North Carolina is set to transition to Phase One of the Governor’s plan to reopen

the State.  Restrictions will be eased at 5 p.m. today, and will allow many non-

essential retail businesses to operate at 50 percent capacity.  Personal care

businesses, entertainment venues and gyms are to remain closed.  Governor Roy

Cooper said this was a careful and deliberate first step guided by the data and

North Carolinians still must use caution while this virus is circulating.  Residents

are encouraged to wear a face covering if they go out; be sure to wash hands and

wait six feet apart.

The North Carolina Division of employment Security has added 1 thousand call

center agents to the private call center it contracts with to assist with

unemployment claims.  They will then have about 26 hundred people working to

process claims.  Many people, furloughed from work when Governor Roy

Cooper’s Stay at Home orders took effect the last of March, still have not been

able to file for unemployment.  North Carolina had the 6^th highest increase in

unemployment claims of all states the last week of April.  As of yesterday, over 1

and a quarter million people have filed for unemployment benefits in North

Carolina.

A Newton man has been charged with attempting to obtain credit cards in his ex-

wife’s name.  On February 3^rd, Rebecca Robinson reported possible identity theft

to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.  She told officers someone had

applied for two credit cards in her name from August to December of 2019.  After

an investigation, officers arrested 30 year old Jason Bart Powell of Loblolly Lane in

Newton and charged him with two felony counts of identity theft and obtaining

property by false pretense.  He was arrested by the Catawba County Sheriff’s

Department and given a 4 thousand dollar secure bond.

A Silver Alert has been issued for a twenty-four year old man missing from the

Hickory area.  Jacob Nathaniel McCray was last seen on North Center Street in

Hickory headed west towards Burke County.  McCray is five feet – eight inches tall

and about 160 pounds.  He has long brown hair and brown eyes.  He was last seen

wearing a black cap, gray hoodie, blue jeans and red and black tennis shoes.  He is

believed to be suffering from dementia or some other cognitive impairment. 

Anyone who has any information as to his whereabouts should call 328-5557.

The City of Hickory Fire Department will begin their annual hydrant inspection

and maintenance program throughout the City.  This program will last several

months.  Motorists are encouraged to be on the lookout for crews working close to the streets.  Please reduce your speed and exercise extreme caution.  Crews

will work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, but some after work and weekend

work is a possibility. 

 The Friends for Animals will be coordinating a free pet food giveaway on May 17^th

from 9 a.m. till one p.m. at the Friends for Animals Adoption Center.  This event is

for those people affected by Covid-19.  Supplies are first come/first serve.  Pet

owners should come to the Adoption Center at 417 Kirksey Drive.

McDowell County Emergency Services was recently awarded an

Immediate Opportunities and Needs grant from the Dogwood

Health Trust to support their response to the opiod overdose

epidemic. The $22,700 in grant money helped to purchase

17 automated external defibrillators as well as additional

supplies of Naloxone, a life-saving drug to reverse the effects

of opiod overdoses. Both AEDs and Naloxone are critical tools

in the fight against the opiod epidemic.

A Morganton man faces theft-related charges following a traffic stop Tuesday.

38-year-old Jason Burdette Hughes of 2309 US 70 West was stopped by a Burke County Sheriff’s detective.

A news release says an investigation during the stop turned up stolen items hidden inside of Hughes pants legs that had been secured by zip ties.

Hughes admitted the recovered items had been stolen from a local business.

The Burke Sheriff’s department along with Morganton Public Safety notified the business, who in turn verified Hughes was inside the store just prior to the traffic stop.

Hughes was charge with larceny and possession of stolen goods.

His bond was set at 500-dollars with a July 31^st court date.

Burke County health officials report there are currently 126 positive cases of COVID-19 in Burke, adding 7 to the total number since Wednesday.

A news release Thursday afternoon says the cases consist of traveling, congregate living, and community spread; with all patients isolated.

Catawba County is reporting 68 positive cases, Caldwell County 54 and McDowell County 30.

Throughout NC, there are 13-thousand-397 positive cases reported, with 507 deaths.

#