COVID-19 UPDATE   

                                                                                                                                                                    Catawba County recorded 32 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday bringing the total number of positive Covid-19 cases to 1352.  Of that number 952 have recovered and 33 are hospitalized.  Caldwell County added 24 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday.  That number includes two more cases at Brockford Inn Assisted Living.  The facility now has 63 cases, 44 residents and 19 employees.  Caldwell County has 369 patients that have recovered and 18 are hospitalized.  Burke County now has 1281 positive Covid-19 cases.  966 have recovered and 4 are hospitalized.  McDowell County added 15 new cases yesterday bringing the total to 315 cases.  209 have recovered there.

McDowell DSS

The McDowell County Department of Social Services has temporarily closed because of positive cases of COVID-19 according to public health officials.

The temporary closure affects both the Spaulding Road office and the main DSS office on East Court Street.

Officials released a statement saying the likelihood of transmission to the public is thought to be low; however, individuals who have been in one of these facilities on or after July 6^th are welcome to get tested for free.

The drive-thru testing will take place Monday July 20^th at the McDowell Health department at 408 Spaulding Road in Marion from 9 to 11 am.

DSS employees will be responding to voicemail messages left by citizens needing assistance at 828-652-3355.

Find information online also at mcdowell-county-nc-dss-dot org.

McDowell Drug Bust

An on-going drug investigation in McDowell County leads to the arrest of two Marion men.

Reports indicate on June 18^th, the McDowell Sheriff’s Office along with SWAT teams from the Marion Police Department searched a residence on Zion Hill Road; a suspect location for drug activity.

Officers came away with a half-gram of meth; arresting both 54-year-old Terry Franklin Woody and 26-year-old Christopher Jaren Forney and charging them with meth possession.

Woody was also charged with possession of crystal meth and maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance.

Forney faces additional charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana.

Sweeney Arrest

A Morganton woman spotted by deputies driving without a license ends up being charged with drug possession. 

On June 30^th, a deputy with the Burke Sheriff’s Office spotted 35-year-old Misty Ellen Sweeney of Ridgecreek Drive traveling on Salem Road.

Reports say the officer stopped Sweeney knowing she did not have an operator’s license.

A search of her vehicle turned up heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Sweeney was jailed under a 10-thousand dollar bond, and appeared in court July 3^rd.


Prep Fall Sports Start Delayed

The North Carolina High School Association announced on Wednesday that the
start of fall sports has been delayed until at least September 1st.