COVID-19 Testing to Begin in Burke County

Nine additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Burke County since Sunday bringing the county’s total to 203.

In a news release issued Monday afternoon, Burke Public Health officials report the beginning of drive-thru COVID antibody testing this week.

Solid Rock Family Medicine in conjunction with Quest Diagnostics will be doing the testing Friday May 22^nd from 9am till 5pm.

The release indicates fees should be covered for the testing.

Test results should take 3 to 5 days to come back.

Then on Friday May 29^th and June 5^th, drive-thru antibody testing along with COVID-19 testing will take place again at Solid Rock Family Medicine for Burke County residents.

The virus testing is for anyone who is symptomatic, is a known contact of someone who has tested positive, or is a high risk patient.

For those getting a virus test, you are required to self-isolate at home until test results return – no getting out for any reason.

You will also need to self-isolate from others within your home until test results come back so you do not spread the virus within your home.

Should you have further questions about testing, call Burke’s public information line at 764-9388 Monday through Friday 8 to 5.

Surrounding counties continue to see coronavirus cases rising as most counties

are conducting more testing.  Catawba County has reported the 2^nd outbreak of

coronavirus at a congregate care facility.  Catawba County Public Health said that

one resident and one team member at Abernathy Laurels had tested positive. 

Last week, Brian Center in Viewmont had positive cases of coronavirus.  In all the

Health Department said there were 7 new cases Monday bring Catawba County’s

total to 111.  50 of those patients have recovered and 5 are in the hospital. 

Caldwell County saw a jump of ten coronavirus cases Monday, where there are

now 86 cases, and McDowell County has been notified of two additional cases. 

Their total is now 33.  5 individuals are in quarantine with 27 out of quarantine

and one death.  And finally…Avery County has recorded its 1^st case of coronavirus

on Monday.  This means that now all 100 counties in North Carolina have

coronavirus cases.

Vale Restaurant Defies Order

A Vale restaurant owner has been issued a citation for openly violating a North

Carolina Executive order.  Carroll Dean Mitchem, owner and operator of

Mitchem’s Kitchen, located at 6649 West Highway 27 in Vale, was issued the

citation after the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department received complaints from

the general public.  Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam said that he may not

personally approve of all the Emergency orders issued by Governor Cooper, but

that the Governor has the right to do so.  Mitchem has a court date scheduled for

Wednesday, September 9^th.

Catawba County Fire Ruling

A fatal fire in Catawba County early Sunday morning has been ruled accidental by investigators.

Reports say the fire started just after midnight at a home on West 9^th Street in Newton.

As firefighters arrived, they found the home engulfed in flames and called for additional assistance.

The blaze was reportedly under control just before 1:30 am, allowing crews to search the home whenever they discovered an 88-year-old female deceased inside the residence.

Investigators report the fire was caused by discarded smoking material.

The name of the deceased has not been released pending an autopsy scheduled for Wednesday.

McDowell Charges

A traffic stop leads to numerous charges for a Marion man.

22-year-old Dillan Etan Powell of Woody McKinney Drive was stopped by a McDowell officer on March 20^th for having no license plate.

Reports say Powell was discovered to be driving on a revoked license and was found to be in possession of a handgun and one gram of meth.

Powell was then charged with meth possession, possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed firearm, and driving while license revoked.

McDowell Vandal Sought

McDowell County lawmen are on the lookout for vandals who reportedly spray painted an SUV.

Jan Lynch of Cherokee Way in Marion told officers someone came onto his property and used red spray paint to write profanity on the inside and outside of his 2008 Chevrolet Suburban sometime either May 1^st or 2^nd.

Anyone having information about the incident should call Detective Watson with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

City Walk Construction

Construction will begin on the Third Street pedestrian bridge in Hickory this

Thursday.  Downtown visitors are being advised to stay at least 100 feet away

from the construction activity to avoid hearing impairment.  Construction includes

driving steel sheet piles which can create loud booming sounds.  This preliminary

work is expected to take approximately two days to complete.