COVID-19 UPDATE

Catawba County saw an increase of 47 new Covid-19 cases as cumulative totals

there reached 1 thousand 6 hundred 15.  Of that number 1, thousand 2 hundred

41 have recovered and 24 are hospitalized.  Caldwell Public Health was notified

yesterday of the 10^th Covid-19 associated death.  The patient was over age 75 and

was reported to have underlying health conditions.  Caldwell also reports the 5^th

outbreak, this one at Gateway Rehabilitation and Healthcare.  Two staff members

there tested positive.  Caldwell Public Health says all of the residents and staff

have been tested and Gateway is working with them to help stop transmission. 

Caldwell has 848 cases with 400 recovered and 18 hospitalized.  McDowell County

has 8 new cases as of yesterday.  The total there is now 373 with 249 out of

quarantine. Burke County Public Health reports 42 additional cases Wedmesday,

with positive cases in Burke now totaling 1,410.

Caldwell Schools Reopening Plan 

Caldwell County Public Schools will reopen with blended instruction, for those

students who wish to have in person learning, or a full remote option online for

students K-12 to begin the 2020-2021 school year.  To participate in the remote

option, students and families will need to register online at Caldwell Connect

through July 31^st.   For blended instruction, students in grades 2-12 will be

assigned two days a week in class instruction on an “A” or B” schedule.  The

remainder of the week is remote learning. In the blended option, students in

kindergarten or first grade will attend their assigned school four days a week on

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  A Town Hall meeting to discuss

blended learning for Caldwell County Schools or to ask questions is scheduled

Monday, July 27^th at 5:30 p.m. at Hibriten High School in the auditorium.

Construction Contract Approved

Hickory’s Ridgeview Branch Library will soon be renovated and expanded to

better serve the community.  At the July 21^st City Council meeting, Hickory City

Council accepted the bid and approved the contract with Neil Grading and

Construction Company.  The plans include a new community room that will seat

100 people, a group study room and an exterior courtyard area with separate

entrance to the new community room.

Indictment

An eastern Burke County man is indicted for murder in connection with an assault that took place in May.

Reports say 28-year-old Siegfred Albert ‘Ziggy’ Jackson of Hunterwood Drive was originally charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injuries.

Previous reports from the Burke Sheriff’s Office say Jackson shot 18-year-old Cameron Wayne Dellinger in the head with a crossbow May 13^th.

Dellinger reportedly died from his injuries on June 14^th.

According to reports, Jackson is being held without bond with his next court date set for September 14^th.