COVID-19 UPDATE

As the 19^th person in Burke County dies from COVID-19, public health officials report cases of community spread continue to rise locally.

Burke now has 842 positive cases; while there have been 46-thousand-855 residents throughout the state who have tested positive.

A news release says officials were notified late Tuesday of the virus-associated death.

Reports say the individual was in their 70’s, was hospitalized, and died from complications associated with an underlying medical condition.

Beer Sales in Old Fort  

For at least 12 months residents and visitors to Old Fort will be able to purchase

craft beers on Sunday. The Old Fort Board of Alderman unanimously agreed on

Monday to not pass any restrictions on Sunday beer sales by breweries after

studying the pattern for the past sixty days.  Hillman Beer is getting close to

opening in Old Fort and a second craft beer distributor is scheduled to open

later this year.  The ruling does not apply to Sunday beer sales for other stores.

Asheville Votes to Remove Statues  

Confederate monuments are coming down in Asheville.  A joint resolution passed

by the Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Commission will allow for

the removal to two monuments in downtown Asheville.  The resolution was

passes unanimously last week in Asheville and passed 4 to 3 by the Buncombe

County Commission.

Local COVID Funds

The state department of health and human services is allocating 35-million dollars in federal funding to local health departments to help support the COVID-19 response.

Per federal guidelines, counties will be able to use these funds to support staffing, infection controls, testing and tracing, IT infrastructure, and data sharing in the fight against COVID.

Local health departments will receive a base allocation of 90-thousand dollars with additional funding based on population size and the number of positive cases.

Burke is set to receive a total of 420-thousand, Caldwell 263-thousand, Catawba 380-thousand and Lincoln 223-thousand.

Secretary for the state’s health and human services Mandy Cohen says the staff of our local health departments have been working around the clock since the beginning of the pandemic to protect communities and slow the spread of the virus.

 These funds will continue to support their ability to address the overwhelming demands they are facing.

Georgia Residents Arrested with Meth  

Three Georgia residents have been arrested on drug charges, and 5.74 pounds of

meth seized, after an investigation of a vehicle at the Love’s Truck Stop in

Newton by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Special

Enforcement Group.  28 year old Ryan Dix was charged with trafficking in meth

and possession with intent to manufacturer, sell or deliver a Schedule II

controlled Substance.  He was placed in the Catawba County Jail under a three

hundred fifty thousand dollar secured bond.  28 year old Ricky Lamar Nelson faces

the same charges and is under a two hundred 25 thousand dollar secured bond. 

32 year old Robin Michelle House also faces trafficking in meth and possession

with intent to sell charges.  She is in jail under a one hundred 75 thousand dollar

secured bond.  All three made first court appearances yesterday.