COVID-19 Update 

Burke County has now suffered 127 deaths due to COVID-19 since March 2020; as local public health officials reported three additional virus deaths Tuesday.

The individuals – two in their 70’s and one in their 80’s were all hospitalized, but later died from COVID-19 complications.

Burke officials further reported 34 new positive cases yesterday, with a case total now amounting to 9-thousand-5 positives.

Active cases in Burke amount to 932, and 8 residents remain hospitalized.

McDowell County public health reported 28 new positive cases, with a case total of 4-thousand-438.

216 individuals are in quarantine.

Caldwell County reported 24 cases of the virus for a total of 8-thousand-157 and 31 people are in the hospital.

In Catawba County, 61 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 16-thousand-234 and 98 patients are hospitalized.

Meanwhile, the State Department of Health and Human services reported Tuesday that more than 10-thousand North Carolinians have died from the virus.

North Carolina also surpassed 800-thousand total cases.

State health officials say the goal is to vaccinate as many people as quickly and equitably as possible.

As of yesterday, NC had administered more than 1-point-4 doses of the vaccine.

Break In Suspect Caught

A Nebo man is charged after McDowell County deputies find him at the scene of a break-in.

On February 2^nd, officers were called to a home on Stacy Hill Road where the homeowner told law enforcement he saw someone in his outbuilding.

Deputies discovered 35-year-old Arvil Lee James Morgan of Dysartsville Road had broken into the building along with a vehicle at the residence.

Morgan reportedly attempted to remove an air compressor, a radio, and clothing.

All of the items were recovered.

Shooting Suspect Found

A suspect wanted in a McDowell County weekend shooting has been apprehended. 

25-year-old Cody Thomas Brown was wanted in connection with Sunday’s shooting incident that occurred on Owl Hollow Road.

A 29-year-old man was reported to have sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

Brown will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office thanks the public for assisting in the case.

Reward Upped

The reward has increased for an ‘armed and dangerous’ couple wanted for a deadly shooting in Hickory several week ago.

The US Marshal’s Office has increased the reward to 10-thousand dollars for information leading to the arrests of 49-year-old Tangela Parker, and her husband 61-year-old Eric Parker.

The pair is being sought after in the shooting death of 51-year-old Phelifia Marlow.

Reports say the shooting occurred inside TCS Designs in Hickory after Marlow and Tangela Parker became involved in an argument.

A Charlotte news outlet reports searches from the air are being performed in Caldwell County in the Wilson Creek area, as investigators report Tangela’s phone was found in Collettsville.

Tangela is wanted for first-degree murder, while her husband Eric is wanted for accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Anyone having information regarding the Parker’s location should call Hickory Police at 828-328-5551 or 877-WANTED.