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.