COVID-19 UPDATE

Caldwell County Public Health was notified of the 21^st Covid-19 associated death

yesterday as the county’s cumulative totals rose by 25 new cases.  The patient

was over the age of 75 and was hospitalized with underlying medical conditions. 

Caldwell now has 14 hundred 60 cumulative cases with 8 hundred 39 patients

recovered and 18 hospitalized.  Catawba County reported 12 new cases yesterday

for a cumulative total of 2 thousand 6 hundred and 68.  2 thousand 4 hundred 38

patients have recovered and 12 are hospitalized.  Burke County now has 2

thousand 68 cumulative Covid-19 cases.  1 thousand 7 hundred 71 have

recovered and 8 are hospitalized.  McDowell County reported 3 new Covid-19

cases yesterday for a cumulative total of 7 hundred 79.  6 hundred 90 patients

have recovered.

Burke County Teacher Dies

A Burke County Public School teacher passed away unexpectedly yesterday in her

classroom at W.A Young Elementary School.  Dr. Larry Putnam informed Burke

County Public School staff via an email, that fifty year old Cindy Grindstaff, a 5^th

grade teacher had passed away.  Wednesday was one of the system’s

professional development days for staff, and teachers were not participating in

Zoom sessions with students. Ms. Grindstaff had been with the school system

since August of 2002.

Shooting in Catawba County

One person was critically injured in a shooting in Catawba County yesterday that

locked down three schools for a brief period of time.  Catawba County Sheriff’s

Officers responded to the report of a shooting on 28^th Street Northeast off Kool

Park Road and found a 39 year old male adjacent to a vehicle at the intersection

of Kool Park Road and 29^th Street Northwest.  The victim was taken to Catawba

Valley Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the chest.  He is listed in critical

condition.  An additional person, an 18 year old male, was found on 28^th Street

Northeast and was also injured.  He was treated and released at Catawba Valley

Medical Center.  St. Stephens High School, Arndt Middle School and Snow Creek

Elementary School were placed on temporary lockdown due to the incident.

Four Felony Drug Arrest At the Same House in Multiple Days

Catawba County deputies made four felony drug arrests at the same house in six

days.  Officers were called to a residence on Viewpoint Road in Newton to assist a

North Carolina Probation search on August 26^th.  45 year old Phillip Anthony

Godfrey of Newton and 51 year old Jeffrey Ben Pavkovich of Gainesville, Georgia

were arrested and charged with trafficking meth after 11 pounds of meth and $31

thousand 8 hundred 76 dollars in US currency were found.  Both men made bond

and were released.  A report of suspicious activity at the same residence on

September 1^st instigated another search where two people fled on foot.  Arrested

were Christopner Godfrey and Phillip Godfrey who were jailed under possession

with intent to sell and deliver meth, possession of marijuana and resisting a public

officer. 1.4 ounces of meth, marijuana, a firearm, and approximately 15 thousand

dollars in cash were seized.  Christopher Godfrey was jailed under 20 thousand

dollars bond and Phillip Godfrey under one hundred thousand dollars bond.

Credentialed Advocate

Catawba County District Attorney’s Office Legal Assistant Belinda Gaither has

been recognized as a Credentialed Advocate to assist victims of violent crime. 

Gaither, an Iredell County resident who has been with the DA’s Office for four

years, earned the distinction from the National Advocate Credentialing Program

after completing training at the state and national levels.