COVID-19 UPDATE

Caldwell now has 1 thousand 48 cases of Covid-19.  There are 41 new cases as of Wednesday.  8 of the new patients are under the age of 17 and 4 are between 18 and 24.  Caldwell has 19 patients hospitalized and 4 hundred 77 have recovered.  Catawba Public Health says they have been notified of 28 new cases since Tuesday night.  The total is now 1 thousand 8 hundred 25.  17 of those cases are hospitalized and 1 thousand 4 hundred 83 have recovered.  McDowell County has 28 additional cases for a total of 4 hundred 63.  294 patients are out of quarantine and Foothills Health was notified of two additional McDowell County Covid related deaths bringing the total number to 10. Burke County reported 22 new cases on Wednesday for a

total of 1,557. 336 of those cases have recovered, 8 are hospitalized, and 1,164 are presumed recovered.

Fatal Shooting

An early Wednesday morning shooting in eastern Burke County leaves one man dead, another injured, and two individuals being questioned.

A news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office says officers were called to 6937 Knob Avenue in Connelly Springs to reports of yelling, screaming and gunshots at the residence.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered two men had been shot; while another man involved in the shooting had left the scene with a female.

The release states one man was deceased at the scene, and the other was transported to an area trauma center.

The man who left the scene reportedly turned himself in to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and is undergoing interviews by Burke CID investigators.

Officers have also located the female who left the scene and are conducting interviews with her.

Investigators are in contact with the District Attorney’s Office as the investigation continues.

Burke EMS and Lovelady Fire and Rescue assisted Burke and Cleveland Counties’ Sheriffs Offices with the incident.

McDowell Theft

Four McDowell County residents are charged in connection with a reported theft from a US 221 home.

The McDowell Sheriff’s Office reports someone removed several tires and rims, garden tools, and a couple of tool boxes on May 16^th.

An investigation led to the arrests of 50-year-old Theodore Ira Paul Buckner of Nebo, 47-year-old Misty Dawn Frady, 46-year-old Joseph Allen Gardner, and 46-year-old Christopher George Messer all three of Marion.

The four were charged with breaking, entering and larceny.

Meanwhile, the same US 221 resident reported a June 15^th theft of tools, insulation, and household items.

The release says Frady was again implicated in the theft, as she was caught on video at the scene.

State Fair Cancel

For the first time since World War II, the NC State fair has been canceled. 

Fair organizers say the cancelation is because of continued uncertainty of COVID-19 conditions come October.

A report states it costs around 6-point-8 million dollars annually to produce the event.

Officials say they will begin planning for the 2021 state fair in the coming weeks.