Burke COVID-19 Update

A week away from Christmas Eve and Burke County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to mount – local public health reporting 89 new positives Thursday, with a total in Burke County now at 5-thousand-342.

1-thousand-115 cases continue to be active, and 23 Burke County residents are hospitalized with the virus.

Local and state health experts continue to recommend small gatherings only in celebrating the holidays.

The CDC says the safest way to celebrate is by gathering only with those you live with.

They further state that gathering with large groups, even family that you do not live with can increase the likelihood of virus spread.

WNC Schools in Pilot Program

Western North Carolina school systems have been selected by state health officials to participate in a COVID-19 testing pilot program.

Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Lincoln Charter School and Madison County Schools are among the 17 school districts and 11 charter schools selected by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The program is designed to deploy COVID-19 rapid testing in K through 12 public schools where any in-person instruction is occurring.

The program’s goal is to slow the spread by quickly identifying students and staff who may have the virus, especially after the holidays.

State health officials sent the selected schools more than 50-thousand federally funded rapid antigen tests to be used for students and staff who have virus symptoms, or who have had close contact with someone testing positive.

Rapid tests include a nasal swab to detect COVID-19, and provides results in 15 minutes without lab processing.

The testing will be performed by trained personnel.

Traffic Stop Nets Drugs

A Marion man stopped last month for a traffic violation is found to possess drugs.

A news release from the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Jeffery Todd Ward was driving his pickup November 19^th when an officer stopped him on US 70 East in Nebo.

A search of Ward and his vehicle revealed one gram of heroin, one-point-6 grams of meth, two Oxycodone pills, and drug paraphernalia.

Ward was charged with numerous drug possession offenses, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kidnapping Charge

A Lincoln County man is charged with kidnapping after reports say he threatened family members with a machete.

Lincoln deputies were called to a domestic disturbance on Monday at a residence on Ed Craig Road in Vale.

The mother of the suspect told officers her son was inside the home, armed with a machete, and that five children had locked themselves in a room for protection.

Deputies discovered 20-year-old Michael Alexander Smothers inside with the machete in his hand, refusing to drop the weapon.

The news release says Smothers though allowed the children to safely leave the home without incident.

Smothers continued then to refuse officer’s commands, while reports say lawmen fired upon him using a non-lethal shotgun that uses bean bags.

Reports say several bean bags were fired striking Smothers who fell to the floor, dropping the machete.

The suspect was then taken into custody, and later transported to an area hospital where he was released the next day.

Smothers was charged with kidnapping, assault on a female, assault on a law enforcement officer, and resist delay and obstruct a public officer.

He was jailed under a 122-thousand dollar secured bond.