COVID-19 UPDATE

Positive cases of COVID-19 continue to steadily increase in our area.

Burke County health officials Monday afternoon reported 23 new positives since Sunday, bringing the county’s total to 2-thousand-817.

Recent figures indicate 410 cases are active, 2-thousand-344 cases are reported as recovered, and 11 individuals remain hospitalized.

In McDowell County, public health reported 25 new positive virus cases with a total now of 1-thousand-128 positives.

114 cases are in quarantine, and 982 are out of quarantine.

Catawba County reported 61 new cases Monday for a total of 3-thousand-977

and 48 additional positive virus cases were reported in Caldwell County for a new total of 2-thousand-191.

 

NC health officials have announced a new rent and utility assistance program.

The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions or HOPE program will provide rent and utility assistance to low and moderate income renters who have fallen behind because of COVID-19.

The program can provide up to 6 months rent or utility assistance.

You can apply for the program online by visiting nc211-dot-org-slash-hope, or you can call 2-1-1 between 7 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday.

Alexander Rape Arrest

A suspect believed to have been involved in a July rape of an elderly woman in Alexander County has been arrested.

35-year-old Julius Santez Williams of Yadkin County was taken into custody Friday in Newton.

Reports say Williams faces felony charges including first degree rape, first degree burglary, first degree kidnapping and assault inflicting serious bodily injury.

The charges stem from a reported home invasion July 19^th in the Hiddenite Community in which the elderly victim was sexually assaulted.

Authorities in the case received information that Williams was in the Newton area last Friday.

Officers located him near Jaycee Park; Williams led lawmen on a short foot chase before being taken into custody.

He was jailed under a secured bond of 1-million-225-thousand dollars.

Newton Police and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office assisted Alexander County lawmen.

Blue Ridge Search

Search and rescue efforts continue in the shining rock area of the Pisgah National Forest for a missing Asheville man.

27-year-old Chad Seger was last known to have been in the wilderness area October 12^th.

He was reported missing by his family Friday October 16^th.

On the third day of searching, teams from Alabama and Georgia alongside numerous regional teams are assisting Haywood County officials.

As of this morning, searchers haven’t gained any credible sign or sighting of Seger.

Authorities have posted flyers along trailheads about the missing man; also noting that Seger suffers from mental illness and may be evasive.

Officials are concerned as well about the cold temperatures overnight in the Pisgah Forest; with hypothermia possibly a life threatening danger.

Anyone who may have seen Seger in the last week, or if you have information on his whereabouts, contact the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office at 828-452-6600.

 

Conover Shooting

A man is discovered shot to death Monday morning in Conover, while Catawba County authorities search for two suspects.

Reports say the shooting happened around 3 in a home along White Tail Circle.

When deputies arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Samuel Loza inside with a gunshot wound, who reports say died at the scene.

Lawmen haven’t reported details in the incident, but do believe two suspects were involved and left the crime scene before they arrived.

Investigators say they are looking for a man and a woman.

The man is described as being 40 to 50 years old, tall with dark hair and facial hair.

The woman is between 20 to 30 years old, has blonde hair and was last seen wearing a gray Calvin Kline hoodie.