COVID-19 UPDATE

Catawba County saw the Covid-19 numbers increase by 44 yesterday bringing the

total to 1 thousand 2 hundred 54.  551 patients have recovered and 28 are

hospitalized.  Caldwell County recorded 27 more cases on Monday.  The Covid-19

numbers now stand at 643 cases in Caldwell County.  340 patients have recovered

and 16 are hospitalized.  McDowell County now has 292 patients that have tested

positive for Covid-19.  200 patients have recovered. Burke County reports 1,232

positive cases, while 966 of that number have recovered with 8 hospitalized.

Assault by Strangulation in Boone

Quick action by neighbors in an apartment complex in Boone helped to prevent

further harm to a woman who was found unconscious in her bedroom.  The

Boone Police Department says neighbors at the Brown Heights Apartment

Complex on Eric Lane notified authorities of an assault in progress.  When officers

arrived on the scene, a suspect was seen leaving the apartment in question.  22

year old Oscar Ortiz, Jr was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of

burglary tools, assault by strangulation, and attempted 1^st degree murder.  He

was placed in the Watauga County Jail under 500 thousand dollars secured bond. 

The victim was taken for treatment to the Watauga County Medical Center, and

was later released.

Drug Arrest in Catawba

A Hickory man was arrested and charged with drug possession after a traffic stop

on Highway 321 North.  52 year old Paul Mark James was placed in the Catawba

County Jail charged with trafficking in meth by possession, trafficking in meth by

transportation, maintaining a place for a controlled substance and possession 

with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver a schedule VI controlled substance.  His

bond was set at fifty thousand dollar secured.  Officers with the Catawba County

Sheriff’s Department found 2 pounds of marijuana and 179 grams of meth in the

vehicle.

Road Rage Death

A suspected road rage incident Friday has resulted in the death of a Candler man. 

Reports from Morganton Public Safety say Richard L. Peterson was found lying in the roadway in the area of Jamestown Road off I-40 westbound exit 100.

Peterson had reportedly sustained traumatic injuries consistent with an assault that authorities believe started as a road rage incident, after speaking with witnesses and viewing dash cam video.

Peterson was airlifted to an area trauma center, but died from his injuries on Saturday.

The other driver involved initially fled the scene but has since been identified.

Officials continue to investigate, and will further consult with the district attorney’s office whenever the investigation is completed.

Stolen Gun

A Marion man faces a string of charges in connection with his arrest for a break-in. 

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office say 31-year-old Joseph Lee Davis of Old Linville Road was charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm.

A shotgun and ammunition had been taken during a break-in at a home on Old Linville Road reports say.

Davis had been arrested in a separate case, and was discovered to possess the stolen shotgun. Officers recovered the firearm.

CVCC Commencement

Catawba Valley Community College will hold its first-ever commencement drive-thru ceremonies Saturday August 1^st. 

Ceremonies will start at 8 am with the School of Academics and Educational opportunities followed by the School of Workforce Development and the Arts at 10:30, and the School of Health and Public Services at 1 pm.

CVCC President Hinshaw will present diplomas at the front of the college, and each graduate will then exit their vehicle to receive their diploma cover before having a professional photo made in their cap and gown.

For more information on the commencement ceremonies, visit cvcc-dot-edu online.

Morganton Storm

Morganton city crews spent nearly 16 hours restoring power to more than 32-hundred customers after Friday’s severe storm.

A news release says numerous trees and limbs fell, taking out power lines and causing power poles to break and fall throughout Morganton.

A large tree was toppled on Valdese Avenue at Church Street taking down five power poles and two transformers causing more than 13-hundred outages.

Crews from Newton and Maiden assisted Morganton crews in helping to restore power and make necessary repairs.