COVID-19 Update

Burke Public Health reported 23 new positive cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, with a total for Burke now at 9-thousand-379 cases.

583 cases remain active while 9 are still hospitalized.

Beginning today, the state will be giving vaccine priority to educators and childcare personnel with the schools.

Those who fall into this category can call the vaccination scheduling line at 358-4454 to get a vaccine appointment.

In McDowell County  health officials reported 9 new positives and 1 additional death.

McDowell’s total is 4-thousand-643 cases, while 145 are still quarantined.

NC health officials yesterday reported the lowest virus related hospitalizations and daily cases since November.

Drug Arrests

Two Burke County residents now face drug possession charges in separate incidents.

On February 9^th , a release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office states deputies observed a vehicle traveling on Carbon City Road with fictitious plates.

Officers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as 39-year-old Richard Ashley Rich of Connelly Springs who had active warrants for arrest.

Reports say a search of his vehicle turned up meth and drug paraphernalia.

Rich was then arrested and charged with possession of a schedule two substance and paraphernalia.

He received a 5-thousand dollar secured bond and appears in court March 4^th.

Burke deputies then responded to a report of a suspicious person February 17^th in the parking lot of the Shop and Save convenience store at Lake James.

Once on the scene, officers identified the subject as 35-year-old Christina Nichole Brown of Morganton.

Deputies observed her toss a bag underneath the vehicle she had been inside.

The substance was recovered and identified by officials as heroin.

Brown was arrested for felony possession of a schedule one substance and held at the Burke County jail under a 3-thousand dollar secured bond.

Her court date is March 12^th.

 

ALE Charges

The owner, along with an employee of a Catawba County event center both face charges following a Valentine’s Day shooting at the business.

68-year-old Chris Dietz owner of the Stump Event Center and 46-year-old Toby Dietz have been charged by the NC Alcohol Law Enforcement officers after a man was shot to death there on February 14^th.

The owner is charged, reports say, with failure to superintend and allowing violations to occur on ABC-licensed premises.

Toby Dietz is also charged with allowing violations to occur on ABC-licensed premises.

34-year-old Jordan Ramseur of Conover was killed that night at the center, while another patron was reportedly injured.

According to reports, Dietz still has his ABC permit and states he has not heard from the Catawba County ABC board.

The investigation into the incident at the event center is ongoing, and no other charges have been filed.

Marion Sex Charges

A Marion man faces multiple sex offense charges.

44-year-old Billy Jack Barker of Gowan Loop is accused of having inappropriate sexual conduct with a child under the age of 16.

Reports from the McDowell Sheriff’s Office says Barker is now charged with first degree statutory rape, first degree statutory sex offense, and tasking indecent liberties with a child.