COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County was notified of the 20^th Covid-19 related death on Friday.  The

patient was in their 40’s and hospitalized and died from complications associated

with underlying medical conditions.  Yesterday, Burke County recorded a total of

998 Covid-19 cases since the virus began in March.  Of that total, 752 have

recovered and six are hospitalized.  Caldwell County had 15 new cases over the

weekend bringing the total there to 399.  191 patients have recovered and 13 are

hospitalized.  The Brockford Assisted Living Facility has seen the Covid-19 total

increase there to 32 residents and 16 staff members.  In Catawba County, 30 new

cases were added bringing the total to 776.  328 patients have recovered and 13

are in the hospital.  McDowell County saw an increase of 7 cases over the

weekend, bringing their total to 203.  133 patients have recovered.

Currently there are 890 Covid-19 patients hospitalized in North Carolina Hospitals. 

The North Carolina Hospital Association says they have the ability to flex up to 35

hundred plus licensed ICU beds if necessary.

Courthouse Drama  

The Morganton Department of Public Safety, with assistance from other Burke

County law enforcement agencies, was able to deescalate a tense situation

Saturday centering around the Confederate Memorial Statue on the Old Court

House Lawn.  A rumor, circulated on social media Saturday, indicated some

groups were going to meet on the Square to take down the statue, which contains

the names of Burke County’s Confederate dead.  Supporters of the statue, who

surrounded the monument in an attempt to prevent the event, were met by

other protesters who wanted to have their voices heard on the matter. 

Individuals in both groups were armed.  Law enforcement was able to keep the

two groups apart and disperse the crowd without incident.

Courthouse Drama  6/29/20  ER  Morning

The Morganton Department of Public Safety, with assistance from other Burke

County law enforcement agencies, was able to de escalate a tense situation

Saturday centering around the Confederate Memorial Statue on the Old Court

House Lawn.  A rumor, circulated on social media Saturday, indicated some

groups were going to meet on the Square to take down the statue, which contains

the names of Burke County’s Confederate dead.  Supporters of the statue, who

surrounded the monument in an attempt to prevent the event, were met by

other protesters who wanted to have their voices heard on the matter. 

Individuals in both groups were armed.  Law enforcement was able to keep the

two groups apart and disperse the crowd without incident.

Names Added to Most Wanted

Two people were added Friday to the list of Burke County’s Most Wanted.

50-year-old Johnny Allen Kaylor of Mount Gilead Church Road in Connelly

Springs is charged with two felony drug offenses and a felony Fail to Appear.

28-year-old William Charles Church, Jr. of 39^th Street NW in Hickory, is

charged with Probation Violation. Anyone with information is asked to

contact the Burke County Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or Morganton-Burke

Crime Stoppers at 437-3333.

Burke Drug Arrests

Two Morganton residents face drug charges after a search of a Pea Ridge

Road residence. On June 23^rd, State Probation and Parole Office and Burke

Sheriff’s Office detectives initiated an investigation at a Pea Ridge Road

residence. Officers reportedly located a substantial amount of meth, along

with a Schedule 4 Controlled Substance and items of drug paraphernalia.

30-year-old Tiffany Samantha Whitney was charged with Felony Trafficking

Heroin, and Felony Possession of Schedule 4 Controlled Substance. Also

charged with Felony Possession of Schedule 4 Controlled Substance was

30-year-old Michael Allen Benfield. They are both scheduled to appear in

court on July 16^th.

Catawba Drug Arrests

A search warrant in Catawba County leads to trafficking charges. On Thursday

Deputies and Investigators executed the search warrant at a residence on

Shady Valley Lane in Claremont. The Sheriff’s Office reports that 74 grams of

meth was located along with four hydrocodone pills and over $5,600 in

U.S. currency. 47-year-old Brian Blake Blackburn and 32-year-old Candy

Kiziah, both of the Shady Valley Lane residence were arrested and are facing

felony charges.

Silver Alert for Hickory Woman

The NC Center for Missing Persons issued a Silver Alert Saturday night for

A missing endangered woman, 28-year-old Summer Hope Eckert, who was

Last seen on Sulfer Springs Road in Hickory. She is described as a white

Female, 5 feet 3 inches, weighs 220 pounds with brown hair and eyes.

Eckert may be traveling to Cherokee County in a 2005 Grey Ford F-150,

With NC License Tag FAM-3898. Anyone with information may contact

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-465-3112.