Vaccines Pushed

The State Department of Health and Human services is urging all unvaccinated North Carolinians to get a COVID-19 vaccine; as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been inching up across the state.

Health officials report more of the state’s residents are going to emergency departments with COVID-like symptoms, while the more dangerous Delta variant is rapidly spreading throughout the state and across the US.

The CDC has classified the Delta variant as a variant of concern in that it spreads faster, and studies indicate an increased risk of hospitalization for people infected with it.

A news release reports more than 99-percent of new cases in NC have occurred in those not fully vaccinated.

To date, more than 150 million Americans have been vaccinated.

State residents can visit myspot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location.

NC Health Secretary Mandy Cohen says serious illness, hospitalization, death, and long-term effects from COVID-19 are preventable with vaccines.

Scam Letter

The Burke County Tax office reports a scam letter is being circulated among county residents.

A news release says some citizens have reported receiving the suspicious letter in the mail that appears to have originated from the Burke County Tax Office.

The fraudulent letter claims that a notice has been issued against the recipient because of a lien filing due to an unpaid tax liability.

It then directs the recipient to call an 800 number to resolve the alleged issue.

Local officials confirm the letter is a scam and did not originate from the Burke Tax office.

Never give your personal information to strangers over the phone, and residents can always verify any tax letters received by mail by calling the Burke County tax office at 828-764-9430.

Lincoln Co Officer Investigated

NC’s SBI is investigating a former Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant in connection with a May drive-by shooting.

Reports say Justin Frye is currently under investigation at the request of the Newton Police Department in Catawba County.

Frye, reports say, was fired in June after SBI investigators contacted Lincoln County authorities about the case.

Previous reports say the early morning shooting last May occurred at the home of Kysa Frye who was married to the former officer Justin Frye’s brother Christopher; although the couple had filed for divorce.

Home surveillance video at Kysa Frye’s home shows someone in an older model Ford SUV drive in front of her house, fire two shots toward a car parked nearby, and then drive away.

Additional video footage showed Justin Frye driving up and down his sister-in-law’s street revving the engine in a jeep.

Reports state Frye admits to driving his jeep in front of the residence, but claims he did not fire the shots in the May incident.

Christopher Frye was arrested in early May according to reports for repeatedly violating a domestic violence protective order.

Rutherfordton Missing

A Silver Alert has also been issued for a missing Rutherfordton man last seen leaving his workplace Wednesday.

Reports say 77-year-old Bob Havens was observed leaving work around 3 Wednesday afternoon at Touchstone Fine Cabinetry in Rutherfordton.

Havens is driving a red Chrysler Crossfire with NC tag TPN-6004.

Authorities report he was last seen in York County traveling toward Charlotte.

Havens is white with hazel eyes, gray hair, and is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 128 pounds.

Officials say Havens takes medication for dementia.

Anyone having information about Havens whereabouts should call the Rutherfordton Police Department at 828-287-5062.