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PSI: Storage war jackpot turns to junk

SHELBY, NC (WBTV) - It's easy to feel for John and Jackie Ballinger.

"I feel like sucker is written across my forehead," said Jackie Ballinger.

The Cleveland County couple is the new owner of a pile of junk.

"Nothing works," said John Ballinger as he unloaded the items off his pickup truck.

The Ballingers played storage wars and lost, but they think the game was fixed.

"It was storage wars nightmare," said Jackie Ballinger.

"I know I've been had," said John Ballinger. "I just don't know by who(m) yet."

Cable TV shows have led to a rush of people hoping to strike gold in storage unit auctions. Every auction starts with the warning "buyer beware."

North Carolina law says if renters quit paying, the storage company has the right to auction off the belongings as long as the company puts an ad in the paper. The ad needs to include the name of the renter.

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Heavy downpours continue through Monday, flash flooding could be a problem

Heavy downpours continue through Monday, flash flooding could be a problem

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- The walls of water continue to fall in and around the Charlotte region Monday.

Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell across the foothills in the past 24 hours. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued a Flood Advisory for Burke, Catawba, Cleveland and Lincoln counties until 11 a.m. Monday.

Several WBTV viewers sent in photos of flooding in their neighborhoods. Click on the slideshow to see them.

Heavy rains along the U.S. 321 and Interstate 77 were reported along with some lightning.

Watauga County is under a Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.

WBTV Meteorologist Al Conklin says anyone out and about Monday should watch out for localized flooding.

You should never try to drive your vehicle through a flooded area or roadway.

Monday's highs will be in the low to mid 70s.

NASCAR Day is Friday, May 18th!

NASCAR Day is Friday, May 18th!

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Get your limited edition NASCAR Day lapel pin, show your support for NASCAR Day and help raise awareness of children in need.  Pins are $10 each (plus a small handling fee), measure 1-inch by 1-inch and feature a checkered flag design.  The NASCAR Foundation embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities.  It seeks to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support nonprofit charities and charitable causes nation-wide, with an emphasis placed on initiatives that affect the ability of children to live, learn and play.  Click here to learn more about children and family initiatives supported by The NASCAR Foundation.  You can also enter for

A record amount of rainfall...and then some

A record amount of rainfall...and then some

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- A strong line of thunderstorms gave the Charlotte region a record amount of rainfall Tuesday.

WBTV Meteorologist Al Conklin says the city saw 2.41 inches fall at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The storms moved in mainly in the evening producing heavy downpours across the region. Already a quarter of an inch has fallen since midnight, Conklin said.

Storms are a threat again Wednesday, bringing more lightning, heavy downpours and the possibility for localized flooding.

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued a Flood Advisory until 3 p.m. Wednesday for Burke, Caldwell and Alexander Counties.

Conklin says they high will be in the mid to upper 70s day before dropping into the lower 50s overnight into Thursday morning.

But once the rain moves out late Wednesday night, the rest of the week and the weekend look to be filled with sunshine and temperatures in the mid to upper 70s.

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Jewelry store robbed in Kings Mountain, police seeking public's help

SHELBY, NC (WBTV)- Kings Mountain police are currently investigating two Breaking and Entering's and Larceny's at Scott's Jewelry, located at 211 N. Piedmont Ave in Kings Mountain.

The first Breaking and Entering occurred on May 3 in which assorted jewelry was stolen, according to a news release from the Kings Mountain Police Department.

On May 7, Scott's Jewelry reported another Breaking and Entering in which several watches and other items were stolen. Entry to business on both incidents was made through the front door in that it was pried open with an unknown object.

If anyone has information about the Breaking and Enterings, please contact Kings Mountain Police Department at 704-734-0444 or Crime Stoppers at 704-481-8477.

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

Homeless, abandoned teen bound for Harvard University

LAWNDALE, NC (WBTV) - 18 year old Dawn Loggins has an amazing story to tell.  She has been homeless, abandoned by her parents, and called a high school dropout.

But she didn't let those challenges stop her from living her dream of one day attending an Ivy League University.

She was accepted to Harvard University.  She said her motivation came from her experiences.

"When I was younger," Loggins said.  "I looked around at my family and I saw the neglect, the drug abuse, the bad choices and I saw my family living from paycheck to paycheck, and I just made a decision that I was not going to end up like my parents. I wasn't going to end up having to decide should I buy food this month or should I pay my rent."

The graduating senior's struggles started when she was forced to live with her grandmother.  Her parents abandoned her.

Train hits tractor trailer in Kings Mountain

KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC (WBTV)-

Investigators in Kings Mountain have temporarily blocked the railroad crossing after a train collided with a truck hauling cotton early Friday morning.

According to Kings Mountain police, the collision happened along Parkdale Mills crossing in Kings Mountain before 8 a.m.

A witness to the collision told WBTV that the truck was stuck on the track and hit by the train, cutting the truck in half.

"The train went straight through, there's a loud boom. It sounded like an explosion, the powder stuff flew everywhere," said Kassie Lamphier.

Police told WBTV the truck was traveling towards S. Battleground Avenue on Oak Street when it became lodged on the tracks.

Video from the scene shows the train is a Norfolk Southern freight train hauling double-stacked containers. The tractor trailer was carrying cotton bales, which were scattered across the scene during the collision.