COVID-19 UPDATES

Area counties are seeing increases in positive Covid-19 cases as more people are

being tested.  Burke County’s total rose to 710 yesterday and McDowell’s cases

rose to 107.  Caldwell County had five new Covid cases on Monday for a total of

214.  100 people have recovered from the virus in Caldwell and six people are

hospitalized.  In Catawba County. Tuesday saw the addition of 17 new cases

bringing the total to 327.  In Catawba, 120 people have recovered and 11 are

hospitalized.

Donation/Antibodies Drive

Donate blood on June 17^th at the Town of Valdese and find out if you have the

Covid-19 antibodies within approximately 48 hours.  This combination blood

drive/ antibody testing is not a Covid-19 diagnostic test.  Positive test results will

not confirm infection or immunity.  The blood drive takes place from 10 a.m. till 3

p.m.

Deputy Cleared

A Caldwell County deputy involved in the fatal shooting of a 28 year old man has

been cleared of any wrongdoing by the District Attorney’s Office.  Deputy James

Curtis had been placed on administrative leave pending the findings of an SBI

investigation into the shooting of Timothy Sides, Jr. that occurred on April 24^th,

2020 on the Miller Hill Road in Lenoir.  The District Attorney’s office said that

following a review of the investigative findings, the use of force was justified.

Hickory Meals Distributed

The City of Hickory Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism Department is

partnering with Hickory Public Schools’ Nutrition Services to distribute free grab

n’ go meals for children and teens ages 18 and younger throughout the summer. 

The meals will be available through August 6^th with daily meal service Monday

thru Thursday of each week.  Hickory Public Schools’ Nutrition Services will be

parked at the designated locations for 30 minute intervals to provide meals.  They

will be at the Highland Recreation Center, 1451 8^th Street Drive North East from

10:30 till 11 a.m. ; Kiwanis Park, 805 6^th Street South East from 11:15 a.m. to

11:45 a.m.  and Brown Penn Recreation Center, 735 3^rd Street South West from

noon till 12:30 p.m.  Daily meal service will include a pre-packaged lunch and

breakfast for the following day.

Caldwell Rabies Case

Caldwell County has recorded its fourth confirmed rabies case in the county this

year.  The N.C. State Laboratory notified Animal Control on Monday that a

raccoon tested for the rabies virus.  The raccoon was found in the Oak Hill

Community.  Residents are reminded to keep their pet’s rabies vaccinations

current.  Pets should also wear a collar and their rabies tag when out of doors. 

Animal Control offers one-years vaccinations for 8 dollars.  Pet owners can call

Animal Control at 828-757-8625 and set up an appointment.

McDowell Shooting Investigation

McDowell County investigators are in search of a vehicle whose occupants

might have been witness to a shooting late Sunday night on I-40. Just before

midnight, two Nebo women traveling on I-40 westbound near Exit 90 in a

Buick Encore were met by a barrage of bullets from suspects in a vehicle

from suspects in a dark-colored car with tinted windows. The driver of the

Buick pulled off of Exit 90 and the suspect continued westbound. Detectives

viewed surveillance video from the Exxon station off Exit 90 and saw a car

pull into the parking lot about midnight, immediately after the Buick. The

vehicle of interest is a 2016 to 2020 Honda Civic, silver or gray in color.

Anyone with information is asked to call Captain Shanon Smith at the

McDowell County Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME.