COVID Update

McDowell County Public Health Monday afternoon reported 28 additional cases of COVID-19 over the weekend for a total case load of 5-thousand-403.

A news release says there are 134 individuals in quarantine, with a 14-day positivity rate of 22-point-9 percent.

McDowell health officials say the vast majority of new cases are in those who are not fully vaccinated.

The McDowell County Health Department is hosting a vaccination clinic Wednesday August 4^th from 9 am to Noon.

The clinic is open to anyone 12 or older, and walk-ins are welcome.

Elsewhere, Burke County’s COVID-19 online dashboard shows an increase in Burke of 36 cases over the weekend with a total of 10-thousand-787.

363 cases are active and 14 people in Burke are now hospitalized according to the website data.

Pedestrian Killed Update

A Hickory driver turned himself in to authorities after allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian early Saturday morning.

Hickory police reports say 18-year-old Cesar Lozano-Mendoza turned himself in Saturday afternoon for the fatal hit-and-run of 17-year-old Brianna Nicole Page.

Reports say police responded around 5:30 am Saturday to 20^th Street Northeast in Hickory where Page had been struck by a car while she was walking to work.

Page reportedly died at the scene.

Officers then began a search for a 2006 or 2007 gray Chrysler 300 with damage to the front driver’s side.

Mendoza turned himself in around 4:30 Saturday afternoon.

He was charged with felony hit and run resulting in injury or death and misdemeanor traveling left of center.

Mendoza was taken to the Catawba County jail under a 15-thousand dollar bond.

Candy Man

Authorities in McDowell County arrest a wanted man for breaking into a candy machine.

Officers spotted a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a gas station on US 221 North on July 6^th.

A deputy learned that the car’s driver, 38-year-old John Paul McCall of Franklin had outstanding warrants in Macon County.

Upon taking him into custody, officers searched his vehicle and found two handguns, burglary tools, numerous coins and 1-dollar bills.

Further investigation revealed McCall had previously broken into a candy machine at the Tate Street Welcome Center.

He was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny, and breaking into a coin-operated machine.

Woman Drowned

A Cleveland County woman, drowned in her backyard pond Saturday night.

Reports say deputies were called to the home around 9:30 pm where they found the woman deceased in a fish pond.

Authorities have not yet determined the circumstances that caused her fall.

Her name has not yet been released.

Lottery Record

The NC Education Lottery has raised 936-million dollars to support state education programs in fiscal year 2021.

The record earnings for education result from record lottery ticket sales of 3-point-8 billion dollars; up 26-percent from the previous year.

Reports say on average the lottery has generated 2-point-5 million dollars a day for education.

Monies raised help to build and repair schools, make college more affordable through scholarships and grants, support costs associated with school workers and transportation, and support NC Pre-K; a free academic pre-kindergarten program for at-risk four year olds.