COVID-19 Update

50 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday as reported by Burke County Public Health, bringing the county’s total of positives to 8-thousand-785.

1-thousand-43 cases are reported to be active, while the number of Burke hospitalizations are down to 8.

McDowell County health officials report 19 new cases, with a total of 4-thousand-323 positives.

280 McDowell residents remain quarantined.

Caldwell County reported 30 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday for a current total of 8-thousand-45, with 30 patients hospitalized.

Catawba County saw an increase of 83 additional cases of coronavirus Wednesday, for a total of 15-thousand-763, and 95 people are in the hospital.

Most Wanted Arrest

A Morganton man who had been on the Burke County Sheriff’s Office ‘Most Wanted’ was arrested last week at a residence in eastern Burke County.

32-year-old Gregory Lee Barus  of 5186 Mountain View Boulevard was reportedly hiding at a residence off Mounira Avenue where officers arrested him without incident on January 28th.

Barus was served with two felony warrants for possession of stolen property.

He was placed in the Burke County Jail under a 20-thousand dollar bond.

Barus is also under investigation for other possible larceny cases involving stolen motor vehicles and property in Burke and surrounding counties.

Drug Raid

Two people face charges after authorities in McDowell County raid a Scotts Cove Drive residence as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

25-year-old Kayla Michelle Bates of Nebo is charged with numerous drug offenses, while 33-year-old Jonathan Trey Sloan of Marion is charged with meth possession, and possession of marijuana.

On January 14^th, McDowell deputies, Marion Police and state SBI agents searched Bates home while investigating possible drug activity at the residence.

Their search turned up 21 grams of marijuana, and one-half gram of meth, along with US currency.

Car Thief

A Lenoir man driving a stolen car containing drugs was arrested by Burke County deputies.

On January 28^th, officers responded to the Dollar General on Burke Street in regard to a suspicious vehicle.

Once officers determined the vehicle had been stolen out of McDowell County, they made contact with 37-year-old Justin Ryan Day inside the store.

Day was taken into custody for possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

A search of the vehicle turned up methamphetamine.

Day was then charged with possession of a schedule two controlled substance.

He was held at the Burke County jail under a 20-thousand dollar secured bond.

Day’s court date is set or February 19^th.

McDowell Winds

McDowell County withstood strong winds on Tuesday that brought down trees and a sign down onto a local motel.

Reports say the McDowell 911 Center had multiple calls for service involving downed trees and power lines.

There was a report of a fallen tree on a residence inside the Hankins Village mobile home park; however, no injuries were reported.

And a large sign fell onto a section of the Sportsman Inn next to Hankins Road, causing the closure of one section of the motel.

 Areas affected, besides the Hankins area, include PG, Marion, Glenwood, and Nebo.