COVID-19 UPDATE

The latest figures on Burke County’s website showed a drop in active COVID-19 cases from Monday.

234 cases in Burke are termed as active; while 8 residents are still in the hospital.

Burke’s most recent total stands at 10-thousand-59 positives.

In McDowell, health officials yesterday reported 5 new cases of the virus for a total of 5-thousand-76.

63 residents remain in quarantine.

Motorcycle Death

A motorcycle crash just after midnight Saturday in McDowell County claimed the life of a Marion man.

Reports with the State Highway Patrol say 20-year-old Billy Scott Wright Junior was traveling south on US 221 near the exit to Interstate 40.

Wright’s cycle reportedly overturned, throwing him from the bike.

The trooper states Wright died from injuries sustained when he was ejected from the motorcycle.

He was wearing a helmet, and no other motorists were involved in the accident.

Alexander Drug Arrests

A high-speed chase over the weekend and a three-month investigation into drug activity leads to the arrest of two women in Alexander County.

24-year-old Payton Schwantes of Stony Point and 38-year-old Chrystal Stikeleather of Taylorsville were each charged with multiple drug offenses.

On Saturday, the two were involved in a high speed chase with law enforcement that finally ended with Iredell officers deploying stop sticks.

Reports say deputies seized 249 grams of meth after stopping their vehicle.

Both women were placed in the Alexander County detention center, Schwantes under a 75-thousand dollar secured bond, and Stikeleather under a 60-thousand dollar secured bond.

The arrests involved a joint investigation between the department of Homeland Security’s narcotics division, Taylorsville Police, and the Alexander Sheriff’s Office.

Iredell Shooting

A two-year-old was injured in an accidental shooting in Statesville Sunday night.

Reports with the Iredell Sheriff’s Office say the child was shot after grabbing a loaded 380-semi-automatic pistol that had been lying on the bed.

The toddler was transported to the children’s hospital in Winston-Salem and is reported to be in stable condition.

Erin Vanderburg has been charged with failure to store firearms to protect a minor, and misdemeanor child abuse.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for Alyssa Lyons for misdemeanor child abuse.

Vanderburg is presently in the Iredell County Detention Center under a 10-thousand dollar bond.

Missing Man Located

A Lincoln County man reported missing has been located unharmed.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reported that 84-year-old Robert Houston Smith of Lincolnton was last seen leaving his home around 11:30 Monday morning driving a 2005 white Ford Explorer.

Smith was found safe in Georgia.