Blood Shortage

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage – negatively affecting blood product availability across the country.

Donors of all blood types; especially type O and those giving platelets are urged to make an appointment to donate to help ensure hospital shelves are stocked over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

As a result of the blood shortage, some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries until the blood supply stabilizes, further delaying crucial patient care.

Summer is traditionally a time when blood donations decline, but this year is more challenging as many are getting COVID-19 vaccinations and returning to activities they couldn’t enjoy last summer – leading to lower donor turnout.

Several opportunities to donate in July in McDowell County –

July 3^rd noon till 4:30 at Walmart on Sugar Hill Road, July 12^th Noon to 5 at Glenwood United Methodist Church at 1385 Old 221 South, and July 14^th 1:30 until 6:30 pm at the Marion Community Building 191 North Main Street.

Schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Elections Delayed

Municipal elections originally scheduled for later this year have been officially delayed until 2022 for more than 30 municipalities across NC; including a portion of Burke and Catawba counties.

Legislation delaying the elections became law today according to a press release.

The release states the delay will allow affected municipalities to consider revising their electoral districts based on new population numbers from the 2020 US Census.

The City of Hickory and the Town of Longview are two of the locations where delays are imposed; affecting Burke and Catawba elections.

Under the new law, terms of mayors and council members in the affected municipalities will be extended until their successors are elected in 2022.

Candidate filing periods for the delayed elections will be held either in December 2021 or January 2022, depending on when each municipality completes the redrawing of its districts.

For 2022 only, the law removes the prohibition on voter registration between the first and second primaries.

Eligible voters who register after the date of the first primary may vote in the second primary.

Voters may not change their party affiliation between the first and second primary.

Hickory Fire

An outdoor grill left unattended is to blame for a fire at a Hickory townhome complex just before Noon Monday.

Hickory firefighters were called to Bradford Square Townhomes on 15^th Avenue Northeast to find smoke coming from the two-story multi-unit complex.

A working fire was discovered on a deck at the rear of the complex.

Two units were affected by the blaze displacing a total of four residents.

Damage was considered to be moderate and there were no injuries reported

Firefighters determined the cause to be unintentional and ignited from hot coals that were left in a charcoal grill.

Fire personnel remind residents to never leave a lit grill unattended that is still hot or smoking.

And to make sure charcoal ashes are out by soaking them with water before discarding them or leaving them.

COVID Update

Public health officials Monday afternoon reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 in Burke County for a current total of 10-thousand-419.

The latest Burke data shows 140 cases remain active, while no local residents are presently hospitalized with the virus.

Catawba County reported 15 new cases for a total of 19-thousand-422 positives.

9 in Catawba remain in the hospital.

McDowell County health officials report 4 new cases of the virus bringing the county’s total to 5-thousand-197.

McDowell has 24 residents now in quarantine.

At last report, Caldwell County has a total of 9-thousand-620 COVID-19 cases with 4 individuals hospitalized.