Federal authorities have charged a 22-year-old Coeburn Virginia man with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed a historic observation tower in Wise County last fall. Officials with the office of U.S. Attorney John Brownlee allege Nicholas Owens, set a fire that destroyed the High Knob Observation Tower and a restroom building early Halloween morning. The tower attracted 5,000 visitors a year and had been popular in the Jefferson National forest. Efforts are under way to raise money to rebuild the tower. Owens will appear in U.S. District Court in Abingdon on March
13th.