As of Sunday morning, North Carolina had reported 8,830 positive cases of COVID-19.

299 deaths had been reported. Burke County had 88 positive COVID-19 cases, McDowell

County 24, Caldwell County 30 and Catawba County 49.

Governor Roy Cooper has announced that the state’s public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

Students and staff will still be expected to continue schoolwork remotely.

Cooper said in his Friday afternoon statement that classrooms may be closed, but the learning is not over.

State school superintendent Mark Johnson states that there was hope schools could eventually reopen this school year; however, the current COVID-19 situation in NC does not make that possible.

Johnson goes on to say this will not be the new normal - that plans for the next school year are already underway and will be proactive.

Before the governor’s decision Friday, schools had originally been closed to students and staff until at least May 15^th.

More than 40 states along with Washington DC have already said students will not return for the rest of the school year.

The investigation by the SBI into a Friday morning officer involved shooting

in Caldwell County has revealed that 28-year-old Timothy Darryl Sides, Jr. was

in possession of a hand gun. A deputy responded to a suspicious person call on

 Miller Hill Road in Lenoir. The deputy encountered Sides in the roadway and a

confrontation ensued that resulted in the death of Sides. The deputy was not 

injured and will be on paid administrative leave pending review by the

District Attorney’s Office, according to a news release from the Caldwell

County Public Information office.

A Morganton man is accused of making statements to kill the Magistrate. On

Thursday, the Burke Criminal Investigations/Narcotics Division arrested

Kenneth Earl Buchanan of Pops Buchanan Road. During his arrest, he was

found to be in possession of meth and drug paraphernalia, according to a press

release from the Sheriff’s Office. Buchanan was placed in the Burke County

Jail under a $50,000 secured bond and additional charges are pending.

Multiple charges are filed on a man accused of breaking into a residence on

Burke County Line Road. On April 21^st, Burke 911 received a call of a breaking

and entering that had already occurred. The suspect, who resides only two doors

from the victim, was arrested and charged with three felony offenses. Bill Casey

Hinson was found to be on probation and his vehicle was reported stolen from

Waynesville. The investigation is continuing and further charges are expected.

The Town of Valdese has canceled all June and July concerts as part of the Family Friday Night summer concert series; including the Independence Day celebration and fireworks planned for July 3^rd.

The concert series was scheduled to kick off June 5^th after May’s events had to be canceled.

Town officials hope to be able to observe a celebration as a community in August for the Waldensian festival scheduled for August 7^th and 8^th.

A Valdese news release states town officials know that mass gatherings will not be a reality for our state for quite some time, and that no event is worth putting the health of our community at risk.