COVID Death

Burke County’s death toll from COVID-19 stands at 149 now as local public health officials report the latest person to die from the virus.

A news release says the individual was in their 70’s and had been hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 5 additional positive cases Thursday for a total of 4-thousand-919 cases.

Presently, there are 40 McDowell residents in quarantine.

Caldwell County reported 18 new cases of the virus for a total of 9-thousand-41, with 9 people in the hospital.

Catawba County saw an increase of 30 cases of COVID-19 for a total of 17-thousand-995 with 18 patients hospitalized.

HS Graduations

Officials with the Burke County Public Schools have announced that area high schools are planning to hold traditional in-person graduations in May.

A news release indicates graduation ceremonies will take place indoors for Burke Middle College, Hallyburton, Patton, and Draughn; while Freedom and East Burke are both scheduled to hold outdoor ceremonies with a backup rain plan.

Officials state the events will still follow current CDC guidelines and meet state regulations on crowds and social distancing.

Families will sit together in designated areas, with individual health screenings upon entry, and masks will be required.

Graduation for Burke Middle College is May 24^th, May 26^th for Hallyburton Academy, East Burke, and Freedom; and May 27^th for Draughn and Patton.

Theft Arrest

A Catawba County man is now in custody and faces multiple felony charges in a 2019 break in and theft in Lincoln County.

The Lincoln Sheriff’s Office received reports of storage units in Maiden being broken into in August and December of 2019.

A news release says evidence collected at the scene led to a suspect – 41-year-old Alvin Jack Johnson.

On Wednesday, Johnson was arrested by a Lincoln County detective, assisted by NC Probation and Parole and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

Johnson is charged with six felony counts of breaking and entering, five felony counts of larceny after breaking and entering, and five felony counts of possession of stolen goods. 

He was jailed under a 40-thousand dollar secured bond.

Arson Charge

A Marion man is charged with first-degree arson in connection with a fire that occurred on March 20^th.

Reports with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office say a small fire broke out on the back porch of a home on Red Oak Drive in Nebo.

The suspect, 59-year-old Kevin Brian Loftis of Roy Hollifield Road was seen leaving the house shortly after the fire started.

Also in McDowell –

A license checkpoint turns into an arrest for a Marion motorist.

On March 24^th, reports say McDowell deputies along with the state highway patrol had set up a checkpoint at the intersection of Deer Park and Harmony Grove Roads.

24-year-old Cory Tyler Woodard of Deer Park Resort Drive Marion came through the checkpoint without a valid driver’s license, and authorities learned he also had outstanding warrants.

Upon searching Woodard, officers also discovered methamphetamine.