COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

The Burke County Health Department reports the local vaccination team has made changes to registering for the COVID-19 vaccination.

A news release states if you are 75 or older and were notified by email or phone that you were added to a registration list, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment.

As of late Tuesday the health department’s release says to, from this point forward, call 580-6147 to schedule an appointment.

Currently, whenever the number is called a message stating the vaccine appointments for the week have been filled; further directing the caller to call back next week Monday through Wednesday 8 am to 5 pm to schedule an appointment.

The release says there is no need to call the health department in that Blue Ridge Healthcare System will be responsible for scheduling community appointments.

Meanwhile, Burke health officials report 74 additional COVID-19 cases; bringing the county total to 7-thousand-619 positives.

1-thousand-810 cases are reported to be active, and 26 people are hospitalized.

Public health officials in Wednesday’s release say the numbers continue to stay high because of holiday gatherings and travel.

McDowell County reports 47 new cases, with two additional deaths.

McDowell now has a total case number at 3-thousand-753.

584 individuals remain in quarantine.

Caldwell County reported three additional COVID-19 related deaths, with 95 new cases of the virus for a total of 7-thousand-186 and 45 people in the hospital.

In Catawba County, 93 additional cases of coronavirus were reported Wednesday, for a total of 13-thousand-439 and 100 people hospitalized.

McDowell Shooting Suspect Caught

After being on the run for nearly 24 hours, a shooting suspect wanted by McDowell County authorities is now in custody.

51-year-old Robert Luther Dover, Junior of Jacktown Road Marion is now charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Reports say Dover and a 56-year-old Marion man got into an altercation at Dover’s residence around 2 Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, Dover pulled a gun and shot the man in the stomach.

Dover fled the scene on a motorcycle and remained at large until shortly before 12:30 this afternoon, when he was taken into custody at a residence on Old US 221 South.

The victim remains hospitalized, and the incident is still under investigation.

Hickory Fire

A fire in Hickory early Wednesday has destroyed a former hosiery plant.

Firefighters were called to Highland Avenue in northeast Hickory just after 3.

Reports say upon their arrival, flames were burning through the roof of the old plant.

Investigators report a homeless woman was residing in the building at the time of the fire.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Hendersonville Wall Collapse

One person has reportedly died, while several others were injured after a retaining wall collapsed Wednesday morning in Hendersonville.

Reports indicate a construction crew was working on a retaining wall bordering a Hajoca Corporation parking lot when the structure collapsed around 9:30.

Hajoca is located off Spartanburg Highway and is a plumbing, supply, kitchen, and bath showroom.

Officials on scene confirmed one person was killed, and several others hurt; two airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, and one taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

Another individual, reports say, was treated on the scene and is expected to be okay.

No names have been released.

Lincoln Shooting

Two Lawndale men have been charged with shooting into an occupied Vale home in November.

26-year-old Seth Paul Franklin turned himself in to Lincoln County authorities Monday.

He was served felony warrants for discharging a firearm into occupied property and conspiracy in connection with the November 1^st incident.

Franklin was jailed under a 25-thousand dollar secured bond.

32-year-old Robert James Waldrop who is in the Cleveland County detention center was also served felony warrants for shooting into an occupied property and conspiracy.

He was placed under a no bond-hold on the Lincoln County charges.

Residents of the home fired upon by Franklin and Waldrop reported they were asleep when gunshots from a passing vehicle struck their home.

No one was injured.