a GoFundMe to help raise money for Hernandez’s funeral arrangements.

KGET reports that Bakersfield police are continuing their investigation into the crash. Sgt. Eric Celedon said it is important to take precautions when riding in certain areas.

“If you are going to be riding a horse during nighttime hours, you are required to wear some sort of reflective equipment,” the sergeant shared. “We need to do everything we can to mitigate that risk as much as possible.”