COVID-19 UPDATE

Catawba County reported 47 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday bringing the total

to 1 thousand 5 hundred 30 cumulative cases.  Of that number 9 hundred 52 have

recovered and 33 are currently hospitalized.  Caldwell County reported 38 new

cases Monday bringing the total there to 7 hundred 83 cases.  3 hundred 95

patients have recovered and 18 are hospitalized.  In McDowell County there are

28 new cases of Covid 19 for a total of 3 hundred 49.  2 hundred 36 are out of

quarantine. Burke County reported 7 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday

bringing the county's total 1,327. 9 individuals remain hospitalized.

Missing Swimmer

Authorities in McDowell County continue their search for a missing swimmer at Lake James.

Reports say the man, from Candler, is in his 40’s and went missing near the Big Island shortly after 6 Sunday evening.

Suspecting the man is deceased, rescue workers on the scene say they are in recovery mode; using sonar equipment and drones to find the body.

Emergency crews from Burke, Caldwell, and Henderson Counties are assisting McDowell in the search. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is also assisting.

Veterans’ Treatment Court  

The 36^th Judicial District is one step closer to having a Veteran’s Treatment Court.  

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved a request from District

Attorney Scott Reilly in April to submit a grant application to the Bureau of Justice

Assistance.  In addition, a three-day virtual training session for those people and

agencies who will be active participants in the program was recently conducted. 

The Veteran’s Treatment Court is scheduled to begin in January of 2021.  Catawba

will be the fifth county in the state to have a treatment court for veterans.

Wells to Retire 

42 nd NC State Senator Andy Wells of Hickory has announced his retirement from

the General Assembly effective July 27^th.  Wells has served more than seven years

in the General Assembly, one term in the house and 3 terms in the Senate.  Wells

recently ran for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor but lost in the

primary.  He will retire six months before his term expires.  Well has

recommended current Republican 42^nd District nominee Dean Proctor to fill his

unexpired term.  Proctor will face Democrat Tina Miles in November.

Hickory Launches Online Payment System

The City of Hickory has implemented a more secure, convenient and user-friendly

online payment system for its customers.  The new system includes a “Pay Now”

feature that allows for quick payment without having to register an account and

registered account enhancements such as the ability to view and pay multiple

accounts at once, viewing payment history and consumption information as well

as viewing past billing statements.  The system currently accepts payments for

utility billings including charges for water, sewer, solid waste fees and commercial

waste billings.  In the future, the system will also accept payments for fire and life

safety inspections and permitting fees.

McDowell Stolen

McDowell officers are looking for suspects who made off with more than 35-thousand dollars worth of property from Burma Road east.

Steven Bugenhagen of Asheville reported on July 16^th that someone removed a backhoe, a metal building, two backhoe buckets, up to 30 gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline, a cast iron pot, and a 250-gallon water tank with a metal cage.

The theft reportedly occurred between July 11^th and the 16^th.

Anyone having information should call Detective Watson with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

Also in McDowell, an Asheville man is charged with resisting a public officer, driving while license revoked, and reckless driving.

Deputies with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office along with Marion police were conducting a license checkpoint whenever 57-year-old Danny Lee Jones drove up in a work van.

Officers found Jones to be driving without a license and he reportedly became irate when told to pull to the side of the road.

Jones accelerated nearly hitting the deputy, but was stopped without further incident.

Alexexander Assault

An Alexander County woman reports a weekend break-in at her home, and being assaulted by the intruder.

Officers were called to the home in the Hiddenite Community around 2:15 Sunday morning.

Reports state the woman told deputies she was awakened by a male striking her in the face and strangling her.

She also told officers she had been sexually assaulted.

According to reports, the intruder left the residence on foot.

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office is offering a 1-thousand dollar reward for information leading to an arrest.

Call the Sheriff’s Office at 828-632-2911 or Crimestoppers at 828-632-8555.