Burke Public Health is reporting the 10^th Covid-19 associated death in Burke

County.  The individual was in their 80’s and not hospitalized, but died from

complications associated with their underlying medical conditions.  113 people in

Burke County have tested positive for the virus.  Burke County Health reports that

the new cases are from travel, congregate living and community spread.  

Catawba County recorded 65 coronavirus cases on Monday while McDowell

County added one Monday for a total of 29.   Avery County, meanwhile, remains

the only county in the State without a single positive case.  85 people have been

tested there and 82 have been returned negative.  3 cases are pending in Avery. 

On Thursday, May 7^th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  the Avery County Health Department

will conduct drive thru testing for Covid-19.   Anyone can be tested regardless of

symptoms and a doctor’s order is not needed.  Nurses will perform nasal swabs in

cars and insurance will be taken.  There is no charge for uninsured individuals. 

The results will take several days.  This is not antibody testing, but testing for the

Covid-19 virus.

The economic impact of the coronavirus has resulted in the need for food for

many families that are facing unemployment.  Foothills Food Hub, McDowell

Access to Care and Health and McDowell County volunteers will host a drive thru

food pantry event this Thursday at Montford Cove Baptist Church, 4920 Cove

Road from 3:30-5:30 p.m.  Check the Foothills Food Hub  facebook page for more

information.  

Two people were killed in a head on crash in Catawba County around 3:30 p.m.

Monday.  The accident happened on Old Shelby Road between Henry River Road

and Mountain Grove Road south of Hickory.  A third person was believed to be in

critical condition.  No names have been released and the cause of the accident

remains under investigation.  The accident closed the two-lane highway to traffic

until late Monday afternoon.

Governor Cooper signed two COVID-19 relief bills into law Monday to provide assistance to families, schools, hospitals, and small businesses.

Passed unanimously in the state house, the relief package includes nearly 1-point-6 billion dollars in relief measures for critical expenditures related to public health and safety, educational needs, small business assistance, and continuity of state government operations.

The package also contains provisions to help North Carolinians such as –

An extension of driver’s license and registration expiration deadlines, waived interest on tax payments that were normally due in April, modifies end-of-grade testing requirements for public schools, adjusts the 2020/2021 school calendar, and allows pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine once developed.

An officer-involved shooting over the weekend in Caldwell County leaves one person dead.

A news release states deputies with the Caldwell Sheriff’s Office responded Sunday to a reported armed robbery on Brookshire Road in Lenoir.

The victim of the robbery told officers that a subject had taken a red Honda Civic from them at gunpoint. 

A short time later, the release says a deputy spotted the stolen vehicle on Deerbrook Road in Lenoir.

The vehicle fled as the officer attempted a vehicle stop, leading officers on a pursuit through Collettsville and into Avery County near Roseboro where the car ran off the roadway.

The release says officers approached the car, and the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to obey the deputies’ verbal commands.

A shooting between the subject and officers then took place.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 44-year-old Kortney Shawn Price.

Price was pronounced deceased at the scene; none of the deputies were injured.

A firearm was located inside the car; while body-cam footage has been turned over to the state SBI for investigation.

Officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending review by the DA’s office.

Assisting Caldwell County and the SBI, were the Avery County Sheriff’s Office, Collettsville Fire Department, Avery County EMS, and the NC Forestry Service.

A Morganton man was injured Sunday by the accidental discharge of a firearm.

A news release from Morganton Public Safety says officers were called to 511 East Union Street  to a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Reports say 24-year-old Jacob Peele was injured after accidentally discharging a firearm striking him in the mouth.

Peele was transported to Carolinas Health Care in Charlotte and reported to be in stable condition.

Officers recovered a revolver and ammunition at the scene.

An investigation is continuing.

A Marion woman is charged with meth possession following a traffic stop in March.

66-year-old Rochelle Bowman Hunt of Yancey Street was stopped on US 70 East for having no registration plate.

Hunt also had an outstanding warrant for larceny.

As she was being taken into custody, a search of her and her vehicle turned up point-20 grams of meth and drug paraphernalia.