Tuesday, March 10, 2020


Burke County Public Schools are targeted in a cyber threat over the weekend.

A news release states the school system learned that it was the subject of a ransom-ware cyber attack Sunday evening.

The release says the school’s technology team immediately started assessing damages and executing safeguards to contain the attack and prevent further incidents.

In turn, technology officials contacted the proper authorities who are investigating the attack.

In addition to law enforcement, cyber security experts are assisting along with the state department of information technology and the state department of public instruction.

The release reports the cyber attack has created some inconveniences such as lost access to some documents and data; however, no sensitive information has been compromised.

Due to the nature of the investigation, Burke County Public Schools is not allowed to share specific details regarding the attack.



A reported death at a Connelly Springs motocross track Sunday is ruled accidental by authorities.


A news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office says the incident occurred at Lost Valley Motorsports Park at 8092 Hoyle Farm Road in the South Mountains area of Burke.

A witness told officers the 27-year-old victim was attempting a jump on his bike whenever he went about 20 feet into the air, landed on his front tire, throwing him over the handlebars.

The witness stated the victim did not respond afterward, but first responders began immediate life saving efforts.

Burke County EMS and the Medical Examiner’s office assisted at the scene.




An Old Fort woman uses a car as a weapon in an argument with her husband Saturday.

Deputies in McDowell County were called to Grove Street in Marion to the domestic dispute.

They discovered 52-year-old Teresa Brown Thompson of Woodsong Drive in Old Fort had gotten into the argument with her husband William striking him with her car.

Officers charged her with assault with a deadly weapon.

Elsewhere in McDowell, two probationers face additional drug charges after a search of their residence turns up meth.

State probation and parole officers searched the home of 30-year-old Nathaniel Reid Bright and 35-year-old Allen Samuel MacJarrett both of Lake Mountain Drive Marion.

Authorities found a small amount of meth and drug paraphernalia.



An I-40 motorist attempting to give roadside assistance to another driver becomes the victim of an assault Sunday evening.

Tyler Wayne Boone told officers with Morganton Public Safety he had stopped to assist an older white female who stated she was having issues with a tire as a white van was parked on the highway’s shoulder.

Boone reported he looked at the tires and they were fine – whenever two men appeared and began to assault him; one of the suspects armed with a tire iron.

A news release says the two told Boone to give them everything that he had.

Reports say Boone proceeded to defend himself and thought he had broken the arm of one of the suspects.

Boone managed to get to his car to flee the scene.

He described one of the men as having no teeth, short hair, and having a tattoo of a skull with ace of spades for eyes.

The other suspect is described as having numerous tattoos, pierced ears, and in his mid twenties.

Boone suffered minor injuries consistent with an assault according to the release.

The case has been turned over to the Burke Sheriff’s Office as it was determined the incident occurred inside the county.

Reports further state the white van had a license tag with TAZ3 as the first digits.

Anyone having information about the incident should call the Burke Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or Morganton/Burke Crimestoppers at 437-3333.





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