COVID-19 UPDATE

Caldwell County has seen an additional 69 cases of Covid-19 since late Saturday

thru Monday.  The County now has 9 hundred 89 cumulative cases.  4 hundred 56

patients have recovered and 19 are hospitalized.  Brockford Assisted Living has a

total of 65 cases, Caldwell Correctional Facility has 14.  Other outbreaks include

Hickory Falls with 3 cases, Gateway Rehabilitation and Healthcare with 3 cases,

the Shaire Center and Lenoir Health Care with two each.  Catawba County has 17

new cases for a total of 1 thousand 7 hundred 67.  18 are hospitalized and 1

thousand 2 hundred 41 are recovered.  McDowell County received word of two

new Covid-19 associated deaths for a total of 7 deaths.  There are now 4 hundred

30 cases and 2 hundred 72 are out of quarantine. Burke County public health

officials reported 38 new positive cases on Monday, bringing the total to 1,524.

Burke Fatality and Catawba County Accident

An Ohio man was killed Monday afternoon after a wreck on Highway 126.  49 year

old Troy Dean Benson was pronounced dead on the scene of the 2:30 p.m. crash. 

The accident occurred when a Suburban SUV, operated by 48 year old Amy

Burford of Morganton, apparently crossed the center line and hit a motorcycle

operated by Benson.  The Highway Patrol says intoxication and speed do not

appear to be factors in the crash.

In Catawba County, a head on collision on NC Highway 127 in Mountain View

injured one person.  Law enforcement reports indicate a sedan crossed the center

line of the highway around 3 p.m. and struck an SUV.  The driver of the sedan was

transported to a local hospital with injuries.  It is believed that driver could have

suffered from a medical condition.

Maiden Police Need Help in Theft

Maiden Police need the public’s help in identifying two suspects who were seen

trying to pawn a speaker at the Pawn Shop in Hickory.  Two white males, both

believed to be in their twenties, are seen on the store’s security camera with one

of the speakers. One subject has long black hair.  Two speakers and two

microphones were taken from 1st Freewill Baptist Church on Main Street

between July 15^th and 18th.  Anyone having any information about the theft is

asked to call Maiden Police at 828-428-5005.

Crime Stoppers Tip Leads to Arrest

A  Crime Stoppers tip led to a surveillance operation that yielded the arrest of a

Gastonia woman.  35 year old Tracy Rae Givens was charged with one felony

count each of trafficking heroin by possession and transport as well as other

felony drug charges.  She was taken to the Harven A Crouse Detention Center in

Lincoln County and placed under a two hundred 25 thousand dollar secured bond.

The operation was conducted on July 25^th and 12 grams of heroin, two grams of  

meth, a fully loaded Smith and Wesson 38 special handgun and US currency were  

seized after a traffic stop.

Remote Open

The Burke County Board of Education has voted for Burke County Public Schools to operate under remote learning between Aug. 17 and Sept. 11.

The vote to revert to Plan C came during a special called meeting Monday.

Due to the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in Burke County, the plan has changed from Plan B, where students would have gone to school two days a week. The Board of Education will revisit the plan before Sept. 14.

In anticipation of remote learning, the district has a plan in place that has already been submitted to the state.

Remote learning involves a combination of online learning, paper packets, videos, phone calls and Zoom sessions. Each student in first through 12th grade will receive a device before Aug. 17.

Unlike when schools were closed in March and emergency remote instruction was in place, student attendance will now be taken and student work will now be required and graded.

For more information, visit the school system’s website at burke-dot-k12-dot-nc-dot-us

Burke EMS UV Install

Pre-hospital care in Burke County has just become safer during the pandemic.

A news release says Burke County EMS has outfitted thirteen of its front-line ambulances with ultraviolet photo-catalytic oxidation units or PCOs.

These PCO units will run between patient calls to disinfect the ambulances.

According to the release, the units create vaporized hydrogen peroxide; while the UV light converts water vapor into oxidizers without involving chemicals or residue.

A couple of independent studies show the units can disinfect at least 96-point-4 percent and as much as 99-point-99 percent of surface contaminating and airborne viruses and bacteria within 24 hours after installation.

The PCO units were sourced by Burke County based company CU Healthy Products.