COVID-19 Update

Two additional COVID-19 related deaths Monday in Burke County as reported by public health officials, bringing the number of virus deaths to 124.

Officials say the individuals were both in their 80’s, were not hospitalized, but later died from virus related complications.

103 new positive cases were added to Burke’s total over the weekend; that number now at 8-thousand-971.

956 cases are reported as active, and 11 local residents are hospitalized.

In McDowell County, 48 positive cases were reported Monday.

Their total is now 4-thousand-410, with 188 residents still quarantined.

Caldwell County reported 43 new cases of coronavirus on Monday for a current total of 8-thousand-133, with 33 patients hospitalized.

In Catawba County, 79 new cases of the virus for a total of 16-thousand-173 and 94 people are in the hospital.

In the meantime, Greenway Public Transportation is assisting the public with free transportation to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

In order to get to and from the vaccination sites in Burke, Alexander, Caldwell, and Catawba counties, Greenway Transport has several options – demand response, fixed route, and flex route services.

For more information about scheduling, routes, and service times call Greenway

Transportation at 828-464-9444.

BCPS Awards

The NC School Public Relations Association has honored Burke County Public Schools for excellence in communications.

Burke Schools earned a total of 14 Blue Ribbon awards for outstanding and effective communication.

The association presented the awards during a virtual ceremony last Friday.

A news release states this is the sixth year in a row that Burke County Public Schools have received statewide recognition for outstanding work in school public relations through the Blue Ribbon Awards program.

Shooting Suspect

A Marion man is being sought by authorities for his involvement in a Sunday night shooting in McDowell County.

25-year-old Cody Thomas Brown of Hitt Park Drive is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Just before 10:30 Sunday night, officers were called to Owl Hollow Road where they found a 29-year-old man in the yard with a gunshot wound to the leg.

Reports say witnesses at the scene identified Brown as the shooter, further stated he had left the scene in his vehicle following the shooting.

Authorities believe Brown is driving a blue 2013 four door Ford Focus with NC tag FDV-3259.

Anyone having information about Brown’s whereabouts should call McDowell detective Hicks at 652-2237.

Shelby Shooting Suspect

Shelby Police are looking for a Charlotte man wanted in connection with a shooting that left a mother and daughter injured last week.

Zaire Ali Muhammad is being sought for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and discharging of weapon into occupied property.

Investigators suspect Muhammad shot 35-year-old Kenya Youngblood and her 16-year-old daughter at a Shelby residence last Wednesday night.

Authorities believe the incident began as an online disagreement between two teenagers.

Anyone having information about Muhammad’s location should call the Shelby Police at 704-484-6845.

Lincolnton Fatal

A head-on collision in Lincoln County Sunday evening claimed the lives of two motorists.

Just after 6 o'clock, troopers reported that a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro was traveling south on Mount Zion Church Road when the driver crossed the center line and crashed into a 2011 Nissan Altima.

A third vehicle, a 2016 Nissan SUV then collided into the Altima.

The driver of the Camaro, 21-year-old Cooper Snipes was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital where he later died from his injuries.

86-year-old Mahlon Strope was the driver of the Altima and reports say he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the SUV was transported to an area hospital, and is expected to be okay.

Troopers say excessive speed of the Camaro appears to be a contributing factor in the wreck.