COVID-19 UPDATE

According to the dashboard figures on the county’s website, Burke County now has 9-thousand-674 confirmed cases.

267 cases in Burke are still considered as active, while 2 people are still hospitalized.

McDowell County reported only 3 new cases Thursday for a total of 4-thousand-867 positives.

38 residents in McDowell are quarantined. 

Good news reported yesterday for individuals wishing to get the COVID vaccine that haven’t yet been able to.

Governor Cooper announced that the state has gotten more supply of the vaccine than anticipated.

Therefore, the biggest change for NC residents is that beginning April 7^th, all adults in the state will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Swan Named Interim Superintendent 

During Thursday’s Burke County Board of Education meeting, the

announcement was made naming Dr. Mike Swan as interim superintendent.

of Burke County Public Schools. Swan moved to the county in 1998, and has

served in various roles, including teacher, assistant principal, principal,

Director of Student and Family Services and assistant superintendent.

He succeeds Dr. Larry Putnam, who will become executive vice president at

Catawba Valley Community College.

Kidnapping Charge

A brother and sister have been arrested following the issuance of an Amber Alert for a missing 14-year-old girl in Caldwell County Tuesday.

Reports state Austin Ryan Setzer and Autumn Bryce Setzer are both charged with first-degree kidnapping and breaking and entering.

Authorities in Caldwell County report the girl was found safe and in good condition in Lenoir.

The Amber Alert was canceled less than an hour after it was issued Tuesday evening.

According to officers, Austin Setzer was arrested under a 250-thousand dollar bond; while Autumn Setzer received a 100-thousand dollar bond as an accomplice in the incident.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone having additional information about Tuesday’s abduction to call them at 828-757-1400.

Pot Bust

A multi-agency traffic checkpoint in McDowell County turns up a drug arrest.

McDowell deputies, the State Highway Patrol, and SBI agents conducted the checkpoint March 9^th at the intersection of Zion Hill and Epley Roads.

Reports say as 22-year-old Lucas McHone of Marion pulled up to the checkpoint, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana.

Following a search of his vehicle, authorities charged McHone with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hickory Stabbing

A man is reportedly in critical condition following a stabbing incident at a Hickory motel Thursday.

Hickory Police report the stabbing resulted during an altercation between a father and son at the Quality Suites.

Reports say the victim was transported by Catawba County EMS to an area hospital.

No charges have been filed.

Police continue to investigate.

Lincoln Drugs

Lincoln County narcotics officers have charged a Vale man with trafficking illegal drugs.

Last Monday, officers reports say observed a hand-to-hand transaction in the parking lot of a Lincoln County business.

Investigators made contact with 71-year-old Ray Wylie of Vale and 26-year-old Trenton Carver of Lincolnton.

Officers recovered US Currency and a trafficking amount of hydrocodone.

An investigation revealed that Wylie had sold the narcotics to Carver.

Wylie was arrested and charged with trafficking by sell and deliver, trafficking by transport, and trafficking by possession.

He was placed in custody under a 75-thousand dollar secured bond.

Carver was taken into custody Wednesday on a charge of trafficking in opium or heroin.

He was released on bond.