COVID-19 Figures

Burke County Public Health on Wednesday reported the fourteenth COVID-19 associated death in Burke County.

A press release says the individual was in their 90’s and was not hospitalized but died from complications relating to their underlying medical conditions.

Recently-released figures show Burke County is currently at 162 positive cases;

Catawba County saw  COVID-19 cases up five on Wednesday for a total of 92.  In

Catawba County 49 people have recovered and five are currently in the hospital. 

In Caldwell County the number of Covid-19 cases increased by four Wednesday to

69.  33 in Caldwell County have recovered.

State totals reveal 15-thousand-816 residents statewide have tested positive; while 597 have died from the virus.

Grocery Prices Highest in Decades

If you thought you were paying more at the grocery store during this pandemic,

you are right.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics says grocery store prices rose 2.6

percent in the month of April.  That is the biggest month to month increase since

1974. The price of eggs was up 16 percent during the month of April, with fish,

meats and poultry prices going up 4.3%.  Bakery prices are up 2.9 percent and the

cost of dairy, fruits and vegetables increased one and a half percent during April.

McDowell Scam Alert

McDowell County Sheriff Deputies are making residents aware of a new scam

circulating in this area.  People are receiving emails, mainly from phony beer

manufacturers, asking them to display decals on their vehicles in exchange for

payment.  They will mail the check to that person if the citizen will pay some for

the decals and deposit the remainder of the check.  This is a scam.  Do not send

money or give personal information to someone you do not know.

Arrest Made in Crossbow Case

After more than three hours of eluding authorities, an eastern Burke County man wanted as a ‘person of interest’ is detained by lawmen.

Just before 10 Wednesday morning, deputies with the Burke Sheriff’s Office were called to 2138 Hunterwood Drive Hickory regarding a victim who had been shot in the head with a crossbow.

A news release says the unidentified victim was transported by Burke EMS to a local hospital in serious condition, and was further airlifted to a trauma center.

28-year-old Siegfred Albert Jackson known as Ziggy was then identified as a person of interest in the incident, and was observed leaving the scene on foot. 

Officials sent out a reverse-911 message to warn residents in the area to be on the lookout for the assailant.

However, Jackson was located Wednesday about 1:15 p.m. at a Cape Hickory Road residence, approximately a half mile from the crime scene.

He was taken into custody without incident.

Jackson may have been accompanied by 20-year-old Joseph Jackson Reece who remains at large and should be considered dangerous.

The Burke Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who knows the whereabouts of Reece to call the county’s communications center at 438-5500 or 911.

Charges are pending as an investigation continues.

Man charged with Holding Girlfriend Against Her Will

A Morganton man is charged with felony 2^nd degree kidnapping after reports say he held his girlfriend against her will at gunpoint Tuesday evening.

Officers responded to 3170 Piney Road Around 8 last night to a reported welfare check of Tristan Yelton, from reports that she was possibly being held against her will with a gun or knife by her boyfriend 24-year-old Randall Kent Brank.

A news release states when officers arrived at the residence, they attempted to make contact with the two, but were unsuccessful.

Officials, reports say, worked with Brank’s mother who also lives on the property.

She attempted to talk to her son, and after approximately and hour Brank and Yelton exited the front door of the residence.

Brank was detained and upon further investigation, deputies confirmed Yelton had been held against her will at gunpoint and had been threatened to remain quiet.

The release says Yelton had visible marks from the assault.

A search of the home turned up a 40-caliber handgun hidden in a closet.

Brank was also charged with having a firearm by a felon, assault on a female, damage to personal property, and communicating threats.

He was jailed under a 10-thousand dollar secured bond.

Traffic Stop Leads to Charges

A traffic stop Monday leads to a pair of charges for a Morganton man.

According to a news release, Burke County detectives spotted 30-year-old Kenneth Earl Buchanan of 4251 Pops Buchanan Road driving on Jenkins Road toward US 64.

As they knew he had a suspended driver’s license, the detectives initiated a traffic stop.

The release says Buchanan stepped out of the vehicle and became argumentative with the officers.

They asked him if he had any weapons on him, and Buchanan proceeded to pull a large fixed blade knife from his pocket.

Detectives then seized the knife, placed him under arrest, and transported him to the magistrate’s office where he was charged with driving while license revoked and carrying a concealed weapon.

Buchanan’s bond was set at 50-thousand dollars secured with a court date set for October 5^th.

Convenience Store Robbery

The Quick Trip Convenience Store on NC Highway 73 in Denver was robbed

yesterday by a man armed with a black machete.  The clerk told officers the

suspect demanded money, then walked into a secured area behind the cash

registers and grabbed an undetermined amount of cash.  The suspect, who was

wearing a gray hoodie, gray tennis shoes, gray pants with a black hockey style

mask, also wore latex gloves and a surgical style mask underneath the hockey

mask.    The clerk was alone in the store at the time and was not injured.  Anyone

with any information about the incident or suspect is asked to contact the Lincoln

County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.