Governor’s Update

As the number of new cases of COVID-19 steadily increases in NC, Governor Roy Cooper announces the mask mandate ends today.

However, Cooper recommends citizens wear a mask while indoors in high-transmission areas, in agreement with new CDC guidelines.

In his address Thursday afternoon, Cooper has also issued a new Executive Order directing the state’s governmental agencies to verify whether their employees are vaccinated.

The order calls for unvaccinated employees to be tested for COVID-19 at least once a week, and will require those employees to wear a mask.

Cooper says the new order is aimed at slowing the spread among the unvaccinated and encouraging more people to get their shots.

The governor’s order comes as the state sees its highest new case numbers since February.

Health officials report more that 32-hundred new cases of COVID-19 throughout NC as over 1-thousand are hospitalized with the virus.

New cases continue to mount throughout the Catawba Valley as well -

Burke now has 283 active cases of COVID, and 13 in the hospital for a total of 10-thousand-676.

Caldwell has had 84 new cases in the last week, with 4 hospitalized for a total of 9-thousand-784.

Catawba County saw 132 new cases in the last week with 10 people in the hospital and a total of 19-thousand-761.

McDowell reported 11 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, with 106 residents in quarantine for a total of 5-thousand-349.

McDowell Drug Arrest

Authorities in McDowell County responding to a report of suspicious subjects at a local business make a drug arrest.

Shortly after 1:30 in the morning on July 11^th, reports say deputies were called to a convenience store on Sugar Hill Road where a group of men had gathered.

A search of 42-year-old Derrick Cameron Jolley of Marion turned up suboxone and drug paraphernalia.

Jolley was then charged with possession of a schedule-4 controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Iredell Fatal Fire

Iredell County fire officials report three bodies have been discovered in the remnants of a house fire that took place Tuesday night.

Reports say fire investigators found two bodies early Wednesday, and further reports from the scene indicate a third body was found late Wednesday evening.

The fired occurred Tuesday night just before 9 on Loram Drive near Troutman.

Authorities say they have gathered evidence associated with the deaths and source of the blaze.

According to reports, a fourth person lived at the residence and has been questioned by officials.

Autopsies for the three victims are expected to determine the cause of death and identities.

The investigation is ongoing.

Forest City Murder

Lawmen in Rutherford County are looking for a man wanted in connection with a homicide this week in Forest City.

Deputies with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence Tuesday in regard to a shooting.

Upon their arrival, they discovered 33-year-old Thomas Liebel dead from a gunshot wound.

The investigation led officers to seek a murder warrant for Andrew Franklin Hodge.

Hodge is yet to be located and arrested.

Anyone having information on his whereabouts should call the Rutherford Sheriff’s Office at 828-286-2911.

Lincoln Sex Arrest

A former Lincoln County man has been extradited from Florida on child sexual assault charges.

An investigation reportedly began in June when the Lincoln Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from the department of social services.

The complaint stated a victim had reported an assault to her parents that occurred in the Iron Station area of Lincoln County sometime ago when the suspect lived in Lincoln.

Upon further investigation, 61-year-old Gary Edward Pyne of Beverly Hills Florida was arrested, and placed in custody as a fugitive from NC.

Pyne refused extradition back to NC, but was ordered to return following a hearing in Florida.

He returned to Lincoln County Tuesday where he was served warrants charging him with two felony counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of secret peeping.

Pyne was again placed in custody under a 100-thousand dollar secured bond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assault Suspect Wanted  

Burke authorities are looking for a man wanted in connection with

a Tuesday night assault. Deputies were called about 7:30 to 3865 Briar

Drive in Valdese, where a female, who was being treated by Burke County

EMS, had multiple lacerations to her face, arms and body. The victim’s

mother sustained multiple bite injuries during the altercation. Both

victims were taken to CHS-Morganton for treatment. The suspect,

22-year-old Jeffrey Jesus Martinez is on the loose and should be considered

armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with

information on the whereabouts of Martinez is asked to call the Burke

County Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500, or Crimestoppers at 437-3333. All

Crimestoppers tips are anonymous, and anyone with information leading

to an arrest may receive a cash reward.

June Unemployment  7/29/21  CJS  Morning

June unemployment figures were released Wednesday by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, with the rate for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

metro area 4.7%, and Asheville’s rate at 4.4%. Area county rates include,

Alexander at 4.3%, Avery 3.9%, Burke County 4.6%, Caldwell 5.1%,

Catawba 4.7% and McDowell County also 4.7%.

The Burke County School Board race saw the entrance of two new candidates yesterday as filing for the November 2nd election continues at the Burke County Board of Elections Office in Morganton.  Jerry Scott Lambert of Valdese placed his name on the ballot for the Eastern District of the Burke County School Board.  Leslie Ritchie Taylor filed for the same seat on Monday.  Kurt Randal Fox of Morganton becomes the fourth person to file for the Western District of the Burke County School Board.  Incumbent Seth Hunt, Aaron Kyle Johnson, and Jane Marie Sohovich all filed for the same seat on Monday.  In the Morganton City Council race, incumbent Wendy Cato filed to retain her seat in District #4.  Filing continues until noon August 13th.

 

 

Man Killed in Head-On Crash in Catawba 

A man has been killed in a head on collision involving a tractor/trailer in Catawba

County.  Police reports say the two vehicle accident occurred around noon

yesterday on Highway 70 between Conover and Claremont.  The accident

occurred when a pickup truck crossed the centerline and collided with the

tractor/trailer head-on.  Highway 70 was closed for hours while officers

investigated.

I-40 Bridge in Catawba To Be Repaired 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will close a section of I-40 in

Catawba County beginning Thursday night for several nights to resume

emergency work on the Old Shelby Road Bridge.  The bridge ‘s damage was the

result of a vehicle crash last week.  Traffic will be detoured around the worksite

near Exit 121 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m..  Work should be completed by August 3rd.

Catawba Authorities Search for Missing Man 

Catawba County authorities are searching for a missing Dad of three.  Law

enforcement reports say 29 year old Anthony John Jaworsky went missing July

13^th.  Reports say he was headed to Burke County to see some friends.  A couple

of days later, Jaworsky’s car was found abandoned on I-40 in Iredell County. 

Catawba, Burke, Iredell and SBI agents are all searching for Jaworsky. 

Woman with Child at B&E

A woman and her child are discovered by McDowell County authorities at the scene of a recent break-in.

On June 21^st, officers were called to the reported break-in on Nix Creek Road.

Once there, deputies found 28-year-old Jenny Annette Skidmore Reel of Marion at the scene and further learned she had gone into the home and stolen medication, a power saw, jewelry and other items.

Reports say Reel had her 7-month-old son with her during the theft.

She has been charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule-2 controlled substance, and child abuse.

Drug Indictments

The Lincoln County Grand Jury on Monday indicted ten people on a number of drug charges.

A press release says the charges stem from an on-going investigation into heroin and meth trafficking in and around Lincoln County; including focusing on street level dealers.

Those indicted, reports say, were attempting to distribute large quantities of heroin, meth crack cocaine, and pain pills.

The indictments include a total of 29 charges of trafficking heroin, the sell and possession of meth, trafficking crack cocaine, the sell and delivery of pain pills, and one person charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

The names of those indicted will be released upon their arrests.

Hepatitis Outbreak

According to the State Department of Health and Human Services, NC has surpassed 1-thousand reported cases of Hepatitis-A since a national outbreak began in 2017.

Reports say 63-percent of cases have required hospitalization, while 16 people have died.

Since 2017, the CDC has received more than 41-thousand reports of Hepatitis A; as cases in NC have increased significantly since August 2020.

State health officials are working with local health departments to coordinate outreach events and provide hepatitis A vaccine to those at risk.

A free vaccine is available at local health departments to those in high risk groups including people with underlying conditions.

Wednesday July 28^th is World Hepatitis Day – an opportunity to increase awareness and encourage health and safety for those at risk for, and living with hepatitis.

 

 

 

 

Candidates Filing  

The Burke County Board of Elections Office was busy yesterday as five people

filed for School Board, one person for Morganton City Council, three people for

Valdese Mayor and three people for Valdese Council Seats.  Buddy Armour of

Morganton has filed to retain his seat on the School Board’s Central District. 

Leslie Ritchie Taylor of Connelly Springs has filed for the Eastern District Seat, and

incumbent Seth Hunt, Jr, Aaron Kyle Johnson, and Jane Marie Sohovich, all of

Morganton, filed for the Western District Seat on the Board.  Charles Wesley

Watts, Jimmy Ray Jacumin and Annemarie Baker have filed for the Mayor of

Valdese.  Joseph Andrew Thompson has filed for Ward One of the Valdese Town

Council with Paul Douglas Mears filing for Ward Two.  Rexanna Pennell Lowman

has filed for Ward 3 of the Valdese Town Council.  In Morganton, Christopher

Hawkins has filed for District 3.  Filing continues until noon on August 13^th.

HPD Investigating Shooting  

The Hickory Police Department is investigating a shooting that was the result of a

domestic dispute on July 23^rd.  Officers were called to the Argule Place

Apartments on 16^th Street Northwest in Hickory after a 911 call from a bystander

reporting the shooting of a male.  Officers found 31 year old Randall Anthony

Brolsma deceased at the scene with a single gunshot wound to the upper chest. 

Reports from Hickory Police indicate Brolsma was involved in a physical

altercation with his girlfriend in the parking lot of the apartments around 9:50

p.m.  Reports say Brolsma was in possession of a handgun.  When friends

attempted to assist Brolsma’s girlfriend, he was fatally shot.  No charges have

been filed at this time, and police are asking for anyone with information to

contact the Hickory Police Department.

Two Arrested on Child Sex Charges in Burke  

Two South Drive Morganton residents have been arrested and charged with

felony child sex offenses.  19 year old Clint Holden Lane and 18 year old Dancy

Arianna Issable Porter were arrested on July 24^th without incident after Burke

County officials were alerted by Caldwell County Sheriff’s Officers regarding

allegations of possible indecent liberties with a child that occurred in Burke

County.  The two were each charged with felony statutory sexual offense with a

child by an adult, felony indecent liberties with children and felony first degree

sexual exploitation of a minor. Both were issued two hundred fifty thousand

dollars secured bonds and placed in the Burke County Jail.

Marion Woman Charged

A Marion woman now faces numerous charges following a reported domestic dispute.

On July 13^th, McDowell County deputies were called to Wildberry Drive where they discovered 27-year-old Miranda Gatewood had assaulted a male at the home, hit him with her car, and then left the area with her two children.

Reports say officers learned that Gatewood was impaired and had wrecked her car on Sugar Hill Road.

She and the children were transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Gatewood is charged with two counts of serious injury by vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of child abuse, and simple assault.

Wanted Man

Authorities in WNC and Tennessee are searching for a man wanted on multiple charges.

Reports with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office say Larry Wayne Hipps of Greenville Tennessee is accused of assaulting a Mars Hill Police officer early Saturday morning and fleeing in a stolen vehicle during an attempted arrest.

The officer who was assaulted was taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville, treated, and released.

Deputies have since recovered the stolen vehicle Hipps was driving, but the search including numerous agencies and K9 units continues.

Lawmen report Hipps is known for car theft and running from law enforcement.

Officials advise those who see Hipps to call 911, and to avoid approaching him as he should be considered armed and dangerous.

 

 

 

 

 

First Person Convicted in Murder of Valdese Man 

A man accused of the 1^st degree murder/kidnapping of a Valdese man in 2018 has

been found guilty in Tennessee.  Robert Littleton is the first suspect to be

convicted in the murder of Carlton Lamaar Edmondson.  He will be sentenced in

October.  Edmondson was reported missing by his family January 19^th of 2018. 

His family told Valdese Police they had received a call from kidnappers asking for

money.  Authorities say Edmondson was beaten to death with suspects’ videoing

the crime with cell phones.  Arrested with Littleton, at the time, was his wife,

Leigh Katherine Littleton.  Also charged are 39 year old Michael Stacey May; 30

year old James Combs, 24 year old Valerie Ann Dollar and Brittney Arnold.  The

body of Edmondson has never been found.

COVID-19 Weekly Numbers  

Burke County Public Health reported on Friday 10,559 cumulative cases

of COVID-19, with 160 active cases and 6 people in the hospital.

In McDowell County on Friday, 41 new cases of coronavirus were reported

last week and 1 additional COVID related death. Total cases number 5,274

with 44 McDowell residents in quarantine.

As of July 21^st, Governor Cooper announced that Executive Order 215 will

be lifted on Friday. This lifts all mandatory capacity and gathering limits,

lifts all social distancing requirements, and lifts the mask mandate requirement

for most indoor and outdoor public settings, excluding public transportation,

child care, schools, prisons, and certain public health settings.

Morganton Flow Testing  

The City of Morganton will begin flow testing on Sunday, and will last

about 10 days. Residents and business owners who notice a discoloration

in their water supply should allow an outdoor faucet to run until the

water is clear again. Flow testing on Sunday will occur on East McDowell

Street & Valdese Avenue. For further information, call the Water

Resources Department at 438-5276.

 

Fuel Spills Into the Catawba 

Emergency personnel worked last night to contain a hydraulic fuel spill along the

Catawba River in Pleasant Gardens.  The Asheville Fire Department Regional

Hazmat Team, NC Emergency Management and the North Carolina Division of

Water Resources were all on the scene as the spill was being contained at

Resistoflex Road.  The spill happened after a fire at Columbia Forest Products.

Gas Leak Closes Highway  

A gas leak at a construction site at a business in Caldwell County closes a major

highway for some ten hours yesterday.  Workers near Smokey Mountain

Furniture accidently cut the Piedmont Natural Gas line outside the business

around 2 p.m. forcing the evacuation of other businesses in the area, and a

warning to local residents to shelter in place and limit their time out of doors. 

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute closed early yesterday to aide

in the evacuation process.  All four lanes of Highway 321 were blocked between

Mission Road and Pine Mountain Road.    Hudson Fire, Sawmills Fire, the Hudson

Police Department, PNG and Caldwell Emergency Management were all on the

scene. 

Called Meeting 

The Burke County Board of Education will have a special called meeting on

Thursday, July 29^th.  The meeting will be for the purpose of discussing back to

school plans in the county.  The meeting gets underway at six p.m. in the Olive Hill

Room of the Olive Hill Resource Center, 509 West Concord Street in Morganton.

Caldwell Board Honors Retiring Chairman 

The Caldwell County Board of Elections has recognized retiring Chairman Fred

Piercy by officially naming its board room in his honor.  A member of the Board

for 28 years, Piercy has served as chairman for 24 of those years.  During that

time he worked with three elections directors, saw the board grow from three to

five members and experienced significant advancement in technology and

operations.  Following the ceremony honoring Piercy, members of the 2021-23

Board took the oath of office.  Morris Reaves is the new chairman.

Alexander County Man Convicted on Child Sex Charges 

An Alexander County man will serve a minimum of 75 years and a maximum of

105 years in prison for child sex crimes.  Shawn Croteau was convicted of 3 counts

of 1^st degree statutory rape of a child and 4 counts of indecent liberties with a

child.  Croteau was arrested on July 19^th of 2020. He was not found guilty of one

statutory rape of a child charge.

 

Deputy on Paid Leave 

A Burke County deputy has been placed on paid leave as the Sheriff’s Department

conducts an investigation into a chokehold that causes a suspect to lose

consciousness.  According to WSOC-TV, two videos of the incident were posted on

TikTok four days ago.  The 1^st video shows a Burke County deputy using a

chokehold on a suspect from a traffic stop.  The suspect loses consciousness and

slumps.  The 2^nd video shows that the suspect has regained consciousness and says

the suspect was resisting arrest at the beginning of the traffic stop.

McDowell Man Indicted in Federal Court 

A federal grand jury has indicted a McDowell County postal service worker.  The

indictment says William James unlawfully detained, destroyed and delayed mail. 

James is accused of opening letters, cards and packages between April and

December of 2020.

Lenoir Man Convicted on Drug Charges 

32 year old Joathan Sherwood Watson of Lenoir will serve a prison term of six to

eight years following his conviction for trafficking methamphetamine by transport

and possession, and fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.  The Honorable

Daniel A Kuehnert imposed the sentence after Watson pleaded guilty during

Caldwell County Superior Court on Tuesday.  The defendant will also be required

to pay a mandatory fine of fifty thousand dollars.  Watson’s conviction stems from

an April 26^th, 2021 attempted traffic on US 321 near Granite Falls.  Watson led

officers on a high speed chase until he eventually overturned.  A foot chase

followed.  A search of the vehicle yielded meth packaged in various containers.

Masks Recommended for Schools  

Masks in North Carolina may be coming off at the end of the month, but North

Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said yesterday that he thinks schools in North

Carolina should require masks when they start back to school.  Areas throughout

the state are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases in recent days, especially among

those who are not vaccinated.  Governor Cooper says schools should require

masks for K-8 pupils indoors, plus masks for high school teens and teachers who

are not vaccinated.

Man Charged with Financial Card Theft       

A Charlotte man has been charged with using a man’s financial card to rack up

thousands of dollars’ worth of fraudulent charges to his bank account from

January of 2021 to July of 2021.  24 year old Rackwon Deshawn Long of Lander

Street in Charlotte was charged with seven felony counts of identity theft, after

the victim notified Lincoln County authorities he found fraudulent charges while

checking his checking account on July 5^th.    Long was placed in jail under a

fifteen thousand dollar secured bond. He was also served a criminal summons

from Gaston County for simple assault and communicating threats.

Patrol Boat Launched on Lake Norman 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office launched a new Lake Patrol Boat on Tuesday at

Beatty’s Ford Access on Lake Norman.  The law enforcement agency took

possession of the Metal Shark 23 Relentless on July 6^th.  The formal launch was

attended by residents, county officials and several county commissioners.  The 

craft will offer law enforcement services on the Lake.

 

Man Wanted For Armed Robbery Arrested in Georgia 

A man, wanted on an armed robbery charge in Morganton, is in custody in

Jefferson County, Georgia after a car chase ended in an accident Tuesday.  34 year

old Cordarrel Chris Anderson of Zephyrhillis, Florida is wanted for jumping over

the counter around 1:20 a.m. Sunday at the Quality Inn on South Sterling Street

in Morganton, and taking an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police reports say a

firearm was visible and several threats were issued to employees of the Inn. 

Anderson faces charges in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and possibly Virginia

from a crime spree that spread through the states.

Fast Food Workers Rally 

Fast food workers from Marion joined a rally yesterday that called for a

nationwide pay hike to $15 dollars an hour.  Workers gathered at 11:30 a.m.

outside the Hardees at 3240 Highway 226 South.  The event, organized by

the groups Fight for 15 and a Union, also held rallies in Charlotte and Durham.

Alexander Commissioner Dies in Car Accident 

An Alexander County commissioner has died in an automobile accident while

traveling to Ohio.  57 year old Dr. Jeffrey Peal, who moved from Ohio to

Alexander County in 2007, was re-elected to his second term on the Alexander

County Commission last November.  He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Renee,

three children and four grandchildren. He also served as Principal at Millersville

Christian Academy.

Called Board of Health Meeting 

A virtual meeting of the Burke County Health Board has been called for today at

five o'clock.  The purpose of the meeting is for the Board of Health to appoint 

Health Director, Danny Scalise, to the Dangerous Animal Appeal Board.  Citizens 

may watch or listen to the meeting by joining the Zoom platform by computer or

telephone. To do so, contact Chia Yang at 828-764-9150.

Catawba Police Arrest  Man Wanted on Warrants  

A Town of Catawba Police Officer arrested a man wanted on two active failures to

appear warrants after a traffic stop Friday night on Main Street.  Everette Rockett

was operating a 2001 Chevy Blazer  in the Town of Catawba when an officer

stopped him around 7 o'clock.  Rockette was taken to the Catawba County

Magistrates Office where he was served with the warrants, and assessed a one

hundred thousand dollar secured bond.  He will appear in court tomorrow.

Three People Arrested for Firearm Theft in Lincolnton  

Three people have been charged with firearms theft in connection with four

missing firearms from a Lincolnton residence.  35 year old Melissa Jane Cherry-

Pastula of Chapman Wyatt Lane in Lincolnton, 18 year old Preston Chase Lowery

of Maple Lane, Lincolnton, and 19 year old Justin Ryan Shoemake of County Home

Road in Conover were each charged with one count of 2^nd degree burglary, four

counts of both larceny and possession of a stolen firearm and one count of

conspiracy to commit 2^nd degree burglary.  Shoemake was placed in the Harven A

Crouse Detention Center under an 80 thousand dollar bond; Cherry-Pastula was

jailed under a 60 thousand dollar bond, and Lowery under a 58 thousand dollar

bond.  The value of the stolen firearms was estimated at 37 hundred dollars.

 

Catawba Man Convicted of 2 Counts Second Degree Murder  

A 64 year old Catawba man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following

his conviction for two counts of second degree murder in Catawba County

Superior Court yesterday.  Warren Lee Raymond, Sr. was given an active prison

term of 40 to 50 years by the Honorable William T. Pomeroy, Superior Court judge

from Lincoln County, after pleading guilty to the September 13^th, 2018 deaths of

his 55 year old wife, Barbara Parker Raymond, and his 30 year old autistic son,

Warren Lee Raymond, Jr. District Attorney Scott Reilly said the murders were

brought on by a gambling addiction.  The case was investigated by the Catawba

Police Department and the NC State Bureau of Investigation.

Catawba Woman Arrested on Drug Charges  

A thirty year old Catawba County woman was arrested and charged with

trafficking in heroin after Catawba County Narcotics officers and NC Probation

and Parole searched her residence on Finger Bridge Road.   8 grams of heroin and

drug paraphernalia were seized. Angel Gibbs was taken to the Catawba County

Jail on a failure to appear on felony probation as well as the drug charges.  She

was assessed a ten thousand dollar secured bond for the probation violation

 and an eight thousand dollar secured bond on the drug charges.

“Snatch & Grab Robbery in Denver            

Lincoln County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a “Snatch and Grab” robbery

at the Quick Trip Convenience Store at 7259 NC Highway 73 in Denver.  Store

employees said a male and female came into the store before 2 p.m. Friday and

walked directly to the cash registers which were unmanned at the time.  They

were able to open both cash registers and remove all paper money and walk out

of the store.  The suspects left in a gray or silver four-door Infinity.  The female

was about five-feet, five inches tall with long black hair pulled in a braid.  She

covered the lower part of her face with a blue bandana.  The male was just over

six feet tall with a distinctive haircut.  The sides and back were shaved to the skin

with long Dred locks on the top.  Anyone with any information about the incident

is asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.

New Animal Shelter for Caldwell  

Caldwell County is getting a new Animal Shelter.  County officials will hold a

ground breaking ceremony for the new animal shelter on Thursday, July 22^nd at

ten a.m.  The new site is located next to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department

at 2351 Morganton Boulevard SW in Lenoir.  A rain date for the event has been

set for Friday, July 23^rd.  The public is invited to attend.

 

Burke County Sheriff Will Not Seek Re-Election  

 

Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisnant has announced he will not seek re-election

in 2022.  Sheriff Whisnant, who has led three different agencies within the

criminal justice field, announced his decision on his facebook page and in a

statement release to local media.  Sheriff Whisnant called his tenure of 45 years, a

privilege and recognized all those who worked with him at the Burke County

Sheriff’s Department whom he says are admirably dedicated to our citizens. 

Sheriff Whisnant says he plans to give his family more of his time and becoming

available for other opportunities.

Mountain Biker Found  

 

A mountain biker, separated from a group around the Greentown Trail in Jonas

Ridge, was found safe by Burke Search and Rescue early Sunday morning.  Burke

Rescue was called around 8:30 p.m. Saturday to help find the biker in the

often steep and overgrown terrain.  Around 2 a.m., rescue workers made voice

contact with the subject and were able to slowly access the subject on a rock

ledge.  The missing subject, bike and rescue crews made it out of the woods

around 5 a.m. on Sunday.  Burke Search and Rescue was assisted by Linville

Central Rescue Squad, Burke County Emergency Management and Burke

Communications.

Wilson Creek Drowning 

 

Caldwell County Emergency personnel were called to Wilson Creek just after six

p.m. Saturday night in search of a possible drowning victim.  People at the scene

say the teen male victim went underwater in the bathtub section of Wilson Creek,

a half mile upstream from Brown Mountain Beach and never came back up.  The

subject was later located deceased.    

Lincoln County Looking for Missing Man  

 

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help locating a missing

western Lincoln County man.  23 year old Elijah Samuel Torres of Vale was last

seen by relatives on July 15^th.  He did not show up for work at Honey’s

Supermarket on Highway 10 in Catawba County that same day.  Torres was

reportedly seen on July 17^th, but Lincoln County officers were not able to locate

him.  He is described as a white male, six feet tall and weighing 190 pounds.  He

has brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts is

asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.

 

COVID Death

Burke County Public Health Thursday reported another person has died from COVID-19 putting Burke’s death toll at 170.

According to a news release, the individual was in their 60’s and was hospitalized.

The latest figures show there are 126 active cases in Burke, with 3 hospitalized.

Burke’s total of COVID-19 cases currently stands at 10-thousand-474.

For general questions about COVID-19, contact the Burke County public information line at 828-764-9150 or visit the webpage at burkenc.org/COVID-19.

Caldwell Deputy Shot

A Caldwell County deputy was shot Thursday morning at the scene of a domestic disturbance at a Granite Falls home.

A child had reportedly went to a neighbor saying their father was assaulting their mother.

As officers arrived at the home off Grace View Place, the suspect opened fire; deputies returned fire and a deputy sustained a shot to his leg.

The deputy was transported to Frye Regional in Hickory, treated, and released.

The suspect, identified as Christopher Payne surrendered to lawmen just before 7:30 a.m. after barricading himself inside a bedroom for hours. 

The female victim was able to escape the home before deputies arrived.

An 18-month-old child, reports say, was in the home throughout today’s incident; however, no other injuries were reported.

Payne is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, felony child abuse, and three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was also served an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear, communicating threats, and second degree trespass.

Payne’s bond has been set at 10-million dollars.

DNA Solves Case

DNA left at a crime scene leads to the arrest of a Nebo couple.

A resident on Brackett Town Road told McDowell officers that someone on January 1^st had broken into his home stealing around 10-thousand dollars worth of items including tools, jewelry, and electronics.

DNA belonging to 28-year-old Nickolas Charles Hall was found on evidence collected at the scene.

Hall and his girlfriend 21-year-old Olivia Michelle Bryan are both charged with two counts each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, larceny, injury to real property, and injury to personal property.

Reports say some of the stolen property was recovered.

Bad Checks

Lincoln County authorities have charged a Stanley man with obtaining property by false pretenses.

Reports show the incidents occurred between March 23^rd and April 26^th.

57-year-old Freddie Wayne Dellinger allegedly made five purchases of pine straw using bad checks.

Lincoln detectives also learned that Dellinger had made two additional purchases with bad checks.

Dellinger was arrested July 8^th and served arrest warrants for seven counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

He was jailed under a 14-thousand dollar secured bond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suspect Chokes Female

Assault by strangulation is one of the multiple charges imposed on a Nebo man following a July 10^th incident.

McDowell deputies and the State Highway Patrol responded to the report of an overturned vehicle caused by a domestic dispute on Old NC 126 in Nebo.

An investigation showed that 29-year-old Cody Adam Winegardner was arguing with the female driver and started choking her while she was driving.

The driver managed to escape, while reports say Winegardner fled in the car and proceeded to flip it into a ditch.

Winegardner was taken into custody and officers located meth on his person.

Reports further state while in the magistrate’s office, Winegardner attempted to take the deputy’s gun, fought with the deputy and state troopers, and tried to escape from custody.

He was additionally charged with possession of meth, resisting a public officer, injury to personal property, and assault on a government official or employee.

Suspicious Death

Sheriff’s detectives in Lincoln County are investigating a suspicious death.

Reports say a man’s body was found in a secluded wooded area off Smith Farm Road in Lincolnton early Tuesday morning.

Officials also discovered a vehicle parked off the roadway nearby.

A check of the vehicle revealed it belonged to a man who had been reported missing on July 7^th.

The investigation is on-going.

One Filing  

One person filed Wednesday at the Burke County Board of Elections

Office, Josh Phillips for Town of Connelly Springs Alderman. Twenty

people have now filed for various offices in the county.

N.C. 127 Weekend Road Closure 

The second set of wooden arches for Hickory’s City Walk pedestrian

bridge are scheduled to be installed this weekend. The work will require

the closing of N.C. 127 between First Avenue SE and First Avenue NE

from 3 a.m. Saturday, through 6 a.m. Monday. Detour routes will be

established and clearly marked. 

 

 

Alexander Fugitive Couple Arrested in Phoenix  

An Alexander County couple, wanted in connection with a shooting from

January, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon. The United States

Marshal Service located and arrested Tangela and Eric Parker in Phoenix

after receiving tips concerning their location. The pair was wanted about

a January 13^th shooting at TCS Designs in Hickory, the result of a dispute

between two employees. The victim was taken to Winston-Salem for

life-threatening injuries. Tangela Parker was wanted for Assault with a

Deadly Weapon Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury and Eric Parker was

wanted for Accessory After the Fact.

Hickory Ranks High as Affordable Place to Live  

Hickory ranks among the best places to live in the state and most

affordable metro areas in the U.S., according to a new report released

by U.S.News & World Report. The Hickory MSA ranked 4^th in Most

Affordable Places to Live in the United States. This ranking is based on

the median gross rent and annual housing costs for mortgage-paying

homeowners of each metro area. Hickory ranked 5^th in Best Places

to Live in North Carolina and 52^nd in the U.S.

Indecent Liberties Charge on Morganton Man  

A Morganton man is charged with Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child.

On July 1st, the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received a

report concerning possible allegations, which turned into an arrest warrant

on 32-year-old Van Martin Edwards. He was taken into custody on July 2nd,

issued a $20,000 unsecured bond and was released, with a court appearance

scheduled for July 26th. Burke County DSS and Hickory Police assisted the

Burke County Sheriff’s Office in the case. 

Tuesday Filings  

Three filings reported Tuesday at the Burke County Board of Elections

Office. They include, William Allen Spencer, Sr.-Town of Rhodhiss Mayor,

Kress Berry-Town of Rutherford College Council Member and Donna

Abernethy Price-Town of Rhodhiss Town Commissioner. Nineteen people

have filed for various races in Burke County.

Filings  

Three candidates filed on Monday at the Burke County Board of

Elections Office. Dennis F. Seagle-Town of Connelly Springs Mayor,

Mike Phillips-Town of Rhodhiss Town Commissioner and

Starr-Nell Bowman-Town of Rutherford College Council Member.

Sixteen people have filed for various races in the county.