COVID-19 UPDATE

13 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday as reported by Burke County Public Health officials bringing the county’s total to 9-thousand-700.

237 cases are reported to be active, while one Burke resident remains hospitalized.

The Burke County vaccination team will be hosting two local clinics for those essential workers still in need of a vaccination.

The clinics will be held tomorrow from 8 am till Noon, and again from 4 till 8 pm at Freedom High School.

You can schedule your appointment online at chsbr.org/vaccine, or you can call the health department to schedule at 764-9150 and choose O to speak with the operator.

All adults 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine starting April 7^th.

Meanwhile, McDowell County reported 9 new COVID-19 cases Monday; with 28 still in quarantine.

McDowell’s total stands at 4-thousand-879.

Hickory Men Sentenced

Two Hickory men were sentenced last week for selling stolen firearms.

A US District Judge sentenced 35-year-old Gevon King to 144 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered 22-year-old Michael Williams to serve 72 months in prison and two years under court supervision.

Court records reveal King and Williams took part in the unlawful sale of numerous firearms some of which were stolen from November 2019 to July 2020.

Records further state that Williams was responsible for several vehicle break-ins in Burke County from which firearms were stolen and that King conspired with Williams in the sale of the guns.

In November 2020, both King and Williams pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license.

King also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, while Williams pleaded guilty to possession and sale of stolen firearm.

King is currently in federal custody, and Williams was released on bond and will be ordered to report to a federal facility once one is designated.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation along with the SBI, Hickory Police, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Maiden Shooting

A double-shooting that took place in Catawba County Friday night remains under investigation.

Officers were called to the incident just before 9:30 off Ramseur Road in Maiden.

Reports say as deputies arrived, they discovered a man and a woman had been shot multiple times.

The woman was reportedly airlifted to a Charlotte hospital, while the man was taken by ambulance to a Lincoln County hospital.

Both remain hospitalized in serious condition at last report.

Authorities have charged Dimitrius Williams with two counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with the shooting.

He is currently jailed without bond.

Foot Chase

The driver of a motorcycle who failed to stop at a McDowell County license checkpoint now faces drug charges.

44-year-old Brandon Kyle McNeil of Finley Road in Marion reportedly approached the NC 226 South checkpoint on his motorcycle March 13^th but didn’t stop reports say.

An officer followed McNeil and found his motorcycle wrecked on Jacktown Road.

Reports say McNeil fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later.

A search of the suspect turned up meth and drug paraphernalia.

McNeil was charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to heed a blue light and siren.

Stolen ATV

Authorities in McDowell County are on the lookout for a stolen ATV and the person who took it.

Reports say the green 2010 Honda Rancher TRX420 four wheeler was taken from a Deacon Drive business in Marion sometime between 2 pm Saturday and Monday morning.

Anyone with information about the crime should contact McDowell Detective Lambert at 652-2237 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.

Fatal Wreck

A two-vehicle accident in Lincoln County Friday afternoon claimed a pair of lives, and seriously injured another.

Investigators with the NC Highway Patrol say around 1:10 pm Friday, a Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Alexander Hickman was headed west on Campground Road.

Officers say he crossed the center line crashing head-on into an eastbound GMC Yukon.

The driver of the GMC, Boyce Moore and his passenger Michael Spillars both died on the scene.

Hickman was flown to a Charlotte hospital with life threatening injuries.

The initial investigation indicates reckless driving on Hickman’s part to be a contributing factor in the accident.