COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County numbers continue to climb as public health officials say there are now 737 positive cases of COVID-19 in Burke County. Caldwell County recorded 13 new

cases yesterday for a total of 227.  100 patients have recovered and six are hospitalized. In Catawba County, there are 11 new cases of coronavirus bringing the

total there to 338. 143 patients have recovered while 12 patients are hospitalized.

Bars and Gyms to Open

The state senate has passed a bill that would allow gyms and bars to reopen across the state with some restrictions.

Governor Cooper has expressed concerns about the legislation, saying it would make it difficult for health leaders to impose restrictions if there’s another COVID outbreak.

However, lawmakers say they added language to the bill that would allow Cooper the flexibility to close businesses again if he deems it necessary.

In the bill, bars and gyms would be allowed to reopen; extending also to health clubs, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios.

The bill of course awaits the governor’s signature to make it law.

Man arrested in Newton Shooting

A 43 year old Catawba man has been arrested and charged with attempted first

degree murder in the shooting of a 20 year old Newton man on Sarah Avenue.  

Regi nald Lavar Davis was taken into custody without incident at a home on Wash

Gap Road in Newton according to a press release from the Newton Police

Department.  Davis was placed in the Catawba County Detention Center under a

one million dollar bond.  As of Wednesday,  Keshawn Dashay Furgeson  remains

at Wake Forest Medical Center in stable condition.  The shooting happened after

an altercation at a Sarah Avenue home.


Suspect Arrested

A shooting suspect was nabbed by Burke County deputies Tuesday night following a five-hour manhunt in the Nebo area.

Reports say shortly after 5 p.m. McDowell deputies and Marion Police responded to a dispute with shots fired on US 70 East in Nebo.

An investigation revealed 27-year-old Jacob Ballard Hensley and 30-year-old Timothy Ray Noblitt had gotten into an argument inside a Honda van at a residence.

Reports indicate Hensley shot Noblitt in the ankle with a handgun; and then fled the scene on foot.

A news release states he was captured around 10 p.m. Tuesday in a wooded area.

Noblitt was taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville with non-life threatening injuries.

Hensley was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Arson in Hickory

Hickory Police are searching for a person of interest in a possible case of arson. 

The Hickory Police Department is searching for a male with dark hair and dark

clothing captured on video surveillance in the area of a fire, May 21^st, at 361 10^th

Avenue Drive North East Hickory.  Firemen responded to the 11:20 p.m. call at the

Taylor Law Firm and found the building with visible flames from the roof and rear

of the building.  While firefighters were dealing with that fire, a passerby notified

Hickory Police of another fire at 391 10^th Avenue North East.  Police Officers found

a trash can on fire there.  Anyone who can identify the subject or who has

information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Hickory Police

Department at 828-328-5551.