COVID-19

New cases of COVID-19 in our area remain low to stable – at last report, only two Burke County residents remain hospitalized with the virus.

Burke has a total of 10-thousand-312 cases of COVID-19.

McDowell County’s latest total holds steady at 5-thousand-164.

Catawba County reported 15 new cases of the virus yesterday, for a total of 19-thousand-297.

Catawba still has 6 people in the hospital.

And Caldwell County reported 9 new COVID cases Tuesday afternoon for a total of 9-thousand-551.

There are three Caldwell residents still in the hospital.

The Burke County Health Department has announced a couple of upcoming vaccine clinics.

A walk-in COVID vaccine clinic will be held in conjunction with a local blood drive at Salem United Methodist Church on Salem Road from 2:30 to 5:30 pm tomorrow.

The clinic will be held in the church fellowship hall and no appointment is necessary to get the vaccine.

Then, a community vaccination drive-thru clinic will be held in the Valdese Weavers parking lot Friday June 18^th 9 am till 11 am for first or second doses of the Moderna vaccine.

You can register for an appointment online at myspot.nc.gov or walk-ins are welcome.

New Burke Superintendent  

The Burke County Board of Education Monday, selected Dr.Mike Swan to

serve as Superintendent of Burke County Public Schools. He is a 23-year

veteran educator with the school system and has served in various roles

including, teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Student Services,

assistant superintendent and interim superintendent. Dr. Swan, who was

chosen from a field of 13 applicants, was given a four-year contract.

Two Area Teachers Win New Tools  

Two area teachers are among four statewide to win tools to enhance

learning about space exploration. Andrea Gladden of East Burke Middle

and Vanessa Lail of Grandview Middle in Hickory won space exploration

bundles valued at $5,000 each. 27 educators statewide applied for the

competition by writing two paragraphs about what space exploration

means to them and what winning these bundles would provide to

their counties. The competiton was a joint effort of the North Carolina

Business Committee for Education, the Public Consulting Group and

Aldrin Family Foundation.

Murder Suspect Sentenced  

A Hickory man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found

him guilty of two counts of accessory before the fact to first-degree murder

in connection with the deaths of two people more than 5 years ago.

29-year-old Jordan Alexander Rivera was given two consecutive life

sentences on Monday, in Catawba County Superior Court. Rivera was

found guilty for his role in the March 12th, 2016, home invasion and

shooting deaths of Mark Anthony Wilson and Deidra LaCarol Ramseur

at the couple’s home on Rest Home Road in Claremont.