COVID-19 Update 

Burke County Public Health reports 241 active cases of COVID-19 for

a total of 9-thousand-846, with 6 patients hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 6 new cases of coronavirus yesterday for

a total of 4-thousand-941, with 45 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Caldwell County saw an increase of 10 cases of the virus for a total of

9-thousand-68, with 6 people in the hospital.

Catawba County reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, for a total

of 18-thousand-83, with 18 patients hospitalized.

Freedom High will be hosting a Moderna vaccine clinic tomorrow for

ages 18 and older, and a second clinic Saturday, for the Phizer vaccine for

ages 16 and older. Many appointments are available by calling 358-4454.

Hildebran Mountain Fire  

Crews responded early Tuesday morning to a fire in the George Hildebran

area of Burke County. George Hildebran Fire Rescue, along with the North

Carolina Forest Service responded to Hildebran Mountain about 1:15.

The News Herald reports that helicopter drops and firefighters on the

ground fought the fire, with crews returning today to continue efforts.

Hickory Checkers Fire  

Hickory firefighters responded about 8:30 Tuesday morning to a fire

at Checkers, 1304 2nd Street NE. No injuries were reported and damages

were considered major to the inside of the building. Fire investigators

determined the cause of the fire to be cooking inside. Catawba County EMS

and the Hickory Police Department assisted with traffic control.

Prison Sentence for Burke Man  

A Connelly Springs man will spend 28 to 35 years in prison following

his conviction Monday, in Burke Superior Court, for two counts of

second-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a dangerous

weapon. Brian Jerome Robinson entered a guilty plea in connection

with the September 2016 deaths of Spencer Jermaine Murray and

Albert Alexander Austin. Two other co-defendants - Icy Chenell Gooden

and Brandy Nicole Davis – already have entered pleas for their involvement

and are serving active prison sentences.

Rutherford Highway Dedication  

NCDOT leaders and Rutherford County Board of Commissioner members

attended a highway dedication on Monday. Walter Dalton, Lieutenant

Governor from 2009-2013, now has a 5.8 mile stretch of of U.S.74 from

U.S.221 to the Polk County line named for him. Dalton is a Rutherford

County native, and has served in the N.C.Senate, as well as President

of Isothermal Community College.