COVID-19 UPDATE

Public Health officials in Burke County Wednesday reported 65 new positive cases of COVID-19, increasing the county’s total to 5-thousand-253.

1-thousand-84 cases are reported to be active, while 24 Burke County residents remain hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 22 new positives, with a total now of 2-thousand-419.

476 residents in McDowell County remain quarantined.

The first COVID-19 vaccine in Catawba County was administered Tuesday to a frontline health care worker.

A critical care nurse at Catawba Valley Medical Center received the vaccine along with several of her peers.

Catawba Valley Med Center was among 11 of the NC hospitals to receive the first shipment of the Phyzir vaccine.

The vaccine was approved for emergency use on Saturday.

Reports say the vaccine is not expected to be available to the general public until spring.

 

School Schedule

Burke County Public Schools had a remote day Wednesday due to weather conditions and is on a two-hour delay this morning.

High School exams that were scheduled for yesterday have been rescheduled for tomorrow.

Then high school make-up exams are scheduled for Monday December 21^st.

Monday is also a scheduled remote learning day for all Burke students.

Tuesday December 22^nd begins Christmas break that goes through January 3^rd.

On Monday January 4^th, all Burke students will resume remote learning Plan C.

Remote instruction will continue until at least January 25^th.

The Board of Education is due to meet near that time to discuss learning plans for Burke County Schools going forward.

Most Wanted Nabbed

State and local authorities were able to nab a Valdese man who was on the Burke County Sheriff’s Office ‘Most Wanted List’.

After receiving a tip, Burke detectives and state probation officers arrested 25-year-old Steven Michael Day at a residence off Laurel Creek Street on Monday.

Taken into custody without incident, Day was charged with felonious failure to appear.

He was placed in the Burke County jail and issued a 29-thousand dollar secured bond.

A news release states Day also has pending charges in surrounding counties and additional larceny investigations in Burke.

Facebook Scam

McDowell County authorities report an Old Fort woman has fallen prey to a new scam on social media.

The woman told officers she received a notification on Facebook messenger from what appeared to be one of her friends.

The message advised her of a 100-thousand dollar grant along with a number to call for information.

The victim had communication with the scammers over the following days- eventually giving them eBay cards and personal information.

An investigation showed the friend’s Facebook account had been hacked.

Authorities urge residents not to send money or give out personal information to strangers.

Also research such messages by calling friends to confirm they’ve sent you a message.

Anyone having questions or concerns about possible scams can call their local law enforcement agency.

Marion Drug Arrest

A McDowell County traffic stop results in the arrest of a Marion couple on drug charges.

Just before 1:30 in the morning on November 19^th, a deputy stopped a vehicle on US 221 for traffic violations.

33-year-old Alvin Lee Sisk the third was the driver, and 37-year-old Gwendolyn Elaine Thompson was the passenger; while reports say the officer discovered both had outstanding warrants.

A search of the vehicle, reports say, turned up oxycodone in Thompson’s purse and meth, marijuana, and various pills belonging to Sisk.

Sisk faces numerous drug possession charges, while Thompson was charged with possession of a schedule two controlled substance.

 

 

 Eleven Drug Indictments

Two Maiden residents are among eleven people indicted on drug charges by the Lincoln County Grand jury Monday.

45-year-old Michael Jennings Sturgill of Buffalo Shoals Road is charged with possession of heroin, while 51-year-old Lorie Ann Sprouse also of Buffalo Shoals Road is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

The indictments also included the discovery of a large marijuana grow operation that yielded 55 plants and approximately 3 pounds of harvested marijuana on Car Farm Road in Lincoln County.

Investigators there confiscated four firearms and a large amount of ammunition.

The primary resident at the property, 47-year-old Jack Bates Lewis Junior faces multiple drug offenses and firearm possession charges.