COVID-19 Update

Burke County currently has a total of 9-thousand-431 COVID-19 cases; 548 of which are reported to be active, while 8 residents remain hospitalized.

McDowell County health officials Friday reported only 8 new cases of coronavirus, with a new total of 4-thousand-678 cases.

109 residents in McDowell County remain in quarantine.

Caldwell County Saturday reported 18 new cases of the virus for a total of 8-thousand-657 with 14 patients hospitalized.

Catawba County on Sunday reported only 4 additional cases of COVID-19 for a current total of 17-thousand-55, with 43 people in the hospital.

Narcotics Arrests

A narcotics search at a Longview residence leads to the arrest of 6 individuals with 5 of them confined in the Burke County jail.

Suspicious activity resulted in a search at a home on Orders Street last Tuesday.

Reports say investigators located methamphetamine, alprazolam, and drug paraphernalia.

31-year-old Jim Xiong, 42-year-old James Terry, 27-year-old Jonathan Johnson, 32-year-old Miranda Christenbury, and 39-year-old Monica Abbott all of Longview were arrested and charged with various drug offenses.

Xiong, Terry, and Johnson were jailed in Burke County, each under 25-thousand dollar secured bonds.

Christenbury received a 10-thousand dollar secured bond and Abbott a 1-thousand dollar secured bond.

Also 28-year-old Joshua Salyard of Longview was confined to the Catawba County detention center for outstanding warrants in Catawba County.

His bond was set at 8-thousand dollars secured.

Newton and Lenoir Police assisted Longview in the case.

Executive Order

An executive order signed by Governor Cooper on Wednesday is now in effect as the order calls for COVID-19 restrictions to loosen.

Although, the Modified Stay-at-Home Order for NC residents has been lifted – individuals no longer must stay home between 10 pm and 5 am.

The nighttime public closure period for certain businesses and facilities is also lifted; no longer requiring businesses closed between 10 pm and 5 am.

Indoor areas of bars may reopen, but with capacity limits.

The curfew on alcohol sales remains in place but has been modified to take effect at 11 pm.

Indoor areas of amusement parks may reopen, but are also subject to reduced capacity.

Bars, movie theatres, entertainment facilities, and sporting events are now limited to 30-percent capacity; while restaurants, breweries, gyms, museums, and salons are among businesses that can now hold 50-percent capacity.

The governor attributes the new order to significant and sustained improvement in the state’s COVID-19 metrics.

Cooper states though the mandatory mask mandate will not change, and that the order and our own common sense say that health and safety protocols must remain in place.

Church Break In

Rutherford County authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in connection with a break-in and vandalism at a local church.

Deputies with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the reported break in at Restoration Church.

Upon their arrival, officers discovered the church’s front door had been kicked in, while the interior of the church had been severely damaged.

An investigation led to felony warrants being issued for Steven Clale Henderson for breaking and entering a building that is a place of religious worship, the burning of churches and other religious buildings, and injuring houses, churches, fences, and walls in excess of 5-thousand dollars.

Anyone having information regarding Henderson’s whereabouts is urged to call Rutherford County detective Bailey at 828-286-2911.